It’s summer, and many of our friends are jetting off to their home countries for the long school holidays. Apart from missing them all terribly already, I’m also organising our family to head home to Australia soon – we now have a child in big kid school and so our lives are also determined by school holidays *small sob*. I do actually quite like Almaty in the summer (we spent last summer here) but I accept that this is how we must structure our travel from now on. To take my mind off all the chaos, I want to help you decide the best time of year for when you should come visit Almaty! Because you should!
Almaty, a fascinating city in southeast Kazakhstan, may not be well known in the West (yet!) but the city’s profile is increasing internationally. Its mention in the New York Times earlier this year was well deserved! With great links via air with many international hubs (like London Heathrow, Frankfurt, Dubai, and now even Kuala Lumpur!), every month presents a fantastic opportunity to visit and explore!
Almaty has been developing its infrastructure around its many natural assets for a while now and so should definitely be a destination on your travel list! But yes, some months are easier than others, and some present great opportunities to see particular natural phenomena: poppies in May, the autumnal colours of… well Autumn. And it has several great ski resorts for when the snow arrives.
Please note that this post is a little tongue in cheek – do not take it too seriously. I clearly love Almaty and think it’s the best city in this region, so there it is: a clear declaration of my bias. I will of course take the opportunity to lightly mock Astana, as it’s the natural thing to do. But Astana is also a very cool place to visit… you should just pick your time of year with care 😉
Read on to find out my tips on when to visit Almaty, the absolute jewel of Central Asia.
Winter months
Yay, come visit Almaty!
It’s a really great time, particularly in January or February, to visit the former capital, Almaty. The city, perhaps due to its southern location, and maybe also the protection provided by the mountain range, escapes the more frigid chill of some of the other cities (cough, Astana). It’s still cold, don’t get me wrong! However, the buildings are made for this weather so you won’t be cold inside, and if you are thinking of heading outside, it has several well-developed ski resorts nearby. Even in December, the ski season has already started. Many outdoor ice rinks are open all through the city, some paid, such as the one up at Medeu, and some free, such as the one in Panfilov park.
You’ll also catch Novy God, the massive New Year celebration on December 31, and see the sky light up in fireworks. Traditionally, this evening is as important to local folks as Christmas is to those in the West. People usually spend the evening with their family, eating lots of food, and drinking champagne.
Nay, stay away!
The only reason I’d give someone to not visit Almaty this season is if you are truly NOT a fan of the cold, and have no interest in outdoor sports like skiing or iceskating. If this sounds like you, you are probably not going to enjoy much of Kazakhstan this season to be honest. However, you will enjoy the indoor activities and the cosy cafes so don’t let the weather hold you back!
City tip: Bring your ski gear and head up to one of the great ski resorts nearby. And bring winter boots with a good tread.
Spring Months
Yay, come visit Almaty!
What a great time to visit this country! Kazakhstan, along with many other countries in the region, celebrates Nauryz in mid-March. Nowhere puts on a Nauryz celebration like Almaty. Nauryz is an ancient celebration of the new year, which, in this part of the world, is considered to be the arrival of spring. There are several days of national holiday and public parades and games. The cities hold celebrations, and so do the smaller towns and villages.
April and May are similarly beautiful times to be here, and provide you with one of your best windows for taking a quick trip to see the capital Astana, between its frigid winter and baking hot summer. Astana plays host to flamingoes from late April in Korgalzhyn State Nature Reserve. If you visit Astana, you could also take a couple of days to visit Borovoe and enjoy the lake.
Almaty is also super close to the southern city of Shymkent, considered a hotbed of Kazakh culture. Spring is perfect to see Shymkent, while its wild tulips are in bloom. Not to be outdone, Almaty also has its own floral event with wild poppies appearing in the fields around the city in May.
Nay, stay away!
Spring is a great time to visit Almaty, however, there are a couple of things to keep in mind if you choose to come now! It’s worth mentioning how many public holidays there are in March and May, which affect opening hours of the businesses here. There are public holidays on March 8, and May 1, 7 and 9. Nauryz also takes 2-3 days in March.
Additionally May brings tick season, so if you’re anywhere near the mountains or forest be sure to spray yourself liberally with repellent (make sure it is specially formulated for ticks) and check yourself after hiking. It can’t hurt to get yourself a couple of doses of the tick vaccination before you come out here. The mountains also begin to thaw around now, bringing avalanche risks. So please do read signs and listen to authorities – if they say a trail is not safe at this time, believe them.
