Almaty
Kazakhstan · Country profile
Almaty is the great city of the Kazakh south, the former capital that remains the commercial, cultural and culinary heart of the country, set in the apple-grove belt beneath the snow-capped wall of the Trans-Ili mountains. The city spreads its broad avenues, its tree-lined parks and the Soviet-era buildings of the centre at the foot of the peaks, and its position, with the ski slopes and the trout streams of the mountains rising directly behind the streets, gives it one of the most dramatic settings of any city in central Asia. The green parts of the city, from the enormous alpine park of the Medeo with its skating rink to the reservoir lake and the cable car of the Kok Tobe hill above the centre, frame the outdoor life of the metropolis. Cosmopolitan, cafe-filled and famously leafy, Almaty is the most pleasant and the most dynamic of the cities of the region.
About Almaty
Almaty is a city in Kazakhstan. The city's documented population is around 2,200,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the Kazakhstani Tenge (KZT) and Kazakh and Russian are spoken; the dialling code is +7. It is served by 1 airport in our guide: Almaty International Airport.
The Leafy Metropolis at the Foot of the Peaks
Almaty is a leafy, mountain-framed metropolis that feels more like a grand European city than most of its central Asian neighbours, with wide avenues, Soviet-era grandeur, excellent coffee and a famously welcoming atmosphere. The mountains rise directly over the city, and the cable car, the ski town and the hiking trails are minutes from the centre. The city is safe, walkable and easy, with the green parks and the panorama viewpoints framing the picture. It lost the title of capital but kept the soul of the country, and its restaurants, its nightlife and its outdoor life make it the most enjoyable base of the whole region.
The Tenge, the Continental Seasons and the Ski Towns
The climate is continental, with the warm, dry summers, the snowy winters famous for the skiing of the mountains, and the spring and the autumn the lightest seasons. The alpine park of the city, the lake above the town and the viewpoint of the Kok Tobe are the essential circuit, and the museum of the instruments and the galleries of the centre fill the cultural side of the visit. The tenge is the currency, the Kazakh and the Russian are both spoken and the cards work widely. The city is safe, clean and easy to move around, with the metro, the buses and the ride apps covering the spread.
The Kok Tobe, the Alpine Park and the Orchards of the Valley
The alpine park of the Medeo, the outdoor skating rink of the mountains that draws the winter crowds, and the dam and the lake above it give the classic mountain day of the city, while the cable car of the Kok Tobe hill, rising directly above the centre, gives the panorama over the whole metropolis and the peaks. The great green of the park of the city centre, the boulevards of the walking district and the monuments of the independence frame the green circuit of the heart. The museum of the national instruments and the state theatre hold the culture, and the apple orchards and the markets of the region, with the famous varieties of the fruit that gave the city its name, anchor the culinary identity of the place.
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- Country
- Kazakhstan
- Population
- 2,200,000
- Coordinates
- 43.3521, 77.0405
- Capital
- Astana
- Region
- Asia
- Currency
- Kazakhstani Tenge (KZT)
- Languages
- Kazakh, Russian
- Calling code
- +7
- Country code
- KZ
Entry requirements for Kazakhstan
Visa status for travellers from common origins visiting Kazakhstan for tourism.
Getting to Almaty
Airports we list for Almaty:
Cities in Kazakhstan
Other cities we cover in Kazakhstan:
Frequently asked questions
Is Almaty the capital of Kazakhstan?
No — the capital of Kazakhstan is Astana.
What currency do I need in Almaty?
The local currency is the Kazakhstani Tenge (KZT). Languages spoken in Kazakhstan include Kazakh and Russian.
What is the dialling code for Kazakhstan?
The international dialling code for Kazakhstan is +7.
Which airport should I fly into for Almaty?
Almaty International Airport (ALA) is the airport we list for Almaty.
Do I need a visa to visit Kazakhstan?
It depends on your passport. Among the origins we track, travellers from Australia, Canada, France, Germany and Italy currently enter Kazakhstan visa-free for tourism. Use the entry requirements tool to check your own nationality and purpose of travel.
Flying out of Almaty? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.