The capital's largest attraction and an architectural masterpiece -
MEGA Silk Way Shopping and Entertainment Center – is not just a shopping venue, but a large-scale social space that has become a landmark attraction of Astana on the left bank of the Ishim River. The site represents a unique "shopping street" concept, where the internal galleries are designed as busy city streets under transparent vaults.
Thanks to its size and innovative content, the center welcomes more than a million visitors monthly, offering them a combination of premium service and family comfort. After visiting the shopping center, you can take a walk to the city's Botanical Garden and spend time studying local plants.
The building, created according to the project of the famous British bureau Chapman Taylor, strikes the imagination: its length is 500 meters, and the height of the central atriums reaches 25 meters. A 15-minute walk from the SEC is the famous Open-Air Space Museum.
MEGA Silk Way unites under its roof more than 300 stores of global and Kazakhstani brands, huge food courts, signature restaurants, and unique entertainment zones. This is a place where shopping smoothly flows into cultural leisure, making the center the main meeting point for residents and guests of the capital. After shopping in the SEC, you can go to the largest Central Republican Mosque and admire its architecture and colossal size.
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How to get there and visit -
The MEGA Silk Way shopping center is located at 62 Kabanbay Batyr Avenue, Esli District, Astana, Republic of Kazakhstan.
GPS coordinates: 51°05'20"N 71°24'26"E
Getting to MEGA Silk Way is easy – buses run regularly. Suitable routes include: 37, 301, 10, 302, 43, 308, 51, 314, 18, 320, 40, 323, 12, 47, 303, 53, and 309. The best way to get to the shopping center is by car or by taxi using a special mobile app.
Opening hours: Monday-Sunday, 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Contacts: +7 7172 73 50 95
Official website of the shopping center
Instagram link
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History
The construction of MEGA Silk Way has become one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in the capital. Its construction was carried out specifically for the opening of the EXPO-2017 international specialized exhibition. The presidents of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan attended the grand opening ceremony in March 2017, underscoring the strategic importance of the facility for both tourism and the region's investment appeal.
In a short time, the center has gained international recognition and become a new chapter in the development of the MEGA chain. Initially, the architects planned to create an artificial lake with islands inside the building, but later transformed the idea into a multifunctional "city square." The history of the shopping center is a journey from a futuristic design by British architects to the country's premier retail destination, implementing green standards and eco-friendly resource management technologies.
Information
The MEGA Silk Way infrastructure includes unique facilities: it is home to the largest family amusement park, Happylon (6,000 sq. m), which includes the HappyCity children's city of professions.
For active recreation enthusiasts, the 800-square-meter MEGA Arena ice skating rink is open year-round. The Chaplin Cinema in the shopping center features eleven screens, with the largest screen measuring 17 meters high, comparable to a five-story building.
Particular attention has been paid to ecology: energy-saving glass and smart escalators with motion sensors were used during construction, reducing energy consumption by 20%. Rainwater is used for irrigation.
Additional amenities include the Kango trampoline park, the Marwin creative space with a "home library" concept, and numerous areas for cultural leisure. MEGA Silk Way fosters a modern culture of leisure, where sports, education, and shopping exist in perfect balance.
Detailed description of the facility
The center's interior is organized as a network of shopping streets symbolizing the Great Silk Road. Natural light streaming through the large skylights in the roof creates a feeling of open air, even in winter.
The shopping center's main promenade is filled with art objects and interactive installations. The two above-ground floors house both mass-market brands and exclusive boutiques, satisfying the needs of every audience.
The center also serves as a venue for city events, fashion shows, and holiday fairs. An underground passage connects the shopping center directly to Nazarbayev University. Thoughtful logistics within the building and a large parking lot ensure a comfortable and safe atmosphere for the whole family, even during peak weekend traffic.
Architecture
The architectural style of MEGA Silk Way is a seamless blend of futurism and functionality, designed by Chapman Taylor. The use of large glass surfaces and flowing façade lines creates a contemporary look.
The central atriums are designed to emphasize the grandeur of the structure, while the utility systems are concealed behind decorative elements. Evening illumination transforms the building into a glowing symbol of the Yesil district, complementing the capital's architectural landscape.
Conclusion
MEGA Silk Way is the heart of the new Astana, where every visit turns into a mini-journey. You can spend the entire day here, switching from shopping to entertainment and ending the evening with dinner at one of the many restaurants. This is a must-see destination, demonstrating to visitors to the capital the scale, hospitality, and technological sophistication of modern Kazakhstan.
Interesting sights nearby:
• Nazarbayev University;
• National Space Center;
• "Kazanat" Hippodrome;
• Astana Arena;
• Saryarka Cycling Track;
• "Barys Arena" Ice Palace.
Additional information:
• Where to go and what to see in Astana;
• Useful information about Astana.
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