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Nurzhol Boulevard, Astana

Nurzhol Boulevard with flowerbeds between two golden cone-shaped towers, leading to the blue-domed Akorda palace
Photo: Ken and Nyetta, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

The essentials in 10 seconds

Entry
Free — it’s a public pedestrian zone
Hours
Open 24/7
Time on site
A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes.
1 h
With kids
Fine with kids
Length
Walkway ≈ 2.2 km; Akorda to Khan Shatyr ≈ 3 km
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Walking time
≈ 40 minutes non-stop, about an hour with photos
Singing fountain
May to September, evenings from around 20:00 — unofficial
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Bayterek
Nurzhol Boulevard 14 — the middle of the boulevard
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Akorda
Nurzhol Boulevard 1 — the east end, by the river
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Khan Shatyr
Turan Avenue 37 — the west end
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
LRT stations
Baiterek (≈ 600 m to mid-boulevard) and Dom Ministerstv, near the east end
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Coordinates
51.12721, 71.43695YesGo MapGoogleApple

Key facts

≈ 2.2 kmlength of the pedestrian boulevard
3 sourcesRussian Wikipedia (2GIS data)Wikidata Q713955welcome.kz and Eurasia.Travel give “over 2 km”
Akorda to Khan Shatyrthe boulevard runs from the presidential palace in the east to the tent in the west
2 sourcesEnglish and Russian Wikipediawelcome.kz
Freean open public promenade — no tickets, no closing day
2 sourcesEnglish and Russian Wikipediawelcome.kz
Kisho Kurokawathe Japanese architect behind the boulevard and the new city’s master plan
3 sourcesEnglish and Russian Wikipediawelcome.kzTonkosti Turizma
3 levelsparking below, shops, cafés and offices in the middle, the promenade on top
2 sourcesRussian WikipediaTonkosti Turizma
Water-Greenthe boulevard’s former name, for its fountains, greenery and blue-green glass
3 sourcesEnglish and Russian WikipediaWikidatawelcome.kz
105 mheight of Bayterek, the tower midway along, at Nurzhol Boulevard 14
2 sourcesAstana Venue ManagementEnglish and Russian Wikipedia
2 golden towersconical, clad in reflective gold, by the House of Ministries at the east end
3 sourcesEnglish Wikipediawelcome.kzLonely Planet
Singing fountaina music-and-light fountain between Bayterek and the golden towers
2 sourceswelcome.kzEurasia.Travel
≈ 3 kmstraight line from Akorda to Khan Shatyr; Bayterek is about 1.1 km from Akorda
SourceYesGo calculation from Wikidata coordinates
Left Bankof the Ishim (Yesil) river — Astana’s new government and business district
SourceEnglish and Russian Wikipedia

What to see on Nurzhol Boulevard

Walking east to west, you pass almost every postcard view of modern Astana. The boulevard is the spine of the new capital, laid out by Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa, with government ministries, state company headquarters and glass residential towers lined up on both sides.

Highlights from east to west

  • Akorda, the president’s blue-domed palace on the river at the east end. It’s a working residence — you see it from the square outside.
  • The two golden towers by the House of Ministries — cone-shaped and clad in gold. Stand between them for the classic shot framing Akorda.
  • The singing fountain, between the golden towers and Bayterek — jets rise and fall to music on warm evenings.
  • Bayterek Tower, the 105-metre white tower with a golden sphere, midway along. There’s a paid observation deck at the top.
  • Glass towers of ministries, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (the railways) and KazMunayGas (the oil company).
  • Flowerbeds, lawns and art installations on the upper level.
  • Khan Shatyr, Norman Foster’s see-through tent, where the boulevard ends.

How long does it take to walk Nurzhol Boulevard?

The pedestrian boulevard is about 2.2 km. From the square in front of Akorda to the door of Khan Shatyr it’s closer to 3 km: using Wikidata coordinates, Bayterek sits about 1.1 km from Akorda and just under 2 km from the tent.

At a brisk pace the full walk takes about 40 minutes. With photo stops, the fountain and a pause at Bayterek, allow around an hour. Going up Bayterek adds another 40–60 minutes.

