September 5, 2025

Experience the atmosphere of Arbat street in Almaty: a local’s perspective

Aktumar

For as long as I can remember, Arbat has been the liveliest place in Almaty.

When I was a child, it was smaller: artists exhibited their paintings right on the street, drew portraits of passers-by, and musicians held mini-concerts. For me, as a schoolgirl, it was a place where the city came alive and felt real. Arbat was always bustling with life—young people and others gathered here.

Yet time changes everything. Today, Arbat looks different, but its essence remains the same—it thrives on those who fill it with creativity. Young people have become bolder, openly demonstrating their talents.

In 2017, Panfilov Street was made pedestrian and connected to Arbat all the way to the opera and ballet theater. Now it seems that the whole street has turned into a large stage. Arbat has become a real gem of the city, both for tourists and for those who live here.

When you walk down Arbat Street, it seems like every square meter has its own atmosphere. In one corner, a guy is singing Elvis's “Can't Help Falling in Love.” Take a couple of steps and you hear Eminem-style rap, so similar that for a second you think it's the original playing.

And music isn’t the only language here. Just ahead, a circle of people gathers as a young guy turns on the music and calls out an opponent. To everyone’s surprise, someone from the crowd steps forward, just as skilled and ready to respond. The audience laughs, shouts, applauds — until it all ends with a handshake and loud cheers from passersby who, for a moment, became a real audience.

Just behind the fountain, young children showcase their talents on folk instruments. Traditions live on, as the young blend the modern with the ancestral, weaving dombra melodies into familiar tunes. The effect is always striking, as if past and present meet right on the street.

Arbat is alive with all sorts of creativity. Alongside the street jams and melodies, artists display paintings of Almaty’s mountains and changing seasons, while artisans and craftspeople offer jewelry, instruments, clothing, and handmade goods. Many pieces are unique, making a walk here feel like more than just browsing — you leave with a small part of the city itself.

All the photos in this article were taken within just two or three hours on the same day, and they capture only a fraction of what caught my eye.

It just shows how much is happening at once. If I could, I’d be in several places at the same time — there’s always something unfolding on Arbat Street, and you never know where you’ll end up next. Whose audience will you become? Which scene will draw your eye and make you click to capture the moment?