Things to Do in Almaty

Almaty rewards slow wandering. Start with these:

• Ride up Kok-Tobe. A cable car climbs to a hilltop park with the best panorama of the city against the mountains, plus cafes and the Almaty TV tower - see our Kok-Tobe guide.
• Taste kumys and shubat at the Green Bazaar. Almaty's historic market (since 1875) is the place to try fermented mare's and camel milk, horse meat, dried fruit and spices.
• Walk Panfilov Park. The bright wooden Zenkov Cathedral, the war memorial and shady avenues sit at the heart of the city - an easy stroll from TsUM down to the Abay Opera Theatre.
• Soak at the Arasan baths. A grand bathhouse with Russian, Finnish and Eastern hammams - the classic way to recover after a hike.
• Stroll the Botanical Garden. 100+ hectares of trees, ponds and a tropical glasshouse, beautiful in autumn.
• Linger on a cafe terrace. Almaty has a serious coffee and dessert culture - pick a terrace as the mountains catch the evening light.

The best of Almaty is half an hour out of town, where the Ile (Zailiysky) Alatau rises straight off the suburbs:

• Medeo & Shymbulak. Skate on the world's highest Olympic ice rink at Medeo, then ride the gondola up to the Shymbulak ski resort for lunch and views.
• Big Almaty Lake. A vivid turquoise lake ringed by peaks, about an hour from the city - see the Big Almaty Lake tour.
• Kok-Zhailau. The city's favourite half-day hike to a high alpine meadow - perfect for a first walk, see Kok-Zhailau.
• Waterfalls & hot springs. Cool off at a waterfall hike or soak in the radon hot springs after a trek.
• Lakes near the city. Beyond Big Almaty Lake there are several more - see the best lakes near Almaty.

With a full day you can reach some of Central Asia's most spectacular landscapes:

• Charyn Canyon - the "Valley of Castles", a red-rock canyon often compared to a mini Grand Canyon.
• Kolsai & Kaindy Lakes - stacked alpine lakes and the surreal sunken forest of Kaindy, usually a long day or overnight.
• Altyn-Emel - the Singing Dune and the striped Aktau mountains.

See all options, with distances and prices, in our day trips from Almaty roundup.

Almaty is a year-round destination - what you do just changes with the season:

• Summer (Jun-Aug): high passes, alpine lakes and multi-day treks open up.
• Autumn (Sep-Oct): golden gorges, stable weather and fewer crowds - the sweet spot.
• Winter (Dec-Mar): skiing at Shymbulak, skating at Medeo, snowshoe hikes and hot springs - see the winter hikes & activities guide.
• Spring (Apr-May): green foothills, wildflowers and waterfalls at full power.

For the full month-by-month picture, read the best time to hike near Almaty.

• 1 day: Kok-Tobe and the Green Bazaar in the morning, Medeo and Shymbulak in the afternoon.
• 3 days: add a mountain hike (Kok-Zhailau or Big Almaty Lake) and a Charyn Canyon day trip.
• 5+ days: add the Kolsai Lakes or a multi-day trek, and a slower city day.

Want it planned for you? See our 7-day Almaty itinerary.