Medeu Ice Skating Rink

Medeu Ice Skating Rink
Address: Medeu Ice Skating Rink, 15 km southeast of downtown Almaty (30 minutes car drive, 45 minutes by bus)
Phone:  + 7 (727) 271 6211
Email: katok@medey.kz
Website: http://medey.kz/en/

The city’s iconic Olympic sized skating rink, claimed to be the largest speed-skating rink in the world! The rink, sitting 1700 meters above sea-level, has trained world-class professional skaters and ice hockey players over the years, and seen the setting of more than a hundred world records. Open 8 months a year, the rink is the most popular hangout spot for the toddler to middle-aged category of Almaty residents and tourists.
You can take your own skates and safety equipment to the rink, which will make your ticket cost less. Skates can also be rented out from the rink at an hourly rate.
The most fun time to visit is during the winter months – there is nothing more magical than soaring on ice against a light cool breeze, with trees shedding their autumn colors all around the resort. Be warned, however, that the place is usually crammed on weekends – if you are not really fond of amateur skaters bumping into you while you slide and glide, you might want to try it on a weekday.

A special treat is the large mountain-water pool nearby, open for swimming in the summer months – even then the water is at 15 degrees Celsius. A very refreshing, truly unique experience you will have there, splashing around with your friends at these heights and temperatures!

Not only is the rink beautiful in itself – the surroundings are just as much enchanting. Hiking trails lead around the rink and up and down the dense, coniferous mountainside, filled with amazing patterns of sunlight bursting through the pine cones, and trees shedding their colored autumn foliage. The whole imagery is fascinating to a surreal degree, and indescribable in mere words. If you visit Almaty, this is one place you just cannot miss out on!