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Dear visitor! Thank you for visiting our Almaty Guide site. We meant it for all who live or are coming to Almaty. Here you will find some necessary information about the city and companies that can make your stay more pleasant and worth remembering. It is also our goal to help you schedule your stay in Almaty and establish new business contacts.
We wish you would find our Guide valuable and Almaty nice.
Registration
According to the 186 Decree of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated March 10, 1993 (as amended by 1367 Government Decree dated December 30, 1998), foreign and CIS citizens temporarily staying in Kazakhstan must have passports for travelling abroad or passports issued under the USSR (year 1974 standard). Foreign passports, except for the USSR passports (year 1974 standard), are subject to registration at the Department of Passport and Visa Work within 3 days from the date of arrival, excluding holidays and weekends. The USSR passports (year 1974 standard) are registered at a regional Department of Domestic Affairs in the area of a person's temporary stay as determined by the 19 order of the Almaty Akim (Mayor) as of January 27, 1995.
The following categories are exempt from the registration:
a/ Heads of foreign States and Governments, members of Government and Parliament delegations invited by the President of Kazakhstan or the Parliament of Kazakhstan. The privilege is extended to the families and technical staff of such delegations;
b/ officials with UN passports;
c/ nonresidents visiting Kazakhstan on holidays, at weekends and transit travellers leaving Kazakhstan within 3 days;
d/ nonresidents under sixteen;
f/ nonresidents taking part in international rallies, Marathons and the like;
g/ international aircraft and train crews provided they stay at the airports of railway stations indicated in effective schedules.
The following hotels are authorized to register nonresidents' passports for one month from the date of arrival: the Ankara-Hotel, Rakhat-Palace, Astana Hotel, Dostyk, Kazakhstan, Otrar, Almaty, Atakent Business center.
The extension is done solely at the Board of Passport and Visa Work. Registration fee is 72 tenge per month.
The failure to comply with the established registration procedure may result in a warning or fine from 3600 to 7200 tenge with possible subsequent expelling from Kazakhstan.
Currency
The tenge is the only currency in free official use. Although it is illegal to receive payments in foreign currency, many people willingly accept US Dollars or Marks but shun those issued earlier the year 1989. You are highly recommended to exchange your money at banks. 1% tax for exchange operations was recently levied on banks and exchange offices, which they charge from clients. That is why, be prepared to pay more than the exchange rate indicated. You need a passport to get a receipt that you may be asked to produce at the customs when departing.
Holidays
All public and most private companies do not work on holidays though food stores are open. Remember that people start celebrating (drinking) the day before a holiday and that this working day is shorter. No business can be done on such days with people anticipating the event.
January 1-2 - the New Year. This holiday is celebrated wider than abroad. Christmas is not an official holiday and is usually celebrated by Christians only.
March 8 - International Women's Day.
March 22 - Nauryz, the New Year in the Muslim Calendar
May 1 - National Consent Day
May 9 - Victory Day
August 30 - Constitution Day
October 25 - Republic Day
December 16 - Independence Day
Kazakhstan is a secular state and religious holidays are not official. The Muslims celebrate Kurban Bairam and Ramazan, Christians - Easter and Christmas.
Accommodation
Accommodation will not cause you any headache with the A-Business directory (available in English and Russian). 39 Almaty hotels include luxurious hotels with a great number of value added services and more modest ones. They are located both in town and on the foothills. All the hotels have parking lots, but only a few offer cars for rent. Practically, all hotels have restaurants or bars, some have casinos. If you are on a business trip, you are advised to stay at big hotels with business-centers providing telecommunications, translation and realtor services.
If you seek quietness and beautiful views, you can stay at a sanatorium or a rest home in the suburbs and outside the city. Or you may choose to rent an apartment or cottage. Order the A-Business directory at 633-783 or 506-613 and get the whole Almaty lying on your hands.
