Ascension Cathedral
Brightly painted wooden Russian Orthodox cathedral in Panfilov Park, built in the early 1900s with colourful domes. It is an active church, and quiet, respectful dress is expected.
Almaty
Medeu ice rink, Shymbulak ski resort and leafy streets belong to the largest city, which lies beneath the Tian Shan.
Attractive locations
Kok Tobe
Hill above the city, reached by cable car, with viewing platforms, cafes and a small amusement area. Statues on the hill include a well-known monument to The Beatles.
Central State Museum of Kazakhstan
Museum covering Kazakhstan's nature, archaeology, history and traditional crafts. Displays include traditional yurt interiors and objects from ancient steppe cultures.
Shymbulak
Ski resort in the mountains above Almaty, reached by cable car. It is busy with skiers in winter and with hikers and sightseers in summer.
Big Almaty Lake
High mountain lake in the Trans-Ili Alatau, known for its turquoise-green water that changes colour with the light and the season. Peaks rise on every side.
Medeu
Mountain valley above the city with a huge high-altitude open-air skating rink, a long stairway and green slopes. It is the starting point for the road up to the Shymbulak ski area.
Kasteyev State Museum of Arts
Kazakhstan's largest art museum, with paintings, sculpture and traditional crafts by Kazakh and Russian artists.
Airports
Almaty International Airport ALA
It is about 16 km in a straight line from Almaty.
Scams and safe taxis
Taxi and scam advice for this country is on the Kazakhstan page
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan-12.9 °C22 mm
- Feb-10.6 °C29 mm
- Mar-3.3 °C46 mm
- Apr2.6 °C79 mm
- May6.9 °C68 mm
- Jun11.1 °C50 mm
- Jul13.6 °C34 mm
- Aug13.2 °C28 mm
- Sep8.4 °C24 mm
- Oct2.1 °C38 mm
- Nov-4.9 °C39 mm
- Dec-10.9 °C27 mm
Driest months: Jan, Sep, Dec. Wettest months: Apr, May, Jun.
Costs
Prices here are about 33% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Festivals and events
nature
Ski season (Shymbulak)
You can ski 30 minutes away from Almaty.
culture
Nauryz
Squares hold yurts and food during this spring holiday lasting three days.
nature
Ski season (Shymbulak)
You can ski 30 minutes away from Almaty.
Who can help
Emergency
112 for all emergencies. Police 102. Ambulance 103. Fire 101.
local government
Ministry of Emergency Situations (unified service 112)
Helps with: Kazakhstan's ministry for emergencies and disasters. Its government page lists 112 as the unified duty and dispatch service, plus a helpline and address in Astana.
Who qualifies: Anyone in Kazakhstan who needs emergency help or wants to report an emergency.
Phone: 112
Address: Mangilik El Street 8, entrance 2, Astana 010000
local government
Kazakhstan tourism portal support (Ministry of Tourism)
Helps with: Contact page of Kazakhstan's national tourism portal, run with the Ministry of Tourism. It lists a phone number and an office address in Astana for tourism enquiries.
Who qualifies: Anyone travelling in Kazakhstan or planning a trip there.
Phone: +7 7172 39-99-56
Address: Mangilik El Avenue 55/14, block C 2.1, office 3.2.1, Astana
ngo
Kazakh Red Crescent Society
Helps with: Kazakhstan's national Red Crescent society. Its website lists disaster response, first aid training, blood donation, a family tracing service and help for refugees and asylum seekers.
Who qualifies: People in Kazakhstan who need its disaster, first aid, social or family tracing services.
Phone: +7 727 236-76-23
Email: info@redcrescent.kz
Address: 86 Kunaev Street, Almaty 050010
un agency
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Kazakhstan
Helps with: The UN migration agency, present in Kazakhstan since 2002. Its Astana and Almaty offices handle general enquiries and serve as the coordination office for Central Asia.
Who qualifies: Migrants and organisations working on migration. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Phone: +7 7172 69 6553
Email: iomastana@iom.int
Address: 14 Mambetov Street, UN Building, Astana 010000