City: Almaty
Top Things to do in Almaty
The 10 Best Things to do 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. 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.
2. Ascension Cathedral
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 873 reviews
Reviewed By ptyduke8 - Pinecrest, United States
This was high on my list of must sees in Almaty. It did not disappoint. The colors on the outside are just perfect. It is so incredible that this wooden church was built without a single nail and survived a powerful earthquake a few years after completion. The inside was lovely, but I felt it was not appropriate to take photos with people in the midst of their prayers and rituals. I have included photos from all four sides.
3. 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.
4. Gorky Central Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 321 reviews
Reviewed By JesSal4 - Italy, null
This is a very nice park. There are a lot of entertainment especially for the kids. It is a perfect place where to spend some hours.
5. 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.
6. Medeu Skating Rink and Ski resort
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 735 reviews
Medeu Alpine Sports Complex is located in picturesque canyon Ile Alatau on 1691 metres high above the sea level. The highest ice skating rink in the world. • Working schedule: whole year • Activities in winter: ice skating • Activities in summer: skating, bicycles, skateboarding, streetball and volleyball. • Ice field area: 10 500 sq.m • Average temperature: summer time +20 C, winter -10 C •
Reviewed By jokokendal - Singapore, Singapore
Very nice and huge. First time to such a large skating rink. Its easily accessible by public bus from Kazakhstan Hotel. It costs us KZT150 (sgd1=kzt280) per pax but the 45minutes ride leading to Medeu was beautiful.
7. 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.
8. The Museum of Arts of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 73 reviews
Reviewed By MRichardson2014 - Lake of Bays, Canada
The Museum of Arts was free the day we were there (Sunday) which was a pleasant surprise. There is an excellent textile presentation of felt and knotted carpets supported good videos. The Kazak tribal jewelery was also excellent. There is a European art section and a very large Soviet collection particularly with Kazakh artists. We appreciated that you could use your camera - not all that common!
9. Almaty Metro
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 438 reviews
Reviewed By serak2017 - Houston, United States
Very cheap tickets, easy to buy at the ticket boxes in each station. They are a token to use at the entrance gate. The line is one (in Dec. 2018), but crosses most of the downtown.
