One Day in Almaty Itinerary for First-Time Visitors (+ Map)

Post Overview: In this guide, I discuss how to spend one day in Almaty, Kazakhstan. I have lived in Almaty and spent a ton of time there, but this Almaty itinerary is curated for a first-time visitor. You will see where to stay, places to eat, and a map to help you navigate the city with ease. I also share a few things to do if you have more than one day in Almaty.

There are very few cities I know like my own backyard around the world. Almaty is actually one of them. I have been traveling there since 2013 and even spent some time living there some years ago. I love returning to see how my old favorites hold up, and discovering what’s new in the city (and trust me… there is always something new).

So for me, writing a one day in Almaty itinerary for someone who has never been can be a bit of a challenge. Because I want to shove everything I can into your one day, but I know it just won’t be feasible. Almaty is a sprawling city, and even on this itinerary, you’re going to have to take a metro or taxi at some point.

I have curated this guide to help you maximize your time in Almaty. One day is nowhere near enough time to see the city, but I do know that many people visiting have limited days and have booked some day trips outside the city. Fair enough… those day trips are pretty mind-blowing!

If you have any questions or comments, please drop them below or send me a message. Thanks!

An Overview of This One Day in Almaty Itinerary

This Almaty itinerary is laid out so that you can walk to many of the places without the help of a taxi or public transportation. However, you will need it during the second part of the day if you want to keep using this guide. I will give explicit instructions about how to use both at the beginning of this guide so you feel comfortable using both forms.

Another thing I want to state before going further is that this guide is written assuming your hotel is somewhere in the center of Almaty. And by center, I mean somewhere in the ‘Golden Quarter’. I will list my hotel recommendations a few headers down, all within the section I recommend for using this itinerary.

Once you have that sorted, you can dive right into the itinerary!

How to Get Around Almaty

There are a few ways to get around Almaty but I only recommend walking, the metro, or a taxi. The buses are efficient, but you won’t need them for what I have on this itinerary.

Something I want to say right now is that Google Maps suck in Almaty. They use an app called 2GIS.kz. It is the most up-to-date for businesses and the most trusted for reviews. Unfortunately, 2GIS is not currently available in the iOS and Google stores, so you will have to use it within your phone’s browser and it is only in Russian or Kazakh.

The next best map is Yandex Maps. And then I would put Google Maps third. I have created a map here on Google Maps that you can download offline with all the information you need. You can see it at the end of the post!

The last point I want to make here is that the city is on a slope. It may look flat within the city but there is a gradual slope to it (which is an incline if you go south and a decline if you go north). If you’re not in the best shape but want to do some walking, you can take metros and taxis south and walk north. I admittedly sometimes do this.

Taking the Almaty Metro

Almaty’s Metro is well used by locals and a great way to get around the city. The fare is currently 120 KZT (about $0.25) and you can just use your credit card at the turnstile.

Before going into the metro, you will need to pass through a small security checkpoint, so have your bag ready to be checked if you’re carrying electronics.

Taking a Taxi in Almaty

Another efficient way to get around Almaty is to use a taxi. Like most of Central Asia, this will require downloading the app Yandex. Yes, this is Russian-owned, but it is the default here and will make your trip a lot easier if you have it. You can download this before your trip as it is in app stores everywhere.

You can use the app like Uber from there. It is very easy to use and is in English.

Where to Stay in Almaty

The most important thing for this itinerary for Almaty is to stay somewhere central! If you end up on the other side of town near Rozabakiyev or the Sairan bus station, you will spend a lot of time commuting.

Here are a few places I recommend staying that are central and a stone’s throw away from some of the sightseeing in this guide:

• Almaty Hotel (this used to be a Soviet-era gem but has been remodeled and is beautiful inside; upscale option)
• Urban Yurt (this is where I have started staying on my last 2 trips; more of a mid-range accommodation option)
• AQ miniSUITES (my friend stayed here when in Almaty and recommended it; budget-friendly)

1 Day in Almaty Itinerary

We can finally get into the places to visit in Almaty that I have included in this guide! Before diving in, I am going to be making some notes throughout in places where I think you should omit the location or swap it with something else. The reasons are usually seasonal or that something may be closed that day of the week.