Calls
Almaty telephone code of is 3272. To make a call within Kazakhstan or to some CIS countries dial : 8 - (city code) - (telephone number), for example, Moscow 8-095-(number). After dialling 8, wait for a long beep, then dial remaining digits. To make an international call dial 10 after 8, then country code, city code, and the end number.
There is a 25% discount for international calls from 11 p.m. through 3 a.m., 50% discount from 3 a.m. through 6 p.m., 25% discount from 3 a.m. through 6 p.m. on holidays and at weekends. Call 070 for country, city codes and discount information. Order international calls at 071, Kazakhstan and CIS countries - 079
The A-Business directory has a list of city and country codes. So why waste time trying to get trough to the Inquiry service?
First aid
| 01 - fire alarm |
| 02 - police |
| 03 - first medical aid (state service) |
| 04 - gas alarm |
There is no need for token to call by these phone numbers from any public phone.
09 - general city information.
The Inquiry service does not provide information about private companies. 088 is a commercial information service but is not as reliable as the A-Business directory, which is constantly updated and published every month. It contains addresses and phone numbers of government institutions, public and commercial companies, city codes etc. Have it delivered or buy at bookstores, AiF or Caravan newsagents'.
Taxi
In Almaty every car driver will give you a lift for money. They usually charge less than a real taxi. Agree on a fee before you get in a car. No tips. You can order a taxi at 058 or 007. Turn to the A-Business directory for companies offering cars for rent.
Time
The difference between local (Almaty) time and Moscow is 3 hours, average European time is 5 hours, Greenwich time 6 hours. In spring we put a clock one hour forward, in autumn we put a clock one hour back. You may know the correct time, called by phone 060.
Orientation
Orientation
Almaty is located on slightly inclined valley close to Northern spurs at a height of 650-1200 meters above sea level. That's why locals, explaining someone's whereabouts usually say down or up. It means closer to the mountains or farther. The main thing in Almaty is mountains. One could see them anywhere in the city and so they may serve an important guiding line. Central part of Almaty is divided into blocks.
Weather
Summer in Almaty is long (from May to September) and hot. It is characterized by overfall of temperatures: unbearable heat at the daytime, coolness at night. The most hot month is July and the coldest is January. The winter is rather short and cold. Frosts last for 67 with thaws. Spring is spring, fast but with returning of frosts. Snow or hail may be even 1 of May. April and May are the most rainy months. Autumn is worm and dry. October and November is rain season. Since the city is situated in wide valley, framing by mountains and hills, practically there is no winds.
Promenade
Not all streets in Almaty are illuminated. Many street lamps do not work. That's why after dawn many city districts immerse into darkness. About 11 p.m. the lamps are turned off (wherever they are) If you are on the street this moment you risk to fall into open trap or gutter or aryk. Small torch will be helpful.
Air companies and agencies
If you need to buy or book tickets all over Kazakhstan, CIS or for international flights, apply to one from 48 agencies. Again and again you need A-Business - the best source of information about Almaty firms and organizations. The tickets could be delivered directly by your address. You may also order a charter flight to any part of Kazakhstan, helicopter excursion above mountains.
Telephone
There are automatic telephones on Almaty streets. You need special metal token or card in order to use them. It is difficult to find trig one among them, since they are usually broken in a barbarous way. Many of them are old ones so you should throw the token after the confirmation of connection. The tokens could be bought at the newsstands. Some commercial shops offer paid calls, usually this service costs 15 tenge. Automatic telephones offers only local connection, in order to make an international or inter-city call apply Almatytelecom service bureau throughout the city.
Transport
Buses, trolleybuses, trams.
Traditionally public transport in Almaty is not good, although recently some new vehicles were bought. Sightseeing across the city prefer walking to transport. Inside salon be vigilant - it is easy to loose purse in a crowd. Fare is paid to the conductor. You may also take commercial buses. They cost more expensive, but stop by request. Ordinary buses cost 15 tenge, commercial - 20 tenge, shuttle buses - 25 tenge.
We hope that our Guide will help you here - in the heart of Eurasia. Welcome to Almaty again!
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