Almaty - Post Report Question and Answers
What are the particular advantages of living in this city?
Safety, modern malls, urban life, parks and lots of walking, and views of gorgeous mountains. - Sep 2023
The number one draw to Almaty is the outdoor experience. It is at the base of Tien Shan mountain range and you can get to the mountains in about 20 minutes from downtown. The hiking, camping, and outdoor winter sports are very popular. There is an opera, ballet, and symphony in the city with fairly cheap season tickets. - Aug 2015
Snowboarding, hiking, mountain biking. - Jul 2013
Almaty is located at the base of the Tien Shan mountains, skiing is 30 minutes away in winter, and hiking is excellent. It's a mountain town and the outdoor activities are the big draw. - Feb 2013
Almaty is a very special city. There are incredible mountains right outside town, so you're less than an hour from amazing hiking and skiing. The city is very green, clean and walkable, with lots of parks and wide sidewalks. Central Asia is isolated, but fascinating, so if you're willing in travel in the region you can visit the Silk Road cities of Uzbekistan and some of the most incredible mountains in the world in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. If you like places off the beaten path, this is for you. Plus, everyone who lives in Central Asia is very jealous of you, which does tend to make you smug :) - May 2012
Spring and summer are great with wonderful fruits and vegetables at the Green Bazaar and lots of opportunities for hiking and such. In winter, if you don't ski or skate, your options are a bit limited but there are some indoor malls, including one with a bowling alley. Unforutnately, all movie theaters dub films into Russian. There are a lot of things to do with kids, especially with warmer weather, and also a lot of restaurants and bars/clubs. - Mar 2010
