Season guide · Almaty · Kazakhstan
Almaty in spring
March–May: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Rem.photographer, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Nauryz celebrations, blossom and green parks, with frequent showers and snow lingering on high trails. Expect highs up to 23°C (73°F) and lows around 0°C (32°F), with about 36 rainy days across March–May. May is among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- March–May
- Temperatures
- 0°C (32°F) to 23°C (73°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 36
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in spring
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March | 9°C (48°F) | 0°C (32°F) | 11 | 11.8 h | 3/5 |
| April | 18°C (64°F) | 6°C (43°F) | 12 | 13.4 h | 3/5 |
| May | 23°C (73°F) | 11°C (52°F) | 13 | 14.7 h | 4/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 17°C (63°F) against a yearly 16°C (61°F), and 36 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 spring
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- March: Nauryz — spring new year festival with yurts and food in public squares (around 21–23 March)
- May: Victory Day commemorations (9 May)
Good choices for spring
Museum · Samal
Central State Museum of Kazakhstan
The country's largest museum traces Kazakhstan's history from prehistoric petroglyphs and Scythian gold to nomadic life and the Soviet era, with yurts, jewellery, costumes and a copy of the Golden Man warrior's armour.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
Museum · Golden Square
Kasteyev State Museum of Arts
Head first to the Kazakh halls on the ground floor, which you will not see anywhere else.
- 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
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.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
- Architecture
Experience · Panfilov Park and Zhibek Zholy
Arasan Baths
Bring flip-flops and a towel or rent them, and try a venik (birch-twig) treatment in the Russian banya.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
- Architecture
Architecture · City centre
Almaty Metro art stations
Almaty's single metro line, opened in 2011, has stations decorated with themes from Kazakh culture: mosaics and chandeliers at Almaly, Silk Road reliefs at Zhibek Zholy and stained glass at Abay.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- Art
- Off the beaten path
Day trips in spring
- Charyn Canyon (About 3–3.5 hours by car each way) — The Charyn River has carved a canyon of red and orange sandstone up to about 150 metres deep.
- Kolsai Lakes (About 5 hours by car each way) — Three lakes stepped up a forested valley in the Kungey Alatau.
What to pack
- Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening
- Shoes with good grip for icy pavements
- A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is spring a good time to visit Almaty?
Yes: May is among the best months. Nauryz celebrations, blossom and green parks, with frequent showers and snow lingering on high trails.
+What is the weather like in Almaty in spring?
Highs of up to 23°C (73°F) and lows around 0°C (32°F), with about 36 rainy days over the season.