Almaty Activities From Gondolas to Banyas
Almaty is Kazakhstan’s largest city but not its capital, which is Astana, about 1,200 km to the north. The most useful way to plan here is by weather and time of day, because the best activities are either high above the city or inside its flat central grid. Money is the Kazakh tenge (KZT), at around 470 to 490 per US dollar this year. Cards and Kaspi QR work almost everywhere, though cash is still handy at the bazaar, park gates and village stops.
On a clear day, go up
Shymbulak. Three linked ropeways (the Medeu-Shymbulak gondola, Combi-1 and Combi-2) lift passengers from Medeu to about 3,200 m. The all-lift Shymbulak Ticket is 12,000 KZT return for an adult and 7,000 KZT one way. Children from 6 to 14 pay 4,000 KZT return, and younger ones ride free. Summer is for walking and views, and the ski season normally opens in mid to late November. The lifts close for servicing in spring and again from mid-October to about 1 November, and the road into the gorge is shut from 24 July to 30 November 2026. Look at shymbulak.com for lift status the day before you go.
Kok-Tobe. A 1,620 m cableway climbs to a hill park at about 1,100 m in roughly 6 minutes. The lower stations are at Dostyk Avenue 104B and Omarova Street 41, and the operator’s site is koktobe.com . An adult return fare is about 10,000 KZT, and the park itself is free to enter. Extras include the Fast Coaster at about 7,000 KZT and a Ferris wheel at about 4,000 KZT. The Beatles monument has John Lennon seated with a guitar and the other three standing, while speakers play their songs. The television tower on the same hill is shut to the public.
Medeu dam. Medeu sits at about 1,691 m and is the lower end of the Shymbulak gondola. The dam and viewpoint are open. The high-altitude ice rink has been closed since spring 2025 for a full rebuild, with reopening expected no earlier than the 2027-28 winter, so skating is off the list. Whether the long staircase is open during the works is worth asking locally.
On a cold, wet or hot day, go indoors
Arasan Wellness & SPA. The bathhouse opens daily from 06:00 to 23:30 and was built between 1979 and 1982 near Panfilov Park. It offers a Russian banya, a Finnish sauna and a Turkish hammam in separate men’s and women’s sections, plus private Luxe suites. Rates are best asked at the desk or through arasan-spa.kz .
Eating and souvenirs
Green Bazaar. The market stands at Zhibek Zholy Avenue 53, at Makatayev Street. Stalls sell kazy horse-meat sausage, kurt cheese balls, Koryo-saram morkovcha carrot salad, dried fruit and nuts. One listing gives Tuesday to Sunday, 08:00 to 19:00, with most of the market closed on Monday. Check before a Monday visit and keep bags closed in the crowds.
Rakhat. This confectionery brand has shops across the city and a factory on Zenkov Street. Its sweets are an easy gift to carry home.
Moving around
The single metro line has 11 stations and runs from 06:20 to midnight for 120 KZT a ride. City buses charge the same and are cashless: pay with an Onay card, a QR code or an app. Bus 12 serves Medeu, taking 35 to 50 minutes from the Almaty-2 railway station. Yandex Go and inDrive are the ride-hailing apps, and Uber does not operate in Kazakhstan.
Entry and mountain sense
Many visitors need the free QazETA online authorisation from 1 November 2026, applied for at least 72 hours before travel and compulsory from 1 July 2027. Check qazeta.kz against your passport. In the mountains, keep to marked trails and pistes, carry your original passport and expect rockfall and avalanche risk on higher routes.
Read more: sightseeing in Almaty City and day trips from Almaty City . The wider Almaty city guide covers planning. Guided outings are listed at GetYourGuide .