Arriving in Almaty: ALA Airport, Almaty-1 vs Almaty-2 Trains, Metro & Onay Buses

Almaty serves as the primary aviation and rail crossroads of southern Kazakhstan and the wider Zhetysu region. Unlike many sprawling capitals, its international airport sits just fifteen kilometres northeast of the historic Golden Square, making transfers into the city straightforward.

Arriving at Almaty International Airport (ALA)

Located at the end of Mailin Street, Almaty International Airport opened a dedicated new international passenger terminal in June 2024 alongside the original domestic terminal. Municipal bus route 92 runs directly from the airport forecourt through the city centre along Raiymbek and Abai avenues toward Maulenov Street. For door-to-door transfers, use the official Yandex Go ride-hailing app over airport Wi-Fi rather than negotiating with unbadged drivers inside the arrivals hall. Check the official airport portal for real-time flight and terminal updates.

Almaty-1 versus Almaty-2 railway stations

Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) operates high-speed Spanish-built Talgo trains and standard sleeper services to Astana, Shymkent, Turkistan, and Tashkent from two separate stations:

• Almaty-2 Station: Situated right at the northern foot of Ablai Khan Avenue near the Raimbek Batyr Metro terminus, Almaty-2 is the central, historic station and the most convenient arrival point for hotels in the Golden Square.
• Almaty-1 Station: Located nine kilometres further north along the main Turkestan-Siberia railway line, Almaty-1 handles transit trains that do not pull into the dead-end central branch. Always verify whether your ticket specifies Almaty-1 or Almaty-2 before departure.

Using the Onay card, Metro Line 1, and mountain transport

Within the city, public transit relies on the electronic Onay ticketing system and contactless bank cards. Line 1 of the Almaty Metro runs 13.4 kilometres across eleven stations from Raimbek Batyr through the historic core (Zhibek Zholy, Almaly, Abai, Baikonur) toward the western residential districts. To reach the mountains without a car, board municipal bus 12 from the corner of Kurmangazy and Dostyk streets opposite the Hotel Kazakhstan; it climbs all the way to the Medeu skating rink and Shymbulak gondola base. Private petrol vehicles are restricted above Medeu and below Big Almaty Lake, so upper valley access relies on electric park shuttles, cable cars, or hiking trails.