Plizio Visual Lab
Almaty
ℹ️Practical info — Almaty
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🌤 Weather — 5 days
📍 Nearby
Sights nearby
💡 Tips
- Use the Yandex Go app for taxis; it's cheaper and more reliable than hailing one on the street.
- Take the cable car to Kok Tobe just before sunset to enjoy the best view of the city and the mountains.
- Take your time on the first day to acclimate to the altitude if you plan trips into the Trans-Ili Alatau mountains.
- Bargain when shopping at the Green Bazaar (Zelyony Bazar); it is expected.
🍽 Food
The Kazakh national dish of meat and noodles. Order it in traditional restaurants in the city center.
A spicy horse meat sausage that you can taste fresh at the deli stalls in the Green Bazaar.
Deliciously marinated meat skewers. You will find excellent shashlik restaurants along Navoi street.
🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots
The first-rate place to buy dried fruits, nuts, honey, and local spices.
A pedestrian zone where you'll find local artists, handmade souvenirs, and paintings.
A huge park at the foot of the mountains with beautiful avenues and fountains for a relaxing walk.
A shaded park in the center, convenient for escaping the city noise and admiring the wooden Ascension Cathedral.
Water temperature…
Almaty, the former capital and currently the largest city in Kazakhstan, is picturesquely situated at the foothills of the Trans-Ili Alatau mountains in the southeast of the country. The city was founded in 1854 as a Russian frontier fortification named Vernoye and rapidly evolved into the primary economic and cultural hub of Central Asia. From 1929 to 1997, Almaty served as the capital of the Kazakh SSR and later independent Kazakhstan before the status was transferred to Astana. Despite losing its capital status, Almaty remains the financial heart of the nation, housing major banks, universities, and media outlets. The city's surroundings are famed for their natural beauty, including the Medeu high-altitude speed skating rink and the Shymbulak ski resort, both of international renown. Geologically, the region is earthquake-prone, which has significantly shaped the city's architecture and urban planning. The name Almaty translates to 'Father of Apples', a reference to the wild apple forests in the vicinity, which are considered the ancestral home of many modern apple varieties.
- Location: Kazakhstan
- Top sights: Natalya Sats Theatre · Sharoved Antoshka · Khram Khrista Spasitelya
- Nearby: Kaskelen (26 km)
- Population: ~1.977.011 (2026)
Best time to visit & climate
The most pleasant time to visit is Jun–Aug.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °C | -13 | -11 | -3 | 3 | 7 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 8 | 2 | -5 | -11 |
| Rain mm | 22 | 29 | 46 | 79 | 68 | 50 | 34 | 28 | 24 | 38 | 39 | 27 |
Geography
Facts
- Largest city in Kazakhstan with over 2 million inhabitants
- Served as the capital of Kazakhstan from 1929 to 1997
- Home to Medeu, the highest speed skating rink in the world
- The name means 'Father of Apples' due to indigenous wild apples
- Located in a seismically active zone at the foot of the Alatau mountains
- Major educational hub housing numerous prestigious universities
Explore nearby
Notable places around
Route planner — Car & Motorhome
Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.
© OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenRouteService
Sights in the town Almaty (3)
Frequently asked questions
What makes Almaty so special?
Is Shymbulak Ski Resort worth visiting?
Is there a metro in Almaty?
What can you buy at the Green Bazaar?
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Almaty: where is it located?
Almaty: what is there to see?
Almaty: when is the best time to visit?
Almaty: why is it worth visiting?
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