GREEN BAZAR

The "green bazaar" is the city's largest, and it's certainly here that you'll find Almaty's most authentic and "Central Asian" atmosphere. Everything can be bought and sold in this gigantic hodgepodge, behind which there is a structured organization. Each part or district of the bazaar is reserved for a particular type of profession, where shoppers are solicited by vendors, especially when the shopper seems to have come from the far West. Here you'll find everything you need to stock up on travel supplies or prepare picnics for mountain hikes. In true nomad fashion, we recommend dried meat and smoked cheese, which will cost you much less than in the city's new supermarkets. Be aware, however, that while Kazakhstan is off the beaten tourist track, every tourist visiting the country visits this bazaar at least once. Shopkeepers are therefore used to doing business in euros or dollars, and are also used to overpricing their products. Negotiate hard, and take advantage of the large number of stalls to play the competition. Of course, you can also have lunch on the spot, either at one of the many tchaikhanas, or in the salad and raw vegetable section, where you can buy "pods" (often in plastic bags) and eat them as you stroll along the aisles, for an inexpensive meal on the run.