2 days in Almaty

Day by day

1. Day 1: Ascension Cathedral (Zenkov Cathedral) and Green Bazaar

   Ascension Cathedral (Zenkov Cathedral), Green Bazaar, Museum of Kazakh Folk Musical Instruments and Arasan Baths, then Kok Tobe in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Ascension Cathedral (Zenkov Cathedral)

      It stands in Panfilov Park, named after the Panfilov Division of World War II, whose memorial and eternal flame are at the park's eastern end.

   2. Late morning

      Green Bazaar

      Outside, the surrounding streets sell clothes, household goods and spices.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Beshbarmak

      Kazakh restaurants in the centre; it is also served at family celebrations.

   4. Afternoon

      Museum of Kazakh Folk Musical Instruments

      A carved wooden building by Andrei Zenkov in Panfilov Park houses a collection of dombras, kobyzes and other traditional instruments, some of which staff play for visitors, explaining the role of music in nomadic life.

   5. Late afternoon

      Arasan Baths

      It is one of the best ways to warm up on a winter day.

   6. Evening

      Kok Tobe

      Go up an hour before sunset to see the city in daylight and then lit up, and check the weather: the view vanishes in winter smog.

2. Day 2: Medeu and Shymbulak

   Medeu, Shymbulak, Big Almaty Lake and Kok Zhaylau trail, then Zhibek Zholy (the Arbat) in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Medeu

      In winter it opens for public skating with skate hire, and behind it a dam protects the city from mudflows; climbing its long stairway is a popular workout.

   2. Late morning

      Shymbulak

      Chairlifts continue to the Talgar Pass at about 3,200 metres, with views over glaciers. In summer, the lifts carry hikers and sightseers.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Lagman

      Uyghur cafés across the city, especially near the Green Bazaar.

   4. Afternoon

      Big Almaty Lake

      Peaks of the Trans-Ili Alatau surround it, and it supplies much of Almaty's drinking water, so swimming is not allowed.

   5. Late afternoon

      Kok Zhaylau trail

      It is a moderate walk of a few hours and can be extended towards the Kumbel area for stronger hikers.

   6. Evening

      Zhibek Zholy (the Arbat)

      Look for the mosaics in the Zhibek Zholy metro station below the street.

Before you go

If it rains

• Swap in Central State Museum of Kazakhstan (Samal): Allow time for the nomadic culture rooms, which put the steppe's horse-based life in context.
• Swap in Kasteyev State Museum of Arts (Golden Square): Head first to the Kazakh halls on the ground floor, which you will not see anywhere else.
• Swap in Almaty Metro art stations (City centre): Ride the whole line between Raiymbek Batyr and Abay stations, getting off at the decorated stations.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 19–25 hours of visiting over 2 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9 hours in December to 15.4 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

Getting between stops: Ride-hailing. Yandex Go and inDrive are widely used and inexpensive, with fixed fares shown in the app; they are the easiest way to reach Medeu, Kok Tobe and the museums.

More or fewer days

• One day in Almaty
• 3 days in Almaty
• 5 days in Almaty

Questions travellers ask