2 Days In Almaty: Central Asia’s Most Underrated City

How To Spend 2 Days In Almaty

2 days in Almaty is enough to see a fair bit, and honestly, more than enough to work out if the city deserves a proper spot on your Central Asia route.

Whether you are coming through solo or as a couple trying to figure out where to stay, how to get here, and whether it is even worth the detour, I will save you the 500 words of waffle other posts give you.

Yes, it is worth it. I stayed 17 days in the end, which is a ridiculous amount of time for most people’s itineraries, but it meant I got to squeeze in day trips to Charyn Canyon and Kolsai Lakes on top of properly getting to know the city itself. I left thinking, why do so few people talk about this place?

I will be honest, I did not expect much walking in. Almaty sat in that vague mental folder of “somewhere in Kazakhstan,” and I had no real picture of what it would look like. Mountains hemming in the whole city, tree-lined streets that would not feel out of place in a European capital, and a pace of life that let me actually slow down. That was not the folder I had in my head.

Two days is tight if you want to do a day trip as well, but it is doable, and I will show you exactly how I would structure it if I were going back.

This post covers where to stay, how to get in from the airport, and how to spend your 48 hours so you are not scrambling to work it out when you land.

Disclosure: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, which means that if you make a booking through them, I may earn a commission. See my Privacy Policy.

Day 1 in Almaty

Morning

Republic Square And Independent Monument

I went to Almaty thinking I’d skim the history bits, but they ended up being the most interesting part.

Save

When I visited Republic Square, it was a foggy day with poor visibility.

It is free to walk around. I visited around 05.30 PM, and the street was full of traffic coming home from work, so crossing the road was harder. But I suggest going a little earlier in the day for less traffic.

The first construction you will notice is the enormous office of Almaty’s mayor, Darkhan Satybaldy. This building was formerly the President’s Palace.

This is Almaty’s main square, which means that today there are many events held due to its central location.

Save

This impressive building shows off the typical style of Central Asian political architecture, which is common throughout Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan too, coming from the region’s Soviet past.

Apart from the interesting design, the office is surrounded by green areas such as the Park of the Foundation of the First President and Memorial Park.

Other things to watch out for include the Giant Oak, Tagzym Memorial and Linden Alley Fountains.

The Giant Oak is impressive. It was huge and beautiful, but you don’t need a lot of time here. The Tagzym Memorial felt very powerful when I walked through. Large white concrete displays with text about the square’s history. It is minimalist in design, and it was created for the events of January 2022, known as Bloody January.

When I made it down to the roadside at Republic Square, it was impressive as a big fog had come into the city, and you could see the lampposts glow as well as the moon high in the sky overlooking the city.

Save

While I found Republic Square to have few tourists, the streets were busy, and many people were beside the Independence Monument photographing it.

In 2007, an underground entertainment centre was constructed here, modernising the square even further. As a whole, the area is impressive to visit in my opinion, and it showcases the power and wealth that Almaty city possesses. Abay metro station is only a 13-minute walk, so you can take it or a Yandex ride to get there.

I recommend spending around 30 minutes here or more to walk around and enjoy the whole space.

Fog covered the streets, and I never got bored of watching it.

• Cost: Free
• Opening Hours: 24 hours
• Suggested Duration: 30-45 minutes
• Address: Republic Sq 050000, Almaty 050000, Kazakhstan

DID YOU KNOW?

In 1986, Gennady Kolbin replaced Dinmukhamed Kunayev as the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Kazakhstan.

Huge protests happened. Between 1,000 and 5,000 students joined throughout the day. This event was known as Jeltoqsan. It lasted four days, from 16th to 19th December 1986, and then the square was renamed Republic Square in 1990.

Here you will be standing in the exact location of the protests.

Afternoon

Central State Museum Of The Republic of Kazakhstan

I went for the architecture and left thinking more about the history than the building itself.

Save

A 9-minute walk from Republic Square and the Independence Monument is the Central State Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The museum is one of Central Asia’s largest and most impressive museums with six different levels. You can explore Kazakhstan’s ancient to contemporary history and culture at the museum.

