Almaty Getting there & around

Getting around

Public transport

Almaty has a vast network of bus, trolleybus, tram and marshrutka (small buses) routes. Fares are usually 40T. They can get very crowded, so if you have much baggage or are short of time, it’s simpler to take a taxi.

All services mentioned here follow the same routes in both directions unless stated.

The train stations

From Almaty-II, trolleybuses 5 and 6 head south on Abylay Khan, then west on Abay to the Central Stadium, Fantasy World and beyond. Marshrutka 537 goes east to Sayakhat bus station, south to the Zelyony Bazar (Pushkin), west on Gogol, south on Furmanov then southwest on Al-Farabi.

From Almaty-I, bus 2 and marshrutka 528 run to Sayakhat, the Zelyony Bazar (Pushkin) and Gogol then south on Furmanov as far as Ramstor.

Other useful routes

In the central area, Furmanov is the main artery for north–south routes, used by buses 2, 63 and 79 and marshrutkas 526, 528 and 537, among others; Gogol and Abay are the principal east–west routes. Tram 4, along Qonaev and Shevchenko, is another useful service.

Bus 29 Sayakhat bus station, Pushkin, Kaldayakov, Bögenbay Batyr (Qabanbay Batyr northbound), Dostyq, Butakovka.

Bus 32 Sayakhat bus station, Rayymbek, Nauryzbay Batyr (Zheltoqsan northbound), Timiryazev.

Bus 35 Abay from Dostyq to Central Stadium, Fantasy World and beyond.

Bus 63 Zelyony Bazar (Pushkin), Gogol, Furmanov, Al-Farabi to Saina.

Bus 66 Gogol (north side of Panfilov Park), Kaldayakov, Dostyq, Abay, Zhandosov.

Bus 139 Zelyony Bazar, Maqataev, Nauryzbay Batyr (Zheltoqsan northbound), Abay to Central Stadium.

Marshrutka 500 Zelyony Bazar, Pushkin, Gogol, Kaldayakov, Bögenbay Batyr, Dostyq, Abay, Zhandosov.

Marshrutka 520 Ramstor, Furmanov, Satpaev, southwest on Zhandosov.

Trolleybus 1 Gorky Park, Gogol, south on Auezov to Timiryazev.

Trolleybus 2 Zelyony Bazar (Zhibek Zholy), Pushkin, Gogol, Auezov, west on Abay.

Trolleybus 11 Zelyony Bazar (Zhibek Zholy), Gogol, Kaldayakov, Dostyq, Abay, south on Baytursynuly.

Trolleybus 12 Gorky Park, Gogol, Auezov, southwest on Zhandosov.

Trolleybus 19 Zelyony Bazar (Zhibek Zholy), Gogol, Kaldayakov, Dostyq, Abay to Central Stadium, Fantasy World and beyond.

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Bus & tram

The bus stations

From Sayran bus station, buses 37, 94 and 166 run east along Töle Bi to the centre. Buses 94 and 166 turn north on Qonaev, then east on Gogol to Gorky Park. The 37 turns north on Zheltoqsan then east on Rayymbek to Sayakhat bus station; going out to Sayran it heads south on Nauryzbay Batyr instead of Zheltoqsan. Tram 4 heads east from Sayran along Töle Bi, then south on Baytursynuly, east on Shevchenko, north on Qonaev and east on Maqataev.

Many routes including buses 29, 32, 37, 79 and 492 and marshrutkas 526 and 537 pass Sayakhat bus station: just look for one saying ‘Sayakhat’ and heading in the right direction.

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Local transport

Taxi

There are some official taxis – marked with chequerboard logos or other obvious signs – but many private cars also act as taxis. Just stand at the roadside with your arm out and you’ll rarely have to wait more than six or eight cars before one stops. Say where you’re going and how much you’re offering. If you can’t agree a price, let the car go and wait for another. A ride in the centre of Almaty should cost 200T to 400T, depending on distance (a bit more at night). You can call a cab on 255 53 33 (24 hours; no English spoken) : minimum fare is 500T.

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