Green Bazaar: what should tourists know before visiting it

The Green Bazaar is one of the oldest bazaars in Kazakhstan. Trading in this place, namely in the square of Kuldzhinskaya (Makataeva), Torgovaya (Zhibek Zholy), Pervogildeiskaya (Zenkova), and Boulevard (Pushkina) streets, has been carried out since 1868. In 1875, the "Gostiny Dvor" was built here, in which merchants from all over Central Asia traded. Trading was also conducted during Soviet times, but a covered building was built here only in the 1970s.

The main pavilion, built in the style of Soviet constructivism, had 800 seats; the summer market had 200 seats; and the parking lot could accommodate 400 cars. The hall of the main pavilion takes advantage of natural light through skylights in the form of nine pyramids on the roof. These skylights gave the bazaar its characteristic appearance. The latest technologies, including seismic resistance, were used in the construction.

Foto Tengrinews.kz/Alihan Saryev

The first massive reconstruction took place in 2017. A new two-story pavilion with an area of 20 thousand square meters and two-tier car parking appeared there.

Now, the Green Bazaar is one of the most spectacular Almaty sights. Here, you can buy everything from vegetables and fruits to jewelry. The atmosphere of the eastern market is still preserved, and you can purchase local and exotic food, bargain, and eat in the cafés with a wide variety of cuisines. The rows of goods from Uzbekistan and Tajikistan are concentrated in the main pavilion; you can also try Korean cuisine, such as kimchi and Korean carrot salad. There are rows of milk and meat products. The new pavilion aims to sell products from
Kazakh farmers at discounted prices. The "Kolos" pavilion, adjacent to the bazaar, provides everything from electrical goods to national souvenirs.

Visitors to the Green Bazaar praise the large selection of goods, convenient location, meat at reasonable prices, and quality of vegetables and herbs.

Foto Tengrinews.kz/Alihan Saryev

Helpful tips for visitors to the Green Bazaar:

• Learn about product prices before coming here; it will allow you to quickly find your way around and understand how offers are accurate. Don’t be afraid to bargain and study the market; the selling price is often inflated. However, you may also be pleasantly surprised - prices for the wide variety of goods at the Green Bazaar may be lower than in other places.
• Don’t be shy to try - many merchants treat guests with their products.
• If possible, go with the locals; regular visitors to the Green Bazaar have "their sellers" who will provide high-quality service and give you the best price.
• Give yourself more time to visit this place; one hour isn’t enough to explore the Green Bazaar. If you want to experience the spirit of Almaty fully, then you definitely should visit the Green Bazaar. This is not only a place for shopping but also a real immersion in local culture and traditions.