Planning a trip to Kazakhstan? Awesome! Make sure you know the top things to do in Almaty and yeah! There are so many things to see in and around the city that you can easily base yourself here for a month and still have what to do! Our travel guide tells you the best things to do in Almaty, the best area to stay, and tips for a smooth and enjoyable trip. Let’s dive into it! 

Before Astana (Nur Sultan) took over, Almaty used to be the capital of Kazakhstan. Even though it’s not the capital today, the city remains the largest, most enjoyable, with the most going on. We spent 3 weeks in Almaty, as it is a perfect place for the expat community, the city is the most westernized in Central Asia, and we felt this was a break during a few months travelling across Central Asia that every traveller needs at some point. 

There are fancy cafes, good restaurants, nightlife and different events. Surrounded by snow-capped Tien Shan mountains, Almaty is a perfect base for many trips to nature around. That being said, the area hides diverse places, from lakes to deserts and canyons. Read further, and we will tell you all we know. 

HOW TO GET TO/FROM ALMATY

By train 

The Kazakh railway system is very well connecting cities in the country. You can go between Shymkent, Almaty and Astana (Nur Sultan) without any issues. If you travel in the summer, make sure you book your tickets well in advance. Especially on the route between Almaty and Astana, as locals travel this route often, and it gets full quickly. You can check the schedule of trains on the official site of Kazak railways. 

By flight

Almaty is the biggest transportation hub in the area, with daily flights to many locations worldwide. Budget airlines fly between Abu Dhabi and Almaty, which is the route many travellers take. Even though we ended our 3.5 months trip in Central Asia in Tajikistan, it was still worth going back to Almaty and catching a flight from there. 

Check the cheap flights from Almaty here. 

By bus

You can take a bus from Tashkent (Uzbekistan) that goes directly to Almaty or cross the border between Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) to Almaty (Kazakhstan); it takes only 4 hours, and it’s a very easy and straightforward process. 

Border crossing report: How to cross the Korday border between Almaty and Bishkek

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HOW TO TRAVEL AROUND ALMATY 

Almaty has a good and reliable bus system that you can use to get around well. You can see what bus goes where using this page. If you don’t want to waste your time on buses, the easiest is to download the Yandex app, which works similarly to Uber. The advantage is you know the price before you go, so this way, you avoid negotiating the price with taxi drivers. Metro is the right option if you need to travel further from the centre. 

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INTERNET/SIMCARD 

The internet is excellent in Kazakhstan. In every place we stayed, we had fast wifi, which worked well most of the time.

For a sim card, we picked KCell with unlimited data for around 5000 KZT, and it worked unbelievably well. Never had any issues or slowdown. Another great provider in Kazakhstan is Beeline. When buying a sim card, go to the official store. The sim card will be registered using your passport. 

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MONEY/ATM 

The currency in Kazakhstan is Kazakh Tenge. You can easily withdraw money in many ATMs around the city, or if you bring cash, exchange it in the exchange office. There is plenty of them around the city centre. 

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TOP THINGS TO DO IN ALMATY 

Yes, Almaty is a huge city; however, the city centre, where all the interesting sights are located, is easily doable on foot. Imagine a square on the map formed by Green Bazaar, Dostyk street, Abay street and Ablai Khan street; that’s where you look at all the top places. Be wise with your accommodation to avoid the hassle of everyday transport to get closer to those places. (We recommend the best places in the Where to stay in Almaty section below). 

What we liked about Almaty is that locals use every opportunity to escape the city and go to nature. If you go to the mountains at the weekend, chances are it might get busy. Which is a nice change in comparison to neighbouring Kyrgyzstan. When doing the most popular hike to Ala Kul Lake in Kyrgyzstan, no locals were hiking. This is a shame because the lake is magnificent, with its unbelievably blue colour and the snow-capped mountains in the background, it’s a view not to be missed.

Zenkov Cathedral

The top sight of Almaty, the colourful Zenkov Cathedral, is in the centre of Panfilov park, the city’s central park. This Russian Orthodox Church was built in 1907 without using a single nail. It is made entirely from wood. 

Panfilov park & The war memorial

This is one of the most impressive memorials we’ve ever seen. It represents soldiers who died fighting in the war and is a legacy for other soldiers who died in the first and second world Wars. The atmosphere was surreal when we were there, as the old gentlemen sat in the park and played old soviet music very loud. It definitely made the feeling of this place much stronger. 

Central Mosque

With its golden shinning couples, the Central Mosque is the largest one in Almaty. The original mosque burned down in 1987; this is its newer version. The place feels spotless and peaceful, with a nice garden around to sit down. Foreigners can enter if they are wearing proper clothes. 

Green Market 

If you have followed us for some time, you know that our favourite thing is to stroll around bazaars, and Green Market is no exception. As always, this bazaar is an authentic place where you can watch the day-to-day life of locals. There are multiple sections to wander around, with the foodie one being the most interesting. The meat section is also pretty cool, with some animal parts we barely knew existed until we saw them. 

You can try Kurt (fermented dairy product in a ball shape), Langhman (noodles with vegetables and meat), Samsa (pastry with various fillings) or Kymyz (fermented horse milk). 

Abai Opera & ballet House 

The majestic building of the Opera house in yellow tones is a very photogenic palace built in 1934. If you are into these things, you can buy tickets at their ticket office. 

