high rise buildings beside green trees during daytime

Almaty

Almaty suits trips that pair city life with mountain days, with ski slopes and a mountain lake within a short drive of the center.

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Almaty is Kazakhstan's largest city, in the south-east of the country near the Kyrgyzstan border, at the foot of the Trans-Ili Alatau mountains. It was the capital from 1929 to 1997, when the capital moved to Akmola, now Astana. The city is still called the southern capital and remains the country's cultural and financial center, with about 2.2 million residents.

Most visits here include the mountains. Shymbulak ski resort is about 25 km south of the city, and Big Almaty Lake is roughly one hour by car. In the city, Panfilov Park holds the Zenkov Cathedral, Kok Tobe is reached by aerial tramway, and the Kasteyev State Museum of Arts is Kazakhstan's largest art museum. The city has more than 120 fountains. Summer suits city walks and day trips, and winter suits skiing. April and May are the wettest months. Three to four days covers the city and one mountain day.

Almaty in five

Pick a registered taxi or app before you rideMany taxis in Almaty are private cars driven by owners without a licence. Choose a registered taxi or app-based service and agree the fare before you get in.Getting around
Carry warm layers from December to FebruaryThe coldest spell usually runs from about 19 December to 23 February, with January averaging −4.7 °C, frequent snow and icy pavements. Pack insulated boots with good grip.Clothing
Check the air before you walk outdoorsCars cause most of the city's pollution, and grey smog can hang over Almaty in winter. Look up the air quality before a walk or a hike, and move outdoor plans if it is poor.
Skip the Almaty Bike bike-share schemeThe Almaty Bike station bike-share was suspended in December 2023, and the city said in May 2025 it would not restart. Plan on buses, taxis or your own bike.
Check travel advice and local news before you bookUnrest hit the city in January 2022, and a gunman killed eight police officers in July 2016. Read current official advice before you book and keep up with local news while you are there.

Things to do in Almaty

See all attractions in Almaty

Museum · AlmatyCentral State Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Museum · AlmatyAbilkhan Kasteev State Art Museum

Historic site · AlmatyIndependence Monument (Golden Warrior Monument)

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to AlmatyPut the places you like in Almaty on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Currency: Tenge (KZT)
Entry: Check current entry rules with the Kazakhstan embassy or consulate before you fly
Emergency: 112 from any phone; 102 police, 103 ambulance, 101 fire
Tipping: Check local practice in each venue before you pay
Time: UTC+5

Weather by month

Rainy days
Snowy days

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryPartly cloudy7 rainy days4 snowy daysHigh-1°Low-8°Cold, snowy
FebruaryPartly cloudy8 rainy days4 snowy daysHigh2°Low-6°Cold, ski season
MarchRain14 rainy days4 snowy daysHigh8°Low0°Thaw begins
AprilRain13 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh15°Low5°Wet, thawing
MayPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh20°Low10°Wet, snow possible
JunePartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh25°Low14°Warm, long days
JulyPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh29°Low17°Hot, sunny
AugustPartly cloudy6 rainy daysHigh27°Low15°Hot, summer
SeptemberClear6 rainy daysHigh22°Low11°Mild, autumn
OctoberPartly cloudy9 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh14°Low4°Mild, first frost
NovemberPartly cloudy8 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh6°Low-3°Cold, ski opens
DecemberPartly cloudy9 rainy days5 snowy daysHigh1°Low-7°Cold, icy

Average daily high and low in Almaty, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Almaty

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 3°
Humidity: 28%
Wind: 9 km/h
Chance of rain: 0%

Almaty

02:59 AM

Tuesday, November 3

GMT+5

Today16°3°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 16°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 0%.
Wed16°4°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 16°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 0%.
Thu11°3°51%Thursday: Drizzle. High 11°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 51%.
Fri15°2°0%Friday: Fog. High 15°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
Sat17°4°0%Saturday: Cloudy. High 17°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 0%.
Sun18°4°8%Sunday: Cloudy. High 18°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 8%.

Updated 01:27 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 453.4 KZT

Amount

Converted to

KZT · Kazakhstani Tenge

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

Medeuabout 15 km from the cityAn outdoor speed-skating and bandy rink in a valley at about 1,691 m.
Big Almaty Lakeabout 1 hour by carA mountain lake at about 2,511 m, good for a half-day hike from the center.
Shymbulakabout 25 km south of the cityA ski resort at about 2,200 m with snow from November to May.

Before you go to Almaty

eSIM for AlmatyMaps and bus times on the goRead the guide

Insurance for mountain daysCover for ski days and mountain hikesRead the guide

Money and cards in AlmatyTenge, cards and what to carryRead the guide

Stays in AlmatyDistricts and what each suitsRead the guide

Rules for Almaty, checked

Check the current entry rules with the Kazakhstan embassy or consulate before you book, since visa lists change.
Dial 112 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in Kazakhstan.
Check the rules on carrying medicines with the Kazakhstan embassy before you travel.
Declare cash and goods above the legal limits on the customs form at arrival. Check the current limits with Kazakhstan customs before you travel.

Plan around Almaty

All of Kazakhstan

Regions, entry and transport for a wider Kazakhstan trip

Read the guide Visas and entry

Entry rules and what to check before you book

Read the guide Getting around

Metro, buses, taxis and intercity routes from Almaty

Read the guide Money and costs

Tenge, cards and typical prices for a day in the city

Read the guide Where to stay

Districts for the center, the bazaar and the mountains

Read the guide Phones and eSIM

Data for maps and bus times on the road

Read the guide

Almaty FAQ

Is Almaty worth visiting?

Yes, if you want mountains close to a city of about 2.2 million. Shymbulak, Medeu and Big Almaty Lake are within about 25 km of the center, and the city also has museums, parks and fountains.

How do you get from the airport to the city center?

Almaty International Airport is about 15 to 18 km north-east of the center, so a registered taxi or app-based car is the simplest option. Agree the fare first, since some taxis are unlicensed private cars.

How many days do you need in Almaty?

Three to four days covers the center, Kok Tobe and a day in the mountains at Medeu or Big Almaty Lake. Add a day for skiing at Shymbulak in winter.

When is the best time to visit Almaty?

June to October is the warm part of the year, with July averaging +23.8 °C and frost usually not starting until about 14 October. April and May are the wettest months, and Shymbulak has snow from November to May.

Is Almaty safe for tourists?

Check current official advice before you travel, since the city saw a shooting in July 2016 and unrest in January 2022. Keep up with local news while you are there.

Is the air in Almaty bad?

Air pollution is a serious problem, mostly from cars, and grey smog can hang over the city in winter. Check air quality before outdoor activity.

Does Almaty have a metro?

Yes. The first line opened on 1 December 2011, making it Kazakhstan's first metro. Buses, trolleybuses and minibuses cover the rest of the city, at 100 tenge a ride as of July 2024.