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Bayterek Tower, Astana

Bayterek Tower and its golden sphere at the end of Nurzhol Boulevard, with flowerbeds and red trees in evening light
Photo: Лаззат Хайдаров, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

The essentials in 10 seconds

Entry
2,500 KZT; kids 6–15 1,250 KZT
Opening hours
1 Sep – 31 May 10:00–21:00; 1 Jun – 31 Aug 10:00–22:00; open every day
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Time on site
A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes.
45 min
With kids
Fine with kids
Adult ticket
2,500 KZT
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Children 6–15
1,250 KZT
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Pensioners
2,000 KZT with ID
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Groups of 10+
2,000 KZT adult, 1,000 KZT child, 1,700 KZT pensioner
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Free
Children under 5 and several concession groups, with documents at the ticket desk
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Breaks
13:00–13:30 and 18:00–18:30 — unofficial
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Refunds
Tickets can't be exchanged or refunded
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Where to buy
Ticket desk in the lower lobby; we found no working online sales on the operator's site
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Address
Nurzhol Boulevard 14, Left Bank
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Coordinates
51.12833, 71.43056YesGo MapGoogleApple
Nearest LRT station
Baiterek, about 600 m on foot
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.

Key facts

97 mheight of the observation deck — a nod to 1997, when the capital moved from Almaty
2 sourcesAstana Venue ManagementEnglish and Russian Wikipedia
105 mtotal height including the spire
2 sourcesAstana Venue ManagementEnglish and Russian Wikipedia
22 mdiameter of the gold-mirrored glass sphere
2 sourcesAstana Venue ManagementEnglish and Russian Wikipedia
2002completed, after work began in October 1996
2 sourcesAstana Venue ManagementEnglish and Russian Wikipedia
Ayaly Alakanthe gilded print of Nazarbayev’s right hand at the top
2 sourcesAstana Venue ManagementEnglish and Russian Wikipedia
Samrukthe mythical bird whose golden egg, laid in the tree of life, the sphere represents
SourceEnglish and Russian Wikipedia
Akmurza Rustembekovled the team of architects
SourceEnglish and Russian Wikipedia
Mark Vaynshteinchief structural engineer
SourceEnglish and Russian Wikipedia
Wooden globesigned by leaders of world religions, next to the deck
2 sourcesAstana Venue ManagementEnglish and Russian Wikipedia
4.5 mbelow ground: the lower level with the lobby and gallery
2 sourcesRussian WikipediaAdvantour
2017major renovation: new lobby, café and contemporary art gallery
3 sourcesEnglish WikipediaWE ProjectTengrinews

Bayterek Tower tickets and prices

An adult ticket is 2,500 KZT and a child’s ticket (ages 6–15) is 1,250 KZT. Pensioners pay 2,000 KZT with ID, and children under 5 go free. These are the official prices from the operator, Astana Venue Management.

Groups of ten or more pay 2,000 KZT per adult. Concession and free tickets are issued only at the desk, on showing a document. Tickets can’t be exchanged or refunded, so check the weather before you buy — fog or a snowstorm leaves you with little to see.

We couldn’t find working online sales: the “Buy ticket” button on the operator’s page leads nowhere. Buy at the desk in the lower lobby. Kazakhstan is very card-friendly — Visa and Mastercard contactless are normal, and they work on the LRT and city buses — but carry a little tenge cash just in case.

Bayterek opening hours

Bayterek is open every day. From 1 September to 31 May it runs 10:00–21:00; from 1 June to 31 August, 10:00–22:00. These are the operator’s hours.

Some listings mention short breaks at 13:00–13:30 and 18:00–18:30, and one gives a 9:00 start. That’s unofficial, but leave yourself some slack and don’t turn up in the last half hour — the lift ride and the queue take time too.

The best slot is an hour before sunset. Summer evenings in Astana are long, so you can catch daylight, sunset and the lights coming on. In winter it’s dark by early evening, which makes for a night view well before closing.

Is Bayterek Tower worth it?

Yes, especially on your first day. From the deck you see how the whole Left Bank was laid out as one axis: Nurzhol Boulevard running west to the Khan Shatyr tent and east towards the Akorda presidential palace, with glass towers all around. It turns a confusing new city into a map.