Start your morning with a coffee at a local cafe.

Almaty’s cafe scene is lit. Good coffee is everywhere and it is, without a doubt, the best cafe scene in Central Asia. If you’ve started your day early, your best bet is Vanilla. It is a local chain but they are open earlier than most places and have stellar coffee.

If you have woken up a little later, some of my other favorites in the center are Julius Specialty Coffee, Fika, and Voronka Specialty Coffee.

Walk around Almaty’s Golden Quarter.

This is Almaty’s historic old town area and a place where you can see plenty of the city’s sites close to each other. Some of the places you can see in the Golden Quarter are:

• Abai Theater of Opera and Ballet
• House of Government
• Academy of Science (and the Zodiac Fountain)
• Hotel Kazakhstan (it has been remodeled on the inside)
• Tulabaev Street

Honestly, if your budget permits, I would 100% book a walking tour of the Golden Quarter with Walking Almaty. This tour starts at $50, and you will get to see all of the places and learn more about them.

It is their best-seller and a good way to pack a lot into your morning. The tour is around 1.5-2.5 hours total and starts at the Abai statue at the Palace of the Republic and ends at the Almaty Hotel.

Visit Panfilov Park and the Ascension Cathedral.

There are two parts to this visit: the iconic Ascension Cathedral and the Memorial of Glory WWII memorial. They are both situated in the same park and can be visited together.

Ascension Cathedral

The famous yellow wooden church that was built without nails. You can enter inside (open 10am to 4pm on weekdays, 7am to 7pm on Saturdays, and 6am to 6pm on Sundays) and I recommend doing so as the details are impressive.

Women will need to cover their heads (they have scarves you can borrow or you can bring your own).

Memorial of Glory (WWII Memorial)

This is an imposing bronze monument that was built in 1975 to mark the 30th anniversary of the victory of WWII. You’ll see an eternal flame, bas-reliefs, and more. There is also a small memorial dedicated to local heroes from the 1917-1920 Civil War.

I am not into WWII memorials, but this is impressive and should not be missed.

Wander around the Green Bazaar.

You’re probably getting hungry now and if you can’t wait, you can nibble on some stuff here. But that will also mean bargaining and having a bit of change with you (just a heads up!). I would stroll through and have lunch after.

The Green Bazaar (Zelenyy Bazar) is Almaty’s most famous bazaar where you’ll find produce, meat, salads, and more. You’ll know you’ve found the right place when you hear the Tajik men luring you over to their dried fruits and nuts from Samarkand.

If you’re not intimidated by bargaining and a language barrier with most of the vendors, feel free to try kurt and other local goods there. There is also a stand where you can try shubat (camel’s milk) and kymyz (fermented mare’s milk) inside.

The Green Bazaar is open daily from 9am to 7pm but it is closed on Mondays.

Try laghman for lunch at As-Kazan.

Everyone has a different laghman place they like, and As-Kazan is my favorite in Almaty. There are a few locations but I definitely encourage you to try one of them.

Laghman is a Uyghur food that has become a staple across parts of Central Asia. It is my default food there and I absolutely love it. Laghman is made of hand-pulled noodles, meat, and veggies.

At As-Kazan, I usually order the Tsomyan Laghman (fried laghman). It is around 2690 KZT ($5.75) and very filling.

There are two As-Kazans really close to each other here. One location is at Gogol Street 13 (smaller location) and the other is at Baribayev 33 (larger). Both are good and recommended.

Walk from As-Kazan to Zhibek Zholy metro station.

Laghman is not the lightest meal you can have, so you’ll probably want to walk a little bit after (or sleep… but I say walk for the sake of this itinerary!).

Walk from whichever As-Kazan location you went to over to the Zhibek Zholy metro station. From there, take the metro to Almaly.

