# Independence Square, Astana > Independence Square is Astana’s main ceremonial square on the right bank of the Esil, built around the 91-metre white Kazakh Eli column with a golden Samruk bird on top. It is **free and open 24/7**. The square itself takes 30 minutes, but the National Museum, Hazrat Sultan Mosque and the Pyramid stand around it — half a day together. From Bayterek it is about 3 km: a taxi or the LRT to National Museum station. Web page: https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/astana/astana-independence-square - City: [Astana](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/astana), Kazakhstan - YesGo score: 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 30 min - With kids: Fine with kids - Entry: Free - Opening hours: 24/7 — it’s an open public square - 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 - Nearest LRT station: National Museum (Ulttyq Murajai) — two stops from Baiterek - Buses: 19, 29, 40 and others to Kazakh Eli Monument or National Museum stops — unofficial - Address: Tauelsizdik Avenue at Akhmet Baitursynuly Street - Coordinates: 51.12200, 71.47000 - Facts checked: 30.10.2026 ## Key facts - **91 m** — height of the column — for 1991, the year Kazakhstan became independent (source: Russian Wikipedia; Prime Minister of Kazakhstan website; Welcome.kz) - **6 Jul 2008** — the Kazakh Eli monument was unveiled (source: Prime Minister of Kazakhstan website; Russian Wikipedia) - **5.2 ha** — area of the memorial complex (source: English and Russian Wikipedia; Turkestan Travel) - **Samruk** — a gilded mythical bird crowns the column (source: Welcome.kz; Visit Silk Road; Turkestan Travel) - **4 reliefs** — The President and the People, Courage, Creation and The Future, round the base (source: Russian Wikipedia; Turkestan Travel) - **White marble** — what the column is faced with (source: Russian Wikipedia; Visit Silk Road; Trvlland) - **Oct 2009** — the whole square complex was completed (source: English and Russian Wikipedia; Wikidata Q48780885) - **15 Dec 2008** — the Palace of Independence opened (source: Prime Minister of Kazakhstan website; Russian Wikipedia) - **Kerege** — the palace walls echo the lattice frame of a yurt (source: Prime Minister of Kazakhstan website; Tengrinews) - **“Land of the Kazakhs”** — what Qazaq Eli means (source: Advantour; Visit Silk Road) - **Parades** — Defender of the Fatherland Day parades and Nauryz celebrations are held here (source: English and Russian Wikipedia) ## What 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](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/astana/national-museum-of-kazakhstan), [Hazrat Sultan Mosque](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/astana/hazrat-sultan-mosque), the Kazakh National University of Arts and, just beyond, the glass-tipped pyramid of the [Palace of Peace and Reconciliation](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/astana/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](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/astana/bayterek-tower) and [Nurzhol Boulevard](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/astana/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. > **Don’t count on getting into the Palace of Independence** The colonnaded building behind the column is a venue for state events, not a museum. It closed in 2023 for major roof repairs, finished ahead of the 2024 SCO summit. Travel sites still describe a model hall with a 1:600 model of Astana’s master plan, but we found no official word on tourist access since then. Plan to admire it from outside. ## How to get to Independence Square 1. 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. 2. Quickest: a Yandex Go taxi, about 10 minutes. Pay by card in the app or in cash. 3. 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. 4. 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. 5. 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. 6. Once there, aim for the tall white column — you can see it from every side. > **Dress for the wind** The square is vast and completely open, with nowhere to shelter. In an Astana winter that matters: take your photos, walk round the monument and duck into the museum or the mosque to warm up — both are a couple of minutes away. In summer it’s the opposite problem: there’s almost no shade, so bring water and a hat. ## Before you go: checklist - [ ] Checked there’s no parade or festival closing the square today - [ ] A contactless card or some tenge for the LRT or bus - [ ] Yandex Go installed for cold days - [ ] National Museum open today (closed on Mondays) - [ ] Warm layers in winter, water and a hat in summer - [ ] Mosque and Pyramid on the same route ## Independence Square vs Bayterek | | Independence Square | Bayterek | | --- | --- | --- | | What it is | Square with a 91 m column | 105 m tower with a viewing deck | | Bank | Right, Tauelsizdik Avenue | Left, Nurzhol Boulevard | | Entry | Free | Paid lift | | Hours | 24/7 | Daytime to evening | | Time needed | 30 minutes | About an hour | | Nearby | Museum, mosque, Pyramid | 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. - [Bayterek Tower](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/astana/bayterek-tower) — YesGo score 46/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · 2,500 KZT; kids 6–15 1,250 KZT - [Independence Square and Kazakh Eli Monument](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/astana/astana-independence-square) — YesGo score 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free - [Palace of Peace and Reconciliation](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/astana/palace-of-peace-and-reconciliation) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · 2,000 ₸ incl. guided tour - [National Museum of Kazakhstan](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/astana/national-museum-of-kazakhstan) — YesGo score 32/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · 5,000 ₸ foreigners, Gold Halls +1,000 ₸ - [ALZHIR Memorial and Museum](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/astana/alzhir-museum) — YesGo score 32/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · ≈ 1,200 ₸, guided tour extra ## 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. 1. [Bayterek Tower](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/astana/bayterek-tower) — YesGo score 46/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · 2,500 KZT; kids 6–15 1,250 KZT 2. [National Museum of Kazakhstan](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/astana/national-museum-of-kazakhstan) — YesGo score 32/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · 5,000 ₸ foreigners, Gold Halls +1,000 ₸ 3. [Independence Square and Kazakh Eli Monument](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/astana/astana-independence-square) — YesGo score 42/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free 4. [Hazrat Sultan Mosque](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/astana/hazrat-sultan-mosque) — YesGo score 41/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 40 min · Free 5. [Palace of Peace and Reconciliation](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/astana/palace-of-peace-and-reconciliation) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · 2,000 ₸ incl. guided tour ## Good to know You’ll see the monument spelled Kazakh Eli, Qazaq Eli, Kazak Eli or Қазақ Елі — all the same thing. Don’t mix up the Palace of Independence (behind the column) with the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation (the Pyramid, further towards the park). Minsk and Kyiv have their own Independence Squares, so add “Astana” when you search. ## Tips - 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. ## How we checked Dates, height and area are confirmed by at least two sources. The reliefs’ compass sides differ between Wikipedia and Turkestan Travel, so we give only their names; we leave out the number of colonnade columns, which only one source gives. Tourist access to the Palace of Independence after its repairs isn’t officially confirmed, and travel-site prices for the model hall are old — marked “verifying”. LRT stations, hours and fare come from an Aviasales.kz guide and Wikipedia’s station list (unofficial). Bus numbers are from Welcome.kz and may have changed. Bayterek’s height in the comparison is from YesGo’s Bayterek page. ## Sources - 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 --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.