Zhibek Zholy

One of the main downtown streets with street artists, cool shops, cafes and ice cream stores. We really enjoyed the contrast of the street with the apartment buildings behind. Those are built in a classic soviet design. It is nice to come late afternoon to listen to some street singers, as they often sing old soviet songs. 

Arasan Spa

Our favourite part about having a base in Almaty was definitely Arasan Spa. We were stoked about how good the spa actually is. It is worth it to go even when it’s hot outside. Once you go in, you forget about the weather and fully immerse yourself in the best relaxing day imaginable. 

It is an old Soviet spa, the biggest one in Central Asia, with multiple types of Sauna, Hammam, relaxation rooms, steam rooms, pool, and cold pool. You can also order a massage and some other treatments separately. 

Women and men have separate spas, and people are usually naked; however, you can wear a swimsuit if you don’t feel like it. But trust me, people will stare at you more with the swimsuit. Bring flip flops, a towel and a small towel for your hair (women) as you need to cover them for saunas. If you don’t have any of these, don’t worry! You can borrow them for a small fee. 

The cheapest entry fee is between 7am and 4pm. For more details, you can check the Arasan Spa webpage.

Kok Tobe 

You can take a cable car from the city centre to a viewpoint at Kok Tobe. You get an excellent view over Almaty, and here you realize how tucked between mountains peek Almaty actually is. This spot is especially beautiful when it’s sunset. 

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Travel Insurance 

Ensure you have proper travel insurance covering all the activities you can do in Kazakhstan. Horse riding, hiking, exploring, make sure you are protected. We recommend IATI Insurance, which covers various activities and Covid 19 expenses perfectly. As a reader of Broken Navigation, you get an exclusive 5% discount. 

Get your 5% discount with Iati Insurance here. 

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THE BEST TRIPS FROM ALMATY 

We absolutely loved how well Almaty is located and the number of stunning locations you can visit. The transportation, however, could be better. However, we still found ways to visit those places for a relatively good price and spending less time. Read further. 

Medeu 

Just half an hour’s ride by bus number 12 from the city centre brings you to Medeu. The base for the best hiking in Almaty is also home to the world’s highest ice skating ring! Not gonna lie; we were pretty excited to escape the sweltering heat of Almaty, as the temperature was getting close to 38 degrees.

There are multiple hikes you can do, from just a couple of hours’ walk to Gorelnik Waterfall, to more challenging hikes to Furmanov Peak or Four Peak Hike. 

If you don’t want hiking, you can take the cable car to Shymbulak. The views are epic as the mountain scenery gets more and more dramatic the higher you are. 

Read more: The best day & multi-day trips from Almaty

Big Almaty lake 

Big Almaty lake is, without a doubt, the most famous lake to visit from Almaty. The blue colour of the water is insane, and the snow-capped mountains in the background are unforgettable picture. You can take Yandex, let the car wait for an hour and take the same one to return to Almaty. 

Or, for a budget but challenging version, take bus 63 or 86 to First President’s park and then switch to bus 28. This bus takes you to GES-2, and then you need to hike for 5 hours one way to reach the lake. 

During our visit, the road to Almaty was closed, and the only option to reach the lake was hiking 12 km. So make sure you find out about the current situation before you go. 

Read more: The best day & multi-day trips from Almaty

Kolsai & Kaindy lakes 

You can visit Kolsai and Kaindy lakes for perfect camping in the mountains. It is worth it to bring your own camping gear and camp by the second lake. It’s such an experience. But you can also visit as a day trip from Almaty or stay in a yurt by the first lake. We compiled the ultimate travel guide explaining how to get to Kolsai lakes, it’s pretty detailed, and you can follow our 3-4 days itinerary. 

Read more: Epic camping adventure by Kolsai Lakes, Kazakhstan

Charyn Canyon 

Another impressive place in Kazakhstan is Charyn Canyon. From the green scenery of Kolsai Lakes to desert land in just a couple of hours. Charyn Canyon was sculptured by wind and erosions, making a canyon that blew the minds of many visitors. The valley of castles is the most important part that can be admired by walking through the canyon or going to the viewpoint. The colours are stunning during sunset. Check the articles below to learn all the necessary information. 

Detailed travel guide: How to visit Charyn Canyon from Almaty 

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WHERE TO STAY IN ALMATY

It is crucial to choose a great area to base yourself in Almaty, as if you stay close to the city centre you can easily explore everything on foot. If you stay further away, you’ll waste time on the bus or Yandex every day. Since we stayed in Almaty for 3 weeks, working on the blog, it was important we could go outside the hotel and be in the centre where everything is happening. Therefore, we did extensive research, and those are our top picks: 

Budget I Wanderlust hostel – we stayed here all 3 weeks and couldn’t choose better. It is just a 5-minute walk from Zenkov Cathedral and Panfilov park. Close to all shops and restaurants. Unlike other hostels, you will find chill areas in Wanderlust – an outside patio and comfy living room, a big fully equipped kitchen and the fastest wifi in Kazakhstan. They have private rooms but also dorms. 

Mid-range I Voyage hotel – close to Zenkov Cathedral, the rooms are very clean and comfortable. Wifi works perfectly, and a delicious buffet-style breakfast is included. 

Luxury I Renion Park Hotel – one of the best hotels in Almaty. If you are searching for more relaxation and comfort, this is a great place to be. There is an indoor pool, fitness, sauna and restaurant. Breakfast is included. 

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