Short on time? Walk only the western half, Bayterek to Khan Shatyr — about 25 minutes, with the tent in view the whole way. Do the eastern half if you want Akorda and the golden towers.

Is Nurzhol Boulevard worth it?

Yes — it’s the single best introduction to Astana. In one walk you see what the city was built to show: a capital designed from scratch, with every landmark lined up on one axis. It costs nothing, and you’ll probably cross it anyway on the way between Bayterek and Khan Shatyr.

It’s less rewarding in the dead of winter or at midday in summer, when the open paving is either freezing or shadeless. Aim for a warm evening: the towers light up, the fountain plays and the whole city seems to be out.

The singing fountain: when to catch the show

The singing fountain is on the boulevard next to Bayterek, on the side facing the golden towers. In the evening its jets move to music by Kazakh and international composers and change colour. It’s free — watch from anywhere around the basin.

We found no official timetable. Unofficial sources say it runs from 1 May to the end of September, with the show starting around 20:00 as it gets dark and going on into the late evening. Times shift with the season and on city holidays.

Tip: go up Bayterek just before the show, then come down to the fountain — you see the boulevard light up from above, then the fountain from below.

How to get to Nurzhol Boulevard

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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

  • Bayterek Tower is about 8 min away on foot.

More tips

  1. Aim for Bayterek in the middle — you can see the golden sphere from far away, and it’s the easiest point to start in either direction.
  2. Take the driverless LRT to Baiterek station, then walk about 600 m to mid-boulevard. For the east end and Akorda, Dom Ministerstv (House of Ministries) station is closer. From the airport it’s 11 stops to Baiterek with no changes; trains run 06:00–23:00 and a ride is 200 KZT.
  3. City buses stop by Bayterek and by the House of Ministries. Check the route from your hotel in 2GIS or Google Maps.
  4. Paying: tap a contactless Visa or Mastercard, Apple Pay or Samsung Pay on the LRT gate or bus validator — the same 200 KZT. Cards are widely accepted in Astana, but keep a little tenge cash for small kiosks.
  5. By taxi, Yandex Go works in Astana: about 15–20 minutes from the airport in light traffic. Ask for Bayterek.
  6. Then pick a direction: east for 15 minutes to Akorda and the golden towers, or west for about 25 minutes to Khan Shatyr.

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Nurzhol Boulevard, Bayterek and Khan Shatyr

Nurzhol Boulevardyou are herePedestrian boulevardFree24/7≈ 1 hCold and windy
BayterekTower with an observation deck2,500 KZT adult, 1,250 KZT child10:00–21:00, to 22:00 in summer40–60 minWarm inside
Khan ShatyrShopping and leisure centre in a tentFree to enter10:00–22:00, Fri–Sat to 23:001–1.5 hWarm inside

These aren’t alternatives — the boulevard links the other two. In winter, shorten the walk and spend longer indoors.

Astana after dark

Places in Astana that work in the evening, rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.

Bayterek Tower4645 min2,500 KZT; kids 6–15 1,250 KZT8 min walk
Nurzhol Boulevardyou are here431 hFree—
Hazrat Sultan Mosque4140 minFree43 min walk
Khan Shatyr411 h 30 minFree41 min walk

From the river to the tent in half a day

The National Museum on Independence Square, across the Ishim to the boulevard, up Bayterek, then the walk to Khan Shatyr. YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.

  1. National Museum of Kazakhstan2 h · 5,000 ₸ foreigners, Gold Halls +1,000 ₸
  2. 43 min walk from the previous stopNurzhol Boulevardyou are here1 h · Free
  3. 8 min walk from the previous stopBayterek Tower45 min · 2,500 KZT; kids 6–15 1,250 KZT
  4. 33 min walk from the previous stopKhan Shatyr1 h 30 min · Free entry; beach ≈ 20,000 ₸

