Things to Do in Almaty in March
March weather, activities, events & insider tips
March Weather in Almaty
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
Is March Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
- + Snow still crowns the Tian Shan peaks but daytime hiking trails in the Ile-Alatau National Park are ice-free, handing you postcard views minus the winter kit.
- + Hotel rates drop 25-40% from February ski season pricing yet restaurants and ski lifts at Shymbulak stay open through March 31.
- + The Kok Tobe cable car runs half-empty on weekdays – you’ll own the observation deck for sunset shots over the Zailiysky Alatau range.
- + Locals celebrate Nauryz (March 21-23) with horse games in the hippodrome and free concerts on Republic Square – the city’s loudest cultural moment of the year.
- − March weather swings 18°F (10°C) between morning frost and afternoon warmth – you’ll pack both winter coat and sunglasses for the same day.
- − Rain hits suddenly at 3-4 PM most days, turning unpaved side streets around the Green Bazaar into shoe-destroying mud.
- − Some mountain roads like the route to Big Almaty Lake close without warning when late snowstorms roll through.
Year-Round Climate
How March compares to the rest of the year
Best Activities in March
Top things to do during your visit
March delivers the best snow conditions of the season – morning runs on well groomed pistes before 11 AM, then slushy spring skiing in t-shirts by afternoon. The resort stays open until March 31, but weekday lift lines shrink to 2-3 minutes compared to weekend chaos in February. The 15-minute gondola ride from Medeu gives you aerial views of the city smog layer trapped against the mountains.
March afternoons hit 49°F (9°C) – good for the 2 km (1.2 mile) walk around this Soviet memorial park without the summer crowds. The Zenkov Cathedral's wooden walls creak in the wind, and the adjacent museum stays warm inside with radiators that smell like dusty history. Local pensioners play chess under the bare linden trees, using pieces carved from Soviet-era furniture.
March is peak season for Central Asian dried fruits – apricots from Shymkent, raisins from Turkestan, and walnuts from the Tien Shan foothills fill the covered stalls. The air inside mixes cumin, lamb fat, and the metallic smell of Soviet-era cash registers. Sample kurt (dried cheese balls) that locals swear cure spring colds, plus fresh naan bread hot from tandoor ovens that warm your hands.
The 15 km (9.3 mile) road to the lake opens sporadically in March – call the park service hotline day-of. When accessible, the trail offers the year's best reflections of 4,000 m (13,123 ft) peaks in turquoise glacial water, plus Siberian trout visible through the clear surface. Snow patches linger on north-facing slopes, creating dramatic contrast against the lake's mineral-blue water.
March sunsets at 7 PM from the 1,100 m (3,609 ft) summit give you golden hour photos without summer's heat haze. The Soviet-era cable car rattles and sways, offering views over the city's Soviet apartment blocks and the Zailiysky Alatau beyond. Up top, the Beatles statue faces the mountains while local couples share beer and shashlik from the hilltop vendors.
March Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
Kazakhstan's Persian New Year transforms Republic Square into a nomadic village with yurts, horse games, and free concerts. The smell of beshbarmak (five-finger noodle stew) wafts from street vendors while children race traditional kures wrestling matches. The Almaty hippodrome hosts kokpar (goat carcass polo) tournaments that draw crowds of 5,000+.
Essential Tips
What to pack, insider knowledge and common pitfalls