BEST THINGS TO DO IN ALMATY KAZAKHSTAN

Almaty is the largest city in Kazakhstan and the country’s historical capital. This wonderful modern city is home to great churches, mosques, markets, restaurants, and bars. Plus it makes a great base from where to further explore Kazakhstan. The following are the 20 best things to do in Almaty Kazakhstan for an amazing trip to Central Asia.

Keep this post handy when preparing your holidays in Almaty and make sure to also read about the best things to do in Kazakhstan. Additionally, check my Instagram and Tiktok pages for videos of my trip to Almaty Kazakhstan and my best travel tips.

Best things to do in Almaty city centre

1. Admire Zenkov Cathedral

Zenkov Cathedral, also known as Ascension Cathedral, is Almaty’s most famous landmark. This number one must-see attraction in Almaty is a colourful masterpiece made out of wood and without a single nail. Its bright pastel colours will definitely catch your eye. 

Located in the middle of Panfilov Park, right at the center of Almaty, this beautiful 56-metre-high Russian Orthodox church is the world’s second tallest wooden building. It was built in 1907 and is one of the few orthodox churches that survived the Soviet Union. And two earthquakes. Despite both being made out of wood, this church is so different to the one in nearby Karakol, Kyrgyzstan.

Following its most recent renovation, in 1995, the church is now free to visit and open daily from 7am to 6pm. Make sure to visit the inside as well, packed with colourful murals, burning candles, and golden designs. Visiting the Zenkov Cathedral is definitely one of the best things to do in Almaty Kazakhstan.  

2. Explore the Central Mosque

Islam is Kazakhstan’s major religion and has gifted the country plenty of beautiful mosques to explore. Among them, the Central Mosque is a must-see and one of the best places to visit in Almaty. 

Almaty’s Central Mosque was built in 1999, on the grounds of an old mosque which had burnt down. It’s the largest mosque in the city and one of the biggest in Kazakhstan. It has a maximum capacity of 7,000 worshipers, it’s built in marble, and features real gold on its 36-metre-high minarets. The mosque is open from 5am to 10pm every day and free to visit.

3. Walk around downtown Almaty

Almaty is a modern Western-feeling city with a European vibe that will make you forget you are in Central Asia. Streets are lined with beautiful trees and packed with cafes, restaurants, street performers, and artisan shops. Take your time to walk through them, enjoying both the main avenues and the backstreets. 

It’s a great idea to start the walk at Abay Avenue and head south. This way you’ll avoid exploring uphill. Make sure to include the pedestrian street Zhibek Zholy as it’s one of the liveliest. No wonder locals known it as Arbat Street, honouring that in Moscow.

Another must see spot is Republic Square, also known as Independence Square. Here you’ll find Kazakh landmarks such as the Presidential Palace and the Independence Monument. You can visit all these spots joining a guided tour of Almaty.

4. Witness the remains of soviet architecture

Kazakhstan was once part of the Soviet Union. Therefore, just like Yerevan, Tbilisi, or Chisinau, Almaty features interesting remains of soviet architecture. And vising them is certainly one of the best things to do in Almaty. 

The nicest soviet remanats are Hotel Kazakhstan, Palace of the Republic, Palace of Pioneers, Arman Cinema, the State Circus and the Mororialof Glory. Along with the bright yellow Kyzyl Tan building near the Green Bazaar and the Ascension Cathedral.

5. Relax at the city parks

There’s plenty of beautiful parks in Almaty to unwind and relax. They all have little playgrounds, fountains, wooden benches, and lots of lovely spots to walking around.

The most popular is 28 Panfilov Guardsmen. This park is named after Amlaty’s famous 28 Panfilow heroes, who lost their lives defending Moscow during World War II. The park also hosts a huge memorial, an eternal flame, Ascension Cathedral and some of Almaty’s best museums.

The First President’s Park, named after Nursultan Nazarbayev, is also worth a visit. This Park hosts a beautiful flower-based colonnade and offers mesmerizing views over Kazakh mountains in the background. 

The Park on Astana Square and Central Park are also great green areas to explore in Almaty.  And so is Gorki Park, which contains a water park, a cinema, lakes, and lots of cafes and food stalls that make the delights of all visitors. 

6. Check out the beautiful metro stations

Almaty’s metro system is quite a hidden gem and checking out its main stations should be in every list of what to do in Almaty.

Despite the construction of the city’s underground began during soviet times, this wasn’t finished and fully operative until 2011. Nevertheless, major stations are as beautiful and worth seeing as if they dated from back in the 1980s. 

In Almaty’s metro stations you’ll find plenty of decorative patters, folk designs, old maps, colorful murals and much more. Tickets to ride the metro are really inexpensive ($0.25) so get one and enjoy the ride.