4 places · about 6 h 39 min with walks · 84 min on foot in total

Go · my route

Nearby — add to your day

Bayterek Tower

Astana, Kazakhstan

45 min · 2,500 KZT; kids 6–15 1,250 KZT · 8 min walk

Khan Shatyr

Astana, Kazakhstan

1 h 30 min · Free entry; beach ≈ 20,000 ₸ · 41 min walk

How to do it right

  • Start at Akorda and walk west, so you reach Bayterek and the fountain around sunset.
  • The signature shot is Akorda framed between the two golden towers — take it from the boulevard by the House of Ministries.
  • Short on time? Walk just from Bayterek to Khan Shatyr — about 25 minutes.
  • In winter, dress for the steppe: hat, gloves, windproof jacket. Khan Shatyr is the place to thaw out.
  • For lunch, try the cafés on the boulevard’s middle level or the Khan Shatyr food court.
  • On Capital Day, 6 July, the boulevard is packed for the city holiday.

Questions

Where is Nurzhol Boulevard?

On Astana’s Left Bank, between the Akorda presidential palace by the river and the Khan Shatyr tent, with Bayterek Tower in the middle.

How long is Nurzhol Boulevard?

The pedestrian walkway is about 2.2 km. From Akorda to Khan Shatyr it’s roughly 3 km in a straight line.

How long does it take to walk Nurzhol Boulevard?

About 40 minutes non-stop, or an hour with photo stops. Bayterek to Khan Shatyr alone is about 25 minutes.

Is Nurzhol Boulevard free?

Yes. It’s a public promenade, open 24/7. Only the Bayterek observation deck charges admission.

When does the singing fountain in Astana play?

Unofficially, from May to the end of September in the evenings, starting around 20:00. There’s no official timetable.

How do I get to Nurzhol Boulevard?

LRT to Baiterek or Dom Ministerstv station, a city bus to Bayterek, or a Yandex Go taxi — about 15–20 minutes from the airport.

Can you visit Akorda?

Akorda is the president’s working residence. From the boulevard you see it from outside; check the official Akorda website for any visits inside.

Is Nurzhol Boulevard worth it at night?

Yes — evening is the best time. The towers and Bayterek are lit up, and in the warm season the singing fountain plays.

Is it worth walking in winter?

Briefly. There are no fountains and the wind is fierce — do the Bayterek to Khan Shatyr stretch and warm up inside.

Have you been? Was it worth your time?

1 — no, 5 — absolutely

Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.

Sources and fact-check

  • English Wikipedia: Nurjol Boulevard; Russian Wikipedia: Bulvar Nurzhol; Wikidata Q713955, Q804210, Q671484, Q413579 (coordinates)
  • welcome.kz: Nurzhol Boulevard; House of Ministries
  • Eurasia.Travel: Nurzhol Boulevard; Singing Fountain in Astana
  • Tonkosti Turizma: Water-Green Boulevard
  • Lonely Planet: buildings by the House of Ministries
  • Visit Astana: addresses of Akorda and Bayterek
  • Astana Venue Management (Bayterek operator): prices and hours, 30.10.2026
  • Khan Shatyr official website: address and opening hours, 30.10.2026
  • Aviasales.kz: LRT in Astana — stations, fares, payment and hours, 15.10.2026
  • English Wikipedia: Ak Orda Presidential Palace
YesGo editorial team · facts checked 30.10.2026 ·
How we checkedSources disagree on length: Wikipedia and Wikidata give 2,200 m, NewTimes.kz says just over 3 km from the House of Ministries to Khan Shatyr. We measured between Wikidata coordinates — Akorda to Bayterek ≈ 1.1 km, Bayterek to Khan Shatyr ≈ 1.9 km — and show both figures. The fountain’s season and show time are unofficial. The walk from the LRT station is marked as checking. One guide lists the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation as being on the boulevard; it isn’t — it’s across the river. We leave out the golden towers’ height and symbolism, as we found only one source. We could not confirm tours inside Akorda.

Top YesGo picks: Astana

National Museum of Kazakhstan

Astana, Kazakhstan

2 h · 5,000 ₸ foreigners, Gold Halls +1,000 ₸

ALZHIR Memorial and Museum

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1 h 30 min · ≈ 1,200 ₸, guided tour extra

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