It is the summer of 2023 and we have booked a 5 kilo hand baggage-only Fly Arystan flight from Delhi to Shymkent. Kazakhstan had recently allowed visa-free entry for Indian passport holders for visits less than 14 days. After spending a good four days exploring the charms of the Silk Route City, we take the advanced Talgo train from Shymkent to Almaty 2. I had checked the seats on the internet and figured that the overnight journey felt comfortable in the chair car. The lights in the train were pleasant and we were astonished when the vast Kazakh steppe landscapes rolled past us from the huge windows of the train. The breeze became cooler as the train got closer to Almaty in the morning; I ogled at the apples stacked up in buckets whenever we crossed a station.
Introduction to Almaty
Almaty is fondly called ‘The City of Apples’ and is the former capital of Kazakhstan. The Kazakh name for Almaty is Alma-Ata which literally translates to the land of apples! Almaty is set amidst mountains and is an enticing mix of Soviet era and modern lifestyle with an enviable fashion scene. I would also call Almaty a city of parks, as there are so many parks that you are likely to come across one wherever you are in the city. In a nutshell, Almaty is a modern city with an exciting food scene, glitzy nightclubs, parks, museums, historic sights, ski resorts.
The apartment that we had booked in Almaty was cancelled at the last moment and funnily enough we had no hotel booked as there was no availability when we checked on the train. When the train rolled into Almaty 2 station at around 8 am, it was with a mixture of emotions that we exited the station. In the absence of an english script and no preferred area for us to stay; we were in a quandary and had no solution. Thankfully, the modern train had charging points and we had fully charged phones. We walked onto the street and my basic map reading skills indicated that there were a number of affordable hotels on the street that we were walking on. It was a laughable scenario; trying to find the exact building with a number of parks around; the language barrier and erstwhile cold Soviet attitude.
Stay in Almaty – Hotel or Guesthouse
After getting troubled going door to door for an hour and half we figured that 8 am was too early for us to try and find a place to stay especially when the usual check-in time was 12 noon (they are quite rigid about the time). Our walk was through wide streets and I wondered if we were passing through a popular party area. We sat in a nearby park for a bit; tried to ask the locals for help and ultimately decided to have breakfast and finish our morning duties. The popular chain Degirmen was our choice as there was ample seating space because we wanted to calm our nerves, gather our thoughts and make a further plan of action. Degirmen turned out to be a disaster as they served us beef in an omelette after confirming that there would be no beef! Anyhow, we were able to charge our phones and get our coffee job done; and at 930 am stepped out with renewed enthusiasm.
We were a bit apprehensive of not being able to find a place to stay – it was the weekend and we had inadvertently landed in party capital Almaty on a Saturday. Summer in cold Almaty seems like a very popular time for visitors and we laughed at ourselves for Murphy’s law seemed to have struck at the worst possible time! It felt prudent to check out all the nearby options but a majority of them were hostels and even they were fully booked. Facing rejection after rejection, we turned into another lane and put a time limit for ourselves that if something doesn’t work out soon, we will book something on booking com even if it is faraway from the main city.
We checked Google Maps and started walking to a recommended place that was a bit more expensive than the ones on booking platforms. It was in an atmospheric small lane and the Russian lady at the reception informed us that they don’t have rooms. We were distraught as this was our last throw of the dice. There was a bench outside the hotel and we sat there to book something online and take a taxi ride to get there as we were done with the walking and finding; mainly because nobody was able to recommend a sure shot budget hotel that had available rooms and that would do the job for us. However, luck intervened and the lady came and told us that a small single room is available for 12 hours. We somehow got it confirmed for 24 hours and closed the deal for INR 3300 (sigh!) including breakfast.
We are exhausted (mentally), the room is tiny but clean and sunny and we have a place for the time being to figure our next staying place in Almaty. It felt nice to be able to relax and switch off for a bit; until we book an apartment online for the next three days. However, after we got ready we decided to walk around this beautiful neighbourhood and check out a couple of boutique hotels nearby. The weather was cool but the sun was shining bright and caused us a headache. So we decided to first buy samsas, then sat in a park and just finished it on booking com and hoped that this time it won’t be cancelled by the host!