7. Unwind at Arasan Baths

Soviets used to love public baths and the Kazakhs are no exception to that. Therefore, one of the best things to do in Almaty is treat yourself to a local wellness session. And the perfect place for this is Arasan Baths, the most popular bathhouse in town and one of the best in Central Asia. 

Arasan baths date from 1980s and were built in the most exquisite way, using polished marble floors, beautiful mosaic patterns, and the finest ceramic tiles. They also offer massages and detox treatments. The place is open daily from 7am to 10pm and costs around 4$ per hour. 

8. Enjoy an evening at the Opera

Just as attending the opera is a must-do in Russia, watching a show is a must-have experience in every ex-Soviet country. I’ve enjoyed it in Moldova, Armenia, and Georgia among others and can only recommend it. Thus, if you have some time to spare in Almaty, make sure to get tickets for the Opera here. 

Almaty’s Abai Opera dates from 1934, which makes it one of the oldest standing buildings in the city. Its name honors the Kazakh poet, musucian and philosopher Abai Kunanbayev, who always tried to preserve the ancient Kazakh folklore through his works.  

9. Party the night away

Almaty hosts a vibrant nightlife with plenty of lrestaurant, bars and distilleries, karaokes, and nightclubs. Just as with its Kyrgyz neighbour Bishkek, Almaty is an amazing place to enjoy a night out and you should definitely save time for it when in the city.

Some of the best bars in Almaty are Shivers, Dacha, and 365. While the most popular clubs in Almaty are Underground and Barcode. You can see some videos of my night out in Almaty on my Instagram and Tiktok pages.

Best things to do in Almaty for food lovers

10. Try the Kazakh cuisine

One of the best ways to get to know a country is through its cuisine. Thus, sampling some local dishes is one of the best things to do in Almaty. 

Kazakh cuisine, just as Kyrgyz cuisine, is very meat-focused and includes lots of horse, lamb and camel products. Nevertheless, they also eat lots of rice and noodles so vegetarians will find their way around it. Cab’t promise paradise to vegans though as almost every dish has milk or eggs on it.

The most popular Kazakh dishes are:

• Etqamyr: Boiled horse meat in its on broth
• Quwyrdaq: roasted meat with organs and vegetables
• Palaw: meat fried with carrots, onions, and rice
• Qiymay: sausage made of meat, blood, and spices

And the best places to sample these, along with standard rice and noodle dishes, are local restaurants such as Qaimaq, Navat, Chukotka, As-Kazan, and Baursak City. Consider joining a food tour of Almaty to make the most of the city’s foodie scene.

11. Sample local goodies at the Green Bazar

Green Bazaar is the main market in Almaty, which makes it one of the most vibrant places to visit in the city. It’s one of the major markets in Central Asia and shopping around its stalls is definitely on of the best things to do in Almaty Kazakhstan. 

This covered market was built in 1875 and is divided into multiple sections, each dedicated to certain type of goods. Among them you’ll find local fruits and vegetables, cheeses, spices, cured and fermented foods, fry fruits, nuts, fish, and several types of meat. 

The Green Bazaar, open from 9am to 6pm from Tuesday to Sunday (i.e. closed on Mondays) is a great place to feel the country’s culture. Here you can chat with vendors, try local flavours, buy souvenirs, take lovely photos and people watch for a while. Add it to your Almaty travel guide. 

12. Taste the world’s original apples

Almaty is the birthplace of apples, as wild apples from the area originated cultivates of today’s domesticated apples. Almaty’s pride of its apple heritage is so big that the city’s old name, Alma-Ata, actually means “father of apples” in the local Kazakh language. 

There’s plenty of apple farms around Almaty, and they are sold all over the city. Yet, the best place to sample local apples is the Green Bazaar, where you’ll find them in all shapes and colours. You can see me sampling some on my Tiktok page, where I regularly upload lots of travel and food content. 

13. Enjoy Almaty’s international cuisine scene

I was really surprised to learn how great the international cuisine scene is in Almaty. This lovely city is packed with lovely restaurants serving delicious food from every country in the world, and you should definitely try them. If you are in need of a break from traditional Kazakh food, Almaty has you covered. 

Takara sushi bar and Sumo Sun are the most popular sushi restaurants in Almaty. Ciao Pizza and Dado Pizza will make the delights of pizza lovers in town. Broadway Burger and Craft Kitchen bar are the go-to burger places. And the list goes on and on, with lovely Korean, Thai, Georgian, and Chinese restaurants, to mention some.

Best things to do in Almaty area

14. Watch the sunset from Kok Tobe Hill

One of the Almaty tourist attractions that you shouldn’t miss is Kok Tobe Hill, especially at sunset. You can get there by foot, on marshrutkas 95 and 99, or via an scenic ride on a cable car. I totally recommend the latter, as it’s affordable, quick and really beautiful. You’ll find videos of the cable car on my Instagram and Tiktok pages.

