Sightseeing in Almaty

Almaty’s main sights cluster in the flat part of the city, around Panfilov Park and Republic Square, with museums a short ride away. Two days covers the core, and the mountains take the rest of a trip. Remember that “up” is south toward the mountains. Entry fees are in tenge (KZT), at roughly 470 to 490 to the US dollar in 2026.

Panfilov Park

Zenkov Cathedral. One building, also called the Ascension Cathedral, stands 56 m tall and was built between 1904 and 1907 to a design by Andrei Zenkov. It is an active Orthodox church, and entry is free. Dress modestly and keep your voice low. The cathedral was restored from 2017 to 2020, and services continue. It is famous as a tall timber church that came through the 1911 Kebin earthquake, which reached about magnitude 8, with only minor damage.

Memorial of Glory. The memorial with its eternal flame honours the 28 Panfilov Guardsmen. Keep a solemn manner here and avoid loud behaviour.

Ykylas Museum of Folk Musical Instruments. The museum sits on Zenkov Street 24a at the eastern edge of the park, open Tuesday to Sunday. An adult ticket is about 1,000 KZT, with 500 KZT for students and 300 KZT for pensioners. Check hours before you go.

Museums

Central State Museum of Kazakhstan. The address is Samal-1 microdistrict, building 44. It opens 09:00 to 18:00, with the ticket office closing at 17:30, and it is closed on Tuesday. A foreign visitor pays 5,000 KZT for all halls without a guide, or 10,000 KZT with an overview tour in English, Kazakh or Russian. The Gold Collection hall features Saka gold and the Golden Man story. See the museum site for current prices.

Kasteyev State Museum of Arts. It stands at Koktem-3 microdistrict 22/1, open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00. It is closed on Mondays and on the last day of each month. Foreign adults pay about 5,000 KZT. The museum reopened after reconstruction, so confirm hours first.

Squares and streets

Republic Square and the Independence Monument. The monument shows the Golden Man, a Saka warrior riding a winged snow leopard. The square is open air and free, which makes it an easy first stop.

The metro. Almaty has one line with 11 stations over 13.4 km, running from 06:20 to midnight daily. A ride takes about 24 minutes end to end and costs 120 KZT. The line opened in 2011, and the stations are ornate, so a ride doubles as sightseeing.

Places of worship

Almaty Central Mosque. The mosque was completed in 1999 on the site of an older Tatar mosque. Visitors are welcome outside prayer times, with modest dress.

Practical tips

  • Buses use the same 120 KZT fare as the metro, and they are cashless, via an Onay card, QR code or app.
  • Photography is restricted near military sites, border areas and airports, and drones need a licence.
  • Carry your original passport. The hotel or host registers your arrival within 3 working days.
  • From 1 November 2026, many visitors should apply for QazETA, the free online authorisation, at least 72 hours before travel. It becomes mandatory on 1 July 2027. Details are at qazeta.kz .

Read more: walking tours in Almaty and attraction tours in Almaty . Guided city tours can be compared on GetYourGuide .