5 days in Almaty

Day by day

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

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

   1. Morning

      Ascension Cathedral (Zenkov Cathedral)

      Visit during a service to hear the choir, dress modestly and, for women, carry a headscarf. (1 hour with the park, free).

   2. Late morning

      Green Bazaar

      Try kazy, kurt and dried apricots before you buy, and bring cash; prices are by the kilogram. (1–1.5 hours, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Beshbarmak

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

   4. Afternoon

      Museum of Kazakh Folk Musical Instruments

      Combine it with the cathedral and memorial in the same park. (45 minutes, low cost).

   5. 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 and Big Almaty Lake, then Zhibek Zholy (the Arbat) in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Medeu

      Skate in the evening, when the rink is floodlit and music plays; climb the dam stairs in daylight for views down the valley. (1.5–2 hours, low cost).

   2. Late morning

      Shymbulak

      Ride all the way to Talgar Pass on a clear morning and bring warm layers even in summer; the air is thin and cold at the top. (Half a day, expensive).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Lagman

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

   4. Afternoon

      Big Almaty Lake

      Go early with a taxi or tour; the last stretch is a mountain road, and the lake's colour is best in sunshine from June to October. (Half a day, low cost).

   5. Evening

      Zhibek Zholy (the Arbat)

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

3. Day 3: Kok Zhaylau trail and Central State Museum of Kazakhstan

   Kok Zhaylau trail, Central State Museum of Kazakhstan and Kasteyev State Museum of Arts, then Abai Opera and Ballet Theatre in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Kok Zhaylau trail

      Start before 9am, bring water and layers, and check tick precautions in spring and early summer. (4–6 hours, low cost).

   2. Late morning

      Central State Museum of Kazakhstan

      Allow time for the nomadic culture rooms, which put the steppe's horse-based life in context. (2 hours, low cost).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Plov

      Central Asian cafés and canteens; often at its best at lunchtime.

   4. Afternoon

      Kasteyev State Museum of Arts

      Head first to the Kazakh halls on the ground floor, which you will not see anywhere else. (1.5–2 hours, low cost).

   5. Evening

      Abai Opera and Ballet Theatre

      Check the programme for a Kazakh opera such as one by Mukan Tulebayev for something you will not see at home.

4. Day 4: Day trip to Charyn Canyon

   About 3–3.5 hours by car each way each way. Getting there: Organised tour or private driver.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Charyn Canyon

      About 3–3.5 hours by car each way (Organised tour or private driver); about 200 km.

   2. Day

      Charyn Canyon

      The Charyn River has carved a canyon of red and orange sandstone up to about 150 metres deep. Best for first-timers, families and solo travellers.

   3. Evening

      Back in Almaty

      Dinner: try Manti.

5. Day 5: Arasan Baths and Almaty Central Mosque

   Arasan Baths, Almaty Central Mosque and Almaty Metro art stations, then Golden Square in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Arasan Baths

      Bring flip-flops and a towel or rent them, and try a venik (birch-twig) treatment in the Russian banya. (2–3 hours, mid-priced).

   2. Late morning

      Almaty Central Mosque

      Dress modestly with arms and legs covered, and women should bring a headscarf. (30 minutes, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Manti

      Kazakh and Uyghur restaurants and canteens across Almaty.

   4. Afternoon

      Almaty Metro art stations

      Ride the whole line between Raiymbek Batyr and Abay stations, getting off at the decorated stations. (1 hour, low cost).

   5. Evening

      Golden Square

      Cocktail bars, wine bars and pubs on side streets around Kabanbay Batyr, Kunaev and Abylai Khan.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 5 nights, Golden Square keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Panfilov Park and Zhibek Zholy ($$) suits first-timers, budget, culture and shopping. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 26–34 hours of visiting over 5 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.

More or fewer days

• One day in Almaty
• 2 days in Almaty
• 3 days in Almaty

Questions travellers ask