Top places to visit in Almaty

• Panfilov Park & Zenkov Cathedral

  park & cathedral · 4.6 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  Almaty's most beloved green space, named after the 28 Panfilov guardsmen who defended Moscow in 1941. The park is anchored by the Eternal Flame war memorial and the spectacular Zenkov Cathedral — a 1907 tsarist-era Russian Orthodox church…

• Medeu Ice Rink

  ice rink · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  The world's highest-altitude outdoor speed-skating rink at 1,691 m above sea level, Medeu is one of Almaty's most iconic landmarks. Built in 1972, the vast 10,500 m² ice sheet is surrounded by mountains and hosts international skating…

• Kok-Tobe Hill

  hill viewpoint · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Almaty's iconic 1,100-metre hill topped by a distinctive 372-metre TV tower and an amusement park. The viewpoint offers the finest panorama of the city against the snow-capped Alatau range. A popular cable car runs from the city centre to…

• Big Almaty Lake

  mountain lake · 4.8 rating · about 4 h · check the fee at the gate

  A glacial reservoir at 2,511 m in the Ile-Alatau National Park, glowing in surreal shades of turquoise and emerald depending on glacial meltwater levels. The lake is sacred to locals and swimming is prohibited — but the 3-hour hike through…

• Shymbulak Ski Resort

  ski resort · 4.7 rating · about 6 h · check the fee at the gate

  Central Asia's premier ski resort perched at 2,200–3,200 m in the Zailiysky Alatau mountains, just 25 km from Almaty city centre. 21 km of groomed pistes, modern gondola lifts, snow-guaranteed December–April, and stunning mountain scenery…

• Green Bazaar (Zelyony Rynok)

  food market · 4.4 rating · about 1.3 h · check the fee at the gate

  Almaty's legendary indoor market and the beating commercial heart of the city since Soviet times. A labyrinth of stalls selling every variety of Central Asian food — dried fruits, spices, cheeses, smoked meats, live fish, and mountains of…

• Central State Museum of Kazakhstan

  national museum · 4.5 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  Kazakhstan's largest museum and one of the finest in Central Asia, housing over 120,000 artefacts spanning 2.5 million years of Kazakh history. Highlights include the Golden Man of the Scythians (a reconstructed 5th-century BC warrior in…

• Charyn Canyon

  canyon · 4.8 rating · about 4 h · check the fee at the gate

  Dramatic red-rock canyon known as the "Valley of Castles," roughly 3 hours from Almaty, often compared to the Grand Canyon.

• Kolsai Lakes National Park

  national-park · 4.8 rating · about 5 h · check the fee at the gate

  A chain of three alpine lakes in the Tian Shan foothills, a popular day-trip and trekking destination from Almaty.

• Arasan Bathhouse

  bathhouse · 4.3 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  Soviet-era public bathhouse complex built in 1982, a genuinely local institution. Three sections — Russian banya, Finnish sauna, and East baths — offer an authentic communal bathing experience that locals have enjoyed for generations.…

• Almaty Central Mosque

  mosque · 4.5 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  The main mosque of Almaty, built in 1999 with a striking blue dome, welcoming visitors outside prayer times.

• Republic Square

  city-square · 4.4 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  Central civic square anchored by the Independence Monument, a popular gathering spot and photo stop.

Things to do

• Shymbulak Ski & Snowboard Day Pass Adventure · 6 h · from KZT 14,300 per person
• Charyn Canyon Full-Day Tour Nature & Outdoors · 8 h · from KZT 11,200 per person
• Big Almaty Lake Hiking Day Tour Nature & Outdoors · 5 h · from KZT 9,200 per person
• Almaty City Walking Tour Cultural · 3 h · from KZT 4,100 per person
• Kok-Tobe Cable Car & Panorama Tour Sightseeing · 2 h · from USD 12 per person
• Kolsai Lakes Day Trip from Almaty Nature · 10 h · from USD 60 per person
• Almaty Food & Bazaar Walking Tour Cultural · 3 h · from USD 35 per person

Day trips and tours

• Almaty Mountains & Medeu Day Tour 9 h · from KZT 17,900
• Almaty City & Culture Tour 6 h · from KZT 10,200

Where to stay in Almaty

• City Centre / Almaly about KZT 80 per night

  The historic and commercial heart of Almaty, centred on the Arbat (Zhybek Zholy pedestrian street) and Panfilov Park. Best shopping, nightlife, and restaurant scene.

• Medeu & Shymbulak about KZT 180 per night

  Upscale mountain district where Almaty meets the Zailiysky Alatau foothills. Premium resort hotels, stunning scenery, and direct access to Medeu ice rink and Shymbulak ski resort.

• Bostandyk about KZT 60 per night

  Quiet, leafy residential district in the hills — popular with expats and longer-stay visitors. Boutique hotels and guesthouses, easy access to nature.