Save

While I was visiting, one section was closed upstairs as there was a TV camera recording what looked like some official people dressed elegantly.

I was obliged to leave that section quicker than I wanted; I felt I missed out on part of the museum. I did not appreciate this, but what can you do? A little disappointing if I am honest.

But I did love the yurt, which I entered inside. Also, the Golden Man (Issyk Kurgan warrior) was found close to Almaty and comes from the 2nd or 3rd century BC.

The “Golden Horde” Hall was so interesting too.

Save

The museum is the kind of place that makes you lower your voice without being told to.

• Cost: 5,000 KZT (unguided): $10.25/€9.25/£8.00 per person, 10,000 KZT (guided): $20.50/€18.50/£16.00 per person
• Opening Hours: 09.00 AM – 08.00 PM, closed on Tuesdays
• Suggested Duration: 2-3 hours
• Address: Samal-1, 44, Almaty 050059, Kazakhstan

Evening

Kok Tobe For Sunset

I’ve climbed for views that weren’t worth the ache the next day, but this one was.

Save

Come here for sunset if you can because the atmosphere is better, and the buildings look their best at night.

I got the Kok Tobe Hill Gondola Cableway up to Kok Tobe to enjoy a special view of Almaty and the surrounding mountains. It cost me 3,000 KZT ($6.15/€5.55/£4.80) one way to travel a little over 1,600 metres in distance with a max height of 250 metres. It was special.

The fog was starting to set in on the city, and with the sun setting, the sky turned a scenic pink.

You could barely see the skyscrapers in the distance.

Save

This view was one of the most memorable from my time in Kazakhstan.

Once you are at the top, it’s not just about the views. There is a Ferris wheel, a mini Zoo, an amusement park with rides, Kazakh restaurants and fast food options available, making it a great place to come and spend some hours.

You can even get your picture taken in traditional Kazakh clothing. I would argue the most interesting landmark here was the Almaty Television Tower.

I could not get too close to it as construction works were going on when I visited, which was sad, but just viewing it from Kok Tobe, you can see how huge it is.

The fact it overlooks Almaty makes it iconic as a landmark.

As the evening was coming to a close, there was live music, and I entered the Ferris wheel to get an even higher view of Almaty from Kok Tobe.

One word: wonderful. If you are an adrenaline junkie, you may want to try the fast coaster. This roller coaster can take two people in a sledge on wheels, which races around Kok Tobe Hill.

There was a great atmosphere as people waved goodbye to their friends, and then in an instant, they disappeared down the hill, only to return a short time later with huge dilated pupils.

The scale of Kok Tobe made my problems feel appropriately small for the day.

• Cost: 3,000 KZT ($6.15/€5.55/£4.80) one way, 8,000 KZT ($16.40/€14.80/£12.80) return
• Opening Hours: 10.00 AM – 10.00 PM Friday – Sunday, 10.00 AM – 09.00 PM Monday – Thursday
• Suggested Duration: 2-3 hours
• Address: проспект Достык 104B, Almaty 050010, Kazakhstan

Night

Dinner At Degirmen

I went back a half dozen times in my trip, so that should tell you enough.

Save

You won’t be breaking the bank when you visit Degirmen. It’s not fancy, but it is effective.

I went here when Guada was hospitalised for a week, so I found one close to the hospital and just went there because I loved it.

It is actually a Turkish restaurant, so you can expect to find kebabs, lahmacun, iskender, baklava, and Turkish breakfast. You can pay between 1,500 KZT ($3.08/€2.78/£2.40) and 4,000 KZT ($8.20/€7.40/£6.40) for a meal.

It also has Kazakh food.

I loved the food here. A buffet-style chain where you can get tasty Kazakh food and good coffee. Once again, my favourite had to be the Plov (my favourite Central Asian dish).

I usually visited around lunchtime or late evening, and there were always people eating inside.

Save

I ate here many times. I found lots of these restaurants in the city, and I could work away on my laptop too without issue.

Top marks from my experience eating in Degirmen.

Day 2 In Almaty

Morning

Park Of 28 Panfilov Guardsmen

It looks best early, when it’s still quiet, and you can actually hear the birds.

