Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest metropolis, is set in the foothills of the Trans-Ili Alatau mountains. It served as the country’s capital until 1997 and remains Kazakhstan’s trading and cultural hub. Landmarks include the Central State Museum, displaying thousands of historic Kazakh artifacts. In the center is Panfilov Park, home to the bright-yellow towers of Zenkov Cathedral, a tsarist-era Russian Orthodox church.
The leafy city of Almaty (Alma-Ata; Алматы), with a backdrop of the snowcapped Zailiysky Alatau, has always been among the more appealing Russian creations in Central Asia. Today Almaty’s new rich have expensive suburban apartments, large SUVs, glitzy shopping malls, Western-style coffee lounges, expensive restaurants, dance-till-dawn nightclubs and new ski resorts to help them enjoy life to the full. Meanwhile, others from the city’s outer districts and the countryside squeeze into packed buses and rickety marshrutkas around the Green Market (Zelyony Bazar) or Sayakhat bus station.
Almaty is Kazakhstan’s main transport hub and a place many travellers pass through. Stay a few days and you’ll find that it is a sophisticated place – one for enjoying green parks and excellent museums, shops and markets, and for eating, drinking and partying in Central Asia’s best selection of restaurants, cafes, bars and clubs. And great mountain hiking and skiing are right on the doorstep.
The Big Almaty Lake
Kok Tobe
Ile-Alatau National Park
Ascension Cathedral
Central State Museum
Almaty Tower
Palace of the Republic
Central Park
Shop at the Green Bazar
The Green Bazaar is the most popular of the city’s markets and you can find here all sorts of local goodies and their world famous dry fruits.
Besides the typical fruits, vegetables, cheese, spices, or meat you can also buy here products typical for Central Asia, such as kumys (fermented dairy product made from mare’s milk). In other parts of the bazaar, you can find clothes, furniture, and other random things but the food hall is the place you don’t want to miss!
Also did you know that Almaty is the birthplace of modern apples? Even the former name of the city, Alma-Ata, means “Father of Apples” in the Kazakh language. So be sure to eat local apples when you visit Almaty, the best ones can be found within the Green Bazaar.
Medeo Skating Rink
Shymbulak Ski Resort
Shymbulak is the largest ski resort in Central Asia with powdered slopes and one of the top Almaty tourist attractions all year round. On your journey to the top of Shymbulak resort area, you will find various accommodations, restaurants, cafés where you can have tea in a traditional yurt so high in the mountains and enjoy many other attractions like horse riding, a rope park, trampolines and OFCOURSE FRESH MOUNTAIN AIR!
Shymbulak, also known as Chimbulak is a ski resort near Almaty. The Shymbulak Ski Resort is located 25km outside Almaty city. It is located in the upper part of the Medeu Valley in the Zaiilisky Alatau mountain range. It is the largest ski resort in Central Asia. There are three ski lifts at the resort with the highest going to 3200 meters above sea level. There is also a Hotel located at the Resort, enabling those wishing to ski during the day, have a place to stay at night.
The resort is located in the upper part of the Medeu Valley in the Zaiilisky Alatau mountain range. It is popular for its mild climate, large quantity of sunny days and great amount of snow through the winter (from November till May). Almaty hosted the 2011 Asian Winter Games, bid for 2014 Winter Olympics, considered a bid for 2018 Winter Olympics, but decided to bid for 2022 Winter Olympics instead; Shymbulak was a venue for the Alpine Skiing events (both speed and technical), and would have been for the latter.
Relive the nomadic past of ethnic Kazakhs
If you seek to learn about the nomadic history of ethnic Kazakhs, make a beeline for The Huns Ethno village. The ancient mountainous village is famous for horseback riding, among other adventures. The place offers spectacular views of the mountains and is bustling with several traditional Soviet-looking hubs and Kazakh yurts. The locals will be more than happy to demonstrate the traditions and customs of the Kazakhs to you. This surely is a once in a lifetime time experience.
Enjoy the Nightlife in Almaty
Another thing that is undeniably attractive about Almaty is its incredibly wonderful nightlife. If you and your friends are planning to go for a fun trip and have the best time of their life, then there is no way you can get the best nightlife anywhere else than this spectacular country. Almaty’s nightlife gives its tourists the best nights with its colourful clubs, bars, music, parties and beautiful people. Give it a shot and you will surely become a fan.
Hotels in Almaty
DoubleTree by Hilton, Almaty
Dosmukhamedov St 115, Almaty 050000, Kazakhstan
DoubleTree by Hilton Almaty hotel located about 17 km from international airport, 1.8 km from Kasteev State Museum of Arts , 2.3 from Kazakhstan Independence Monument, 17 km from Medeo, 24 km from Shymbulak.
Hotel featuring a terrace, 24-hour front desk & room service, free WiFi, Spa & wellness centre with an indoor pool, bar, sauna. All rooms in the hotel are equipped with air conditioning, flat-screen TV with satellite channels, tea/coffee kettle, bath or shower, hairdryer, wardrobe, private bathroom with free toiletries.
A continental breakfast is available daily at hotel and also provides a business centre (guests can use the fax machine and photocopier or use the on-site ATM machine at the hotel. Hotel having about 1,165 sq. m. of flexible event space includes a column-free Grand Ballroom. Flexible conference rooms feature natural light and can accommodate up to 500 guests.
