Lovely Tourist Places to See and Top Things to Do in Almaty, Kazakhstan

November 26, 2022 Mustafa Natalwala 3349 Views

Almaty is a city in Kazakhstan. It was the former capital of the country until 1936. Some of the best things to do in Almaty, Kazakhstan include exploring the history of the country, soviet era architecture, and Kazakh culture. The city is also well known for a variety of snow activities such as skiing and ice skating.

The history of this city goes back to 900 BCE and was occupied by several empires over the years. This city was an important stop on the famed Silk Road. Many of the best places to visit in Almaty, Kazakhstan will remind you of those glorious trade routes. Between the 15th & 18th centuries, the region was attacked by Turks, Huns, Chinese, and Russians. Later in the 1850s, Soviet Empire took over the city. The majority of historical Almaty attractions hail from this era of Soviet occupation.

Kazakhstan got its independence from Russia in 1991. After independence, the government and the people worked hard to revive the Kazakh culture and traditions. Evidence of these efforts are apart throughout Almaty sightseeing. You can experience the traditions of old Kazakhstan in a variety of ways. You can explore art museums, history museums, cultural centers, ethnographic village, performance centers, and more. There are also Almaty tourist attractions where you can experience traditions like falconry, textile artwork, horseback riding, dance performance, and so on.

Another popular aspect of Almaty travel is the surrounding mountains of the city. These mountains have several ski resorts for a variety of snow activities. For many people, winter is the best time to visit Almaty, Kazakhstan. These natural landscapes are also known for several other activities like hiking, trekking, camping, mountain climbing, and so on. The surrounding nature reserves and national parks are also some of the most beautiful things to see in Almaty.

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Table of Contents

Top 22 Tourist Places to Visit in Almaty

1. Kazakhstan Museum of Arts (A. Kasteyev State Museum of Arts)

Also known as the A. Kasteyev Museum of Arts, this museum has the largest art collection in Kazakhstan. The collection includes artworks by native artists and a few pieces from the Soviet era. It is also one of the best places to visit in Almaty, Kazakhstan to explore traditional handicrafts. It has a wonderful collection of folk art and craft items including paintings, fabric work, carvings, and so on. You will need about an hour or so to tour this art museum.

2. Kok Tobe Mountain

Trip to this Mountain is popular for the cable car ride. This ride is great for Almaty sightseeing. You get amazing views of the city and the vineyards below the hill. Atop the hill, you will find a zoo, public parks, viewpoints, shops, and restaurants. You will need 2 to 3 hours for this excursion.

3. First President’s Park

This public park has green spaces, walking trails, gardens, an amphitheater, and several fun activities. It is popular among Almaty attractions for leisure. The park also has several beautiful monuments, fountains, and flower gardens; making it an ideal place to click great pictures. That is why you will many couples taking wedding pictures all around this park. You can easily spend 30 to 45 minutes exploring this park.

4. Arasan Baths

These baths were built during the 1980s and show the heavy influence of the Soviet era. These baths have a variety of spas, saunas, and bath facilities. You will see Russian, Finnish, Moroccan, and Turkish-style hammams at this place. It is one of the most rejuvenating things to do in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Here you can also experience the traditional Russian Banya treatment. You will need at least an hour to thoroughly enjoy this place.

5. Central Mosque

This mosque is one of the largest in the country with a capacity for about 7,000 people. It is known for its traditional Islamic architectural features. The mosque has golden domes, intricate stone carvings, marble work, and lush interior decor. It is one of the most beautiful things to see in Almaty. You will need 30 to 45 minutes to explore this mosque. But you will need to follow the dressing regulations to enter the mosque.

6. Medeu Ice Skating Rink

Sitting at 1,691 meters above sea level, this is the highest-located ice-skating rink in the entire world. While this place is open all year, it becomes especially popular in winter. The rink is an extension of Almaty travel and you reach here by bus or a rental car. People can get ice skates for rent at the rink or they can bring their own. You can easily spend an hour or so at this place.

