Modern cultural and public areas of the city -
Urban life, movement, architecture and the rhythm of the metropolis -
The Almaty Metro is one of the youngest and most unusual subways in the world, inscribed into the fabric of the southern capital as naturally as the mountains of the Trans-Ili Alatau in its panorama. It has become a symbol of a new stage in the development of Almaty, a city that is growing, renewing itself and striving for convenience, beauty and modernity. The metro connects different areas, facilitates urban life and at the same time serves as an independent attraction that reveals the character of Almaty through the architecture and atmosphere of underground halls.
Despite the fact that the idea of building a subway appeared back in the 20th century, it was only realized decades later. It's not just transportation – it's a part of the city's history, embodied in stone, marble, light, and artistic solutions that make each station unique. The main metro line runs underground along Abai Avenue and connects the western and eastern parts of the city and its central part.
Going down the escalator into the bowels of the Amata metro, you find yourself in a special space where time flows differently, and each trip turns into a journey through the halls of the underground gallery. Here, in the cool marble of the vestibules and under the arches decorated with unique murals, lives its own life.
The subway in Almaty is a place where millions of destinies collide, where thoughts are born under the steady clatter of wheels and where art becomes an integral part of the path.
History of creation
The first thought about the need for a metro arose in Almaty back in the 70s, when the city was growing rapidly and the traffic load was becoming more noticeable. The project began to be developed in the 1980s, construction started in 1988, but the path turned out to be long and difficult - the collapse of the USSR, economic difficulties, suspensions and new plans stretched the implementation for almost a quarter of a century.
And only on December 1, 2011, the Almaty metro opened its doors to the first passengers. This became an important event in the life of the city – Almaty received a modern, safe and architecturally expressive transport system, which eventually turned into one of the business cards of the metropolis.
Today, the metro continues to evolve: New stations are being built, lines are being expanded, and the subway itself remains an object where the past and future of the city meet in one space.
Architecture and artistic style
The Almaty metro is known for the fact that each station is designed as an independent artistic object. There is no monotony here – on the contrary, the stations reveal the history, culture and spirit of Kazakhstan through materials, ornaments, color and light.
Marble walls, carved patterns, national motifs, glass panels, thematic compositions – all this creates an atmosphere of cultural space, rather than an ordinary subway.
The station "Zhibek Zholy" resembles the road of the Great Silk Road, "Almaly" is filled with motifs of an apple as a symbol of Almaty, "Abai" is dedicated to the poet-educator, "Baikonur" reflects the cosmic history of Kazakhstan. Even the Moscow station, donated by Almaty, has become a symbol of friendship between the two cities.
Thoughtful lighting, spacious halls and cleanliness create a feeling of lightness and modernity. You don't feel the weight of the subway here – on the contrary, the subway looks like a museum where you want to go again.
List of stations of the Almaty metro:
1. "Rayymbek Batyr"
The station is named after the famous Kazakh commander who played an important role in the fight against the Dzungars. Today it is one of the outermost stations of the line, as well as the closest to the Almaty-2 railway station, which makes it a convenient destination for incoming passengers. In Almaty, there are also monument to Raimbek Batyr.
2. "Zhibek Zholy"
The name translates as "Silk Road". The central hall is decorated with decorative compositions, which contain images of the countries through which the ancient trade route passed. The administrative center of the metro is also located here. The key sights of Almaty are within walking distance: Panfilov Park, Ascension Cathedral, the famous Panfilov and Zhibek Zholy streets.
3. Almaly
The name of the station refers to the old place name "Yablonevoe place" and is consonant with the name of one of the central districts of the city – Almalinsky. From here it is easy to access the pedestrian Panfilov Street, as well as visit the Abai Opera and Ballet Theater, Viktor Tsoi Memorial Corner and Astana Square.
4. "Abaya"
The deepest metro station is more than 70 meters underground. It is dedicated to the great Kazakh thinker Abai Kunanbayuly (monument). The main artistic element is a panel depicting the poet. This station is convenient for those who are going to the Central State Museum, on the cable car to Kok-Tobe or for a walk along Tulebayev Street.
5. "Baikonur"
The station was named after the legendary cosmodrome. The interior is decorated in rich shades of blue, echoing the theme of space. The Central Stadium and the Baluan Sholak Sports Palace are nearby.
6. "Mukhtar Auezov Theater"
A deep station located near the theater of the same name and the State Circus. The design is based on national traditions – ornaments, patterns and elements of Kazakh art emphasize the cultural character of the place.
7. "Alatau"
When the metro first opened, this station was the final one. The special feature of Alatau is that there are two side platforms, which distinguishes it from other stations. This is often where you can immediately recognize newcomers: many of them stand at the wrong door, not knowing that the exit is on the right.
8. "Cyran"
It is named after the reservoir of the same name and is located next to the city's large bus station. The station is actively used by passengers traveling on intercity routes.
9. "Moscow"
The interior of the station is decorated with motifs that resemble the architecture of the Russian capital — red shades, elements stylized like the Kremlin Wall. In honor of the friendship between the cities, the Alma-Atinskaya station appeared in Moscow in response. Thanks to the metro station, the name "Moscow" was also assigned to the MOSCOW Metropolitan shopping center, located nearby.
