Kazakhstan Diaries, Part 3: Where We Stayed in Almaty (And Why Location Matters More Than Luxury)

Finding the right place to stay can make or break a trip.

Before flying to Kazakhstan, I probably spent more time comparing Airbnbs than booking our flights. I wanted a place that was comfortable, well-connected, and close enough to everything we planned to see.

Looking back, choosing this Airbnb on Shevchenko Street turned out to be one of the best decisions we made during our Kazakhstan trip.

Not because it was luxurious.

But because it quietly made every single day of our trip easier.

Why We Chose This Airbnb

Before booking our stay, I spent hours comparing apartments across different parts of Almaty.

Some looked beautiful but were far from the places we planned to visit. Others were cheaper but meant spending more time commuting every day.

Eventually, we settled on an Airbnb on Shevchenko Street.

At the time, it simply felt like a good choice.

After spending nine days there, I realised it was a great one.

Location Really Is Everything

If you’re planning day trips around Almaty, here’s one piece of advice I’d happily give every traveller.

Many tour operators don’t offer pickups from every hotel or Airbnb. Instead, they have fixed pickup points, most commonly:

• Hotel Kazakhstan
• Novotel
• Holiday Inn Express

Our Airbnb was only about a 10–15 minute walk from Holiday Inn Express, so every tour morning we simply walked to the pickup point.

No booking taxis.

No worrying about surge pricing.

No rushing around early in the morning.

That one decision probably saved us both time and money throughout the trip.

While researching, I also considered staying near Arbat Street because it’s one of Almaty’s most popular areas, filled with cafés, restaurants, and shops. It’s a great option if you’re planning to spend most of your time exploring the city itself.

Our itinerary, however, was packed with day trips outside Almaty. Since our Airbnb was so close to one of the main pickup points used by our tour operators, it turned out to be the perfect base for us.

A Neighbourhood That Had Everything

One of the things we loved most was how convenient the neighbourhood was.

Right opposite our building was I’M Cafe, which reminded us a little of McDonald’s.

There were also a couple of Indian restaurants within walking distance, which was a pleasant surprise.

Small convenience stores were located just below the apartment building, making it easy to pick up everyday essentials.

Whenever we wanted to stock up on groceries, we walked about 800–900 metres to a larger supermarket. It had more options, and even bottled water was noticeably cheaper than the convenience store downstairs.

The Apartment

The apartment itself wasn’t luxurious.

It was simple, clean, comfortable, and thoughtfully equipped for a longer stay.

It had a small kitchen with basic utensils, a microwave, a mini fridge, Wi-Fi, an iron, toiletries, universal charging sockets, and — our favourite amenity — a washing machine.

We ended up using it three times during the trip, which meant we could pack much lighter than usual.

The apartment also came with an unexpected bonus.

Our home in Almaty for the next nine days.

From our window, we could see the majestic Tian Shan mountain range stretching across the horizon, with Kok Tobe standing proudly above the city.

Waking up to that view every morning never got old.

The view from our Airbnb window — Tian Shan Mountains in the distance and Kok Tobe watching over the city.

A Few Things Worth Knowing

Since this is an Airbnb and not a hotel, there are a few things to keep in mind.

There was no daily housekeeping or garbage collection, so we disposed of our own trash in the public bins nearby.

When we ran out of toilet paper, our host happily provided more.

One thing I’m glad I packed from India was a few extra garbage bags. The apartment didn’t provide any, and they turned out to be surprisingly useful.

I had also packed a small packet of detergent, which came in handy after we finished the one provided by the host.

These are small details, but they’re useful to know before you book.

Link to book the Airbnb: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/41906995?unique_share_id=479aa957-09c9-4c9f-9807-a452c88a4654&viralityEntryPoint=1&s=76

🌿 Traveler’s Takeaway

If your itinerary is similar to ours — with several day trips around Almaty — I highly recommend choosing accommodation close to one of the major tour pickup points.

If you’re planning to spend most of your time enjoying Almaty’s cafés, restaurants, shopping streets, and nightlife, then staying near Arbat Street is also a fantastic option.

The best place to stay really depends on the kind of trip you’re planning.

Coming Up in Part 4

With our accommodation sorted and the city starting to feel familiar, it was finally time to explore Almaty itself.

In the next chapter of my Kazakhstan Diaries, I’ll take you through our first day exploring this beautiful mountain city — from peaceful parks and historic landmarks.