Save

I have said many times before that there are no better city parks than Central Asian parks.

Almaty is no exception. The Park of 28 Panfilov Guardsmen is beautifully maintained and makes for a wonderful public space to visit and be in nature.

Its name is dedicated to, and aptly named after, the Panfilov Heroes.

These were the 28 valiant soldiers from an Alma-Ata Infantry unit who bravely laid down their lives defending Moscow from the German invasion during the Second World War. This park oozes with history, intrigue and beauty. You will find an architecturally astute design, Ascension Cathedral, in the centre of the park. It is between 54 and 56 metres tall.

The cathedral’s yellow and green colours stand out, with little red, blue and five golden domes sitting cutely atop. Another iconic monument to look out for is the Memorial of Glory. This is located along the memory walk.

What impressed me was the aggression in the design. It was erected in 1975 on the 30th anniversary of the Victory in the Park of the 28 Panfilov Guardsmen. You will see close by the eternal flame lit brightly.

What stood out for me was the high relief oath on the left. This was dedicated to remembering the young soldiers who fought for the Soviet Union. In the middle of the area depicting the image of the Panfilov soldiers who defended the Union is the Deed.

On the right side, there is the trumpeting glory.

Save

Close to the east exit of the park, it is worth visiting the Museum of Musical Instruments and the Military History Museum of the Ministry of Defence of Kazakhstan.

Though I didn’t get into the Museum of Musical Instruments, it is one of the popular things to do in Almaty. The architecture is grand and exciting, and the park is big, green and beautiful. Make this part of your Almaty travel plans.

If you’ve been moving non-stop the day before, this is an easy win that costs nothing.

• Cost: Free
• Opening Hours: 24 hours
• Suggested Duration: 1-2 hours
• Address: 7X53+HW3, Almaty 050000, Kazakhstan

Afternoon

Green Bazaar And Almaty Central Mosque

I’ve walked through markets built for tourists and markets that couldn’t care less about them, and thankfully, this was the second kind.

Save

Less than four hundred metres from the Park of 28 Panfilov Guardsmen is the Green Bazaar.

To get a good taste of local delicacies and marketplace bartering, you have to visit this place. It’s not just meat and groceries, but you can do any shopping here. You can purchase electrical items and clothes here too.

You will find plenty of meats, including horse meat, which was interesting to see, as in Europe it’s less common.

The smell is striking as so much raw meat sits within this farmer’s market, but it’s great to have so much choice.

Save

If you have a sweet tooth, you can pick up treats and juices too. Nuts and dairy products are widely available.

What struck me was how vibrant the fruit looked. Deeply coloured oranges, watermelons, avocados and apples. The building itself felt huge. I found large bags of spices like white pepper, green peppercorns, yellow mustard seed, nutmeg, flaxseed and much more.

• Cost: Free
• Opening Hours: 09.00 AM – 07.00 PM, closed on Mondays
• Suggested Duration: 1-2 hours
• Address: улица Жибек Жолы 53, Almaty 050000, Kazakhstan

Another short walk (about five hundred metres) from the Green Bazaar is Almaty Central Mosque.

Save

It is a beautiful mosque inside and out.

Do not forget to cover your shoulders and knees before entering and take off your shoes.

I went a couple of times to this mosque to experience it in full. Many locals sit on the benches outside in the sun, and I had to do the same. The dome is 36 metres tall with a diameter of 20 metres. It can hold 7,000 people and reaches a height of 47 metres at its peak.

I arrived at 05.00 PM as around 30 people entered for prayers.

I recommend seeing this because it’s far more interesting than when it’s empty.

Save

Another day I arrived at 10.00 AM, and it was almost empty.

I was greeted by a friendly young local man, and I chatted for a few minutes. The entrance outside looks like it was painted yesterday, as it was so clean.

I’ll be honest, I’ve hit mosque fatigue before, but this one snapped me out of it completely.

• Cost: Free
• Opening Hours: 05.00 AM – 10.00 PM
• Suggested Duration: 1 hour
• Address: Pushkin St 16, Almaty 050016, Kazakhstan

Almaty is not what I expected 🇰🇿

Evening

Almaty Central Park

If you’re travelling on a budget, visiting Central Park is one of the best free things to do.