Places to Visit in Almaty : What to see in Almaty, Things to Do in Almaty
Panfilov Park
We felt relaxed as till now Almaty was turning out to be a ‘find a place to stay’ searching experience. Now that our mind was fresh again, we walked to the nearby Panfilov Street and the park on Astana Square. The tiredness of the train journey came back rapidly and in the stark sunshine, we felt dizzy and out of energy. There were stalls of traditional artisanal wares and I was only able to quickly peruse the things on offer and tried a couple of hats but didn’t make up my mind about buying anything. Thankfully, as we were totally exhausted and were searching for a café to sit down / eat something we came across a lovely outdoor space by the name of Coffee Boom. They had an extremely cold restaurant as well but the outdoor vibe in the periphery of the walking street in the park was inviting and we sat in the shade so as to not create a massive temperature difference.
Inside the Panfilov Park is an imposing monument dedicated to the 28 soldiers who fought in World War II; called the Memorial of Glory and the Eternal Flame – hence 28 Panfilov Guardsmen Park.
We were in a chić and upmarket area and we gave in to temptation and ordered a Negroni (1900KZT), a shakshuka and one cold coffee to beat the heat. It was the ultimate delight of stumbling upon a random experience that turned out to be impeccable. We were overjoyed that finally Almaty had started to warm up to us! After gathering a bit of energy, we decided to walk back to our place of stay to rest for a while and then step out again at 5 pm. This was the Kazakh summer and daylight stretched till 830-9 pm so we had ample time to see Almaty in natural light. We came across a mall with an outdoor drinking area serving fresh draught beer (Praha-Czech beer) for only INR 100!
We didn’t need a second invitation and were soon sipping 500ml jumbo glasses sitting on an outside table watching the world go by! There were old uncles enjoying their drink while youngsters hopped around on their cycles / scooters zipping around us giving it a funky vibe. It felt like a local hangout and we loved the experience as a cool breeze was blowing and the hot sun had gone on the other side. As soon as we reached our baby-sized room, I received a message from the booked apartment that they won’t be able to able to accommodate us. It felt like a day of never ending dramas. We quickly booked another apartment on booking but also decided to walk to a nearby budget hotel that had asked us to check later. The Tahar place only had dorms so we walked to an eatery by the name of Kunjut Café (almost adjacent to our hotel).
It so happened that inspite of being in the thick of the popular night life and party area of Almaty, we had an early dinner of lagman noodles, local cheese and a green parantha (some local Kazakh vegetarian dish). The place had a festive outdoorsy vibe; people were chilling and enjoying their Saturday evening. We felt content and tired and ended up going to bed at the early hour of 10 pm. It had turned out to be a very long day after arriving in the morning on the train from Shymkent and hotel search dominated our thoughts throughout the day for one reason or another.
As the check-out time was 10 am and we had a good night’s sleep; it was time for a relaxed morning walk. The air was nippy in the morning and we were overjoyed when the Russian aunty served us an assorted array of dishes for breakfast at 830 am. The omelette were excellent and served with bread, strawberry jam, fresh salad and steaming cups of tea. We couldn’t hide our happiness; profusely thanked her and gave her some masala tea that we had carried with us from India. I was keen on going for a walk to a particular shop ‘TSUM’ where I would be able to peruse authentic traditional crafts from across Kazakhstan.
‘TSUM’ turned out to be closed but we went to Magnum supermarket and picked up some beers before we left for our apartment that was located near Holiday Inn. Almaty had the Sunday vibe with a number of locals walking with their dogs, chilling in parks and basically having a relaxed time. It seemed like our peaceful days in Almaty had finally started after all the continued hotel booking issues. Hopefully, there would be no trouble with our next place of stay – the apartment owner lady seemed kind from the online conversation. We got ready and checked out of the hotel to start our 3.2 km walk to the apartment. It was a lovely walk that passed through a residential area and we stumbled upon a cute bakery.
