KZ
Almaty
Leafy former capital under the snow-capped Tian Shan
Leafy former capital under the snow-capped Tian Shan
A cable car climbs to this hilltop park above the city for sweeping views of Almaty and the mountains, with a small funfair, a TV tower and cafes at the top.
💡 Ride up at dusk to watch the city lights come on.
This central park shelters the candy-coloured Ascension (Zenkov) Cathedral, one of the tallest wooden buildings in the world, along with a war memorial and eternal flame.
💡 Step inside the cathedral to see the ornate painted interior.
Almaty’s bustling central market piles high with horse-meat sausage, dried fruit, nuts, honey, spices and Central Asian cheeses, a feast for the senses and the stomach.
💡 Sample before you buy and haggle politely on bulk purchases.
Just above the city, Medeu is the world’s highest Olympic skating rink, and a gondola continues up to the Shymbulak ski resort with year-round mountain views.
💡 Even in summer, take the gondola up for the alpine scenery.
A stunning turquoise alpine lake sits in the mountains an hour from town, ringed by peaks and spruce forest, a favourite day trip for its unreal colour.
💡 Go with a driver or tour; the road is rough and it sits at altitude.
Almaty’s tables reflect the Silk Road, from beshbarmak (boiled meat with flat noodles) and horse-meat delicacies to Uyghur laghman noodles, Korean-Kazakh salads and plov. The cafe and craft-beer scene is the best in the country, and the Green Bazaar is the place to graze on dried fruit, nuts and fresh bread. Wash it down with kumys, fermented mare’s milk, if you are feeling adventurous.
Wander Panfilov Park and the cathedral, browse the Green Bazaar, then ride the cable car up Kok-Tobe for sunset over the city and mountains.
Head up to Medeu skating rink and take the gondola to Shymbulak for alpine views, hiking and cafes among the peaks.
Take a day trip to the turquoise Big Almaty Lake, or venture further to Charyn Canyon or the Kolsai Lakes.
Almaty is the springboard for southern Kazakhstan’s mountains, canyons and lakes; allow extra days for trips.
Yandex Go and Yandex Maps are the reliable way to get taxis and navigate the city.
Mountain lakes and resorts sit high; ascend gradually and carry warm layers even in summer.
Cards work widely in the city, but keep tenge for the bazaar, taxis and mountain stops.
The main ride-hailing and taxi app across Almaty and Kazakhstan.
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Download Russian and Kazakh offline to bridge the language gap.
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Leafy Almaty, futuristic Astana, the pilgrimage city of Turkistan, the red-rock Charyn Canyon and the alpine Kolsai Lakes — the many faces of vast Kazakhstan.