Almaty nightlife

Where to go out

Nightlife tips

• Bars get busy late; many fill up after 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays.
• Carry your passport or ID; some clubs check documents at the door.
• Use a ride-hailing app to get home rather than hailing unmarked cars.

Evening sights

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

Landmark · Medeu and Shymbulak

Medeu

Skate in the evening, when the rink is floodlit and music plays; climb the dam stairs in daylight for views down the valley.

Time needed

1.5–2 hours

Cost

Low cost

• Iconic
• Kids
• Active
• Views
• After dark

Street · Panfilov Park and Zhibek Zholy

Zhibek Zholy (the Arbat)

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

Time needed

1 hour

Cost

Free

• Free
• Shopping
• After dark
• Food

Architecture · Golden Square

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.

Time needed

2–3 hours

Cost

Low cost

• After dark
• Art
• Couples
• Architecture

What to drink

• Kumis — Fermented mare's milk, mildly alcoholic and sour, drunk for health in summer. Shubat, fermented camel's milk, is its thicker relative.
• Kazakh tea — Strong black tea served with milk or cream from a samovar or teapot, poured in small bowls (kese) and constantly refilled. Covering the bowl with your hand signals you have had enough.

Evenings through the year

Sunset and the overnight low decide how long the outdoor part of a night lasts. July has the warmest evenings, with lows around 18°C (64°F).

Getting home late

• Ride-hailing — Use an app rather than unofficial drivers at the airport and stations.
• Metro — Pay with a transport card, contactless bank card or app, depending on what is accepted at the gates.
• Bus — An extensive bus and trolleybus network covers the city, and a regular bus runs from the centre up to Medeu, from where the gondola continues to Shymbulak.
• Walking — The centre's shaded streets make for pleasant walking, especially around Panfilov Park, the Arbat and the Golden Square; allow for the gentle uphill to the south.

Late-night bites

• Samsa — Bakeries, street stalls and the Green Bazaar.
• Kurt — Dairy stalls at the Green Bazaar, where vendors let you taste several kinds.
• Almaty apples — Fruit stalls at the Green Bazaar in late summer and autumn.

Staying safe at night

Mountain weather changes quickly, so carry layers and water on hikes and check conditions before heading to high altitude. Winter smog can affect people with breathing conditions, and ticks are a risk in the foothills in spring and early summer.

Emergency number

112 (general emergency); 102 police, 103 ambulance

Where to stay for nightlife

Questions travellers ask