10. "Saryarka"
The station is named after the steppe of the same name, located in the center of Kazakhstan and included in the UNESCO Heritage List. It was opened in technical mode at the end of 2021, passenger traffic started in the spring of 2022. The station is located far from the center, in a residential area, there are no major tourist sites nearby.
11. "Bauyrzhan Momyshuly"
This extreme station was put into operation at the same time as Saryarka. Bauyrzhan Momyshuly is a hero of the Great Patriotic War, a military writer and a symbol of courage. The interior of the station is decorated with quotes from famous authors about peace, friendship and humanity, in memory of the values he stood for.
Additional information and features of the metro
The Almaty Metro has gone down in history as one of the youngest underground transport projects in the post-Soviet space. Its official opening took place on December 1, 2011, completing more than twenty years of construction, which has experienced a change of eras and technical approaches. Today, the total length of the line is approximately 13.4 kilometers, and the number of stations has reached eleven. Despite its compact size, the system works stably: trains appear every 10-12 minutes, and the average speed is about 40 km/h. Daily passenger traffic is approximately 86,000 people, which makes the metro an important part of the urban transport network.
The Almaty metro gained worldwide fame not only because of its youth, but also because of its expressive architecture. Each station was conceived as an independent artistic space, and this decision turned out to be so successful that the subway was repeatedly included in the ratings of the most beautiful subways on the planet. Underground halls are used as venues for exhibitions, photo shoots, fashion shows and cultural events – the metro has become a full-fledged element of urban cultural life.
The construction history is also noteworthy. The work started back in 1988, when Kazakhstan was part of the USSR, and Almaty was supposed to become the second city in Central Asia with its own subway. However, fate decreed otherwise – the project lasted for decades, and as a result, the metro opened in independent Kazakhstan, becoming one of the most modern transport systems in the region.
The first stage included seven stations, but today the line has expanded significantly. Passengers use the stations "Bauyrzhan Momyshuly", "Saryarka", "Moscow", "Sayran", "Alatau", "M. Auezov Theater", "Baikonur", "Abai", "Almaly", "Zhibek Zholy" and "Rayymbek Batyr". In the coming years, it is planned to extend the line to the north, up to the Almaty-1 railway station, as well as to the west – to the Kalkaman microdistrict. In addition, the appearance of a second branch line is being discussed, which will connect the large residential areas of Orbit and Duman.
The subway payment system is simple and convenient. Passengers can use smart cards, tokens, Onai card, as well as contactless payment by bank cards. The cost of one trip is 100 tenge, and a discounted fare is available for children. Onai remains the most convenient option – it works both in the metro and in urban land transport, and replenishment is available through terminals or a mobile application.
The metro operates daily from early morning until midnight. Navigation is easy to navigate: signs, electronic signs and announcements in Kazakh, Russian and English help even tourists who descend into the subway for the first time not to make mistakes. The trains are made according to the principle of through passage – there are no partitions between the cars, which creates an additional sense of spaciousness.
There is also a curious story related to international relations. When the Brateevo station was being built in Moscow, the Kazakh side proposed to name it Alma Ata, recalling the heroism of the Panfilov Division, formed in Almaty and distinguished itself in the Battle for Moscow. In turn, Almaty responded with a gesture of friendship – one of the city's metro stations was named Moscow.
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How to get there and visit -
The Almaty metro runs through the central districts of the city, including Almalinsky, Bostandyksky and Auezovsky. The main stations are located along the most important transport arteries – Abai Avenue, Abylai Khan Avenue, Seifullin Avenue and Tole bi Street.
The nearest land transport connections are at Almaly, Baikonur, Abai, Moskva, Sayran and other stations. You can get to the metro on most bus routes in the southern capital.
The metro is open daily from 06:20 to 23:30. Tickets can be purchased at the ticket offices or terminals, and the entrance to the station is organized conveniently and intuitively.
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Atmosphere and city life
The Almaty metro is more than a transport. It has become part of the urban culture. Exhibitions, temporary installations, and festive decorations are held in the subway. Tourists often include it in their itineraries to see the unusual underground Almaty.
For residents of the city, the subway is a convenient and fast way to travel. But even during rush hours, there is a sense of order, security and architectural rigor. The metro has become a symbol of modern Almaty, a city that not only preserves traditions, but also boldly moves forward.
Legend
There is a beautiful urban myth associated with the metro. It is said that even at the beginning of construction, when the tunnels were just beginning to go deep into the earth, the workers heard a strange quiet sound, like a distant chime. It was heard by several people, but the source was never found. Later, one of the old residents of the area where the first tunnel was dug said that an ancient caravan route once passed through this place, along which apples, fabrics and rare oriental goods were imported into the city. People joked that the spirit of the city was "waking up underground," waiting for its time.
When the metro opened, the legend changed: now they say that if you listen carefully late at night, standing at an empty station, you can catch a slight echo of the past – like the steps of caravaneers who once connected cities as confidently as the subway does today.
Almaty metro today
Today, the metro is a dynamic part of the urban infrastructure, as well as an element of the modern architecture of Almaty. It combines convenience, culture, visual beauty and the spirit of the metropolis. For tourists, it is a place where you can see Almaty from a new angle. It is a tool of daily life for residents. For the city, it is a symbol of development and stable progress.
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