# Bayterek Tower, Astana > Bayterek is Astana’s landmark: a 105-metre white tower with a golden sphere on Nurzhol Boulevard. A lift takes you to the 97-metre deck, with Nazarbayev’s gilded handprint and 360° views. Adults pay 2,500 KZT, children 6–15 pay 1,250 KZT. Open daily, 10:00–21:00 from September to May and until 22:00 in summer. Allow 40–60 minutes. Web page: https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/astana/bayterek-tower - City: [Astana](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/astana), Kazakhstan - YesGo score: 46/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 45 min - Entry: 2,500 KZT; kids 6–15 1,250 KZT - With kids: Fine with kids - Adult ticket: 2,500 KZT - Children 6–15: 1,250 KZT - Pensioners: 2,000 KZT with ID - Groups of 10+: 2,000 KZT adult, 1,000 KZT child, 1,700 KZT pensioner - Free: Children under 5 and several concession groups, with documents at the ticket desk - Opening hours: 1 Sep – 31 May 10:00–21:00; 1 Jun – 31 Aug 10:00–22:00; open every day - Breaks: 13:00–13:30 and 18:00–18:30 — unofficial - Refunds: Tickets can't be exchanged or refunded - Where to buy: Ticket desk in the lower lobby; we found no working online sales on the operator's site - Address: Nurzhol Boulevard 14, Left Bank - Nearest LRT station: Baiterek, about 600 m on foot - Coordinates: 51.12833, 71.43056 - Facts checked: 30.10.2026 ## Key facts - **97 m** — height of the observation deck — a nod to 1997, when the capital moved from Almaty (source: Astana Venue Management; English and Russian Wikipedia) - **105 m** — total height including the spire (source: Astana Venue Management; English and Russian Wikipedia) - **22 m** — diameter of the gold-mirrored glass sphere (source: Astana Venue Management; English and Russian Wikipedia) - **2002** — completed, after work began in October 1996 (source: Astana Venue Management; English and Russian Wikipedia) - **Ayaly Alakan** — the gilded print of Nazarbayev’s right hand at the top (source: Astana Venue Management; English and Russian Wikipedia) - **Samruk** — the mythical bird whose golden egg, laid in the tree of life, the sphere represents (source: English and Russian Wikipedia) - **Akmurza Rustembekov** — led the team of architects (source: English and Russian Wikipedia) - **Mark Vaynshtein** — chief structural engineer (source: English and Russian Wikipedia) - **Wooden globe** — signed by leaders of world religions, next to the deck (source: Astana Venue Management; English and Russian Wikipedia) - **4.5 m** — below ground: the lower level with the lobby and gallery (source: Russian Wikipedia; Advantour) - **2017** — major renovation: new lobby, café and contemporary art gallery (source: English Wikipedia; WE Project; Tengrinews) ## 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. > **Expect a wait for the lift at sunset** There are only two lifts, so at weekends and around sunset you’ll probably queue. The unofficial midday and early-evening breaks can pause the lift for half an hour. Tickets are non-refundable — if the sphere is lost in cloud, come back another day. ## 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](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/astana/nurzhol-boulevard) running west to the [Khan Shatyr](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/astana/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 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. ## Before you go: checklist - [ ] Clear sky — no fog or snowstorm - [ ] Arriving at least 30 minutes before closing - [ ] Bank card or some tenge cash for the desk - [ ] ID for a child or concession ticket - [ ] 40–60 minutes set aside - [ ] Phone charged for sunset and the lights ## Bayterek vs Khan Shatyr vs the Pyramid | | Bayterek | Khan Shatyr | Palace of Peace and Reconciliation | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | What it is | Monument with an observation deck | Giant tent with a mall and indoor beach | Pyramid with halls and an atrium | | Height | 105 m, deck at 97 m | 150 m with spire | 62 m | | Opened | 2002 | 2010 | 2006 | | Architect | Akmurza Rustembekov’s team | Foster + Partners | Norman Foster | | Go for | The view over the Left Bank | A warm walk indoors in winter | Architecture 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. - [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 - [Nurzhol Boulevard](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/astana/nurzhol-boulevard) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · 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 - [Burabay (Borovoe)](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/astana/burabay) — YesGo score 16/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · Car entry from 1,298 ₸ ## 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. 1. [Khan Shatyr](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/astana/khan-shatyr) — YesGo score 41/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Free entry; beach ≈ 20,000 ₸ 2. [Nurzhol Boulevard](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/astana/nurzhol-boulevard) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free 3. [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 4. [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 5. [Hazrat Sultan Mosque](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/astana/hazrat-sultan-mosque) — YesGo score 41/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 40 min · Free > **Stay for the lights** By day the deck shows you the city plan; after dark it shows the city. Then go back down and look up — the classic shot of the glowing sphere is from the boulevard on the Khan Shatyr side. ## Good to know You’ll see the name spelled Bayterek, Baiterek and Bäiterek — it’s the same tower. “Baiterek” is also a state holding company, several housing estates and a district in West Kazakhstan, so add “tower” or “Astana” when searching. ## Tips - 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. ## How we checked Prices, 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. ## Sources - 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 --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.