Once you arrive at Almaly Station, you can grab a coffee at Julius (if you need one) or start heading west on Kabanbai Batyr to the Almaty Museum, which is next on this itinerary.

Spend some time at the Almaty Museum.

I am not a huge fan of the Kazakh State Museum (it just could be better), but I do like the Almaty Museum. The city museum is located inside a 19th-century wooden masterpiece by Paul Gourdet, a French-Russian architect. It is pretty unique compared to a lot of the city’s architecture and I especially love the building because of it.

What used to be an orphanage is now one of Almaty’s best museums. You can purchase a ticket upon entering and spend some time inside learning about the different eras of history in Almaty.

You can’t take photographs with an actual camera, but phone photos and videos are permitted. The museum is open 10am to 7pm daily but it is closed on Mondays. My ticket was 1500 KZT (about $3.20).

Pay respects at the Memorial to the Famine.

In the park right across the street from the Almaty Museum is the Memorial to the Famine, a monument that honors victims of the ‘famine’ (genocide) from 1931-1933 that killed at least 1.5 million Kazakhs. It is definitely worth reading up on this before traveling to Almaty, as it is a piece of history that a lot of people don’t know about.

The statue was unveiled in 2017, and I highly suggest visiting for a few minutes after your trip around the Almaty Museum.

Walk Down Abay to Hotel Kazakhstan.

If you need a coffee on the way, stop at Cafeteria (it is not quite on Abay but on the way). They have tasty flat whites and you can see a contemporary mosaic by Art Oskolok on the building’s facade near their terrace.

Don’t feel like walking? You can take a taxi or grab the metro at Almaly to Abay station.

Admire Hotel Kazakhstan.

The inside of Hotel Kazakhstan has been remodeled but the outside still has the Soviet-era grandeur it was once known for. The 26-story structure (102m) was built in 1977 by Leonid Ukhobotov and Yuri Ratushny and is earthquake-resistant.

I stayed there back in the day but haven’t been there in recent years. It is worth grabbing a photo of while you’re in the city!

Walk to the Palace of the Republic.

I have never been inside the Palace of the Republic (formerly Lenin Palace of Culture), but I have stood outside it more times than I can count. The Lenin statue here came down years ago and now there is a statue of Abai in the large, open square.

This square also hosts a ton of things throughout the year, including a nice little Christmas market and ice skating rink. But the real reason you need to head here now is to grab the cable car up to Kok-Tobe!

Take the cable car to Kok-Tobe.

I am going to preface this by saying if you’re visiting in winter and the day has a bit of smog, I would omit this. Almaty is working on its smog issue (actively), but the winters are still not the time to head up to Kok-Tobe, in my opinion.

But if you’re visiting any other time of the year, take the cable car up to Kok-Tobe for an hour or so. A round-trip ticket is currently 10,000 KZT (about $21) and it’s best to just buy the round-trip at the start. Save that piece of paper!

At the top of Kok-Tobe you’ll find cafes, a mini amusement park for kids, the Fast Coaster, and the famous Beatles statue. There is also a beautiful Soviet-era mosaic called Sulushash (artists Moldakhmet Kenbayev and Nikolai Tsivchinsky) that was relocated up there. It is a great place to watch the sunset, but honestly, it gets quite packed, so I always head back down pretty quickly. 

Kok-Tobe cable car opens at 10am daily and closes at 8:45pm most days except Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights when it closes at 9:45pm. On Tuesdays, it opens at 1pm instead of 10am.

Try Kazakhstan’s national dish, beshbarmak.

I have a full guide about where to try beshbarmak in Almaty. But for the sake of this guide, if you are not a budget traveler, I would head to Sandyq. Their beshbarmak is delicious and worth the splurge. It is around 7990 KZT (about $16) at Sandyq. If you’re visiting with another person and you want to order a second Kazakh dish, choose their kuyrdak. It is another one of my favorites!