The sitting space was outdoors near a rivulet; there was a faint chill in the air and we were witness to the rapidly changing weather of Central Asia. The coffee and dessert turned out to be excellent and we continued on our merry way. Check-in would only happen after 1230 pm (early check-in!) and so we had every opportunity to be slow especially because we were also carrying our bags. We crossed the fancy looking Rixos Hotel and spotted a couple of Ferraris and Lamborghinis. On one of the intersections, I saw a fruit seller and immediately bought some plump cherries and yummy strawberries. We sat on the pavement and thoroughly enjoyed the delicious taste of these fresh berries.
We reached the apartment block and were wondering how to figure the exact home when a Kazakh man who spoke fluent english appeared. He helped connect with our apartment host who came to receive us downstairs and showed us how to operate the chip system for easy entry to the building and then the house itself. The check-in experience was smooth – the home was as promised, a kitchen with small balcony that overlooked a kids’ park, a sizeable bedroom with sofa set to lounge around. The house was awash with natural light and had all the modern amenities. We were pleased at finally getting the monkey off our backs with regards to the staying place hunt in Almaty.
Our host had a small request of paying her in Kazakh tenge in cash; she said that we can withdraw later and give it to her when she visited on the check-out day. We were ok to pay by card or cash in USD but agreed to her request since it was a fair ask. We met the Kazakh man again when we went down (he had been to Delhi earlier) and chatted about India; he recommended us a eatery by the name of Basilic for lunch. We weren’t really hungry after a nice breakfast, fruits and dessert but decided to still walk to the lunch place and then take it from there. The walk to Basilic turned out to be a lot more strenous than we thought. We walked close to the highway for a major part in the strong Kazakh sun and there was no shelter of buildings or trees to save us!
We were again drained of our energy and somehow made it to Basilic. It was a bustling eatery and seemed to be really popular with local families especially on a Sunday; and it was also interesting to see a couple of solo lunchers. We grabbed a table; spent a few quiet moments studying the english menu and ordered a couple of dishes. We also decided that our food places can be whatever that came on the way to the actual walks to monuments and the sights worth seeing rather than walking to specific food places! The food was quite good and very reasonable. We had double helpings of the lentil soup and rice combo and ate it like the dal-chawal at home. The food was washed down with a jug of iced tea (that everyone else was having!).
Ascension Cathedral – Zenkov Cathedral
Since it had turned out to be a long walk to Basilic; we decided to take a bus to Zenkov Cathedral (Ascension Cathedral). The bus stop was easy to find thanks to the 2GIS app and some Kazakh ladies helped us get in the right bus. Our first bus experience in Almaty had turned out to be very smooth and we got down in the beautiful Panfilov Park that housed the stunning Ascension Cathedral. We sat in the park and enjoyed the calm vibe of the church and the imposing monument dedicated to the WWII heroes. The weather had suddenly changed and a cool breeze was the norm instead of the summer heat. Zenkov Cathedral is a Russian Orthodox wooden church built entirely without nails in the year 1907. It is a colourful symbol of cultural heritage with a vibrant colourful exterior and intricate detailed interior adorned with frescoes and coloured glass.
Kok Bazaar – Popularly called Zelony Bazaar and Green Bazaar
Green Bazaar (Kok Bazaar or Zelony Bazaar) which is Almaty’s biggest market for fresh produce was nearby and we decided to go for a quick stroll. We had already walked more than 16 km for the day and therefore decided to take it slow and not exert ourselves too much. Green Bazaar had a vibrant feel with different sections (meat, spices, fruits and vegetables, textiles, souvenirs) once inside and it was spread over multiple floors. Outside the market, vendors sold fresh fruits and vegetables. As is the norm, tourists are quoted higher prices and we have to be smarter to go to the right vendor who doesn’t overcharge. Since we had a functioning kitchen in the apartment, we bought basic supplies like tomatoes, cucumber, gherkins, lettuce, greens and cherries. I also bought a cap with the ubiquitous Kazakh motif when a vendor quoted what I thought was a justified price.
I was keen on finding more about traditional Kazakh handicrafts but it looked like Green Bazaar in Almaty had only souvenir kinds of stuff and not rare crafts. It is a good place for visitors to get a peek into the culture of Kazakhstan and taste local delicacies like kurt, kumis while interacting with the friendly vendors. Green Bazaar is also a good place to buy famous Kazakh dried fruits; we had already checked the Shymkent markets and figured that the quality and prices were better and didn’t buy any in Almaty.
