Things to do in Karasay District

No. 3 of Night Attractions in Kazakhstan

Kok Tobe

Kok Tobe is a hill on the southeastern edge of Almaty, with an elevation of approx. 1,070 m, rising approx. 200 m above the city. Its name comes from the Kazakh language, meaning "green hill," which is why it is also often called "Green Hill." It is one of Almaty's city landmarks. The area at the summit has been developed into a leisure park. You can reach the top in a few minutes by cable car from the city center. On the way, you can overlook the streets and distant mountains, and the cable car ride itself is an experience. The attractions at the summit are quite concentrated: the 372 m tall Almaty TV Tower stands here, and the panoramic platform next to the tower is the perfect spot to overlook the city and the snow-capped peaks of the Trans-Ili Alatau. The park also features a Ferris wheel and a bronze statue of The Beatles—John Lennon sits on a bench holding a guitar, with Paul, George, and Ringo standing beside him. The apple-shaped wishing fountain echoes Almaty's name as the "City of Apples." Visiting in the evening is especially recommended; as the sunset sinks into the city skyline and the lights begin to twinkle, the night view from the panoramic platform captures the distant snow-capped mountains in the same frame. There are also souvenir shops and restaurants scattered on the mountain.

No. 1 of Night Attractions in Kazakhstan

Big Almaty Lake

Big Almaty Lakeis at an altitude of approx. 2,511 m and is a natural alpine lake in the Tian Shan mountains of Kazakhstan created by seismic activity. The lake is fed primarily by glacial meltwater and is clear and cold, with its color shifting between light green and blue-green depending on the season and light. A dam at the northern end of the lake provides a wide vantage point. Standing on the dam, you can see several snow-capped peaks surrounding the lake basin: Soviet Peak at an altitude of approx. 4,317 m to the southeast, Ozyorny Peak to the south, and Tourist Peak to the southwest, all reflected in the lake water. Take a slow walk along the lakeside trail to capture the changing light and shadows on the water and mountains from different angles. Higher up above the lake sits the domed Tian Shan Astronomical Observatory. It is a drive of approx. 1 hour from the city, heading up along the winding mountain canyon and through stretches of spruce forest. For visitors with good stamina, the entire canyon can also be used as a hiking route. Mountain weather is changeable, and temperatures are significantly lower even in midsummer. Compared to midsummer, the frozen lake in winter offers a different kind of snowy landscape.

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No. 3 of Best Things to Do in Kazakhstan

Ascension Cathedral

Ascension Cathedral, also known as Zenkov Cathedral, stands in Panfilov Park in the center of Almaty. It is built entirely of Tien Shan spruce, stands 56m tall, and features a pale yellow facade accented with white and light green lines, topped with a set of golden onion domes. Most of the building is constructed using mortise and tenon joints, with almost no metal nails, which is quite rare for a structure of this size. The true uniqueness of the cathedral lies in its earthquake-resistant design: just a few years after its completion, a powerful earthquake in 1911 almost leveled the city of Verny, yet it remained almost completely intact. Engineer Zenkov incorporated a wooden frame structure known as an earthquake-resistant basket into the design, allowing the building to flex without breaking during tremors. During the Soviet era, the cathedral was converted into a museum and public office space, and a radio transmitter antenna was even installed on the bell tower, until it was returned to the church in 1995 and resumed services in 1997. Today, when you step inside the cathedral, you can see the iconostasis painted by artist Khludov and walls filled with icons.

No. 7 of Best Things to Do in Kazakhstan

Central State Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Central State Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan is located next to Republic Square in Almaty. The three-story building with a blue dome incorporates elements of traditional Kazakh yurts. The museum's history can be traced back to local collections from the 1830s, and it moved into this purpose-built building in 1985. As one of the larger museums in Central Asia, it houses over 300,000 artifacts, covering history from the Bronze Age to the post-independence period after 1991. The permanent exhibition halls are arranged chronologically: the Paleontology and Archaeology Hall displays animal skeletons, petrified wood fossils, as well as unearthed gold artifacts and models of ancient and medieval architecture; the History and Ethnography Hall recreates the nomadic life of the Kazakh people from the 15th to the early 20th century, featuring weapons, armor, traditional clothing, leather goods, jewelry, and carpets, with a fully assembled Kazakh yurt serving as an iconic exhibit; subsequent halls present the history of multi-ethnic settlement, the years of World War II, and the process of independence. The museum's centerpiece is the "Golden Man" (Issyk Golden Man)—a Scythian royal warrior unearthed from the Issyk burial mound on the outskirts of Almaty. His armor is adorned with thousands of hand-engraved gold flakes, and he wears a gilded pointed crown decorated with bird motifs. Today, it is considered one of the national symbols of Kazakhstan; the version on display is a meticulously crafted replica of the original.

No. 4 of Best Things to Do in Kazakhstan

28 Panfilov Guardsmen Park

Panfilov Park 28 Warriors Memorial Park was built in the 1870s and was named after the Panfilov Warriors in 1942 to commemorate the heroes of the 316th Division and the 16th Regiment who died in the war against the Nazis in 1941. 28 soldiers from Almaty. When celebrating the 30th anniversary of the victory of the Great Patriotic War, the Glory Monument and the Eternal Fire Tower were built. During festivals and anniversaries, many people will lay flowers in front of the monument to commemorate the martyrs.

No. 1 of Best Things to Do in Kazakhstan

Shymbulak

Shymbulak is an alpine ski resort near Almaty, Kazakhstan, located in the upper reaches of the Medeu Valley in the Trans-Ili Alatau mountains, approx. 25 km from the city center. The base of the ski area is at an elevation of approx. 2,260 m, with the upper ski lift station located at Talgar Pass, rising to around 3,200 m. The ski runs have a vertical drop of 900 m, making it one of the largest alpine ski resorts in Central Asia. The ski season runs from November to the following spring, with an average snow depth of approx. 1.5 m. Winter temperatures are usually a few degrees below zero, and the snow quality is dry and firm. This was the venue for the alpine skiing events of the 2011 Asian Winter Games, which led to an overall upgrade. It features gentle slopes for beginners, steep slopes and a snowboard park for advanced skiers, and also offers night skiing. Non-skiers can also have fun: take the three-stage cable car up the mountain from Medeu at the foot of the mountain, and enjoy views of the canyon forests and the city skyline in the distance along the way. The mountain is cool in summer, making it suitable for hiking and mountain biking, with glaciers and alpine meadows nearby. The resort features a hotel as well as several restaurants and cafes.

First President park

Almaty First President Park is named after the first president of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The park covers a total area of 73 hectares. It was built in 2001 and the garden is planted with green plants. About a hundred spruce and birch trees were planted to commemorate the participation of the city of Almaty in the Olympic torch relay for the Beijing Olympics.

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Almaty Botanical Gardens

There are beautiful garden areas and paths that wind through the woods. The garden areas are lovely, with a wide variety of plants and trees. There are many squirrels in the botanical garden, and swans and fish in the pond.