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Almaty

Kazakhstan travel guide

What to see in Almaty

The biggest city, green and at the foot of the Tian Shan mountains.

Updated 18 October 2026 · How we make our guides

  • 5 must-see places
  • Best time: from March to November
  • Typical food: Baursak
Photo: Dauren Nabijan · CC0

Almaty highlights

The places you can’t miss. In the app we sort them by day and close to each other.

  1. Big Almaty Lake

    A turquoise lake in the mountains.

  2. Kok-Tobe

    A viewpoint reached by cable car.

  3. Zenkov Cathedral

    Wooden, built without nails.

  4. Green Bazaar

    Dried fruit, nuts, apples and spices.

  5. Medeu and Shymbulak

    Ice rink and skiing.

Day trips from Almaty

We take you straight to the best-rated tour on GetYourGuide, with its reviews and dates.

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When to travel to Almaty

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Almaty are from March to November. If you can, avoid from December to February (extreme cold).

  1. Jan with strong warnings
  2. Feb with strong warnings
  3. Mar no warnings
  4. Apr no warnings
  5. May no warnings
  6. Jun no warnings
  7. Jul no warnings
  8. Aug no warnings
  9. Sep no warnings
  10. Oct no warnings
  11. Nov no warnings
  12. Dec with strong warnings
  • from December to February

    Extreme cold

    In winter Astana drops below –30 °C; Almaty is milder, with skiing nearby.

    What to do: The best time is May to September.

Typical food of Almaty

The dish you have to try there and how to make it at home, to whet your appetite before the trip (or to go back to Almaty from your kitchen).

Baursak
Photo: Vidor · Public domain

Baursak

Fried, puffed-up dough balls found on every Kazakh table, from weddings to birthdays; in Almaty they’re eaten with milky tea and jam.

  • Serves 8
  • 1 h 40 min

Ingredients

  • 500 g flour
  • 250 ml warm milk
  • 7 g dried yeast
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 30 g melted butter
  • Oil for frying

How to make it at home

  1. Dissolve the yeast and sugar in the warm milk and wait 10 minutes.
  2. Mix with the flour, egg, salt and butter, and knead to a soft dough.
  3. Cover and leave it to double in size, about an hour.
  4. Roll it out a centimetre thick and cut it into squares or diamonds.
  5. Fry them in oil at 170 °C, turning, until they puff up and turn golden.

The trick: They’re piled up in the middle of the table for everyone to help themselves.

Where and what to eat

To eat like a local: a teahouse or a Kazakh restaurant. The dishes you can’t miss are in the Kazakhstan guide.

Frequently asked questions about Almaty

What to see in Almaty?

Big Almaty Lake, Kok-Tobe, Zenkov Cathedral, Green Bazaar and Medeu and Shymbulak.

What to see in Almaty in one day?

Don’t miss Big Almaty Lake, Kok-Tobe, Zenkov Cathedral, Green Bazaar and Medeu and Shymbulak. To split it into days and areas without crossing the city back and forth, the Bagintravel app plans your trip in a minute.

What’s the best time to travel to Almaty?

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Almaty are from March to November. If you can, avoid from December to February (extreme cold).

What day trips can you take from Almaty?

Charyn Canyon from Almaty.

What is the typical food of Almaty?

Baursak. Fried, puffed-up dough balls found on every Kazakh table, from weddings to birthdays; in Almaty they’re eaten with milky tea and jam.

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Guide reviewed 18 October 2026. Places, areas and seasons: the same data the Bagintravel app uses. Sources and method.