Zhibek Zholy Street : Arbat Street
I noticed on the map that Zhibek Zholy street (Arbat street) is quite close to where we were and I was aware that at evening time the street comes alive. We felt lucky that it was a Sunday when we were able to fully take in the vibe of this walk-only street lined with cafés and shops. We started walking from one side and realised that we were pretty hungry. The street was practically dotted with restaurants on both sides and promptly found a eatery serving vegetarian pizza and Shymkentskoe pivo (fresh local beer at 500 KZT). The popular restaurants were too crowded for our liking and we enjoyed this table in the outdoor setting in a sort of a by-lane even on the main Zhibek Zholy walking street.
Within no time, we were chatting with an Uzbek lady who was sitting on the next table enjoying a bottle of vodka with her Kazakh friend. As per the Uzbek lady, Indians and Uzbeks have big hearts while Kazak folks are measured but not big hearted. Thankfully, the Kazakh friend did not understand / speak English and was aloof about the discussion! We had a lovely time talking to the two of them with hand signals and enjoying the general vibe of the beer and margherita pizza. It was a much needed break as travel and even random roaming around can be exhausting at times and all we needed was a nice conversation (over food!).
We said our goodbyes and continued walking on the Zhibek Zholy street and promptly reached the happening part. Youngsters were dancing and singing while the audience was chilling and it was an idyllic scene. We met a Kazakh painter and marvelled at his portrait of Aishwarya Rai – a Kazakh lady overheard our conversation and shared that she completed her PhD from BHU (Banaras Hindu University) and lived in India for 7 years. She spoke impeccable hindi and we had a nostalgia inducing conversation in the middle of this happening street in Almaty of all places! She also told us about medical education and medical tourism for Indian students and Kazakh locals respectively.
The Kazakh lady fondly recollected her time in India and shared that Kazakhs are not as flexible as Indians and how so much has changed in both India and Kazakhstan in the last few years, especially after Covid. We exchanged numbers to keep in touch; the painter had an epiphany and gifted us a small watercolour postcard as a token souvenir. After thanking them profusely, we indulged in some window shopping. It was a fun evening full of live singing with gifted performers; youngsters grooved to the latest numbers and as we neared the end of the street the traffic brought us back to normal life. It was almost 8 pm and we did our respective sightseeing; at Starbucks and perusing local crafts at TSUM. The souvenir stores had a varied collection but were (predictably) exorbitant in their pricing. We shopped at LC Waikiki even though our baggage allowance in the flight was a measly 5 kg!
It suddenly went dark and we quickly pulled out the 2Gis map to catch a bus back to our airbnb apartment. On the bus, we met a Pakistani (born in UAE) who recommended us a few names for offbeat places to visit. The bus ride back home was quick as there was very less traffic and we found our way from the bus stop. Party time at home with a couple of beers (bought from Magnum) with fresh tomatoes and peanuts for snacks. We slept content and very happy to finally explore Almaty at our own pace without the constant underlying thought of finding a place to stay!
After a great night’s sleep we woke up to a surprising nip in the air as it was a cloudy morning in Almaty. First up was a languid breakfast of sandwiches comprising local non bread, cucumbers, tomatoes, dry fruits and was washed down with drip coffee and Darjeeling tea respectively. After chilling and relaxing for an hour, we decided to step out and walk to the Independence Monument on the Republic Square. The day has progressed to be humid and sunny and we are thrilled with droplets of water showering on us from the multiple water fountains.
State Museum of Arts : Central State Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan
After that, we continued to the State Museum of Arts and came upon a crowded eatery serving business lunch. I was surprised to see that the Mahatma Gandhi Park in Almaty was not far away from where we were and kept it for an excursion later, if time permitted.
