Shopping and Souvenirs in Almaty

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Shopping and Souvenirs from Almaty

MEGA centre in Almaty

Like any modern metropolis, Almaty boasts large shopping malls that offer much more than just shopping. The most famous is Mega Alma-Ata, featuring a multiplex cinema, ice rink, bowling alley, a children’s amusement park, and stores of leading global brands. Another popular option is Dostyk Plaza, known for its wide selection of high-quality products. For luxury shopping, Esentai Mall stands out with its art center and boutiques of prestigious brands such as Prada, Gucci, and Dolce & Gabbana.

Shopping malls are generally open daily from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM, while smaller stores typically operate on weekdays and Saturdays from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Traditional sales take place from early January through February, and from June to early September.

For seasonal fruits, dried fruits, spices, nuts, and grape sugar, visit the Green Market, where the lively atmosphere resembles a traditional eastern bazaar (located at Zhibek Zholy Avenue, 53). This market also offers a wide range of national souvenirs that reflect the nomadic heritage of the Kazakhs. Unique and affordable gifts include leather containers for kumis or water—saba and torsyk, warm felt slippers with curled toes, and beautifully crafted backgammon sets adorned with intricate carvings or inlays.

European tourists often buy tubeteikas (traditional Kazakh hats) and chapans (national robes made of camel wool) as souvenirs. Other popular items include felt, glass, or silver apples, symbolic of Almaty, and even ceramic yurts.

Souvenir Ideas

One of the most vibrant gift options from Almaty is handmade items crafted by Kazakh artisans. The most popular souvenirs include traditional headgear (tubeteikas and chapans), loose-fitting trousers (shalban-syr), and dresses with wide hems (kulish koilek). For a practical yet charming gift, consider felt slippers, which are comfortable, aesthetically pleasing, and affordable, costing around 2,000–2,500 tenge. Another practical and elegant option is a robe adorned with traditional patterns or embroidery.

Almaty’s symbolic fruit, the apple, makes for a delightful souvenir. You can find apples made of onyx, glass, silver, or felt.

For women, silver jewelry in traditional Kazakh designs is a highly valued gift. Typically, these are large pieces decorated with ornate patterns, though there are also more delicate options, such as coin-shaped earrings. Handcrafted home textiles or patchwork carpets are also popular gifts for women. These handmade items are durable and full of cultural charm. Look for these textiles at Almaty’s markets. When it comes to dishware, a large serving plate for beshbarmak (a traditional Kazakh dish) decorated with Kazakh motifs is a frequent choice. Tea sets with Kazakh designs are also popular, and you can complement the gift with a package of local black tea brands such as Rakhmet, Tengri, or Assam.

A traditional men’s souvenir from Kazakhstan is a water or kumis flask. Kazakh nomads used these flasks to keep their drinks cool. Variants of the classic flask include the saba, made from horsehide and shaped like a four-sided pyramid, and the torsyk, which is curved on both sides. A bottle of “Kazakhstan” cognac makes an excellent gift to accompany the flask. Kazakh cognac has a smoother taste and richer aroma. A half-liter bottle costs around 1,200 tenge.

For girls, a great gift is a doll dressed in traditional Kazakh attire, made from wood or fabric. You can even find Kazakh versions of matryoshka dolls. The price of traditional dolls starts at 2,500 tenge. For boys, toy horses, elements of nomadic costumes, or wooden replicas of weapons make exciting gifts.

A local delicacy called irimshik is a unique sweet often dubbed the “Kazakh Raffaello.” Made from boiled and dried curds mixed with condensed milk, these natural candies have a distinctive milky flavor. Other regional sweets worth trying are zhent, a dessert made from millet, sugar, and butter that resembles halva, and talkan, a traditional snack made from coarsely milled flour and roasted barley or wheat. For those who enjoy edible souvenirs, consider bringing back jams or preserves made from the fruits of Almaty’s orchards, including apricots, figs, apples, plums, and dogwood berries. Dried fruits and nuts are also popular, as they are much cheaper than in Russia and far more flavorful.

For something more exotic, horsemeat delicacies make for an interesting gift. Kazy is a Kazakh sausage-like dish, with the smoked version being particularly delicious. Shuzhyk is similar to kazy but includes horse fat. Both of these delicacies can be brought back to Russia in vacuum-sealed packaging. However, be aware that meat without factory packaging cannot be exported from the country. Another popular souvenir is the semi-hard cheese kurt, formed into small balls and now a favorite snack from Kazakhstan.

Almaty city

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