Almaty Panfilov Park, Zenkov Cathedral and Kok Tobe

The Ascension (Zenkov) Cathedral, An All Wood Orthodox Cathedral Completed In 1907 And Widely Said To Have Been Built Without Nails, Stands In Panfilov Park Beside A World War II Memorial; Kok Tobe Hill Offers The Classic Almaty Skyline View. · Almaty, Almaty

This stop bundles three central Almaty sights. Panfilov Park is a flat, shady city park with a Soviet war memorial to the 28 Panfilov Guardsmen, an eternal flame and a memorial to soldiers of the Second World War. In its middle stands the Ascension (Zenkov) Cathedral, an all-wood Orthodox church finished in 1907 and often said to have been built without nails; it is a working church, with services, candles and a dress code, and it survived the 1911 earthquake. A few minutes' drive east, the Kok Tobe hill has a cable car, a viewing terrace, a small amusement area, cafes and a view over the city to the mountains on a clear day. Be honest about it: this is a city stop, not a destination by itself. The buildings are small, the park is plain, Kok Tobe can feel commercial and busy, and haze often hides the view. It pairs well with Green Bazaar and the Arbat, and gives a feel of Soviet-era and imperial Almaty in an hour or two.

Central Almaty: Panfilov Park and the Ascension Cathedral on the flat city centre, with the Kok Tobe hill, cable car and viewing terrace a few minutes' drive east, Almaty, Almaty, Kazakhstan

Panfilov Park is open air and normally open all day, with no gate, though paths are best used in daylight. The cathedral is a working church, so it is generally open from morning through the evening, with services at set times when visiting for sightseeing is limited or discouraged. The Kok Tobe cable car and hill facilities usually run from late morning into the evening, with pauses for wind or maintenance. Confirm service times and cable car hours on the day.

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