I checked the map and the State Museum of Arts was nearby, so we decided to have a look and were overjoyed upon seeing a large array of vegetarian options! It was a buffet place with numerous options where the prices are clearly marked and we took our plates and stood in the queue along-with the office folk. There was buckwheat rice, chickpea veggies, potatoes with a spicy red chilly paste and after looking at the other tables we also asked for lemon honey Kazakh iced tea pot filled with herbs. It was quite an adventure to order since all the dishes were denoted in Cyrillic script and the Kazakh office-goers were quite understanding to bear with a small delay. After a hearty meal, as soon as we exited the eatery it started raining heavily. The Central State Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan was hardly 5 minutes walk and we ran towards it!
If you want to learn more about Kazakhstan’s history and cultural heritage then the State Museum of Arts is a must visit. We paid the ticket fee of 500 KZT and were pleased to enter the acclaimed museum showcasing the rich cultural past of Kazakhstan. The museum was located in a grand building, had a lovely design and we started seeing some exhibits and displays that were well organised in different sections. The tapestries hung in the interior hall and gave a feel of the rich handwoven textile collection commonly used in the yurts. The museum started feeling a bit stuffy after some time. So we decided to get out and sat for a while admiring the petroglyphs in the open air seating area. The weather had turned cold from humid in the morning and we figured some movement would be better!
Almaty Metro
It was decided to walk to a coffee place and we ended up at Jump-in Goat coffee. The vibe, seating and ambience were quite beautiful but the coffee itself wasn’t great so we left a tad disappointed. A metro station was nearby so we decided to ride the Almaty metro. The station was extremely underground and we had to take two massive escalators to go that deep. The metro felt nice but the line only covered 11 stations so we got down at Moscow station (Moskva). We walked on the street to get a feel of the place; this area looked less fancier than the area of Almaty where we were staying. We opened the 2Gis app and figured a bus to take us to Arba Winery. Public transport in Almaty was super affordable and we were making full use of it by seeing different parts of Almaty from the window of the comfortable bus.
Our plan was to try the local Kazakh wines and the winery place had looked enticing when we came across it earlier. Instead of choosing the wine tasting, we asked for a recommendation to buy a bottle and sat in the dining area with wonderful music and a nice view of the street. We could see the world pass by and it felt like a beautiful way to spend Monday evening and observe the locals go back home from their work. The wine was excellent and was priced at INR 800 (if i remember correctly). Couples from different parts of the world roamed around hand in hand and it felt quite romantic when the breeze blew carrying some leaves with it. We got the half wine bottle packed and paid the ten percent service charge and patted ourselves on the back for finding this hidden gem in Almaty.
We stepped out to gorgeous evening light as the sun was going down and painting the skyscrapers and skyline of Almaty in a golden hue. We got back to our airbnb and waited for our host to come and collect the rent in Kazakh Tenge as requested. She accepted our request of a late check-out at 3 pm and we thanked her and told her (with language translation) that we had a great time in Almaty. We finished the leftover wine with some remaining cheese and slept our way to glory!
Best Coffee in Almaty
As we had a long day ahead of us, we started the morning in a lazy manner. We had a train to Shymkent in the night and therefore had ample time to explore after our 3 pm checkout. With no to-do list, we decided to walk in a different area and go to whatever nice café that we came across. Our fortuitous find, ‘Vanilla’ had a great welcoming vibe and turned out to be the best coffee in all of Almaty. We enjoyed our breakfast of mushroom crepe, a dessert, cappuccino and sencha tea. We loved the cute water bottles kept on every table and after the café got a little empty ended up asking the manager where to buy them. She recommended us the store ‘Ivi’ which was a home furnishing hypermarket. At first, we thought we would go to Ivi but google maps suggested it was quite far. Sense prevailed and we ended up enjoying a few quiet minutes in the park right outside Vanilla Café.
We strolled back to the airbnb and finished all our veggies and the couple of beers that were left. After a short nap, the 3 pm checkout time beckoned to us and we exited the apartment and messaged the host. Now that we had ample time since our train left from Almaty 2 station at 950 pm, we decided to go for an exotic choice and headed to a Georgian restaurant. Eating out in Almaty was expensive and we figured it made sense to go to a specialised restaurant rather than eat at a usual café. ‘Darejani’, the Georgian restaurant had artistic interiors and a Parisian café feel with a few tables outside with traditional weavings adorning the walls and tables. We were overjoyed that it was located close to the Panfilov Park as we wanted to spend a few hours marvelling at the Zenkov Cathedral.
