Almaty - Post Report Question and Answers
Are local buses, trams, trains or taxis safe and affordable?
We can used buses, trolley buses, trains, Yandex taxi, electric scooters, metro. Buses and metro are super cheap but clean and very safe. Taxis by app like Yandex (like Uber) are also inexpensive, 15 min ride will cost about 5-6$. - Sep 2023
Yes, local transportation is very affordable. Registered, official taxis are safe. Private taxis, better known in America as hitchhiking for money, is common and usually safe, but not recommended. - Aug 2015
Taxis are everywhere and very affordable. Most are gypsy taxis, which carry the usual risk of not knowing who you are getting in a car with. Buses, are slow, crowded, and old, but very affordable. - Jul 2013
There are no local trains, but we do ride the bus, and it is safe and reliable. The cost is about 50 cents a ride. In Almaty, every car is a taxi---since this place has the "gypsy cab" (i.e., hitchhiking) culture. We are told officially that gypsy cabs aren't a good idea, but everyone here uses them. If you want to spend time in the mountains, bring a vehicle! - Feb 2013
Yes, yes, and yes. The cabs are the only cheap thing in Almaty, with a trip anywhere in downtown costing $2-3 USD.You should negotiate the fare before you get in the car. - May 2012
Yes, and buses are cheap. Almost everyone takes "gypsy" cabs despite official warnings otherwise, which generally cost about $3-5 for short trips in the city. Official taxis cost more, and you must speak enough Russian to explain how to get to your residence. - Mar 2010
Safe, but probably not very healthy. - Mar 2008
