Season guide · Almaty · Kazakhstan
Almaty in autumn
September–November: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Girdi at English Wikipedia, Public domain
Quick answer
Golden foliage and apple season in September, cooling quickly through October towards the first snow. Expect highs up to 24°C (75°F) and lows around -2°C (28°F), with about 21 rainy days across September–November. September is among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- September–November
- Temperatures
- -2°C (28°F) to 24°C (75°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 21
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in autumn
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September | 24°C (75°F) | 11°C (52°F) | 5 | 12.4 h | 4/5 |
| October | 16°C (61°F) | 5°C (41°F) | 7 | 10.9 h | 3/5 |
| November | 7°C (45°F) | -2°C (28°F) | 9 | 9.6 h | 2/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 16°C (61°F) against a yearly 16°C (61°F), and 21 of the year's roughly 104 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in autumn
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- September: Almaty City Day celebrations (usually September)
- October: Republic Day public holiday (25 October)
Make the most of the weather
Nature · Ile-Alatau National Park
Kok Zhaylau trail
One of the most popular day hikes from Almaty climbs through spruce forest from the Medeu road to a high meadow plateau at around 1,700–2,000 metres, with views of the peaks.
- Time needed
- 4–6 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Active
- Outdoors
- Nature
- Views
Park · Al-Farabi and Esentai
First President's Park
Come at sunset when the fountains run and the mountains glow behind the main avenue.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
Park · Medeu district
Gorky Central Park
Almaty's oldest park, east of the centre, has a lake with pedal boats, amusement rides, the city zoo nearby and shaded paths.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Free
Viewpoint · Dostyk Avenue and Kok Tobe foothills
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.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Views
- Kids
- After dark
- Couples
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Landmark · Medeu and Shymbulak
Medeu
An outdoor speed-skating rink built in 1972 at about 1,700 metres in the mountains above Almaty, where many world records were set.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Kids
- Active
- Views
- After dark
Day trips in autumn
- Kaindy Lake (About 5 hours by car, last stretch by 4×4) — A lake formed after an earthquake in 1911 dammed a gorge, drowning a spruce forest whose bare trunks still rise from the turquoise water.
- Altyn-Emel National Park (About 4 hours by car each way) — A vast desert park along the Ili River with the Singing Dune, a 150-metre-high dune that hums in dry wind, the striped Aktau mountains and herds of kulan and goitered gazelle.
What to pack
- Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening
- Shoes with good grip for icy pavements
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is autumn a good time to visit Almaty?
Yes: September is among the best months. Golden foliage and apple season in September, cooling quickly through October towards the first snow.
+What is the weather like in Almaty in autumn?
Highs of up to 24°C (75°F) and lows around -2°C (28°F), with about 21 rainy days over the season.