Traveling on a budget but still want to try beshbarmak? You can head to Bauyrdaq, which is about half the price of going to Sandyq.

Bauyrdaq calls itself Qazaq fast food, but it really is a casual sit-down place. I love going there! Their beshbarmak is approximately 4390 KZT (about $9).

Have a drink at one of my favorite spots.

If you’re still itching to get out and do something, you can grab a drink before heading back to your hotel. Beer lovers can check out Auster Bar (a little pricey for Almaty standards but tons of craft beer options) and wine/cocktail lovers can head to Six Coffee + Wine (both locations are good).

Almaty has a pretty good nightlife, so if this is important to you, I would ask around throughout the day for people’s favorite spots. I am not super social these days and no longer drink, so I am kind of a bore when it comes to evening plans!

More Than 24 Hours in Almaty?

If you have more than 24 hours in Almaty and are not sure what to do (and don’t have any day trips planned), here are some additional things, including city tours and day trips that are not Big Almaty Lake, Charyn Canyon, Kolsay Lakes, and Kaindy Lake.

• Walk one of the Terrenkurs in Almaty
• Soviet art tour with Walking Almaty
• Go to Medeu and Shymbulak (need to take a taxi to Medeu and then cable car to Shymbulak)
• 2-day Altyn Emel National Park tour with Dostar Trips (this is private and worth the price)
• Hike to Butakovskiy Waterfall
• Visit Esik Lake and Turgen Gorge
• Almaty Museum of Arts (brand new and amazing but more worthwhile if they have a temporary exhibit going on as well)

Almaty Itinerary (On a Map!)

Tips for A Quick Trip to Almaty

Wear comfortable shoes. This city requires a lot of walking, even if you do opt for the metro a lot of the time.

✅ Get a SIM card at the airport or grab an e-SIM ahead of time. You will need this for non-offline maps and ordering taxis. I usually use KCell.

✅ Google Maps isn’t great in Almaty. But 2GIS is only in Russian or Kazakh. I have created a map in this guide that you can save offline but that doesn’t particularly help with additional spots you may want to stop by. Yandex Maps are better than Google (but worse than 2GIS).

✅ Card works almost everywhere in Almaty. It is good to have a little cash for tipping, especially if you’re heading to a village for a day trip at any point.

✅ Speaking of tipping, it is often included in your bill. Just see if it says service 10% on there.

✅ The younger generation speaks more English than you think. You will be surprised. Try to learn a few Kazakh words (Salem = hello; Rakmet = Thanks; Saw bol = bye), but don’t be surprised when people want to chat in English. Everyone is so friendly.

Almaty in 1 Day FAQ

Is one day enough to see Almaty?

Honestly, I would recommend more days, but you can still see quite a bit with only one day in Almaty. Be sure to hit up the highlights like Kok-Tobe, Ascension Cathedral, the Green Bazaar, and enjoy some local food, and you will have made the most of your day pretty well.

What is the best way to get around Almaty in a day?

I would definitely take a Yandex taxi between larger distances as well as the Almaty Metro. You can walk the shorter distances. Everywhere looks closer on a map than it is.

What food should I try when visiting Almaty?

Definitely try beshbarmak when there! It is the national dish, and while it may not be everyone’s cup of tea, it is mine and I absolutely love it. Some other dishes you can try are laghman (Uyghur), plov (opt for Uzbek plov but save this for Uzbekistan if that is also on your Central Asia itinerary), kuyrdak, kurt (can get from the Green Bazaar), baursak (little fried doughnuts), and shubat/kymyz.

Is Almaty safe for tourists?

Yes! Like anywhere in the world, you need to stay alert, but if you stick to the center of the city and around most of the tourist sites, you will be very safe. I feel safer in Almaty than anywhere in the US or Europe.

Do I need a visa to visit Kazakhstan?

It depends on your nationality. You can read the most up-to-date information on the Kazakhstan government website here.

Do you have any questions about visiting Almaty in one day? Let me know in the comments if you have any questions!

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