Keep expectations realistic: the deck is small, the views are through glass, and the handprint ritual is more symbolic than thrilling. You’ll be done in under an hour. If the sky is grey and you’re short on time, admire the tower from the boulevard instead — it looks best from outside, lit up at night.

What’s inside Bayterek

  • The lower lobby, 4.5 m below ground — ticket desk, cloakroom, café and a gallery with an LED screen.
  • Two lifts up the trunk into the sphere — the ride takes well under a minute.
  • The 360° deck at 97 m: Nurzhol Boulevard and Khan Shatyr to the west, Akorda and the river to the east, the Left Bank skyline all round.
  • Ayaly Alakan — the gilded handprint of Nazarbayev’s right hand, up a short flight of stairs. Visitors press a palm into it and make a wish.
  • A wooden globe signed by religious leaders, a memento of Astana’s Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions.
  • The tower itself — lit up in the evening, when the boulevard fills with people.

How to get to Bayterek Tower

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on footdestinationStreet view

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

  • Nurzhol Boulevard is about 8 min away on foot.

More tips

  1. From the airport, take the driverless LRT from Airport station (by terminals T1 and T2) to Baiterek station — 11 stops, no changes. Trains run 06:00–23:00; a ride costs 200 KZT, paid by contactless card, phone or QR.
  2. From Nurly Zhol railway station, take the LRT from the Nurly Zhol terminus to Baiterek — 6 stops.
  3. From Baiterek station, walk about 600 m north to the middle of Nurzhol Boulevard — you can’t miss the golden sphere.
  4. City buses stop at Monument Baiterek. For the route from your hotel, use 2GIS or Yandex Maps — both work well in Kazakhstan. Tap your bank card or phone on the validator.
  5. By taxi (Yandex Go works in Astana), it’s about 15–20 minutes from the airport in light traffic — ask for Nurzhol Boulevard.
  6. Take the steps down to the lower lobby for tickets. Afterwards, walk west along the boulevard to Khan Shatyr.

What Bayterek means

The name means “tall poplar”. In Kazakh folk tales the hero Er-Tostik finds Bayterek, the tree of life, where the magic bird Samruk lays a golden egg each year. The white trunk is the tree; the golden sphere is the egg — a fitting image for a brand-new capital.

Work began in October 1996 and finished in 2002. The idea came from Nursultan Nazarbayev; the design team was led by Akmurza Rustembekov, with Mark Vaynshtein as chief engineer. A 2017 renovation refreshed the lobby and added a café, a souvenir shop and a contemporary art gallery.

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Bayterek vs Khan Shatyr vs the Pyramid

Bayterekyou are hereMonument with an observation deck105 m, deck at 97 m2002Akmurza Rustembekov’s teamThe view over the Left Bank
Khan ShatyrGiant tent with a mall and indoor beach150 m with spire2010Foster + PartnersA warm walk indoors in winter
Palace of Peace and ReconciliationPyramid with halls and an atrium62 m2006Norman FosterArchitecture and interiors

Short on time? Start with Bayterek — from the deck you can see the other two and plan the rest of the day.

Astana viewpoints compared

Places in Astana with a view, rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.

Bayterek Toweryou are here4645 min2,500 KZT; kids 6–15 1,250 KZT—
Nurzhol Boulevard431 hFree8 min walk
Palace of Peace and Reconciliation391 h2,000 ₸ incl. guided tour41 min walk
Burabay (Borovoe)164 hCar entry from 1,298 ₸230.4 km

The Left Bank in a day

Khan Shatyr, a walk down the boulevard, up Bayterek, then a taxi to the Pyramid and Hazrat Sultan Mosque. Add them in one tap — YesGo works out the timing and transfers.

