Astana Airport (NQZ) to the City

Three ways from the airport into the city

From Astana Airport (NQZ) there are three ways into the city: the driverless 'Tarlan Astana' LRT, city buses and taxis. This post goes through where to board, fares, how to buy tickets and how to pay for each, then matches each option to the kind of arrival it suits.

Fares and service details come from the city transport operator CTS and Kazakhstan's national tourism portal. Anything that can change, such as operating hours, should be checked in the official information before you go.

• Full Astana travel guide →
• Incheon → Astana flights →

'Tarlan Astana' LRT: KZT 200, about 40 minutes

According to the city transport operator CTS, the LRT is a driverless light rail line running 22.4 km and 18 stations from Äuejai (Airport) station to Nurly Zhol station. At the airport you board at Äuejai (Airport) station.

Trains run every 5-6 minutes, the full line takes about 40 minutes, and a ride costs KZT 200. There is a Baiterek station along the line. Check the operating hours in the official information before you go.

• Airport station: Äuejai (Airport)
• Line: Äuejai (Airport) ↔ Nurly Zhol, 22.4 km, 18 stations
• Station on the way: Baiterek
• Frequency: every 5-6 minutes
• End to end: about 40 minutes
• Fare: KZT 200 per ride
• Operating hours: check the official information before you go

LRT tickets, payment and the rules on board

You can ride the LRT with a bank card or transport card, QR, a mobile wallet or face payment. Without a card, you can buy a ticket with cash at station ticket offices and machines; travel cards and single tickets are also sold at the stations.

According to CTS (May 2026), in the first stage LRT payment runs separately from city buses and will be integrated later. Check the official information before you go to see whether bus passes or bus payments also work on the LRT.

The LRT is fully automated and driverless. Pressing emergency buttons or forcing or blocking the doors stops the train and can lead to criminal charges. Even with heavy luggage, don't hold the doors with your hand or bag.

• Payment: bank or transport card, QR, mobile wallet, face payment
• Cash: tickets at station ticket offices and machines
• Sold at stations: travel cards, single tickets
• Link with city buses: per CTS (May 2026), separate in the first stage, to be integrated later
• Never: press emergency buttons, force or block the doors

City buses: KZT 110 by card or QR, routes via CTS

City buses take a transport card or QR payment. A single city ride costs KZT 110 by card or QR, or KZT 220 in cash. Check route numbers and timetables to and from the airport with the city transport operator CTS.

According to CTS, QR payment is made with a phone app, and you must show the e-receipt in the app to inspectors. Top up transport cards at the CTS central ticket office (R. Koshkarbayev Ave 50/1, Mon-Sat 9:00-18:00) and at listed terminals.

If you will ride buses often over several days, passes valid from first use cost KZT 500 for 1 day, KZT 1,500 for 3 days and KZT 2,000 for 5 days.

• Single ride: KZT 110 by card or QR, KZT 220 in cash
• Passes (from first use): 1 day KZT 500, 3 days KZT 1,500, 5 days KZT 2,000
• QR payment: show the e-receipt in the app to inspectors
• Top-up: CTS central ticket office (Mon-Sat 9:00-18:00), listed terminals
• Airport route numbers and timetables: check with CTS

Taxis: look for the checker sign on the roof

According to Kazakhstan's national tourism portal, plenty of taxis with checker signs on the roof are always available near airports. The portal also says taxis wait near bus stops, shopping centres and markets.

Check taxi fares and travel times from the airport to the city in the official information before you go.

• Sign: checker pattern on the roof
• Availability: plenty always waiting near airports (national tourism portal)
• Fares and travel time: check the official information before you go

At a glance: which option suits you

Here are the three options line by line. Items marked 'check official information' are worth checking before you go.

• You want a known fare and frequency → LRT, KZT 200, every 5-6 minutes, about 40 minutes end to end
• Your first day is around Bayterek and Nurzhol Boulevard (Yesil district) → the LRT line has a Baiterek station (check its location on the official line map)
• You only have cash → buy an LRT ticket at station ticket offices or machines; the bus cash fare is KZT 220
• You will ride city buses often over several days → passes: 1 day KZT 500, 3 days KZT 1,500, 5 days KZT 2,000
• You want a bus from the airport → check route numbers and timetables with CTS
• You take a taxi → look for the checker sign on the roof; check fares and times in the official information

Arrival-day checklist

For what to see once you are in the city, including which museums close on Mondays, continue with the Astana first-trip post below.

• Time zone: all of Kazakhstan uses UTC+5 since 1 March 2024
• SIM card: per the national tourism portal, easiest at shops in the airport, railway stations and malls; non-residents need a passport
• Transport card top-up: the CTS central ticket office opens Mon-Sat 9:00-18:00
• If you paid a bus fare by QR, keep the e-receipt ready to show
• Emergency numbers: 112 (rescue), 101 (fire), 102 (police), 103 (ambulance), free from landlines and mobiles
• Entry rules: they depend on your nationality, so check the official information before you go

• Full Astana travel guide →
• Astana first trip: winter cold, airport transport and payment →
• Airport to city: which option to choose →

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