Save

You may be taken aback when you notice the number of security guards who seemed to be working within the park when I walked around.

They don’t take anything away from the beauty. I chatted with some of them when I was entering, and they were friendly.

You will be impressed by Ozero Tsentral’nogo Parka (Central Park Lake) and its sculpture in the middle of the lake called Na Ozere (Fountain on the Lake). There is also a dinosaur park and water park that will keep kids and adults who act like kids very happy.

I am raging that I missed the ferris wheel.

Save

Verevochnyy Park Bambu (the Bambu Rope Park) has a great open space right beside the entrance to Central Park.

There are many benches where people take their kids to have fun and enjoy a day out. Keep an eye out for people climbing above your head. There are zip lines and other amusements to keep you busy and entertained. If you enjoy open spaces with lots of activity, then you should visit.

But do not make my mistake and miss some of the coolest things in the park.

• Cost: Free
• Opening Hours: 11.00 AM – 08.30 PM
• Suggested Duration: 1-2 hours
• Address: Gogol St 1, Almaty 050002, Kazakhstan

Night

Dinner At Vahtanguri Georgian Restaurant

This is the meal I still think about back home.

Save

The food was fantastic and hearty but expensive in comparison to Degirmen.

The restaurant is about a 3.5-kilometre walk from Central Park, so you can easily work up a good appetite on your way. As you can see, it will certainly be a filling meal, especially if the weather is colder.

It can be exactly what you need after a full day exploring Almaty.

Save

Some of the most popular dishes include khachapuri (cheese-filled bread) and khinkali (dumplings).

Your pocket won’t hurt too badly either, as you can expect to eat very well for under 7,010 KZT ($14.37/€12.97/£11.22) per person.

I’d fly back just for this food.

• Opening Hours: 12.00 PM – 01.00 AM
• Suggested Dish: Chicken Tabaka with Tkemali Sauce
• Address: Gogol St 157, Almaty 050000, Kazakhstan

Other Almaty Travel Information

Yandex App

You can also use the Yandex App (which is free) to easily navigate the city for cheap if you don’t have the energy to walk.

I found this wonderful to get around and rarely had problems.

It is much cheaper than getting a taxi, and you can pay with a card automatically once the ride is complete or with cash.

Just decide when booking your driver.

Metro

There is also a Metro Station, which makes travel where a one-way ticket costs 100-120 KZT ($0.20-0.25/€0.18-0.22/£0.16-0.19).

Though I didn’t use the metro when I was there, I know it is a good system like Kyrgyzstan. It is uniquely beautiful and clean.

Bus

The bus is a great way to get around the city.

Running from 06.00 AM until 09.00 PM, you can use it for most of the day and evening to plan your 2-day itinerary.

Cost ranges between 80 and 150 KZT ($0.16-0.31/€0.15-0.28/£0.12-0.24)
per ticket. You can check the bus times and routes to plan your trip.

Language

Most people will speak Kazakh, Russian or some Uzbek.

I found there to be little English spoken fluently. Some of the younger generations have better English, but still, make sure you have Google Translate or an alternative downloaded so you can communicate with locals even if you don’t have an internet connection.

As always, learning a few words of Russian or Kazakh will go a long way to being appreciated in Almaty. This goes for any place in the world, in my opinion.

You can also use the AI apps to help with translations.

Is Almaty Walkable?

Yes, Almaty is a big city where I walked a lot and had no issues.

Although the city is surrounded by mountains, the long, wide streets, which were mostly flat, made walking a nice option to get around.

Travel Insurance

Do not travel without insurance.

This is a hill I will die on.

I needed to pay large bills in Almaty, Vietnam and Thailand, and thanks to Safety Wing Insurance, they covered me. Blood tests, stool tests (yes, sorry), medicine, and surgery were all covered when we needed it.

Safety Wing was quick to chase us for all the relevant paperwork, and they refunded the fee, which was nearing $2,000 in total.

Do not risk it.

