Almaty, the former capital and largest city of Kazakhstan, lies in the south of the country at the foot of the Zailiysky Alatau, part of the Tian Shan mountain system. Surrounded by dramatic scenery, the city combines nature, culture and urban life in a that way few places can. From green escapes and mountain views to contemporary art and historic architecture, Almaty offers visitors a mix of experiences within a relatively compact city.
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According to the Almaty Mayor’s Office, the city welcomed nearly 2.5 million visitors in 2025 – a 6.3% increase on the previous year, including more than 754,000 international tourists.
Mountains within reach
For many locals, one of the city’s defining features is how quickly nature is accessible. Just half an hour from the centre lies the Medeo valley — home to one of the world’s highest ice rinks, also called Medeo, with panoramic views over the city below. Turn the other way, and the snow-capped peaks of the Zailiysky Alatau dominate the horizon.
The area is also known for a local ritual many visitors are eager to try – climbing the “Health Stairs.” With 842 steps leading uphill, the challenge is not an easy one, but the views at the top make the effort worthwhile.
Another popular mountain destination is Kok Tobe – or the “Green Hill” in Kazakh – which rises 200 metres above the city that has become one of Almaty’s most recognisable symbols, often featured on postcards and souvenirs. Located just six minutes by cable car from the city centre, Kok-Tobe offers panoramic views over Almaty and the surrounding mountains.
“I really love the mountains,” says Julia Wottschal, who left Kazakhstan in 1991, but keeps coming back to her homeland. “We have mountains in Germany too, but they’re nothing like the ones here.”
Beyond the viewpoints, visitors can explore walking paths surrounded by greenery and birdsong, making the hill a popular escape from the busy city below. Kok-Tobe is also a family-friendly destination, with rides for children and adults, cafés, and even a monument dedicated to The Beatles, accompanied by the band’s music playing nearby.
A new cultural landmark
Opened in September last year, Almaty Museum of Arts (ALMA) has already become one of the city’s most popular cultural destinations. Dedicated to modern and contemporary art, the museum brings together more than 700 works from Kazakhstan and across Central Asia.
Highlights include a retrospective by Almagul Menlibayeva titled “I Understand Everything,” and “Qonaqtar,” a group exhibition exploring nomadic culture, rituals and everyday life through the works of regional artists. Alongside them are internationally renowned names such as Anselm Kiefer, Yayoi Kusama, Jaume Plensa, Yinka Shonibare, Alicja Kwade,video art pioneer Bill Viola, and Richard Serra, whose monumental steel installation “Junction” dominates one of the museum’s halls.
According to Dayana Vafina, exhibition project manager at ALMA, Kusama’s works quickly became audience favourites thanks to their immersive and “Instagrammable” nature, attracting visitors eager to photograph the mirrored installations. Serra’s large-scale steel sculpture, meanwhile, has sparked a different kind of fascination. “I was surprised to learn how popular Richard Serra’s installation is among men,” Vafina said. “They are really interested in how such a massive structure was installed inside the museum.”
Reading the city through architecture
As Kazakhstan’s former capital, Almaty has developed a distinctive architectural identity that has become an attraction in its own right for visitors. Within a relatively compact city centre, travellers can encounter late 19th-century mansions, Soviet-era monumental classicism and constructivism, alongside modern glass skyscrapers.
Local lawyer and amateur photographer Alen Shayakhmetov began looking at the city differently after the pandemic, later publishing a photo book dedicated to the overlooked details of Almaty’s architecture. Alongside historic buildings, he also focused on the city’s growing street art scene, which he believes has become part of Almaty’s identity.
“They definitely make Almaty feel unique and give the city its atmosphere,” Shayakhmetov said of the murals. “I think this could become a separate tourist attraction in itself, because interest in street art definitely exists around the world.”
Today, murals across Almaty have become hidden gems scattered throughout the city. Among them is “A Girl with Petroglyphs”, inspired by ancient petroglyphs and reflecting Kazakhstan’s cultural heritage, as well as the “Van Gogh” mural by the REPAS collective, depicting a Kazakh cosmonaut as a reference to the Baikonur Cosmodrome. Another popular work is “Father of Apples,” a pop-art mural by art group 310 featuring a comic-style character holding an apple, a nod to the city’s name, derived from the Kazakh word “alma”, meaning “apple”.
With tourism numbers continuing to rise and international recognition growing, Almaty remains Kazakhstan’s leading tourist destination, attracting visitors with its unique blend of mountain scenery, cultural life and urban experiences. Thanks to its mild climate and proximity to nature, the city’s tourism season remains active for up to eight months a year.