Guides
Where to go, what to try and how to get there — written by people who know the city.
Verny, Alma-Ata, Almaty: three names for one city. A route through museums, the cathedral and the mosque, house-museums and an evening at the opera, with what to look for at each stop and how long to allow.
September 29, 2026 · 1 min read
A national park 250 km from Almaty: a dune that hums under your feet, the striped Aktau mountains and the black lava hills of Katutau. Permits, the road, how many days you need and the best season.
September 29, 2026 · 1 min read
April and May are the most beautiful months in the city of apples: orchards and tulips bloom, the parks turn green, and the mountains are still white. Where to see the blossom, where to walk and what to expect from the weather.
September 29, 2026 · 1 min read
A hill at 1,100 m with a TV tower, a cable car from the centre and the best view of Almaty. How to get up, what to do at the top, when to catch the sunset and how to walk down.
September 29, 2026 · 1 min read
Practical answers before a trip to Almaty: tenge and cards, SIM cards and internet, the time zone, language, safety, altitude and weather by month, what to pack and where to stay.
September 29, 2026 · 2 min read
The Butakovka waterfalls, Moon Meadow, the Mynzhylky dam, Kok-Zhailau and the Talgar Pass: day routes you can reach by bus or taxi, with times, difficulty and advice.
September 29, 2026 · 1 min read
How to move around Almaty: the single metro line, buses paid by card or phone, ride-hailing apps, scooters, the airport run and the road to the mountains. What works for a visitor and what does not.
September 29, 2026 · 1 min read
A city where children are not bored: rides in Central Park, the Kok-Tobe cable car, a puppet theatre and a circus, a water park and skating at Medeu. What suits which age and how to plan the day.
September 29, 2026 · 1 min read
Winter is the best season for Almaty if you like snow: a rink at 1,691 m, three ski resorts within an hour of the centre, bathhouses and warm restaurants. How to plan a winter trip.
September 29, 2026 · 1 min read
Beshbarmak, plov, lagman, samsa and doner: what to order in Almaty and who does it well. From breakfast and street food to dinner downtown, with tips on booking and prices.
September 29, 2026 · 1 min read
Three mountain lakes in a spruce forest and the sunken forest of Kaindy, 300 km from Almaty. How to get there, where to sleep in Saty, whether to hike or ride to the second lake, and what the border zone means.
September 29, 2026 · 2 min read
The Valley of Castles, 200 km from Almaty, is the most popular day trip. The road, park entry, the walk down to the river, heat and water, plus an overnight option to catch the canyon at sunrise.
September 29, 2026 · 1 min read
BAO is a turquoise lake at 2,511 m, 30 km from the city. How to get there, why you need your passport, where you cannot walk and in which months the water is at its most beautiful.
September 29, 2026 · 1 min read
The easiest mountain day out of Almaty: a bus to Medeu, the dam, the gondola to Shymbulak and the Talgar Pass. What to bring, when to go and how to skip the queues.
September 29, 2026 · 2 min read
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.
September 29, 2026 · 1 min read
One day in Almaty means a park and a cathedral downtown, two museums, the Medeu skating rink and sunset on Kok-Tobe. A ready-made route with time for every stop and tips on not losing half the day in traffic.
September 29, 2026 · 2 min read
