City: Almaty
Top Things to do in Almaty
The 10 Best Nature & Parks in Almaty, Kazakhstan
Almaty /ˈælməti/ (Kazakh: Алматы, Almaty [ɑlmɑˈtə]; Russian: Алматы), formerly known as Alma-Ata /ˌælmə.əˈtɑː/ (Russian: Алма-Ата) and Verny (Russian: Верный Vernyy), is the largest city in Kazakhstan, with a population of 1,797,431 people, about 8% of the country's total population. It served as capital of the Kazakh state in its various forms from 1929 to 1997, under the influence of the then Soviet Union and its appointees. Alma-Ata was the host city for a 1978 international conference on Primary Health Care where the Alma Ata Declaration was adopted, marking a paradigm shift in global public health. In 1997, the government relocated the capital to Astana in the north of the country, which is about 12 hours away by train.
Restaurants in Almaty
1. Nursultan Peak
2. Kara Dala
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 8 reviews
3. Kok-Zhailyau
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3 reviews
4. Kim-Asar Gorge
5. Park Named After Panfilov’s 28 Guardsmen
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 654 reviews
Reviewed By yns_10 - Sydney, Australia
This impressive memorial is to the 28 guardsmen of the Panfilov division who were said to have sacrificed themselves destroying 18 German tanks outside Moscow. The truth of this has been questioned. This is only a portion of the park, which also has parklands, amusement park and the Zenkov Cathedral.
6. Kok-Tobe Hill
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,387 reviews
Reviewed By EditorsChoice2014 - Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Take the cable car ride up. Enjoy the many attractions that include the 'upside down house', ferris wheel, bungee jumping, luge, car rides for kids, escape room, mini zoo, house of pets, bumper cars, and many more!! All well maintained and relatively well-priced. When hungry, there are several restaurants to select from including a casual burger place, a grilled food restaurant, a japanese restaurant and a kazakh restaurant. Food at Abay restaurant is excellent and the view of the city from the restaurant is breathtaking.
7. Big Almaty Lake
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 781 reviews
Reviewed By 57mackiel - Ottawa, Canada
This is a gorgeous lake that is not so easy to get to unless you take a Yandex or have a friend with a car. High up in a winding road, you can see our gorgeous water supply for the city of Almaty! It is gorgeous, but do not go in it or drink from it. There are guards and since this is the local drinking water, you cannot take a boat, fish or touch the water. The ice freezes over the top in the winter months and it thaws out around the end of April. A beautiful site not to be missed. Usually there is also a man with a falcon up there too for you to take photos with.
8. Shymbulak Ski Resort
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 512 reviews
The Shymbulak ski resort is located in the picturesque gorge of the Trans-Ili Alatau at an altitude of 2,260 meters above sea level, a 15-minute drive from the center of Almaty
Reviewed By sheenlibra - Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Facilities are great. After hiring the equipmens the at bottom station, it's a fairly long gondola ride to the lowest ski point at approx 2200m. Instructors and several restaurants are available here. There are 3 heights that you can start your ski or snowboarding from, and there are 2 places in the cable car that you can stop for a meal and a drinks both with beautiful views of the entire resort and mountain. Must visit if you're in Almaty.
9. First President's Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 313 reviews
Reviewed By emreesind - Atyrau, Kazakhstan
We visited hereat beginning of August 2020 after we found out our initial target, otanical garden, was closed due ti disinfection services relted to pandemic, during our 2 days temporary stay in Almaty. Park is a fairly large, very green place with a lot of different trees that you can sit beneath on the grass and long walking courses for leasure walks. Also has a perimetral road fof cycling and skating. Park has 2 buffets where you can buy refreshments, coffee, tea, ice cream, etc. Overall we enjoyed here, spent half day in open clean air with our 6 months old peacefully sitting or sleeping in his trolley under tree shades.
