Taking Kids Around Almaty

Almaty works for families because the biggest draws have cheap child tickets and several age bands that cost nothing. This page is organised by age rather than by sight, so you can see what a given child will pay and do. Prices are in Kazakh tenge (KZT); roughly 470 to 490 KZT buy one US dollar this year, and a few small notes help at park gates.

Under 5 and under 6: free rides

Children under 5 ride the Kok-Tobe cable car free, and under 6s ride the Shymbulak ropeways free. At Almaty Zoo, children under 7 are admitted free, and at the Central State Museum preschoolers enter free. For this age group the simplest day is the zoo at Esenberlin Street 166, beside Central Park, which has operated since 1937. Central Park has a small narrow-gauge children’s railway that has been running since 2006, and a lake with boat hire. Prices and hours there are best checked at the gate.

Ages 6 to 12: the main fares

This is the group that pays reduced tickets, and the sums are modest.

  • Kok-Tobe cable car, aged 6 to 12: about 5,000 KZT return or about 3,000 KZT one way. Park entry is free.
  • Kok-Tobe extras: the Fast Coaster is about 4,000 KZT for a child, the Ferris wheel about 2,500 KZT, the mini-zoo about 3,000 KZT and the steam train about 1,000 KZT. A climbing wall and rope park are also on the hill.
  • Almaty Zoo, aged 7 to 12: 562 KZT, against 1,427 KZT for an adult, since 15 January 2026. Opening hours are listed on almatyzoo.kz .
  • Shymbulak, aged 6 to 14: 4,000 KZT return, against 12,000 KZT for an adult.
  • Central State Museum, schoolchildren: 300 KZT. Its halls open at 09:00 and close at 18:00, and Tuesday is the day off.

Older children and teenagers

Teenagers get the most from the mountain trips. The Kok-Tobe cableway is 1,620 m long, and the ride up takes about 6 minutes to a hill park at about 1,100 m (koktobe.com ). Shymbulak reaches about 3,200 m in summer, and the walk and views suit anyone who enjoys height. The air is thin and cold at the top, so pack jackets and watch for altitude headaches. Lifts close for servicing in spring and from mid-October to about 1 November, so check status before you set out.

Easy nature outings

The Ayusai waterfalls route passes three falls and covers roughly 8 to 10 km return, taking 2 to 3 hours. The visitor centre is about 30 minutes from the city centre. Turgen Gorge, about 70 km east, has waterfalls and trout farms around its visitor centre. Pick one of these on a day when the weather is settled.

What to leave out

The Medeu ice rink is closed for a full rebuild, with reopening planned no earlier than the 2027-28 winter, so there is no skating on the schedule. Mountain rivers run fast through steep concrete channels, so children should stay well back from the banks. In winter, pavements are icy and icicles drop from roofs, and smog from November to February can be heavy in the city while the Shymbulak slopes sit above it.

Read more: attraction tours in Almaty City and group activities in Almaty City . The 2-day Almaty itinerary offers a ready-made plan. Family tours are listed at GetYourGuide .