Lunch at Darejani was excellent. We had a big khachapuri that felt like double cheese pizza; only that it was fresh cheese instead of packaged one and the crust was not heavy like a processed pizza. We thoroughly enjoyed our first taste of Georgian food and made up our mind to head to Georgia when direct flights from India started. A five minute stroll brought us to the park and this time we entered from a different side. We came across two artistic cafés in the confines of the park with inviting lights but didn’t go inside as we had no appetite. Random chit-chat with Russians drinking vodka in the park. Sitting in the park allows us to see local life at close quarters and that is what ultimately creates endearing memories. You rarely remember the mundane but it is the unexpected that stays fresh in your mind when you have long returned from a foreign country.
We were on video calls with our respective families and showed them the scenic park and the festive atmosphere with a horse cart ferrying tourists; when all of a sudden it started drizzling. We hadn’t seen the church on our earlier visit and stepped in and were lucky that the prayer ceremony was going on. It was pouring cats and dogs when we walked out of the church. Everyone was taking shelter in the covered area of an adjacent building and we had a lovely chat with a young lady from Kyzylorda. After the rain abated, the light was surreal and we wandered outside to come across the front view of the Zenkov Cathedral . A group of local Kazakh men and women were selling ice-cream on carts to the kids who were enjoying the attention.
It was fun chatting in hindi with some Indian tourists from Dubai. As it was still daylight, we started on a leisurely walk to the train station and wanted to buy a bottle of the Kazakh favourite ‘Fuse Tea’. We entered Magnum supermarket and bought fuse tea and also a bottle of wine and snacks for the train. Almaty had a much better collection of wine than Shymkent and we figured we could carry one bottle easily without any trouble as anyway we were travelling very light. On our way we came to our favourite beer drinking space outside the mall and not to let the chance go shared a 500ml mug of fresh Praha draft beer for only 500 KZT (100 INR).
Night fell and we were left wide eyed with the sparkling and twinkling lights in the most popular touristy area with nightlife and a lot of adult entertainment and clubs. There was a Korean food joint packed to the brim and we might have stepped in if we had any space in our tummies. The vibe of this touristy area was very inviting and we were happy to have passed through the region as otherwise we might have avoided it. We reached Almaty 2 train station an hour ahead of time and asked the information counter and were told our train is at platform no. 3. There was no bridge and we crossed the tracks and to our delight our train was already stationed.
We had booked an old style train for our return journey from Almaty to Shymkent and were glad that it was only four berths and two side berths. The train was bigger than Indian trains and mattresses were put on each berth and a packet with crisp white sheets, blanket and towel was kept on every berth. Kazakh aunties were travelling with us and while they were pretty stubborn, the young folks on the train were super helpful and chatty. A small window on each side opened and we later figured that it was a non air-conditioned train! We wondered what if it hadn’t rained, then the train could get very stuffy indeed. The toilet was locked when we approached a station, so that was a new experience for us.
When we reached Shymkent next day at noon, we had a true Kazakh experience of observing vendors coming on the train at small stations and selling jackets, clothes for kids, kurt balls, cheese, butter and even Russian caps in anticipation of winter! We secretly wished to return to Almaty someday in spring to explore the city for longer when the tulips blossomed. Until next time, Almaty.
Other Must Visit Places in Almaty
Arasan Baths
The Arasan Baths is a complex of traditional Kazakh bathhouse (like Turkish Hammams) with a variety of massage/scrub and sauna options. Check the menu with prices on their official website. Among highly unusual things to do in Almaty is beating yourself with oak leaves (available for a fee at Arasan Baths).
First President’s Park
Dedicated to Kazakhstan’s first president Nursultan Nazarbayev, the First President’s Park was established in 2011. It is a massive park located a short distance away from the other tourist sites. Inside the park is a monument dedicated to the president. There are plenty of opportunities for nice walks amid the well maintained landscaped gardens and a great chance for picnics in the summer months in Almaty.
Botanical Garden
Located a bit away from the touristy circuit, the Almaty Botanical Garden is a peaceful oasis and serene garden. It can get fairly crowded on weekends with local families visiting with kids. The botanical garden has a view of the mountains and showcases a diverse collection of flora and is good for a leisurely time if you are in Almaty for a long time and want a local experience.