Kazakhstan Hotel
Dostyk Ave 52/2, Almaty 480051, Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan Hotel located about 1.6 km from city centre, 7 km from the two railway Stations of city and 5 km from the Atakent Exhibition Centre. Hotel is a unique historical monument of the megalopolis of Almaty. Kazakhstan Hotel is one of the few hotels in the world that has become an integral part of the city.
Hotel offering free Parking, stylish rooms with nice views, free Wi-Fi, 24-hour restaurant serving, satellite TV, air conditioning, soundproofed windows. Guests can enjoy regional and international food in the classical-style Kazakhstan restaurant. The 24-hour pastry corner and lobby bar are other highlights at the Hotel Kazakhstan. Hotel guests can enjoy panoramic city views & drinks at BarFly bar, located on 25th floor.
Novotel Almaty City Center
Dostyk Ave 104 A, Almaty 050000, Kazakhstan
The Novotel Almaty City Center hotel is located about 12 minutes of driving from Almaty railway station and in 30 minutes of driving from Almaty international airport. Hotel is located in the center of Almaty, in its cultural and business part. The nearest subway stations are Abai and Baikonur. Kok-Tobe Cable Road, The Palace of Republic, Arman Cinema are next to the hotel.
Novotel Almaty City Center is ideal business and leisure hotel. Hotel offers about 190 rooms and situated in the downtown of Almaty on Dostyk and Abai main avenues cross, which are famous for their business centers, offices, shops, restaurants, cafes and bars. Hotel provides accommodation with a restaurant, free private parking, fitness centre, bar, concierge service, children’s playground, 24-hour front desk/ airport transfers/ room service, free WiFi, fitness center with pool, restaurant with terrace, bar, children corner and 7 meeting rooms.
Each hotel room are with desk, flat-screen TV, private bathroom, air conditioning, wardrobe, tea and coffee making facilities. Hotel guests can enjoy a continental breakfast.
The Ritz-Carlton, Almaty
Esentai Tower Business Center, Al-Farabi Avenue, Almaty 050040, Kazakhstan
Hotel Ritz-Carlton located 4.1 km from city center. Shymbulak Ski Resort is a 30-minute drive away, and Almaty International Airport is 15 km from the hotel.
Hotel Ritz-Carlton, Almaty offers a luxury hotel experience that stirs every sense. Alight from the sky elevator into the 30th floor lobby and receive a splendid welcome, accentuated by the awe-inspiring views that surround you.
Hotel offers spacious, air-conditioned rooms decorated in warm colours. Each elegant room includes flat-screen TV, Marble-tiled baths with a separate rainforest shower and dual sinks, bathrobes, Asprey bath amenities, lighted makeup mirror, hair dryer and scale, 24-hour in-room service, Wi-Fi , complimentary overnight shoeshine, morning newspaper, iPod station, In-room safe, coffee and tea machine with required accessories, etc.
Hotel also having the elegant on-site SEVEN Bar & Restaurant. Hotel Guests can enjoy drinks at the Sky Lobby and Lounge. Vista Restaurant serves international cuisine including Kazakh specialties for breakfast and lunch, etc. The hotel also offer recreation and relaxation facilities of Spa with 4 private rooms, including special salt and oriental treatment rooms, relaxation areas, steam rooms saunas, hammam.
Rixos Almaty Hotel
Dostyk Ave 104 A, Almaty 050000, Kazakhstan
Seyfullin St 506 99, Almaty 050012, Kazakhstan
Rixos Almaty Hotel is a luxury 5-star hotel and located about 1 Km from city center and Nikolai Cathedral, 2 km from Almaty Opera House and 5 km by cable car from Köktöbe Mountain.
Hotel offers modern rooms with free Wi-Fi internet, spa with swimming pool, all rooms with air conditioning, work desk, balcony with nice views, bathrooms include a bath and shower. Hotel provides breakfast with international buffets.
The Lobby Bar & Lounge is open 24 hours. Guests can dine at the Brasserie Restaurant. The hotel spa includes gym, Turkish bath, indoor gardens sauna, massage rooms.
Shera Inn Hotel
Khadzhimukan Street д. 47, Almaty 050000, Kazakhstan
Shera Inn Hotel located in Almaty, about 18 km from Almaty International Airport , 11 km from Medeo, 21 km from Shymbulak and Kok Tobe Mountain is about 3.8 km away.
Hotel is famous for its convenient location in the financial center of the city, 24-hour service, multilingual staff, excellent cuisine, spa and fitness centres, modern business services. Hotel is ideal not only for business traveller but also leisure clients.
Hotel having 188 elegantly decorated rooms with required services such as tea/coffee kettle, flat-screen TV with satellite channels, private bathroom, bath robes, slippers, free toiletries. Shera Inn Hotel boasts a terrace and views of the mountains. Guests can enjoy a meal at the restaurant.
Hotel offers five meeting rooms, ranging from 53 to 200 sq. m each, perfect for conferences and seminars. A complete package of equipment, including a projector and screen, sound system, flip charts, markers, notepads, pens and mineral water for guests, Wi-Fi Internet is already included in the rental of the hall. Coffee breaks and lunch menus, as well as any other menu of your choice, will be provided upon request.