Hazrat Sultan Mosque
Astana, Kazakhstan
Independence Square, Astana
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Photo: Ken and Nyetta, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia CommonsFit in nearby today
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- Free
- Opening hours
- 24/7 — it’s an open public square
- Time on site
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A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes. - 30 min
- With kids
- Fine with kids
- Time needed
- 30 minutes; half a day with the museum, mosque and Pyramid
- Palace of Independence
- A venue for state events; tourist access not confirmed
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Nearest LRT station
- National Museum (Ulttyq Murajai) — two stops from Baiterek
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Buses
- 19, 29, 40 and others to Kazakh Eli Monument or National Museum stops — unofficial
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Address
- Tauelsizdik Avenue at Akhmet Baitursynuly Street
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Key facts
91 mheight of the column — for 1991, the year Kazakhstan became independent
3 sourcesi
Russian WikipediaPrime Minister of Kazakhstan websiteWelcome.kz6 Jul 2008the Kazakh Eli monument was unveiled
2 sourcesi
Prime Minister of Kazakhstan websiteRussian Wikipedia5.2 haarea of the memorial complex
2 sourcesi
English and Russian WikipediaTurkestan TravelSamruka gilded mythical bird crowns the column
3 sourcesi
Welcome.kzVisit Silk RoadTurkestan Travel4 reliefsThe President and the People, Courage, Creation and The Future, round the base
2 sourcesi
Russian WikipediaTurkestan TravelWhite marblewhat the column is faced with
3 sourcesi
Russian WikipediaVisit Silk RoadTrvllandOct 2009the whole square complex was completed
2 sourcesi
English and Russian WikipediaWikidata Q4878088515 Dec 2008the Palace of Independence opened
2 sourcesi
Prime Minister of Kazakhstan websiteRussian WikipediaKeregethe palace walls echo the lattice frame of a yurt
2 sourcesi
Prime Minister of Kazakhstan websiteTengrinews“Land of the Kazakhs”what Qazaq Eli means
2 sourcesi
AdvantourVisit Silk RoadParadesDefender of the Fatherland Day parades and Nauryz celebrations are held here
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English and Russian WikipediaWhat is Independence Square?
It is Astana’s main ceremonial square — the city’s stage for parades, Nauryz celebrations and, in winter, an ice town. It sits on the right bank of the Esil river on Tauelsizdik Avenue, and everything on it is arranged around one landmark: the white Kazakh Eli column. The memorial complex covers 5.2 hectares and was completed in October 2009.
Round the edges stand some of the right bank’s biggest buildings: the Palace of Independence, the National Museum of Kazakhstan, Hazrat Sultan Mosque, the Kazakh National University of Arts and, just beyond, the glass-tipped pyramid of the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation. The Presidential Park lies across the avenue.
Is Independence Square worth visiting?
On its own, it is a 30-minute stop: a huge open space, a monument and good photos. What makes it worth the trip is what surrounds it. Within a few minutes’ walk you have the country’s main museum, its best-known mosque and Norman Foster’s pyramid, so this is the natural base for a half-day on the right bank.
Skip it only if you are in Astana for a few hours and staying on the Left Bank — then Bayterek and Nurzhol Boulevard give you the city’s skyline with far less travel. Coming in midwinter? Keep the square short and spend the time indoors at the museum.
The Kazakh Eli monument explained
Kazakh Eli (Qazaq Eli, “Land of the Kazakhs”) is a 91-metre column of white marble. The height is a nod to 1991, the year Kazakhstan became independent. It was unveiled on 6 July 2008, Capital City Day.
On top sits a gilded Samruk, the mythical bird of Kazakh legend. The story goes that every year it lays a golden egg — the sun — which the dragon Aidakhar swallows, turning the seasons and keeping good and evil in endless struggle.
The base carries four reliefs: The President and the People, Courage, Creation and The Future. The main one shows the first president with his hand on the Constitution; the others show warriors of different eras, the road from nomad life to modern industry, and a young family. There is no way up — it’s a monument, not a viewing tower.
What to see on Independence Square
- The Kazakh Eli column with its golden Samruk — step back to the edge of the square to fit all 91 metres in one frame.
- The four reliefs on the base — walk all the way round; each side tells a different story.
- The white colonnade behind the column, which turns the monument into a ceremonial backdrop.
- The Palace of Independence — its walls are shaped like kerege, the lattice of a yurt.
- The National Museum — white blocks with blue glass, home of the Golden Man.
- Hazrat Sultan Mosque and its four minarets, across the square.
- The Pyramid of the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation, a few minutes’ walk away.
How to get to Independence Square
Tap a route to highlight it on the map.
Where are you starting from?
We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.
On foot
- Hazrat Sultan Mosque is about 7 min away on foot.
- National Museum of Kazakhstan is about 7 min away on foot.
- Palace of Peace and Reconciliation is about 11 min away on foot.
More tips
- From Bayterek Tower it’s about 3 km east, across the Esil. Walking along Nurzhol Boulevard and over the bridge takes 45–50 minutes — pleasant in summer, brutal in a winter wind.
- Quickest: a Yandex Go taxi, about 10 minutes. Pay by card in the app or in cash.
- By LRT: from Baiterek station (about 600 m south of the tower) ride two stops to National Museum (Ulttyq Murajai), next to the museum, the Palace of Independence and the Pyramid. Trains run 06:00–23:00; a ride is 200 ₸ (unofficial). The same line comes in from the airport.
