City Information
Airport
Flygresa-
Queensway
Travel
Transaero operates daily flights between Moscow and Almaty, and
the quality of service is similar to Western standards. KazAir flies
to a few international destinations such as Beijing, Budapest,
Hanover, Vienna and Urumqi twice a week on average. KazAir operates
mainly internal flights between cities in Kazakhstan. Turkish Air
flies directly from Almaty to Istanbul twice a week, depending on
the time of the year. Lufthansa flies to Almaty from Frankfurt five
times a week while Austrian Air and KLM fly to Almaty twice a week
each. British Airways began a regular service to Almaty in November
1997 with two flights a week.
Airport to City Centre
It costs around $15 for a taxi fare from International Almaty
Airport into the city, although foreign visitors may well be asked
to pay more. There is a commuter bus which travels between the
airports every 15 minutes. If possible arrange a driver and meet and
greet service before travelling.
Orientation
As in any city where disparities in income levels are large, there
are cases of violence targeted at the (comparatively) wealthy.
Kazakhstan is no exception. Recently, there has been a growing
number of cases of violent crime. Foreign visitors are advised not
to dress in a flamboyant fashion and to be discreet in their
conduct. Hotel safes should be used where possible to avoid carrying
excess sums of cash. The militia (police) often regard foreigners as
rich and able to replace stolen/lost possessions with ease;
consequently, they do not tend to be terribly sympathetic to
foreigners who have been mugged or had valuables stolen.
So it’s best to be wise to a couple of the more common tricks used
on what appear to be new people in town. If you are walking down the
street, usually at night, and someone walking towards you stops in
front of you and starts talking to you do not stop. They are likely
to be trying to get your attention long enough for an accomplice to
come up behind you and mug you. If someone walking in front of you
suddenly bends over and picks up what appears to be a wallet and
then turns around to show it to you, they are probably setting you
up for a robbery. They will suggest that the two of you go behind a
building and split what money there is in the wallet. Once there,
the person who ‘dropped’ the wallet will appear and demand the
wallet back only it will have less money in it than he dropped it
with. You will be accused of taking the money and will have to
replace it. Although Almaty water may not taste as good as at home,
it is artesian and considered by locals safe to drink. Bottled water
and soft drinks are readily available at stores and kiosks for those
who want them. Water should be purified in agricultural or
industrial outlying areas.
Excursions
Lågprisflyg-
Queensway
Travel
Chimbulak Ski Resort: Open all year
round but not high enough to have good snow throughout the year. Two
chair-lifts and three palma lifts, restaurants, bars, ski school and
rental facilities available. It’s about a 45-minute drive from
downtown – you need a four-wheel-drive to get there in the winter
or you can hire a driver just below the resort road.
Medeu: Weekend playground situated in
the foothills of the Zailiysky Alatau, 15km from Almaty. Medeu
sports one of the world’s largest speed skating rinks, and between
October and May half of Almaty seems to spend their weekend leisure
time whizzing round the rink at varying levels of expertise.
Zailiysky Alatau and Kungey Alatau:
These two spurs of the Tian Shan run from east to west between
Almaty and Lake Issyk-Kul in Kyrgyzstan. This is a beautiful region
of glaciers, rivers and steep valleys and is great for serious
trekking. Always arrange a guide as weather can be extreme and
bandits are not unheard of. The trekking season runs from June to
September.
Around the City
Drivers are most easily and reliably hired through your company or
the organization you are doing business with in Kazakhstan. Current
rates are about $8-10 per hour or $30 a day on a temporary basis. It
is advisable to hire an interpreter to communicate directions and
instructions. Very few drivers speak English or any Western European
language.
What to see
Central State Museum: Founded in 1930, it comprises four
exposition halls featuring palaeontological discoveries, folk art
and traditional art, ethnic history and contemporary history. The
museum is very spacious and stages a wide range of short-term
exhibitions. Located at Furmanova and Satpaev.
State Museum of Fine Arts: Stunning display of paintings,
sculptures and folk art acquired since 1935. Also features works of
art presented by the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts. Museum of Folk
Instruments: Wooden building dating back to 1907 which houses a
range of antique Kazakh instruments, together with an impressive
collection of instruments from other CIS republics, as well as the
rest of the world. Located at 8th March and Gogola.
National Museum: Lots of beautiful rugs and some other
interesting displays including a feature on the Russian space
program and displays of historic dress, weaponry, artefacts and
jewellery. The signs are in Russian and Kazakh so you’ll need a
translator if you do not speak the language. It makes for a good
afternoon and has one of the better souvenir shops in town. Located
at Satpaev and Bizakava.
Fantasy World: A family entertainment park featuring
amusement park rides, kids’ games, video room and lots of cafés
that sell less than good food, but at least the beer is cold and
cheap. It turns into a night spot soon after dark and goes on well
into the early morning. Located across the street from the Hyatt
Regency Hotel.
State Circus: Regularly scheduled performances and very
popular with local children, although there have, as with all
circuses, been some concerns about the living conditions of the
animals. Located next to the Hyatt Regency Hotel.
Abay Academic Opera and Ballet House: Since its foundation in
1934, when it introduced ballet and opera to the country, the
Academy has produced many great performers and continues to offer a
diverse repertoire of local and international masterpieces.
State Academic Russian Drama Theatre: Founded in 1933 and
featuring a repertoire ranging from Russian classics to classic
Kazakh and modern drama. Republican German Drama Theatre:
Performances by graduates from the German Theatre Academy. Theatre
of Musical Comedy: Stages versions of Russian and European classics
and interpretations of Kazakh epic and modern drama. Also home to
the Korean Theatre of Musical Comedy since 1968.
Shopping Weedend
Resa Queensway
Travel
Almaty is not the place to shop till you drop, but if you do
fancy a look at the local merchandise the best place to visit is
Zangar, the former state department store which sells everything
from local crafts and delicacies to imported goodies. Zangar is
situated on Ablai Khan and Gogola. For clothing and gifts, the main
shopping streets are Gogola, Furmanova, Ablai Khan and Abai and
among the best shops to visit are Buzya, Raimbeck and Astana, which
stock a range of gifts and clothing. Few shops will accept credit
cards or foreign currency.
Where to walk
It really is not recommended that you go out walking alone, but
if you have a good guide or are in a group, Panfilov Park is very
pleasant. Situated near the bright Zenkov Cathedral, one of the few
Tzarist era buildings to survive the 1911 earthquake, this is a very
pleasant and peaceful rectangle of greenery. Facing the west end of
the park are the elaborate Arasan Baths where you can indulge in
salami and vodka while contemplating the intriguing differences
between Turkish, Finnish and Russian bathing habits.
Weather and Climate
Kazakhstan has a continental climate with cold winters and hot, dry
summers. Temperatures range from -20ºC to 35ºC.
City Map