  1. Khan Shatyr1 h 30 min · Free entry; beach ≈ 20,000 ₸
  2. 41 min walk from the previous stopNurzhol Boulevard1 h · Free
  3. 8 min walk from the previous stopBayterek Toweryou are here45 min · 2,500 KZT; kids 6–15 1,250 KZT
  4. 41 min walk from the previous stopPalace of Peace and Reconciliation1 h · 2,000 ₸ incl. guided tour
  5. 11 min walk from the previous stopHazrat Sultan Mosque40 min · Free

5 places · about 6 h 36 min with walks · 101 min on foot in total

Go · my route

Nearby — add to your day

Nurzhol Boulevard

Astana, Kazakhstan

1 h · Free · 8 min walk

Khan Shatyr

Astana, Kazakhstan

1 h 30 min · Free entry; beach ≈ 20,000 ₸ · 33 min walk

How to do it right

  • Go up an hour before sunset to get daylight, sunset and the lights in one visit.
  • Do Bayterek first — from the top you’ll see the whole Left Bank route.
  • From the airport the LRT is the easiest option: straight to Baiterek station, no changes.
  • Afterwards, walk the boulevard west to Khan Shatyr — roughly two kilometres.
  • In winter, dress warmly: the open boulevard is windy and you’ll walk a bit to the entrance.
  • Cloudy and windy? If your schedule allows, go another day — tickets aren’t refundable.

Questions

How much does it cost to go up Bayterek Tower?

2,500 KZT for adults, 1,250 KZT for children 6–15 and 2,000 KZT for pensioners. Children under 5 go free.

What are Bayterek Tower opening hours?

Open daily: 10:00–21:00 from 1 September to 31 May, and 10:00–22:00 from 1 June to 31 August.

Can I buy Bayterek tickets online?

We found no working online sales on the operator’s site. Buy at the ticket desk in the lower lobby; cards are accepted almost everywhere in Kazakhstan, but carry some tenge.

How do I get to Bayterek Tower from the airport?

Take the LRT from Airport station to Baiterek station with no changes, then walk about 600 m. A taxi takes around 15–20 minutes.

How tall is Bayterek Tower?

105 m including the spire. The observation deck is at 97 m, marking 1997, the year the capital moved to Astana.

How long do you need at Bayterek?

40–60 minutes for the lift, the deck, the handprint and the lobby. Add time for a lift queue at weekend sunsets.

Is Bayterek Tower worth visiting?

Yes on a first visit: it’s the quickest way to understand the Left Bank. Skip the ticket in fog or snow and enjoy the tower from the boulevard instead.

What is inside Bayterek Tower?

A lobby with the ticket desk, café and gallery below ground; above, the deck with 360° views, Nazarbayev’s gilded handprint and a wooden globe signed by religious leaders.

What does Bayterek symbolise?

The tree of life from Kazakh legend, where the bird Samruk lays a golden egg. The sphere is the egg; the tower stands for the new capital.

Have you been? Was it worth your time?

1 — no, 5 — absolutely

Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.

Sources and fact-check

  • Astana Venue Management (operator): Bayterek monument page — prices, concessions, hours, address, 30.10.2026
  • English Wikipedia: Baiterek (monument); Russian Wikipedia: Байтерек (монумент); Wikidata Q804210
  • Aviasales.kz: LRT in Astana — stations, fare, payment and hours, 15.10.2026
  • Kapital.kz, Zakon.kz, China Daily — LRT launch, May 2026
  • Inform.kz and Digital Business — bank-card payment on Astana public transport
  • WE Project and Tengrinews, 2017 — the major renovation
  • Advantour — monument description; Sxodim and Sputnik8 — listings with break times
  • English and Russian Wikipedia: Khan Shatyr, Palace of Peace and Reconciliation
YesGo editorial team · facts checked 30.10.2026 ·
How we checkedPrices, concessions, hours and the address come from the operator, Astana Venue Management. Listings on Sxodim and Sputnik8 mention breaks at 13:00–13:30 and 18:00–18:30, and Sxodim gives a 9:00 start; the operator doesn’t, so breaks are marked unofficial and hours follow the operator. Older guidebook prices of 700 and 2,000 KZT are out of date. The number of religions on the globe differs (Russian Wikipedia says 17, English Wikipedia 16 segments), so we leave it out. The operator dates completion to 29 August 2002 and Wikipedia to 30 August, so we give only the year. The walk from the LRT station and the taxi time are marked as checking.

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