Population: 1.5 million Founded in 1854 as a Russian frontier fort when the Kazaks were still nomads, Almaty has always been a very Russian place. But though neither old nor exotic nor even very Kazak, Almaty is a city on an upswing. As a capital of Central Asia’s richest country, it’s a honey pot just to Kazakhstanis but to a host of foreigners ranging from Chinese, Uzbek, Russian and Turkish traders to big-time business folk, diplomats and financiers from the West and from East Asia.
Almaty is little more than a way station between Bishkek or Tashkent and Urumchi or Siberia. But for those with time, there are some fine trips into the surrounding region, and Almaty has some experienced travel firms that can also arrange trips farther a field
The Zailiysky Alatau Mountains rise like a wall along its southern fringes and form a superb backdrop when weather and smog permit. There are lots of parks, space and greenery.
Most of the city‘s architecture is fairly low-rise, thanks to Almaty’s earthquake prone location. All this makes it a pleasant city to walk around, through the central area is very spread out and distances between places are long. The best times of year here are mid-April to late May, and early September to mid-October, when it’s neither too cold nor too hot.