I suggest you should book a Day Trip to Medeu Ice Skating Rink.

7. Big Almaty Lake

This lake is also locally known as Bao lake and is part of the Tien Shan mountains. The lake is one of the main sources of fresh water in Almaty. It is also known among Almaty tourist attractions for its picturesque view. You can easily spend a couple of hours walking around this lake and enjoying the scenery.

I suggest you should book a Day Tour of Big Almaty Lake in advance.

8. Zhibek Zholy (Jibek Joly) Pedestrian Street

This pedestrian-only street is lined with cafes, restaurants, shops, and street performers. It is a great place to shop for a variety of things such as craft works, handicrafts, fashion, local items, and so on. You can also get a variety of cuisines on this street. Though street performers, artisans, and entertainers are the most attractive feature of this place. It is the perfect place for a leisurely stroll when you visit Almaty. You will need 30 to 45 minutes to explore this pedestrian street.

9. Kazakh Museum of Folk Musical Instruments

As the name suggests, this museum is dedicated to the folk musical instruments of Kazakhstan. But it also talks about various other folk arts and crafts. This museum is popular among Almaty tourist places as it gives great insight into the culture of the region. You will see a variety of musical instruments from different time periods exhibited here. You will get to learn about their origin, historical significance, cultural value, and playing style. You will need about an hour to tour this museum.

10. Winter Activities

Winter is the best time to visit Almaty as you get to enjoy a variety of snow sports. People journey up the mountains for skiing, snowboarding, snowmobile rides, and so on. There are several resorts scattered in the mountains, each with unique facilities and attractions. People can use bus, car, cable car, and ski lifts to get to these places to enjoy winter activities. You can easily spend a day or more enjoying the snow, scenery, and skiing at any of these resorts.

11. Huns Ethno Village

The village sits among the mountains and recreates a traditional Kazakh village. It is one of the most interesting places to go in Almaty. You can learn about the regional culture, religion, and traditions. People can also enjoy a variety of activities at this village such as horseback riding, traditional cooking, textile workshop, and more. You will need 2 to 3 hours to explore this place.

I suggest you should go for a Guided Tour of Huns Ethno Village.

12. Falcon Hunting

Falconry is one of the most wonderful Kazakh sports. You can see a vivid presentation of this tradition at the Falcon Hunting Festival of Kazakhstan. If you don’t make it to the festival, there are several cultural places to see in Almaty that let you explore this sport and its history. You will have to head to Alma-Arasan gorge to find such nurseries that breed and train falcons. You will need at least an hour to experience this tradition.

13. Zenkov Cathedral (Ascension Cathedral)

This cathedral is known for its Russian Orthodox design and it is one of the most beautiful buildings in the city. The cathedral is renowned for its wooden architecture. It was built without using any nails. The cathedral stands 56 meters tall and is the second-tallest wooden building in the world. It is one of the best places to visit in Almaty, Kazakhstan if you are interested in Russian architecture. You will need 30 to 45 minutes to tour this place.

14. Panfilov Park (Park of 28 Panfilov Guardsmen)

This park is dedicated to the Panfilov Heroes. The park is known for several top things to do in Almaty city. It has gardens, picnic spots, activity areas, sports facilities, and more. Panfilov Park is also home to several tourist attractions such as the Orthodox Cathedral, Museum of Folk Musical Instruments, Military History Museum, and more. You will need about 2 hours to explore this park.

15. Charyn Canyon National Park

This natural landscape is also called the Grand Canyon of Kazakhstan. The canyon was formed due to millions of years of erosion. The national park has river, streams, caves, rock formations, and more. It is one of the best Almaty attractions for outdoor activities such as hiking, nature trails, camping, and so on. You will need 2 to 3 hours to explore this national park.

I suggest you should book a Day Trip to Charyn Canyon National Park in advance.

16. Green Bazaar

The green bazaar reminds people of a traditional market of the silk road. You will find a variety of things being sold here such as dried fruits, spices, local produce, handicrafts, textile, and more. The bazaar is one of the most interesting things to see in Almaty. The market is also a great place to try out local street food and authentic Kazakh cuisine. You will need about an hour to explore this market.

