Pagoda of Seven Days
A seven-tiered Buddhist pagoda in the city centre, one of the symbols of Elista.
Tickets →Elista, Russia
Elista: airports, things to do and where to stay
Elista is the capital of Kalmykia, the only republic in Europe with a Buddhist majority, in the steppe west of the Caspian Sea. It has Buddhist temples and a district built around chess.
Elista airports
From the airport to central Elista
Elista airport is about 9 km from central Elista.
Taxi
Taxis outside the terminal, plus ride-hailing apps and pre-booked cars. The journey to Elista depends a lot on traffic.
Elista
Things to do in Elista
Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni
The Golden Temple (Burkhan Bakshin Altan Sume), one of the largest Buddhist temples in Europe.
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Chess City
A district of buildings and monuments with a chess theme, built for the 1998 Chess Olympiad.
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Lenin Square
The central square of Elista, with the Pagoda of Seven Days and government buildings.
Tickets →Frequently asked questions
Which airport serves Elista?
Elista is served by Elista (ESL).
How far is the airport from central Elista?
Elista airport is about 9 km from central Elista.
How do I get from the airport to central Elista?
From Elista airport you can take Taxi. Pre-booked taxis and private transfers are also available.
What are the must-sees in Elista?
Highlights of Elista include Pagoda of Seven Days, Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni, Chess City, and Lenin Square.
Photo credits
- Pagoda of Seven Days: Dor Shabashewitz, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni: Oleg-Akamatsu, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Chess City: JialiangGao www.peace-on-earth.org, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Lenin Square: Rartat, CC0, Wikimedia Commons