The Bridge between Asia and Europe
Almaty is largest city in Kazakhstan with a population of 1,421,868 (at 1st of August 2010) with about 9% of the countries population located in one city, it is certainly a hustling and bustling place to be. It also used to be the former capital of the country, until 1997 when it moved to Astana.
Almaty is still the centre of commerce for Kazakhstan, with the stock exchange and largest banks located there including Kazkommertsbank, which is the largest bank in Kazakhstan, and one of the largest players in Central Asia. The Stock exchange is the largest in Central Asia and is responsible for a large proportion of the Countries economy. Plans are being developed to increase substantially the financial facilities, and currently under construction is 'Almaty Financial District and Esentai Park.
Almaty literally means 'city of apple trees', and, because of its relatively mild climate, it has a wide range of apple trees. The Almaty area is said to be the genetic home for many varieties of apples and the area is often visited by researchers and scientists from around the world, in order to learn more about the complex systems of genetics, and also to discover the true beginnings of the domestic apple. A good traditional story links the taking of the apple from the tree in the old testament to Almaty. The Turkic name for apple is Alma and Ata meaning forefather, which could lay it open to be possibly the origin of the Apple (The garden of Eden).
The city certainly has a spectacular beauty, whether or not it was the Garden of Eden, and is located in the foothills of the Trans-Ili Alatau in the extreme southeast of Kazakhstan. The backdrop of mountains against the taller buildings makes a dramatic and impressive sight and was the center for the Asian Winter games in January 2011.
Kazakhstan is the ninth largest country on the planet and since 1993 became an independent state. Kazakhstan now has developed its own good relationships with both the east and west and also adapted its culture to suite both the old and the new.
How to get to Almaty
Regular direct flights to Almaty International airport (and via Astana) are operated by airlines Air Astana, Aeroflot, Rossiya, Lufthansa, Turkish airlines, Air arabia, Fly Dubai, Pegasus, S7 Airlines, International airlines of Ukraine, Belavia, Uzbekistan airways, Tukmenistan airlines, China Southern Airlines.
From the airport to Almaty you can reach by taxi: Uber, Yandex, City taxi, Eco taxi
Time difference
Time in Almaty is 6 hours ahead of GMT
Weather
The average temperature in Almaty in May is very mild at 16.5 °C (61.7 °F).
Afternoons can be really warm with average high temperatures reaching 22 °C (71.6 °F).
Overnight temperatures are generally quite mild with an average low of 11 °C (51.8 °F).
The range/ variation of diurnal mean temperatures in May is 11 °C (19.8 °F).
The weather in May is hardly arid with rain occasionally.
In May the skies in Almaty are slightly sunny with an average of a pleasing 7:48 of glaring sunlight per day.
The shortest day is 14:05 long and the longest day is 15:07 long with an average length of 14:39.
There are approximately 6:40 per day when bright sunshine is absent due to cloud, haze or the sun being too low on the horizon to register.
It is sunny approximately 53.9% of daylight hours and cloudy 46.1% of daylight hours.
Customs
Customs rules you can find here
Phone
Almaty telephone code – 727
For a call on an intercity it is necessary to dial 8 - city code – telephone number. For an international call it is necessary to dial +7 (an exit to an international telecommunication) - a telephone code of the country - a city code – telephone number.
Internet
There are plenty of Internet cafes and bars, scattered all over the city. Many cafés and restaurants are equipped with Wi-Fi.
Electricity
European-type AC outlets. Voltage is 220V
Shops, banks, museums hours
Shops, banks and museum hours can vary. The schedule of their work is usually displayed at the entrance. At weekends and holidays the establishments work by the shortened schedule. The majority of museums are open from 10.00 to 18.00 without interruption. Day off - Monday.