17. Almaty Metro Stations

The metro stations of the city are known for the artworks that adorn them. This includes murals, paintings, motives, and folk patterns. These artworks depict historical and cultural aspects of Kazakhstan. They are among the most beautiful Almaty tourist attractions. You can admire them when you visit the stations.

18. Museum of History of Almaty

This museum looks into the history of the city. It is divided into 11 exhibition rooms featuring more than eleven thousand artifacts. The artifacts cover fashion, archeology, religion, warfare, politics, art, craft, technology, and more. You will need an hour from Almaty travel to tour this museum.

19. Abay Kazakh State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater

This theatre preserves and recreates several traditional performing arts of the country. You will see traditional Kazakh dance performances as well as Russian Ballet. It is one of the best Almaty tourist places for such a cultural experience. You will need at least an hour to watch a performance here.

20. Central State Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan

This museum delves into the history of Kazakhstan. It begins the story of the nation with archeological findings of the first human settlement in the region. This museum covers different periods in history all the way to modern times. You will need an hour or so to tour this museum when you visit Almaty.

21. Altyn-Emel National Park

This national park is a little further away from the city. But it is worth a visit if you enjoy beautiful natural landscapes. The national park has mountains, valleys, rivers, dry land, and a canyon. It is the best place for outdoor things to do in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The national park is also home to a variety of wild animals including Argali, Persian Gazelle, Asian Barbastelle, Bukhara Deer, Lynx, Brown Bear, and many more. You need at least half a day to explore this place.

I suggest you should book a Day Tour of Altyn-Emel National Park in advance.

22. Almaty Hotel Mosaics

Though this hotel might not look like much from the outside, it is well known for the mosaics within its walls. These mosaics depict events from history and culture. They also give a vivid depiction of the famous silk road. You will need 20 to 30 minutes to admire these mosaics.

If you are looking for more Almaty tourist places, check out the sections below. We have created an exhaustive list of places and activities that you can enjoy in and around the city.

Things to do in Almaty

Monuments, Museums & Historical Places to Visit in Almaty

Zenkov’s Cathedral
Central State Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Museum of Musical Instruments
A. Kasteev State Art Museum
Almaty Central Mosque
Almaty Museum
Abay Kazakh State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre
Museum of Archeology in Almaty
D. Konaev House Museum
Museum of Kazakh Academic Drama Theatre
St. Nicholas Cathedral
Almaty Nature Museum
Akhmet Baitursynov House Museum
Military History Museum of Kazakhstan
Tengri Umai Contemporary Art
Kazakhstan Museum of Arts
Arvest Art Gallery
Center for Traditional Music
Tlendiev Museum
Central Museum of Railway Transport
Huns Ethno Village

Nature & Wildlife Tourist Spots in Almaty

Mount Kok Tobe
Ile Alatau National Park
Big Almaty Lake
Charyn Canyon National Park
Altyn Emel National Park
Bol’shoye Almatinskoye
Butakovskiy Waterfall
Kumbel Peak
Kim Asar Gorge
Bukreyev Peak
Furmanov Peak
Sairan Reservoir
Terrenkur Nature Park
Butakovskoye Ushchel’ye
Gorel’nik Gorge
Peak Moloezhny
Medeu Dam
Black Waterfall
Pereval Titova
Baum Grove
Titov Peak
Yunnatskoye Ozero
Ozero Titova
Birch Grove
Nursultan Peak
Abaya Peak

Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Spots in Almaty

Shymbulak Ski Resort
Medeu Ice Arena
Park of 28 Panfilov Gaurdsmen
Almaty Zoo
First President Park
Central Park
Almaty Fantasy World
Hawaii Aqaupark
Kok Tobe Park
Tabagan Ski Resort
Almaty Botanical Gardens
Arasan Baths, Wellness & Spa
Aya Fantasy World
Bol’shoy Talgarskiy Pereval Ski Resort
Nemo Dolphinarium
Mukagali Makataev Park
Almaty Aqua Park
Funky Town
Aspan Park
Mahatma Gandhi Park
Sunkar Falcon nursery
South Park

