🛫5 hours layover in Almaty, this is super worth it!

This time I was connecting from Almaty to Tashkent. I used the five-hour layover to explore the city. I also visited several major attractions.

⚠️ Border control tips:
When entering the country, border control may ask if you're connecting and send you upstairs.
Just tell them you want to use your layover time to explore the city.
It went very smoothly.
Many people say there are free phone cards in the lobby, but you can actually get them directly at the border control counter.
On the other hand, there's often no one handing them out in the lobby.

🚕 Travel:
Using Yandex Go is the most convenient way to hail a taxi, but be aware that the platform will increase fares during peak hours.
For example, our outbound taxi cost 5,900 tenge (about 77 RMB), but the return trip, which was longer, was only 2,400 tenge (35 RMB).
The airport to the city center normally takes a little over 20 minutes,
but traffic can be congested during peak hours, so be sure to allow at least 40 minutes for the return trip.
The airport is small, and you're usually at your gate after security, so 20 minutes back to the airport before boarding is plenty of time.

👣Quick Check-in Route:
🕌Central Mosque >
The largest mosque in Almaty,
and the second largest in Kazakhstan,
it's a real landmark.

🏪Green Bazaar >
A local market,
buy some apples and pears.
Almaty is famous for its apples,
but I think pears are even better.
You can also find fridge magnets and dried fruit,
just remember to bargain!

⛪Ascension Cathedral >
The colorful onion-shaped church
is a photogenic spot.
The stained glass windows inside are even more beautiful.

⏱️If you have more time:
🎭Opera House >
A representative example of Soviet architecture,
great for photos.

⛪St. Nicholas Cathedral >
A small but exquisite blue Orthodox church.

🗽Independence Monument >
A landmark in the city center,
just a quick stop.

🖼️Almaty Museum of Arts＞
This newly opened art museum is a bit niche.

🌄If you have an overnight layover,
I highly recommend going to Mount Kok Tobe and taking the cable car up to see the snow-capped mountains and the sunset.
The atmosphere is incredible.

As for these following attractions,
I'll be stopping in Almaty on my return flight,
so I'll take photos for everyone.

Almaty doesn't have many attractions, and a 5-hour layover is enough to see the highlights and experience this city nestled beneath the snow-capped mountains.

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