City tip: Bring your hiking gear, and your appetite, especially if visiting around Nauryz! Don’t forget a warm jacket for cooler days and evenings.
Summer Months
Yay, come visit Almaty!
In summer things start getting a little toasty in this landlocked country with its extreme continental climate. Almaty is still a go in summer given its greater altitude than elsewhere. However, even Almaty is very WARM in July so prepare yourself. You can always retreat to the mountain resorts or go hiking along any of the fabulous hiking trails outside the city. You could also visit Assey Plateau, an elevated green pasture area in the national park. The city has two wonderful river paths, both called (somewhat confusingly) Terrenkur, where the air is naturally cooler due to the cool mountain water flowing down towards the city.
For a lakeside holiday you can head on up to Kaphchagay, a large and clean lake with sandy beaches an hour or so north of Almaty. There are many hotels and resorts along here, and you can opt for camping on the beach if you wish.
The other thing to consider is the VERY long school holidays that take place in Kazakhstan. State schools close in May and don’t come back until August, so the city is a little less crowded and peak hour traffic is less intense. This may mean that if you have friends living in Almaty, it may not be the best time to visit them. Lots of folks head off home to see family for the school holidays.
Nay, stay away!
The country, like most of Central Asia, is hot in general now. Almaty is probably the nicest place to be in the whole region (I say this with confidence despite having only visited Uzbekistan outside of Kazakhstan). However, even Almaty is quite warm so make sure your accommodation is somewhere nice, preferably with air-conditioning. Or in a leafy and shady area. Astana is definitely not so comfortable to be in right now. Don’t go there in summer please. Shymkent is also hot, hitting average highs above 30 degrees celsius (that’s above 90 fahrenheit). Given Shymkent’s proximity to Uzbekistan, this is not in the least bit surprising. Unless you have a good reason to be here, or you just like soaking up the relaxed ambiance, summer may not be the best time to visit Almaty.
City tip: Opt for loose clothing in natural fibres for the city. And, as always bring hiking gear for the mountains. BYO sunscreen for the strong mountain sun (the stuff is super expensive here!).
Autumn months
Yay, come to Almaty!
Autumn presents some sweet relief from the summer heat across Kazakhstan and is a great time to visit. Almaty is fabulous with its mountain forests changing colour. If you want to travel around the country, Astana’s weather is once again manageable. And now presents a GREAT opportunity to visit the Caspian Sea. The Caspian is (apparently) FINALLY warm enough to swim in comfortably, so you can enjoy the seaside city of Aktau in early autumn. Take this with a grain of salt of course, “warm enough’ doesn’t make it “warm”.
Nay, stay away!
There is little reason to not visit Kazakhstan in Autumn, and it is one of the best times of the year to visit Almaty. The weather is fair everywhere, especially in the early part of the season, and there are few public holidays. Towards the end of autumn it will start becoming cool again – Almaty had its first snowfall in October in 2023!
City tip: Pack a warm coat for the city evenings. And bring your hiking gear.
In conclusion…
I have a bias towards this city and think it’s a great holiday destination the whole year round. Deciding on the best time of year to visit Almaty depends on what kind of holiday you want. For those of you after a ski holiday then obviously it’ll be winter, and should visit in January or February. If you want to see wildflowers and perhaps visit some other Kazakhstan cities, you will be looking at late spring, perhaps May. Perhaps you can only come over during the northern hemisphere summer, so I guess you do you! But maybe avoid July if you can. Finally, if you want cooler temperatures and maybe want to pop across to the Caspian Sea, then choose autumn, preferably August/September.
What do I know about Kazakhstan?
I’ve been living here since mid 2021 with my family. Visit my About Me page to understand more about my perspective. And check out my Kazakhstan page to find out more about why I think why you should travel to Kazakhstan! Also, I have the following blog posts on Kazakhstan!
Check out my other posts on Kazakhstan:
- Visiting Kok Tobe: What to expect and how to have a great time
- Fly to Almaty from Perth: A review of the new Air Asia route
- The best things to do in Almaty with little kids
- Kazakhstan is a great travel destination
- Kazakhstan should make your list for great ski destinations
- Why I think Kazakhstan is safe to travel to
- Almaty’s Green Bazaar: Planning a great visit there
- The best way to enjoy Nauryz in Kazakhstan
- The best way to visit Charyn Canyon