Start in the Green Bazaar — Almaty’s sensory compass. Here, tables overflow with pistachios, spices, saffron-colored fruits, and soft cheeses wrapped in tradition. Smiling vendors call you over, offering samples of kurt, dried fruits, horse sausage, and fermented drinks. This isn’t a market. It’s a living museum of Central Asian hospitality.

Just a few blocks away, step into the quiet shade of Panfilov Park, where the city slows. At its heart stands Zenkov Cathedral, a jewel of wooden architecture painted in pastels and capped with golden domes. Built without a single nail, it has survived earthquakes and eras — a metaphor for Almaty itself.

To the east, the Kazakh Museum of Folk Instruments preserves the soul of nomadic melody — from the two-stringed dombra to the haunting sounds of jaw harps and reed flutes. Every exhibit sings. And every room is a conversation between past and present.

And above it all, the mountains.

Take the cable car to Kok Tobe Hill, where the city unfolds in green and gold beneath you, and the mountains rise like sleeping gods. Or better yet, drive out to Medeu — the world’s highest-altitude speed skating rink, where athletes train surrounded by fir trees and crisp alpine air. Just beyond, the road climbs to Shymbulak Ski Resort, where you can hike or ski depending on the season, and dine above the clouds in wooden lodges that smell of pine and cinnamon.

And when you return to the city, it will greet you gently.

In Abai Avenue cafés that serve espresso with Kazakh honey. In contemporary galleries filled with silk-textured paintings. In bookstores that still sell Soviet-era poetry. In the Old Square, where architecture still carries the weight of ideology — and yet somehow softens under sunlight and quiet snow.

Almaty is a city of four seasons and infinite moods. In spring, apple blossoms (Almaty means “Father of Apples”) fill the air with sweetness. In summer, outdoor markets glow with melons and sunlight. In autumn, the city turns copper and wine-colored. In winter, snow tucks the rooftops in like bedtime stories.

And the food — oh, the food.

Try beshbarmak, Kazakhstan’s national dish, served with tender meat and broad noodles in rich broth. Sample manty, steamed dumplings filled with spiced lamb. Dine on warm lagman noodles, horsemeat delicacies, and crispy flatbreads served with fermented mare’s milk or local wine. In Almaty, meals are not just meals — they are gatherings, gestures, and gifts.

At Viewpoint Horizons, we craft Almaty journeys that unfold with authenticity. Guided strolls through golden parks with local historians. Tea tastings in artist-run homes. Day trips to Big Almaty Lake, where turquoise waters reflect snow-draped cliffs in surreal silence. Encounters with Kazakh artisans who still hand-weave felt carpets, just as their ancestors did on the steppe.

Because Almaty isn’t about monuments — it’s about moments.

Explore Almaty with Viewpoint Horizons — and find a city that doesn’t rush to change you, but gently makes you feel more human.