Almaty

Almaty is one of the world's most dramatically situated cities, built on the northern slopes of the Tien Shan mountains with peaks rising to over 4,000 meters just 25 kilometers from the city center. On a clear day, the snow-capped ridgeline forms a magnificent backdrop to the tree-lined avenues below. The Medeu skating rink, nestled in a mountain valley at 1,691 meters, is the world's highest Olympic-sized rink and a beloved local institution. Just above it, Shymbulak ski resort offers affordable slopes from November to April. In the city itself, the Green Bazaar is a sensory overload of dried fruits, spices, horsemeat sausages, and fresh-baked bread, surrounded by stalls selling Korean salads and Uzbek samosas that reflect Kazakhstan's diverse population. Zenkov Cathedral, built entirely of wood without nails, survived a major earthquake and remains one of Central Asia's most remarkable buildings.

The mountains around Almaty offer some of Central Asia's most accessible alpine experiences. Big Almaty Lake, a turquoise reservoir at 2,511 meters surrounded by peaks, can be reached by a 15-kilometer road that's popular with hikers and cyclists — the color of the water shifts from green to deep turquoise depending on season and light. The Turgen Gorge, about 70 kilometers east, features waterfalls, hot springs, and forests that turn brilliant gold in autumn. More adventurous travelers can tackle the trek to Issyk Lake or the multi-day hike through the Tien Shan to Issyk-Kul in neighboring Kyrgyzstan. Back in town, the cable car to Kok-Tobe hill provides panoramic city views and a Beatles monument that has become a quirky local landmark. The nearby Ile-Alatau National Park offers marked trails through apple orchards — Almaty means 'father of apples' and is believed to be the ancestral home of the domestic apple.