I rocked up in Almaty as a man without a plan.
That’s one of the perks that came with the privilege of flying in early with the tour leader, Josh, with way too much patience for my repeated drunken questions about the best things to do in Almaty, as I tried to squeeze in extras as a last-ditch attempt before the group arrived.
Kazakhstan is a gigantic nation, but most of it is uninhabitable because arid and semi-arid deserts cover most of the land.
So naturally, people live and travel to the more environmentally forgiving cities, and Almaty happens to be the most visited city in Kazakhstan for both domestic and international tourists, so it was the ideal starting point for my 4-country Central Asian trip, knowing that at the end of it I will have been to every official country on earth ending in ‘stan,” a glowing tribute to my late and great Granddad Stan!
The Best Things to Do in Almaty City
Most cool things to do in Almaty are walkable or a short taxi ride via ‘Yandex ’; as a nice bonus for those wanting to visit, here are two popular Almaty pub quiz facts to know before you go.
The city is often mistaken for being the capital of Kazakhstan; it used to be, until December 1997, when the government officially moved the capital to Akmola (later renamed Astana).
Finally, the name Almaty roughly translates to “full of apples” or “father of apples” because it is recognised as the genetic birthplace and native home of the modern domestic apple.
How do you like them apples?
Ascension Cathedral
Ascension Cathedral, also known as “Zenkov Cathedral”, is a typically striking Russian Orthodox church nestled in Panfilov Park. From some angles, you can see snow-capped mountains in the background, complementing the landmark in all of its glory.
The creator of the building, Andrei Zenkov, designed it with flexible “earthquake basket” framing by interlocking wooden joints and very little metal so it could sway rather than snap in the event of a natural disaster.
He certainly put his money where his mouth was in 1911, when a mammoth earthquake of magnitude ~8 wreaked havoc on Almaty (named “Verny” at the time), causing chaos in the city; the cathedral had minimal damage and now stands tall and proud still at 56 metres high with bright yellow, blue and green exteriors with multicoloured domes.
It’s free to visit (but donations are welcome) and it’s open weekdays 7 am-6 pm; as with most Christian places of worship, services take priority on weekends.
Park of 28 Panfilov Guardsmen and the Memorial of Glory
The Memorial of Glory is a quintessential Soviet World War II memorial, paying tribute to soldiers who fell in what those involved, and many of their proud descendants, know as “The Great Patriotic War.”
The park is named after the 28 Panfilov Guardsmen, a story of a group of outnumbered brave men who heroically fought off tens of German tanks invading Moscow in 1941. I counted fifteen men, bursting out of the tall granite-and-bronze statue, towering impressively over the eternal flame.
Pedanticism led me to ask too many questions about the battle, and our local guide told me, with a cheeky grin, that the story was greatly exaggerated. Still, it stands as a mythical legend and a hat-tip to the courage of those who endured that period, which pretty much sums up the feelings of every former-Soviet nation I’ve visited.
The cathedral is a hop, skip, and jump away from the memorial, and the public park is open all day and free to roam, so you can work up an appetite for your next Almaty attraction.
Green Bazaar
Green Bazaar is a proper food market, not a souvenir mall for the naive. It has everything for people of all tastes: horse meat, nuts, herbs and spices and fruit juices.
The vendors are extremely friendly without being pushy. Locals are welcomed with cries of “my friend, my friend, please try.” There are no shady tricks; the vendors are proud of what they do and want to show off what they have.
Expect a few freebies to munch on, but be mindful of not taking the piss if you don’t want to buy. There is a crazy amount of variety, and it’s all compartmentalised, so if, like myself, you have no interest in the meat section, it’s easier to avoid that and gravitate towards the fruits and vegetables.
If you’re a fan of beetroot, I highly recommend you try any of the beetroot salads here as they are absolutely bangin’.
Kök Töbe: Cable Car & Sunset View With… the Beatles
Cable car sunset promises are always down to lady luck when it comes to that fickle thing called weather, but as we were there in the roaring heat of the June summer, we absolutely nailed it.
Go late in the afternoon (around 2-3 pm) and aim for sunset views from the top. Take in the beauty as you gondola-hop to the top, and when you get there, you’ll be met with souvenir shops, the famous apple fountain and a monument to none other than the Beatles.
That one was a shock, but what can I say, those boys get everywhere. A wild fact: this is the first monument ever to show the four members together, built in 2007 after local fans pushed to have it placed here.
As an Englishman, I simply had to be “that guy” and snap a photo with the lads before going Kazakhstan-flag fridge-magnet hunting and catching the gorgeous sunset before heading back down.
Located on Dostyk Avenue, a half-hour walk from Panfilov Park, Kök Töbe is open from 10 am-11 pm except on Tuesday, when the cable carries out routine maintenance and reopens at 1 pm.