Among other attractions to visit in Almaty if you are visiting for longer : Almaty Central Mosque, Almaty Zoo, Museum of Musical Instruments, Barakholka Bazaar – Literally translates to Big Kholka market, Abay Opera & Ballet Theatre, Astana Square Park, Gorky Park, Central Park, Almaty Museum of Arts, Almaty Museum, St. Nicholas Cathedral, Russian Orthodox Church.
Around Almaty
Medeu Ice Skating Rink
Medeu ice skating rink is one of the highest ice rinks in the world and is a must visit in winter. The view of snowed out peaks of the Tien Shan ranges is simply surreal, so even if you don’t plan to skate it is a nice place to visit. Located about a thirty minute drive from Almaty, Medeu is accessible by a bus ride.
Kok Tobe Park and Cable Car Ride
Commonly known as Green hill, Kok Tobe Park is a favourite day visit for Almaty locals and has a fabulous birds’ eye view of the skyline of Almaty. Accessed by a cable car ride, Kok Tobe Park houses the 372 metre television tower. There are multiple eateries, a mini zoo, souvenir shops, rollercoaster ride, zipline, and a observation deck with a 360 degree view of Almaty. Beatles Monument, with life sized metal statues of the four Beatles is a highlight of Kok-Tobe Hill.
Shymbulak Mountain Resort
Big Almaty Lake (officially closed)
Located at a distance of 28 kilometers from Almaty lies the breathtaking Big Almaty Lake. It is officially closed and beware of scamsters telling you its open!
Day Trips from Almaty
Huns Ethno Village
Kolsai Lake
Kaindy Lake and picturesque Saty Village
Charyn Canyon also called ‘Grand Canyon of Kazakhstan’
Where to eat in Almaty? Restaurants in Almaty
Kazakh Food dishes like Beshbarmak (horse meat), kazy, baursak, shashlik, kumis, laghman, manti, kurt balls.
Basilic, Navat, Sandyq & Abay Restaurant for trying Kazakh food, Darejani for Georgian.
Practical Tips for Exploring Almaty
2Gis, Google Translate, Kcell Activ, Magnum Supermarket for an dazzling array of beers, liquor, wines, and Ararat Brandy. Kazakh Tenge (KZT) is the official currency of Kazakhstan and while credit cards are widely accepted, it is best to carry some cash. Outside of tourist areas, names of places will be denoted in the Cyrillic script. To really enable you to explore Almaty properly, load up on a lot of internet data to seamlessly browse menus from Kazakh/Russian to English. Street art in Almaty is varied and colourful. You are likely to discover some glorious painted walls on walks. Almaty locals love their music and musical concerts are held across the city. Keep an eye out for local festival dates to have an unforgettable experience. The official website of Visit Almaty is worth a look for events happening in the city.
When to Visit Almaty? Best Weather for exploring Almaty
Best time to visit Almaty : Spring from mid March till May and summer months from June to September is when the weather in Almaty is at its most pleasant. Autumn months from September to November for unbelievable colours and crisp air. Winter months can be cold but December to February is when Almaty turns into a winter wonderland. Winter is recommended weather if you are keen on skiing. Spring in Almaty is full of blooming tulips if you can time it right.
Almaty Itinerary
As a part of a larger trip to Kazakhstan, this travel guide to Almaty is doable over 3-4 days and a rough itinerary based on your interests can be self-made from the above attractions. Kazakhstan is a massive country and a itinerary for different cities in the country could take weeks, if not months!
Where to stay in Almaty?
GuestHouses, Hotels, Hostels, Luxury Hotels for every budget.
Shopping in Almaty
Artisan stalls, LC Waikiki, branded stores near Zhibek Zholy Street, TSUM for souvenirs and Green Bazaar is a good choice for shopping in Almaty.
How to go Around Almaty? Metro, Bus, Taxis, Yandex Go. The best way to explore Almaty is on foot and you can design a heritage walking tour in Almaty at your own pace as most of the walkable attractions are located close to each other.
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