Hotels

• The Ritz-Carlton Almaty 5-star · KZT 80,000 to KZT 300,000 per night
• Hyatt Regency Almaty 5-star · KZT 60,000 to KZT 200,000 per night
• Rixos Almaty 5-star · USD 150 to USD 420 per night
• InterContinental Almaty 5-star · USD 140 to USD 400 per night
• Shymbulak Mountain Resort 4-star · KZT 35,000 to KZT 90,000 per night
• Swissôtel Wellness Resort Alatau Almaty 5-star · USD 130 to USD 350 per night

Where to eat

• Coffeemania European, Russian, Café · about KZT 3,500 per person
• Rakhat Bazaar Food Stalls Kazakh, Central Asian, Street Food · about KZT 800 per person
• Chaikhana Navat Kazakh, Uzbek, Central Asian · about KZT 4,500 per person
• Assorti Grill Steakhouse, Grill, European · about KZT 9,000 per person
• Kishlak Uzbek, Central Asian · about KZT 2,500 per person
• Sandyq Kazakh, Central Asian · about USD 15 per person
• Line Brew Steakhouse, European · about USD 20 per person
• Tandoor Indian · about USD 12 per person

Getting to Almaty

Airport: Almaty (ALA)

How visitors arrive in Almaty

• Fly into Almaty Airport By air from Almaty International Airport · common

  The airport is the hub for Central Asia; most Western visitors connect via Istanbul, the Gulf, Frankfurt or London. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Train from Astana By train from Astana · common

  Mainline trains from Astana via Karaganda arrive at Almaty-2 station. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Bus from Bishkek By road from Bishkek · common

  Long-distance buses from Bishkek, Karakol and other points arrive at Sayran Bus Station. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the airport to the centre

• City buses from the airport unconfirmed

  City bus 92 runs between Almaty Airport and the city centre by day, and night bus 3 serves the centre after dark. Pay by Onay card or cash to the driver. Source: turotvet.com

• Taxi booth or Yandex

  Taxis can be ordered at the booth in the arrivals hall or via Yandex. Agree the fare and beware drivers who later claim it was per kilometre. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Touts at the airport may insist buses are not running; they are. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the railway station to the centre

• Trains to Almaty-2

  Almaty-2 is the main station at the north end of downtown; Almaty-1 is a secondary station. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the bus terminal to the centre

• Sayran bus station

  Long-distance coaches, including from Bishkek, use Sayran bus station west of the centre. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Getting around

• Bus

  Almaty runs a large network of city buses and trolleybuses, and fares can be paid on board or with the local Onay card.

• Metro limited to a few areas

  Almaty has an underground metro that serves part of the city rather than every district, so check it against your route.

  Almaty Metro

• Ride Hail useful for some trips

  Yandex Go is the ride-hailing app used in Almaty and works much like Uber for ordering a car from your phone.

  Get Yandex Go

• Taxi

  Besides ride-hailing apps, informal street taxis operate in Almaty; agree the destination and price with the driver before getting in.

• Walking

Safety and scams to avoid

• Fake Taxi Overcharge

  Almaty International Airport arrivals hall

  Unofficial drivers approach arrivals offering rides at "fixed rates" of 15,000–25,000 KZT for a city trip worth 3,000–5,000 KZT on Yandex Go.

  How to avoid it: Always use Yandex Go or inDriver from the airport. Legitimate yellow taxis post their tariff on the door.

• Currency Exchange Shortchange

  Almaty city centre exchange kiosks

  Operator distracts you during counting and palms a note, returning less than the displayed rate.

  How to avoid it: Use ATMs or exchange only at bank branches. Count notes before leaving the counter.

• Tourist Overpricing at Green Bazaar

  Almaty Green Bazaar, spice and souvenir lane

  Prices quoted to apparent tourists are 3–5× the local rate for dried fruit, honey and souvenirs.

  How to avoid it: Observe what locals pay first. A polite counter-offer of 50% is expected; walk away if price remains inflated.

Best time to visit Almaty

• Jan 1°C
• Feb 3°C
• Mar 10°C
• Apr 18°C
• May 23°C
• Jun 28°C
• Jul 31°C
• Aug 30°C
• Sep 25°C
• Oct 17°C
• Nov 8°C
• Dec 2°C

More in Kazakhstan

• Astana
• Shymkent
• Aktau
• Turkistan
• Oskemen

Frequently asked questions about Almaty

How many days do you need in Almaty?

A typical trip to Almaty is 2-3 days.

What are the top-rated places to visit in Almaty?

The highest-rated places in our Almaty guide are Big Almaty Lake, Charyn Canyon, Kolsai Lakes National Park, Shymbulak Ski Resort, Panfilov Park & Zenkov Cathedral.

Where should I stay in Almaty?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Almaty: City Centre / Almaly, Medeu & Shymbulak, Bostandyk.

How do I get around Almaty?

Ways to get around Almaty covered in our guide: City bus, Metro, Ride-hailing app, Taxi.

What scams should I watch out for in Almaty?

Scams reported to us for Almaty include Fake Taxi Overcharge; Currency Exchange Shortchange; Tourist Overpricing at Green Bazaar. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in Almaty?

Average daytime highs in Almaty run from 1°C in Jan to 31°C in Jul.

Which airport is nearest to Almaty?

The nearest airport to Almaty has the code ALA.