Things to Do in Almaty: Places, Routes and a Flat by Sairan Lake | Almaty by Vadim
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Almaty by Vadim

Stay in our apartment and discover Almaty!

Places I have visited myself, with a step-by-step route to each one from my apartment by Sairan Lake.

From the apartment to: Medeu

  1. Apartment walk, 4 min
  2. Moskva metro metro, 14 min
  3. Abai metro walk, 8 min
  4. Bus stop Dostyk Ave / Abai Ave bus no. 12, 30 min
  5. Medeu, bus terminus walk, 3 min
  6. Medeu

Where to go

Every place comes with photos, my tips and a route from the apartment door.

No. 1 in the world

Medeu

A high-altitude skating rink in a mountain gorge, the starting point for walks into the hills.

59 minmetrobus

Shymbulak

A ski resort with viewpoints at more than three kilometres above sea level.

1 h 11 minmetrobuscable car

No. 1 in the world

Kok-Tobe

A hill above the city with a TV tower and the best sunset view of Almaty.

34 minmetrocable car

Big Almaty Lake

A turquoise mountain lake at 2,500 metres, an hour’s drive from the city.

1 htaxi

No. 2 in the world

Panfilov Park and Ascension Cathedral

A shady park in the centre and a wooden cathedral said to be built without a single nail.

32 minmetro

Green Bazaar

The city’s main market: dried fruit, spices, horse-meat kazy and the famous Aport apples.

30 minmetro

Arbat

Zhibek Zholy pedestrian street with buskers, artists and cafés.

23 minmetro

Central State Museum

The history of Kazakhstan from the Saka and the Golden Man to the present day.

33 minmetro

Almaty Museum of Arts

A new museum of contemporary art: Kusama, Kiefer, Viola and Plensa’s 12-metre head at the entrance.

28 minmetrotaxi

Botanical Garden

A huge shady garden inside the city, with trees and plants from all over the world.

15 mintaxi

Charyn Canyon

The Valley of Castles: red cliffs often compared to the Grand Canyon.

3 h 30 mintour or taxi

Tamgaly-Tas

Rocks on the bank of the Ili with carved images of Buddhas and Buddhist inscriptions.

3 htour or taxi

Kolsai Lakes

Three lakes among Tien Shan spruces, close to the sunken forest of Lake Kaindy.

4 h 30 mintour or taxi

Recommended areas: what to see in one day

We have grouped places that are close to each other into areas. One area is one day: short transfers, and time to see everything without rushing.

All areas

Almaty’s world records

Three places in Almaty that rank among the world’s top.

All routes on one map

Pick a place to see the way from the apartment and where to change.

Open the map

My apartment by Sairan Lake

A five-minute walk to Sairan metro station, with easy rides to the centre and the mountains.

View my apartment and book