Month guide · Almaty · Kazakhstan
Almaty in January
What January is really like in Almaty: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Rem.photographer, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
January is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 0°C (32°F), lows of -9°C (16°F), about 7 rainy days and roughly 9.3 hours of daylight. Cold and snowy in the city, with smoggy days; peak ski season at Shymbulak with clear skies above the haze.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 0°C (32°F) / -9°C (16°F)
- Rainy days
- About 7
- Daylight
- About 9.3 hours
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in January
January is the coolest month in Almaty: days average 0°C (32°F) against a yearly average high of 16°C (61°F), and nights fall to about -9°C (16°F). Rain falls on roughly 7 of its 31 days. Compared with December (2°C (36°F)), January is cooler; by February highs climb to around 2°C (36°F).
- Sunrise (15 January)
- About 07:21
- Sunset (15 January)
- About 16:42
- Daylight
- About 9.3 hours
Winter (December–February). Snowy and cold, with skiing at Shymbulak and skating at Medeu; smog can settle over the city on still days.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, January rates 3 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in June). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in January
- Ski season at Shymbulak (usually December to April)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in January
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Museum · Samal
Central State Museum of Kazakhstan
Allow time for the nomadic culture rooms, which put the steppe's horse-based life in context.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
Museum · Golden Square
Kasteyev State Museum of Arts
Kazakhstan's main art museum holds Kazakh, Soviet, Russian and Western European art, from Abylkhan Kasteyev's landscapes to Soviet socialist realism and contemporary Kazakh painting, alongside applied arts such as jewellery and felt.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
- History
Museum · Panfilov Park and Zhibek Zholy
Museum of Kazakh Folk Musical Instruments
Combine it with the cathedral and memorial in the same park.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
- Architecture
Experience · Panfilov Park and Zhibek Zholy
Arasan Baths
A large Soviet-era bathhouse from the early 1980s near Panfilov Park, with Russian, Finnish and Turkish-style steam rooms, plunge pools and massage, used by locals of all ages.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
- Architecture
What to pack
For highs near 0°C, lows near -9°C and 7 wet days: a warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; shoes with good grip for icy pavements; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is January a good time to visit Almaty?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, May–June and September are better overall. Compare every month.
Almaty in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is January a good time to visit Almaty?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Cold and snowy in the city, with smoggy days; peak ski season at Shymbulak with clear skies above the haze.
+How warm is Almaty in January?
Average highs are around 0°C (32°F) and lows around -9°C (16°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Almaty in January?
Expect rain on about 7 days of the month.