Plan around Almaty winter smog from December to February

Baursak are fried dough pieces served hot with strong tea and sometimes honey or jam, and they were once kept for honored guests. In Almaty, look for them on a Kazakh-focused menu or in a chaikhana, where the wider list often also has plov, manty, samsa and sometimes lagman. Ask staff how many people each shared dish…

Alma Fest is the apple festival that has become a city tradition, held in September during the City Day celebrations. The 2024 edition took place in First President Park, and an older City Day programme closed with fireworks on the same weekend. Plan a September trip if you can, because the whole city runs festivals…

Kitap Fest fills the Arbat pedestrian street with publishers, author meetings, workshops and live traditional music. Recent editions ran on 20 and 21 September 2025 and around Nauryz in March 2026, so the timing moves between autumn and spring. Even if you do not read Russian or Kazakh, the craft workshops such as…

Each September around City Day, Kok-Tobe Park hosts an open-air classical concert called Kok-Tobe Opera. In 2025 it ran on 20 September with free entry, a 6 pm start and the cable car free from 4 pm. Ride up in daylight so you have time to find a spot before the stage lights come on. Dates move between years, so check…

The Kurmangazy Kazakh National Orchestra of Folk Instruments gave its first concert in 1934 and plays dombra, kobyz and sherter alongside classical arrangements. Its season opens in September, and the 2025 opening evening mixed opera arias, songs by Kazakh composers and traditional kuis. Look for Nauryz concerts…

The Abay Opera and Ballet Theatre, in its current building since 1941 and seating 793, is the classic evening out in Almaty. The repertoire mixes Kazakh works such as Abai with Aida and Eugene Onegin. Check the theatre's official channels for the current schedule and book at the box office or by phone. The theatre is…

The Abilkhan Kasteyev National Art Museum is the place to see Kazakh visual art in depth, with an extensive collection of painting, sculpture and applied arts. It moved into its current building in 1976, and a full visit takes real time, so aim for a morning and pick a few halls rather than trying to see everything…

For a wide ridge view above the city, hike to Furmanov Peak from the Medeu skating rink. Take bus 12 to the rink, follow the Kim-Asar ridge past an old Soviet ski lift and a mountain swing, and expect some easy scrambling near the top. Panorama Peak, with a wooden bench over several valleys, is another 30 to 40…