Astana Safety Guide
Health, security, and travel safety information
Emergency Numbers
Save these numbers before your trip.
Healthcare
What to know about medical care in Astana.
Astana has a two-tier system: state polyclinics for residents and modern private hospitals that cater to foreigners.
For tourists, INVIVO (Imanbayeva 12) and SOS Medica (Kerey-Zhanibek 2) offer 24-hour emergency rooms with English-speaking doctors.
Apteka 24h kiosks glow green around the clock. Common meds like ibuprofen and cold tablets are sold over the counter. But bring prescription scripts for controlled drugs.
Insurance is not legally required. Yet immigration officers occasionally ask for proof. Buy coverage before arrival.
- ✓ Pack lip balm and saline spray, Astana's dry winter air cracks skin within hours.
- ✓ Tap water is chlorinated but tastes metallic. Stick to bottled water the first week.
Common Risks
Be aware of these potential issues.
Pickpockets ride crowded buses to Khan Shatyr and the Friday Zelyony Bazaar, lifting phones from coat pockets while passengers squeeze aboard.
January nights drop below, 30 °C; skin can freeze in minutes and icy sidewalks become glass-smooth.
Despite zero-tolerance laws, weekend drivers leaving Astana nightlife venues still get behind the wheel after vodka-laced toasts.
Scams to Avoid
Watch out for these common tourist scams.
Unlicensed drivers at Nursultan Nazarbayev International swarm arrivals, quoting ten-fold fares to Astana hotels and pretending the meter is broken.
Men in plain clothes flash a badge near the railway station, demand to see your passport, then levy an on-the-spot fine for a bogus visa issue.
Safety Tips
Practical advice to stay safe.
- • Crosswalks flash green for only six seconds, start crossing the moment the signal changes.
- • Night buses stop running at 23:00; pre-book a ride if leaving Astana Opera late.
- • ATMs inside Khan Shatyr and Astana Mall give tenge with lower skim-risk than sidewalk machines.
- • Photograph your passport data page and Kazakh migration card. Police sometimes conduct random sweeps.
- • Kumys (fermented mare's milk) is tangy and lightly alcoholic, avoid if you need to drive afterwards.
- • Shashlik smoke drifts across the Old Town evening markets. Choose stalls where locals queue for sizzling, fresh-grilled skewers.
Information for Specific Travelers
Safety considerations for different traveler groups.
Astana is relatively safe for solo women. Local women walk alone until late near Astana nightlife strips, although casual harassment like staring or hissing comments can occur.
- → Sit in the front metro car where the driver's compartment is monitored. Avoid empty last cars.
- → If followed near Astana Mall, step into the nearest café, staff will call security.
Same-sex activity is legal. But there is no anti-discrimination protection and same-sex marriage is not recognised.
- → Book twin beds instead of doubles in mid-range Astana hotels to avoid awkward questions at check-in.
- → Avoid dating apps that show distance in metres, entrapment schemes have been reported.
Travel Insurance
Protect yourself before you travel.
Medical evacuation to Western Europe costs a fortune; Astana's private hospitals demand cash or guarantee letters up front.
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