Almaty is Kazakhstan’s largest city, a foothill metropolis of around 2.3 million people set beneath the Trans-Ili Alatau, founded in 1854 as the Russian fort of Verny and later the Soviet and post-independence capital until the seat moved to Astana in 1997. Its centre mixes leafy boulevards with signature sights: the all-wood Ascension (Zenkov) Cathedral in Panfilov Park, the bustling Green Bazaar, and cable-car rides up Kok-Tobe for skyline and mountain views, with the high-altitude Medeu ice rink and Shymbulak ski area in the next valley. Practicalities are straightforward: Almaty International Airport (ALA) sits east of town with city buses (e.g. 92) to Almaty-2 station; the growing one-line Metro handles quick hops across the core, and intercity rails run from Almaty-1/2. Expect Central Asian food markets and café culture alongside museums and a rising design scene, all framed by easy day trips into the mountains.
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