Republic Square
Republic Square
3.8
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
3.8
24 reviews
Excellent
6
Very good
9
Average
8
Poor
1
Terrible
0
tian s
Tashkent, Uzbekistan419 contributions
Jun 2016 • Solo
Full ensemble of buildings, including parliament, get a real dose of Kazkahstan and Kazakh SSR history. The architecture is from the 1970s and you kind of feel taken back into time to that era, except for the advertisements. You see the 2 apartment buildings across from the parliament, the broad wide streets. The presidential residence and the national museum are not far away.
Written September 13, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Firoz U
London, UK652 contributions
Sep 2019
Impressive monument situated uphill in Almaty, but a rewarding visit. The monument is surrounded by historical moments in Kazakhstan’s past, and notable figures. To get a good picture of the whole site you need to cross a busy road, so take care when doing so.
Written October 5, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bozeman-Dublin
Trim, Ireland11,521 contributions
Aug 2024 • Friends
As a square, this is not the most impressive place you'll see, nor is it the best place in Almaty to visit, but it is a good way to orientate yourself and the freedom column/monument in the centre is very impressive.
Behind it are pleasant fountains with brass plates depicting notable moments of Kazakh history.
Definitely worth a short visit.
Behind it are pleasant fountains with brass plates depicting notable moments of Kazakh history.
Definitely worth a short visit.
Written August 31, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dianedinky
Dunfermline, UK2,508 contributions
Aug 2024 • Solo
You stay in Almaty for the surrounding attractions, you certainly doing come here for the city itself. The Republic Square nicely exemplifies that. It is still very Soviet looking and totally ruined by the nearby ugly hotels, plus the space-age dome thing they've stuck in front of the former parliament building.
You need to walk quite a bit away and take the monument column from a side on angle to get anything like a nice photo. The friezes around the base are very nicely done though as the the book for the Constitution.
But there is nothing else around the square - and certainly no shops. If you want to buy souvenirs in Almaty itself...good luck!
Note that the Soviet influence is still strong in Kazakhstan and we even have renamed McDonalds to get past the Western trade embargos.
You need to walk quite a bit away and take the monument column from a side on angle to get anything like a nice photo. The friezes around the base are very nicely done though as the the book for the Constitution.
But there is nothing else around the square - and certainly no shops. If you want to buy souvenirs in Almaty itself...good luck!
Note that the Soviet influence is still strong in Kazakhstan and we even have renamed McDonalds to get past the Western trade embargos.
Written February 25, 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paul Legate
United Kingdom21,923 contributions
Jun 2023 • Friends
Republic Square is the main square in Almaty situated a short distance from the downtown area of the city. The square was built in 1980 and It is used for public events. The former presidential palace on the south side is now used as municipal offices. There are several notable landmarks in the square including Golden Warrior Monument which celebrates the independence of Kazakhstan, also close by is the Central State Museum. There many other significant buildings and landmarks in the vicinty of the square. It is definately a must see whilst in Almaty.
Written July 30, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mrc282
World9,984 contributions
Jul 2024 • Family
this square has the independence monument, and across the street the city mayor office (former presidential palace) , and a stone's throw away, the central state museum.
Written August 26, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KatielouAustralia
Hobart, Australia2,037 contributions
Jun 2023 • Friends
This is a must-see sight in the city. The main attraction of the Republic Square is the Monument of Independence a 28-m stela adorned with a figure of the legendary Golden man and a flying winged leopard underneath it. Other monuments include two children on colts symbolizing youth and hopes for the great future of the Kazakh state; as well as symbolical figures of Father and Mother.
Written June 25, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andrew M
7,580 contributions
Jul 2018 • Family
Republic Square is a must visit if you are in Almaty. It is an important place in the short history of independent Kazakhstan, as it was in this Square that the riots took place against Soviet rule, which eventually led to the Soviets granting Kazakhstan independence. The central monument in the square is the golden man standing atop the snow leopard. This is perched atop a huge column, and overlooking the old Presidential Palace.
The column is surrounded by statues of local origin, and there are reliefs on the surrounding walls that relate the history of Kazakhstan's struggle for Independence. These reliefs trace history from ancient times to modern times. There are fountains and many neatly manicured flower beds, which make for great photos. A short walk to the left of the square and across the road is the "Dawn of Freedom monument", which is dedicated to those who lost their lives in the 1986 uprising.
There are many monuments and attractions nearby, and this area is easily reached by Subway to Abay Station. Restaurants, and many other F&B options are found on Nazarbayev Avenue.
The column is surrounded by statues of local origin, and there are reliefs on the surrounding walls that relate the history of Kazakhstan's struggle for Independence. These reliefs trace history from ancient times to modern times. There are fountains and many neatly manicured flower beds, which make for great photos. A short walk to the left of the square and across the road is the "Dawn of Freedom monument", which is dedicated to those who lost their lives in the 1986 uprising.
There are many monuments and attractions nearby, and this area is easily reached by Subway to Abay Station. Restaurants, and many other F&B options are found on Nazarbayev Avenue.
Written August 27, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chun Yin
Singapore, Singapore348 contributions
Sep 2016 • Couples
We managed to see fireworks while walking through this place. After asking around, we realized that the fireworks were set off due to the 1000th anniversary of the city. The scene was beautiful, with all the historic buildings in the foreground and the fireworks at the background. We were lucky that day.
Written September 20, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BrakiWorldTraveler
Belgrade, Serbia20,819 contributions
Oct 2024 • Couples
Republic square in most cities is one of the most beautiful ones. Sadly, here in Almaty I cannot say that.
The central feature is a Golden Warrior obelisk commemorating the independence from the USSR in 1991. However, if you take a wider look from both of its sides are two unbelievably ugly Soviet style high rises. Like that's not enough, both have on top some disasterous blue ads looking like an UFO landed on the roof. Looking further and more wider aside are two long and dull administrative edifices with some paroles on the rooftop.
On the opposite side situation is slightly better. There's a vast City Hall which used to be the Presidential palace and reminds on Moscow's White House.
The entire square looks like a time capsule travelling you back in 1960's -70's in Soviet era.
To conclude, if not on your way it's not worth at all detouring to see this square.
Better head to nearby State Museum which is really worth visiting.
The central feature is a Golden Warrior obelisk commemorating the independence from the USSR in 1991. However, if you take a wider look from both of its sides are two unbelievably ugly Soviet style high rises. Like that's not enough, both have on top some disasterous blue ads looking like an UFO landed on the roof. Looking further and more wider aside are two long and dull administrative edifices with some paroles on the rooftop.
On the opposite side situation is slightly better. There's a vast City Hall which used to be the Presidential palace and reminds on Moscow's White House.
The entire square looks like a time capsule travelling you back in 1960's -70's in Soviet era.
To conclude, if not on your way it's not worth at all detouring to see this square.
Better head to nearby State Museum which is really worth visiting.
Written October 27, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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