- By bus: routes 19, 29, 40 and others stop at Kazakh Eli Monument, National Museum or Shabyt Palace of Creativity. Routes change — check 2GIS, the most reliable local map app.
- Paying: tap a contactless bank card or phone on the LRT gates and bus validators; the LRT also sells rides for cash. Foreign cards are occasionally declined, so carry a little tenge.
- Once there, aim for the tall white column — you can see it from every side.
Before you go: checklist
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Independence Square vs Bayterek
| Independence Squareyou are here | Square with a 91 m column | Right, Tauelsizdik Avenue | Free | 24/7 | 30 minutes | Museum, mosque, Pyramid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bayterek | 105 m tower with a viewing deck | Left, Nurzhol Boulevard | Paid lift | Daytime to evening | About an hour | Khan Shatyr, ministries, boulevard |
Bayterek is about the view; the square is about national symbols and the buildings around it. Most visitors do both in a day — Bayterek in the morning, then the LRT or a taxi to the right bank.
More Astana history spots
Every Astana history sight rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.
| Bayterek Tower | 46 | 45 min | 2,500 KZT; kids 6–15 1,250 KZT | 2.8 km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independence Square and Kazakh Eli Monumentyou are here | 42 | 30 min | Free | — |
| Palace of Peace and Reconciliation | 39 | 1 h | 2,000 ₸ incl. guided tour | 8 min walk |
| National Museum of Kazakhstan | 32 | 2 h | 5,000 ₸ foreigners, Gold Halls +1,000 ₸ | 7 min walk |
| ALZHIR Memorial and Museum | 32 | 1 h 30 min | ≈ 1,200 ₸, guided tour extra | 35.1 km |
The right bank in half a day
Bayterek in the morning, then the LRT across the river: the museum, the square, the mosque and the Pyramid are all on foot from each other. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.
- Bayterek Tower45 min · 2,500 KZT; kids 6–15 1,250 KZT
- 51 min walk from the previous stopNational Museum of Kazakhstan2 h · 5,000 ₸ foreigners, Gold Halls +1,000 ₸
- 7 min walk from the previous stopIndependence Square and Kazakh Eli Monumentyou are here30 min · Free
- 6 min walk from the previous stopHazrat Sultan Mosque40 min · Free
- 11 min walk from the previous stopPalace of Peace and Reconciliation1 h · 2,000 ₸ incl. guided tour
5 places · about 6 h 10 min with walks · 75 min on foot in total
Nearby — add to your day
National Museum of Kazakhstan
Astana, Kazakhstan
Palace of Peace and Reconciliation
Astana, Kazakhstan
Nurzhol Boulevard
Astana, Kazakhstan
How to do it right
- Do the National Museum first — the reliefs on the column make far more sense afterwards.
- For the full column and Samruk in one shot, shoot from the edge of the square, not the foot of the monument.
- Come back after sunset: the square empties and the lit Pyramid glows behind it.
- Walk all four sides of the base — each relief is a different chapter.
- The square can be closed for parades and Nauryz — check local news the day before.
Questions
What is there to see on Independence Square in Astana?
The Kazakh Eli monument — a 91 m white column with a golden Samruk — plus the Palace of Independence, the National Museum, Hazrat Sultan Mosque, the University of Arts and the Pyramid.
Is it free to visit?
Yes. It’s an open public square, free and accessible 24/7. Only the museum and the Pyramid next to it charge for entry.
Why is the Kazakh Eli monument 91 metres tall?
It marks 1991, the year Kazakhstan became independent.
What is the bird on top of the monument?
Samruk, the mythical bird of Kazakh legend, which lays a golden egg — the sun — swallowed each year by the dragon Aidakhar.
How do I get to Independence Square from Bayterek?
It’s about 3 km: 10 minutes by Yandex Go, two LRT stops from Baiterek to National Museum, or a 45–50-minute walk across the river.
Can I go inside the Palace of Independence?
It’s a venue for state events. There’s no official word on tourist access to its model hall since the 2023–2024 repairs, so plan on seeing it from outside.
Can you go up the Kazakh Eli monument?
No, there is no viewing deck. For a view over the city, go up Bayterek on the Left Bank.
How long do I need?
About 30 minutes for the square; half a day with the National Museum, the mosque and the Pyramid.
Is it worth visiting at night?
Yes, for photos: the square is quiet and the Pyramid behind it is lit up. In winter keep it short — it’s very exposed.
Have you been? Was it worth your time?
1 — no, 5 — absolutely
Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.
Sources and fact-check
- English and Russian Wikipedia: Independence Square (Astana), Kazakh Eli monument, Palace of Independence (Astana); Wikidata Q48780885
- Prime Minister of Kazakhstan website: Astana — 19 years of success and growth (monument and palace openings)
- Welcome.kz: Independence Square, 2023 — Samruk, reliefs, bus routes and stops
- Visit Silk Road: Monument Kazakh Eli — address, colonnade
- Turkestan Travel: Qazaq Eli monument — relief names, complex area
- Tengrinews, 24.02.2023 and 31.07.2023; NewTimes.kz — Palace of Independence repairs
- Aviasales.kz: Astana LRT guide, 15.10.2026 — stations, hours, payment; Eurasia.Travel — model hall
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