How To Get To Almaty

Airport

Almaty International Airport is about 15 kilometres from the city centre.

It is the busiest airport in Central Asia.

Coming from North America and Europe, you will likely fly with Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa or Air Astana. All fantastic in my experience, in particular Air Astana.

🇰🇿 Read this Astana 3 Day Itinerary for more details about this city 🇰🇿

Crossing The Land Border

This time I travelled from Bishkek to Almaty via a large bus.

Save

From the New Bus Station in Bishkek (a main hub for travel in Central Asia), I paid 600 KGS ($6.84/€6.00/£5.10) per person to take the bus, which lasted about 6 hours.

You can arrange a taxi, but a bus is much cheaper.

When I went through Kazakh immigration on the border at the Ak Zhol border control point, I had a terrible experience. There were 3 immigration officers checking passports for a line of maybe 200 people. After some time, one of the immigration officers closed his line.

Expectedly, the travellers got tired of waiting; they joined the other people, and in a few moments, it was a mosh pit. It was severely cramped, and I had to squeeze through people who were adamant they didn’t want to move. People were skipping the line and getting angry.

It was the fault of the immigration officers.

Save

I hope this was a once-off, but be prepared; this may happen, and while everyone was safe in the end, it was the craziest immigration experience I have ever seen.

When I was cleared, I exited with my bags. The next challenge was to find the bus. Many travellers were confused and panicked as nobody knew where to get back on the bus. The traffic was bad, and there were many large buses all around all of the travellers.

Luckily, I saw a few people huddled together a short walk up along the street, and the bus collected everyone there. It wasn’t the smoothest journey I undertook.

Yet, I would revisit Almaty in the future for sure.

How Many Days Do You Need To See Almaty?

I suggest you spend 3 to 5 days in Almaty to see it properly.

But to see everything without rushing, I would suggest 6 days. This includes some amazing day trips from Almaty. Almaty can get cold, so if you travel in winter, prepare with warm clothes and jackets.

No matter how long you spend, you can experience one of Central Asia’s most interesting cities.

Final Thoughts On 2 Days In Almaty

My time in Almaty is remembered with great positivity.

But I will be honest.

Almaty won’t be for everyone. If you enjoy simple, comfy and convenient travel like Thailand, then it may not be for you. I suggest you power through and experience it because it will give you memories to laugh about and enjoy.

I loved the day trips, food, parks, and Soviet historic buildings. I wish I made it to the Museum of Musical Instruments and the Military History Museum of the Ministry of Defence of Kazakhstan, but that will have to wait until next time.

If you enjoyed this post, then read my guide to the best day trips from Almaty.

Any questions, just ask.

Thanks for reading,

James

---

FAQs

Is Almaty Cheap Or Expensive?

Almaty was affordable coming from Europe in my experience. While it was not as cheap as Southeast Asia, it was cheaper than Dublin and London. You can choose from lots of mid-range options, experience great day tours, eat very well and keep it outside of falling into the luxury bracket.

Is It Worth Visiting Almaty?

Almaty is totally worth visiting due to its history, museums, mountains and surroundings. Charyn Canyon is a few hours’ drive, as is Kolsay Lake. Black Canyon and Kaindy Lake are also visited, as is Big Almaty Lake. I would go further and say Almaty is the first city in Central Asia that I would revisit. I loved Almaty!

Which Month Is Best To Visit Almaty?

July to September offer the best weather conditions to visit Almaty, Kazakhstan. I stayed in October, and it was mostly cold but sunny with little rain. I would recommend this time of year too, as it wasn’t so busy even at many major attractions. It felt like we were integrated into normal life outside the peak tourist months. If you want to experience warmer weather, then you will have to sacrifice this for the number of tourists and go earlier in the year.

• My Two Weeks In Cambodia Itinerary (From Someone Who Spent Nearly A Month There)
• How To Visit Angkor Wat In 2026
• Best Restaurants In Siem Reap: Where To Eat And What To Order
• Where To Stay In Siem Reap In 2026 (Neighbourhoods And Hotels)
• 3 Days In Siem Reap, Cambodia (And What I’d Skip)