Almaty is the largest city in Kazakhstan and was its capital until 1997.
Mountainous Setting: Almaty is surrounded by the stunning Tien Shan Mountains, providing breathtaking views and outdoor recreational opportunities. The nearby Medeu ice rink, one of the highest in the world, is a popular destination.
Cultural Hub: The city is a cultural hub, offering a mix of modern and traditional attractions. Visitors can explore museums, theaters, and art galleries, showcasing Kazakhstan's rich history and contemporary art scene.
Green Spaces: Almaty is known for its green spaces and parks, such as Panfilov Park, which features the Zenkov Cathedral—a wooden structure without nails. The city's tree-lined streets add to its charm.
Diverse Cuisine: The city boasts a diverse culinary scene, blending Central Asian, Russian, and European influences. Traditional Kazakh dishes, such as beshbarmak and plov, can be savored alongside international cuisines.
Economic Hub: Almaty is a major economic center, hosting the country's stock exchange and numerous financial institutions. The city plays a crucial role in Kazakhstan's economic development.
Former Capital: While Nur-Sultan is now the capital, Almaty remains an essential cultural and economic center. Its dynamic atmosphere and vibrant city life make it a popular destination for both locals and tourists.
Places to visit: here you can find some information on interesting places you could visit while stying in Almaty.
Theaters
There are a large number of different theaters in Almaty: from academic, such as Russian Drama Theater or Uyghur Musical Comedy Theater, to experimental, such as ArtKoshe or ArtiShock. Also there are Korean and German theaters in the city. Not so long ago, new Almaty Theater was opened, a new multifunctional space for cultural events of any format: from ballet performances and theatrical productions to shows, exhibitions and fashion events.
Kazakh National Academic Opera and Ballet Theater named after Abai
Mukhtar Auezov State Academic Drama Theatre
Almaty Theater
Museums
Almaty's museums are diverse: the Central State Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan is one of the oldest and largest museums in the Central Asian region with a collection of about 300,000 items. The Abylkhan State Museum of Art of the Republic of Kazakhstan is the largest art museum in Kazakhstan and a leading research, cultural and educational center in the field of fine arts. Museum of Folk Musical Instruments named after Ykhlas holds a significant collection of unique folk instruments, both Kazakh and belonging to various peoples of the world.
The Abylkhan State Museum of Art of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Central State Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Museum of Folk Musical Instruments named after Yhlas
Night Clubs
Nightlife lovers have the opportunity to choose from a variety of clubs with good music and a pleasant atmosphere.
Bla Bla Bar
Barmaglot
The Sky Bar
Cafes and Restaurants
There are many establishments in Almaty where you can taste dishes of not only Kazakh, but also Italian, Georgian, Korean, Chinese, Turkish, Uzbek and other types of national cuisine.
J.Z. Peking Duck
SYDYK
Ziyafet Steak House
Tours
Travel agencies offer a variety of tours in the vicinity of Almaty: bus tours, hiking, horseback riding, and even hunting with hunting birds.
Kolsay Lake
Charyn Canyon
Altyn Emel National Park
Parks and recreation areas
Almaty is a very green city with many parks.The Central Recreation Park was founded as early as 1856 in the floodplain of the Malaya Almatinka River as a place for walking and recreation. In 1965, it was recognized as the best park in the Soviet Union. Kok Tobe Park is one of the symbols of the city of Almaty, located on the peak of Kok Tobe Mountain at an altitude of 1,100 meters above sea level, a 5-minute drive from the city center. You can climb Kok-Tobe either by a serpentine highway or by a cable car. The Park named after the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan is an arboretum with more than 11,000 trees and shrubs planted on its territory. The park serves as a venue for various events such as "Almaty – the city of flowers", "Carnival of Dolls", "Apple Festival" and sports marathons.
Central Recreation Park
Koktobe Park
Park named after the first President of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Squares and pedestrian streets
The pedestrian streets of Almaty are a great place for walking. Traditionally, street artists exhibit their paintings there, and you can enjoy performances of independent dance and music groups.
Silk Way Street
Republic Square
Panfilov Street
Zoo and Water Parks
The Almaty Zoo will celebrate its 90th anniversary in 2027. To date, the zoo's collection includes 310 species and 2,781 specimens of animals. Water parks are a popular vacation destination in the summer heat.
Hawaii Water Park
the ZOO
Eight Lakes Water Park
Malls and shopping centers
Malls and shopping centers in Almaty not only offer a wide range of branded goods, but also plenty of entertainment for every taste.