Before travelling to Almaty

Before you go to Almaty
Updated 18 July 2024

Some quick notes on life in Almaty to help you get your bearings on the ground. We'll give you a quick rundown of useful things to know before you travel.

Center of Almaty, Azamat Mukhametzhanov

Taxi service at the airport, city
We recommend not to use private taxi services at Almaty airport. At the information desks of Visit Almaty and transport companies inside the airport building, you can get comprehensive information on taxi fares and book a car.
By the way, the average taxi ride cost from the airport to the city centre is around $7-15.
The Russian application YandexTaxi is the most popular in Almaty for calling a taxi to your home, hotel. The taxi ride cost in YandexTaxi depends on the load; during peak hours the order cost can increase twofold.
Also, you can catch a taxi by walking out into the street and raising your hand. This was the main method of hailing a taxi until the launch of Yandex Taxi.

MIG exchange network

Currency exchange
The exchange rate of major currencies (USD, EUR, RUB) is determined by the National Bank and the results of trading on the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE). The exchange rate in commercial exchange networks depends on the rate set by the national regulator.
Currency can be exchanged at major branches of commercial banks and exchange bureaus.
The largest network of exchange bureaus in Almaty is MIG network (www.mig.kz), currency can be exchanged at MIG exchange bureaus.
When visiting a bank branch or exchange office, remember to bring your identification documents with you. Exchange offices in Almaty are open until 8pm.

ATMs

Withdrawing money from ATMs or bank branches
The largest retail banks in Kazakhstan are Halyk Bank (Halyk) and Kaspi Bank. Both banks have an extensive network of ATMs across the country and most are available 24 hours a day. A map of ATM locations can be found by accessing the banks' websites.
MIR payment cards are not serviced by almost all banks in Kazakhstan. VISA, MasterCard are serviced by all commercial banks and Halyk Bank also services China Union Pay.

Magnum supermarket

Retail supermarkets
In Almaty, the largest supermarket chain is the Magnum chain. The Magnum chain is evenly distributed across the city districts, with the format of shops varying with the geography of the location - from a large centre of thousands of square metres to shops of a couple of hundred square metres.
Large supermarkets are open 24 hours a day. The Magnum chain has its own online shop for shopping and delivery, which is very popular among Almaty residents.
In addition to Magnum, Toimart and Small retail chains operate in Almaty.

Green Bazaar, Azamat Mukhametzhanov

The oldest shopping complex in Almaty is the Green Bazaar, which has been in operation since 1875. If you want to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of an oriental market, then the Green Bazaar is exactly what you need. In Tashkent, a similar example is the famous Chorsu market.

Magnum

Metro
The Almaty Metro is the youngest underground mode of transport in the post-Soviet space. The first metro stations were launched in 2011. Today, the city metro is represented by one branch of the route and has 11 stations located in the city centre and the western residential part of the city. During peak hours, the trains are fully loaded, while at other times the carriages are half-empty.

Alcohol
Mass alcohol is represented in big retail chains of Almaty, the list of big ones is described above.
There are also specialized shops selling alcohol - Aromatny Mir, Alcomarket, Alma Wine.
If you are planning to get acquainted with local wines, we recommend to visit Arba Wine, a large local wine producer is located in Karakemer village, where wine tours and factory tours are available.
Liquor is available for sale in shops and retailers from 12 noon to 9pm.

Shopping and Entertainment Centres
The main shopping centres in Almaty are Mega Shopping Centre chain, Dostyk Shopping Centre, and Forum Entertainment Centre. A special feature is Esentai Mall, which is designed for the premium segment, many luxury brands are represented in Esentai.
The largest mall, conveniently located, is Mega, located on Rozybakiyeva Street.

Lower part of Almaty city centre, photo by Deonisy Mit

Hotels
Most hotels in Almaty are listed on Booking.com, where you can find your hotel, based on ratings and reviews of guests. Owners of the city apartments actively cooperate with Airbnb.
During the season, many hotels in Almaty are at full occupancy, so it is recommended to book accommodation a month before your arrival in the city.

Restaurants
Cafes and restaurants in Almaty serve a variety of cuisines from traditional Kazakh to sophisticated Asian and European. An average cost for a meal in a café is $8 - $12 for a single tourist, the cost of a meal in a restaurant depends on the level of the restaurant.
Visitor reviews left on Google, TripAdvisor can be helpful in choosing a restaurant.

We'll tell you about natural wonders of Almaty Region in a separate article, because there are a lot of natural locations, and they are all beautiful. :-)

We hope this article will help you get a closer look at the green city of Almaty, the southern capital of Kazakhstan.

GreenX team