Shopping in Almaty

Green Bazaar
Mega Alma Ata Mall
Esenai Mall
Dostyk Plaza
Silk Way City
Arbat Market
Almaty City Center
Tsum Mall

Offbeat Places, Tours, & Adventures in Almaty

Hiking
Trekking
Camping
Ice Skating
Skiing
Snow-boarding
Cable Car Ride
Mountain Climbing

Sightseeing in Almaty

Almaty Hotel Mosaics
Almaty Metro Station Artworks
Almaty Television Tower
Independence Monument
Old Japanese Road
Almatinskiye Sakskiye Kurgany
Astana Square
Monument of the Beatles
Monument of Zhambyl
Aliya Modlagulova and Manshuk Mametova Memorial
Abylai Khan Monument
Arbat Street
Villa Almaty

Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Almaty

Gosti
Wine Cafe
Tandoor
Venezia
Daredzhani Kunaeva
Beefeater Almaty
Kishlak
El Mirador
Alasha
Chukotka
Gakku
Traktir Medved
Checkhov
Wagon

Where to Stay in Almaty?

Here we have listed Top Rated Luxurious, Mid-Range, and Budget Hotels in Almaty. You can check the below listed hotels for your perfect stay in Almaty.

Luxurious Hotels

Mid-Range Hotels

Budget Hotels

Custom Tours Package in Almaty

How to Reach Almaty?

By Air

The city is served by Almaty International Airport. It sits about 30 minutes outside the city. You can get direct flights to visit Almaty from Sharjah, Baku, Bangkok, Nur-Sultan (Astana), Beijing, Dubai, Istanbul, Delhi, Hong Kong, Tbilisi, Riga, Seoul, Minsk, Jeddah, Yerevan, Kuwait, Frankfurt, Milan, Doha, Abu Dhabi, and many more.

You can get buses and cabs to get to the city from the airport.

By Road

You can get direct trains to Almaty to travel from cities in Russia and China. The trains connect the city to Moscow, Aktobe, Uralsk, Saratov, Shymkent, Uralsk, and Urumqi.

Similarly, you get buses to reach Almaty from several places in China. The local buses connect the city to many places in Kazakhstan as well.

If you are planning to visit Almaty, you should head for routes A2, M36, and A351.

By Water

There are no direct water routes to reach Almaty.

Image Reference

Kazakhstan Museum of Arts (A. Kasteyev State Museum of Arts) – Davide Mauro / Wikimedia Commons
Kok Tobe Mountain – Theozz1 / Wikimedia Commons
First President’s Park – Tore Khan / Flickr
Arasan Baths –
Central Mosque – Alex J. Butler / Flickr
Medeu Ice Skating Rink – Tore Khan / Flickr
Big Almaty Lake – Vladimir Varfolomeev / Flickr
Zhibek Zholy (Jibek Joly) Pedestrian Street – Alex J. Butler / Flickr
Kazakh Museum of Folk Musical Instruments – Dan Lundberg / Flickr
Winter Activities – Tore Khan / Flickr
Huns Ethno Village –
Falcon Hunting –
Zenkov Cathedral (Ascension Cathedral) – Dr. Thomas Liptak / Flickr
Panfilov Park (Park of 28 Panfilov Guardsmen) – mauro gambini / Flickr
Charyn Canyon National Park – mariusz kluzniak / Flickr
Green Bazaar – Dan Lundberg / Flickr
Almaty Metro Stations – Petar Milošević / Wikimedia Commons
Museum of History of Almaty – User 0100 / Wikimedia Commons
Abay Kazakh State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater – Tore Khan / Flickr
Central State Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan – Tore Khan / Flickr
Altyn-Emel National Park – mauro gambini / Flickr
Almaty Hotel Mosaics –