Kok Tobe, which means blue hill, is a 1100m hilll offering wonderful views over Almaty and the nearby Tien Shan mountains. At the top of the hill, besides the TV tower, there’s a small zoo, some restaurants, and an amusement park packed with fun rides. 

15. Hike around Big Almaty Lake

Mountain lakes are undoubtedly among the best places to visit in Kazakhstan. And good news are you can visit some near Almaty. These are accessible independently or via a guided tour to Almaty’s lakes.  

Big Almaty Lake is the biggest and most beautiful lake to visit around Almaty. It’s a really spectacular place, with incredible turquoise waters and unreal scenery, located over 2,500 meters above sea level in the Illi Alatau and Tien Shan mountains. Nevertheless, the lake is really easy to reach as it’s only 30km from the city centre.

The big Alamty lake is also one of the best spots for hiking or a picnic in the sunshine. What you won’t be able to do though is get too close to the waters, so forget about swimming or sailing in the lake. Big Almaty Lake is a natural reserve and a major source of drinking water for the city, and in order to protect it no one can get near the waters. 

As Big Almaty Lake is very close to the border with Kyrgyzstan it is advised to always have your passport to hand when hiking in the are in case mountain guards ask for it. There’s an entrance fee of $0.50 to the lake’s area.

16. Practice ice-skating at Medeu

Among Almaty things to do for sports lovers, visiting Medeu should rank very high. Medeu is the highest ice-skating ring in the world. It lays at 1,691 metres above sea level, surrounded by wonderful mountains, and only a short bus ride away from Almaty.  

Going for a walk or hike in the area is also a wonderful way of spending a day near Almaty. The ring is open from 10am to 11 pm from Tuesday to Sunday and if you love sports, ice-skating there is definitely one of the best things to do in Almaty.  

17. Learn about the country’s Nomadic Culture

If you are short in time to tour Kazakhstan yet you’d like to have a first hand impression of the country’s nomadic live, Ethno Hunn Village has you covered. 

Etho Hunn Village is an ancient mountaneous village an hour away of Almaty. It’s the best place to learn about the nomadic customs and traditions of Kazakh peoples. Here you can spot traditional Kazakh yurts, very similar to those in Kyrgyzstan. And learn about their arts and crafts, local games, folk dances, and even try horseback riding. 

Best Museums to visit in Almaty

18. Visit the Central State Museum

The Central State Museum is the best museum to visit in Almaty for history lovers. And one you should definitely visit even if it’s only by the outside, as the building is really nice. 

With three floors, seven exhibition halls, and over 200,000 artifacts of Kazakh’s heritage, it’s one of the largest museums in Central Asia. Items on display range from the Bronze Age to current times and include plenty of war, daily life, and cultural goods. 

It’s open from Wednesday to Monday (i.e. it’s closed on Tuesdays) from 9.30am to 5.30pm. Entrance fee is approximately $1 and you can get a guided tour around for $2.

19. Explore the Museum of Folk Musical Instruments

One of the Almaty attractions that every music lover should visit is the Museum of Folk Music Instruments. Kazakhstan’s nomadic culture is closely tided to folk music and dancing, so visiting is a great way of learning about the country’s nomadic past. 

Here visitors can see a broad collection of iconic local musical instruments, including horns, wooden harps and bagpipes. There’s also lots of Turkish, Uzbek, and Kyrgyz instruments on display. It’s also possible to listen to performers playing the instruments and also to take a short class on how to play them yourself. 

The Museum of Folk Musical Instruments is open from Tuesdays to Sundays (i.e. closed on Mondays) from 10am to 7pm and the entrance fee is below $1. 

20. Enjoy the Museum of Arts

The Kazakhstan Museum of Arts hosts the best art collection in the country. Here you’ll find works of great Kazakh, Western European, and Russian artists. It’s the perfect place to better understand the city’s culture and history. 

Since it was established in 1935 it’s the largest art museum in Kazakhstan, with over 25,000 art objects within its walls. Most of them glorify the Soviet Union, while others are quite modern and unrealistic. The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday between 10am and 5pm, and tickets are $1. 

Recap on the best things to do in Almaty

Almaty is a modern multicultural city home to over 2 million people. There’s lots of great things to do in Almaty, such as visiting its wonderful churches, mosques, markets, parks, museums, and viewpoints. Additionally, the city features wonderful restaurants a a vibrant nightlife. And makes a great base to further explore Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

If you have any questions on Almaty and Kazakhstan, please leave a comment below. Or reach out through my Instagram or Tiktok pages, where you’ll also find plenty of travel stories and tips from my trips. Enjoy Almaty and Kazakhstan.