Napitki Bar (For Quirky Dive Bar Lovers)
Most of the world is becoming very samey, and don’t get me wrong, I’m not one of those travellers who expects everywhere outside of the Western world to remain frozen in a time capsule for my benefit, but in a world that is yelling out for people or places somewhere to be more authentic, you can always find a nice dingy dive bar to welcome you with open arms.
Step forward: Napitki Bar. 5 different rooms, floors your feet will stick to, quirky and vague symbolism and graffiti, a plethora of different beers, one of which inexplicably has the face of Mexican American typecast baddie Danny Trejo staring menacingly at you.
The sweet stench of stale ale kisses the air as you unwind and take in the ugly beauty around you.
This place has character.
They also have a retro arcade-style Mortal Kombat game that you can play for free. Just don’t have your beer too close to the machine, or you may cause an incident… I know a guy.
Opening times? Whenever the f**k it wants. It is currently rated 3 stars on TripAdvisor by some philistine who doesn’t know his arse from his elbow.
Go. Drink. Be merry. Behave yourself.
The Best Things To Do Near Almaty
The best things to do near Almaty are at a local mountain resort and a lovely canyon. I was with Mudita Tours, so transport was included in the package. These places are worth a visit if you have more time and want to venture a little outside Almaty.
Shymbulak Mountain Resort
Another day, another beautiful cable car (unless you’re scared of heights). Compared with Kök Töbe, this mountain is higher, longer and a little chillier, with blankets of snow covering the mountain below you.
Start your journey at Medeu, a high-altitude dam, then take the gondola up the pretty valley; watch for the glass-floor gondolas for a better bang-for-your-buck trip as you hear the city noise fade and your senses sharpen as you take in the surroundings.
If you’re short on time in the battle of the great Kazakhstani cable cars, just think of it this way: If you want “pretty city view + statue,” stay on Kök Töbe. If you want “I left Almaty,” Shymbulak is the one.
Charyn Canyon
Charyn Canyon needs either a rental car or a driver, as it’s 3 hours each way with no regular buses, but it’s definitely worth the venture out.
If you go in summer (June-August), it is ruthlessly hot, so don’t forget sun protection and water. Charyn has limited food and drink options, so pack your own snacks and plenty of water before you go.
Plan to spend around 3 hours there; most people opt for the Valley of Castles hike, which takes about 40 minutes each way, and rewards you with a row of canyons resembling castles in the near distance.
Charyn Canyon feels more vast than Kök Töbe and wilder than Shymbulak, so depending on your time and preferences, take that into consideration.
How To Get To Almaty
I flew direct from Bangkok via Air Astana. From Europe, there are regular connections, often via Istanbul. Travellers coming from the USA, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand will generally need at least one connection.
How to Fit Almaty Into Two or Three Days
If you have only a few days, good news: I wrote the blog post with that in mind. Feel free to chop out anything that doesn’t work for you, and you’ll have a 2-3 day Almaty itinerary post to play with.
Getting Around Almaty
Getting around Almaty is fairly easy if you’re staying in the city centre. I walked a lot while I was there, and most Almaty tourist attractions are close by, but if you want to wander, Almaty is much more spread out than you may expect.
Make sure you download the app “Yandex” for rides. The Almaty Metro (subway) is exceptionally clean, safe, and cheap, but its single line limits its usefulness as a primary way to get around the city, so save it mainly as an Almaty bucket-list extra for public-transport enthusiasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days do you need in Almaty?
If you’re not interested in the day trips, 3-5 days should be more than enough. Call it a week if you’d like to do the extras and have more time to chill.
When is the best time to visit?
I would suggest springtime (April-May) is the best time to visit Almaty. We went in summer, and it was scorching hot; I imagine a bit more respite from the sun would have made this brilliant trip even better (and I live in Thailand, so I’m no stranger to the sun!).
Can you do Charyn Canyon without a tour?
You can visit Charyn Canyon without a tour; you don’t need a guide to enter the park, but you must plan your own transportation.
Is Kök Töbe worth it at night?
A hard yes here. Overlooking the lights of the city below you, with chances of a gorgeous sunset and plenty of space. Well worth it.
Can you visit Shymbulak without skiing?
Yes, you can visit Shymbulak without skiing; I’d argue most people there go just to soak in the sights.
Is Almaty expensive?
Almaty is easy on the wallet. The cheapest stan by far is Turkmenistan, but it was affordable by travel budget standards even though Almaty is the most expensive city in Central Asia.
The Two Things to Do in Almaty You Shouldn’t Skip
In my opinion, if I were to go back and show someone around the city, I would choose the Kök Töbe cable car for the views and easy access from the city, and I’d also set aside time to get to Charyn Canyon for two uniquely cool things to do in Almaty.
But that’s down to personal preference. You have the full list of Almaty activities that stood out to me above, so pick the ones that appeal to you, leave room for spontaneity, and enjoy one of the fastest-growing cities in Central Asia.
