A weekend in Almaty: a two-day plan
Saturday is the centre, museums and an evening above the city. Sunday is Medeu, Shymbulak and the botanical garden. A two-day plan with dinners, transport and what to book ahead.
By Super Admin1 min read
Two days is the most common Almaty trip: fly in on Friday evening, fly out on Sunday night. That is enough to see both the city and the mountains if you do not try to do everything. Below is the plan we give our friends.
Saturday: the city
Morning in Panfilov Park and at the cathedral, then a walk through the old blocks between Gogol and Kabanbay Batyr streets. By noon, the Kasteyev Museum, the country's main art collection, an hour and a half. After lunch, stroll up Dostyk Avenue to the Kazakhstan Hotel.
Book dinner in advance: the centre has queues on Saturday nights. Dadiani serves khinkali and khachapuri and is a local favourite. After dinner, take the cable car up Kok-Tobe for the city lights.
Sunday: the mountains
Leave early: Medeu is quiet before ten, then the whole city arrives. Skates in winter, the dam in summer. From here the gondola climbs to Shymbulak (2,260 m), and two more lifts reach the Talgar Pass at 3,200 m. It is ten degrees colder up there, so bring a jacket even in July. Allow three to four hours.
A late lunch of plov and samsa back in town, then a calm finale in the Main Botanical Garden with the ridge in view. An hour or so, and it is time for the airport.
Practicalities
- Stay in the centre, between Abay and Gogol: the mountains and dinner are equally close.
- Take a taxi or bus no. 12 to the mountains; taxis back from Medeu on a Sunday evening take a while, so leave before five.
- The same plan on a map: “A weekend in Almaty”. Got a third day? Try Big Almaty Lake.