# Medeu, Almaty > Medeu is Almaty’s famous high-altitude skating rink, 1,691 m up a mountain gorge. Key point: **the rink is closed for reconstruction** until late 2028. The trip still pays off — the 842-step staircase up the mudflow dam is free and open daily, and the gondola to Shymbulak starts here. Allow 1–1.5 hours. Web page: https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/almaty/medeu - City: [Almaty](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/almaty), Kazakhstan - YesGo score: 35/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 1 h - Entry: Free; rink closed for reconstruction - Opening hours: Rink closed for reconstruction until late 2028; the gorge and dam staircase are open daily and free - With kids: Fine with kids - Skating rink: Closed for reconstruction; the city says work ends in late 2028 - Dam staircase: Free, 842 steps, open during the works - Gondola to Shymbulak and beyond: Summer 2026: 7,000 KZT one way, 12,000 KZT return to 3,200 m - Gondola, children: Ages 6–14: 4,000 KZT return; 5 and under free - Bus: No. 12 from Hotel Kazakhstan on Dostyk Ave to the Medeu terminus, ≈ 40 min - Payment: Tenge; foreign Visa and Mastercard usually work; carry an Onay card or cash for the bus - Altitude: 1,691 m above sea level - Coordinates: 43.15750, 77.05861 - Facts checked: 02.11.2026 ## Key facts - **Late 2028** — the latest target for finishing the rink’s reconstruction (earlier: autumn 2027) (source: Almaty akimat via 24.kz, October 2026; Informburo, June 2026; Nur.kz, October 2025) - **842 steps** — the free staircase from the rink to the top of the mudflow dam (source: English Wikipedia; Tengrinews guide, Health Staircase) - **1,691 m** — above sea level — the rink’s altitude (source: English and Russian Wikipedia) - **10,500 m²** — of artificial ice — the largest high-altitude ice field (source: English and Russian Wikipedia; Tengrinews, December 2025) - **1972** — the present stadium with artificial ice opened on 28 December (source: Russian Wikipedia; English Wikipedia; Wikidata) - **1951** — first competitions on natural ice in the gorge (source: English and Russian Wikipedia) - **15 July 1973** — the dam stopped a catastrophic mudflow above the rink (source: English Wikipedia, Medeu Dam; Russian Wikipedia) - **1966** — the dam was created by directed explosions on 21 October (source: English Wikipedia, Medeu Dam; Russian Wikipedia) - **4.5 km** — gondola to Shymbulak, about 15 minutes, opened in 2011 (source: English Wikipedia; Russian Wikipedia, Medeu dam) - **Medeu Pusurmanov** — the local landowner the gorge and rink are named after (source: English and Russian Wikipedia) > **Is Medeu open? The rink is not** You can’t skate at Medeu right now. The stadium is behind a construction fence, with the ice plant and seating stripped out. In October 2026 the Almaty city administration put the end of the works at late 2028. The dam staircase and the gondola to Shymbulak are running, so the trip into the gorge is still on. ## What Medeu is Medeu is a gorge on the Malaya Almatinka river and the high-altitude sports complex inside it, on the southeastern edge of **Almaty**. The rink sits at **1,691 m** among spruce-covered slopes of the Trans-Ili Alatau — close to a kilometre above the city, which the Medeu road race climbs from the valley floor. Opened in its current form in 1972, it was a Soviet record factory for speed skating, thanks to the thin air and clean mountain water used for the ice. Behind it rises the mudflow dam; higher up the valley is the [Shymbulak](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/almaty/shymbulak) ski resort, reached by gondola from Medeu. You will see both spellings, Medeo and Medeu: Medeo is the Soviet-era form, Medeu the Kazakh one now used officially. ## When will Medeu skating rink reopen? Not before late 2028, according to the city administration’s statement in October 2026. The last skating season ended in March 2025; that autumn the complex was fenced off and demolition began, and by December the refrigeration system and stadium seats were gone. The date has already slipped twice — from the 2027–28 season, to autumn 2028, to the end of 2028 — so don’t plan a trip around the reopening until it is officially announced. The plans include new refrigeration and utilities, a preserved historic look, a renovated hotel in the east wing, a café terrace on the west stand, viewing decks, footbridges and two lifts for visitors with limited mobility. Want to skate this winter? The city runs free seasonal rinks in town, including one in Panfilov Park. ## How to get to Medeu 1. From Panfilov Park walk to Zhibek Zholy metro station and ride two stops to Abay. 2. From Abay walk about 8 minutes east along Abay Avenue to Dostyk Avenue and the bus stop by Hotel Kazakhstan. 3. Take bus No. 12 up the gorge to the last stop, Medeu — about 40 minutes. It gets packed at weekends, so go early. 4. Pay with an Onay transport card or a contactless bank card at the validator; contactless doesn’t always read, so an Onay card is the safer bet. 5. Faster: a ride-hailing taxi from the centre takes about 25 minutes. Getting a car back down from the mountains takes longer, so allow time. 6. From the terminus walk along the construction fence to the foot of the staircase or the gondola station. ## Medeu dam stairs: 842 steps to the top The **842-step Health Staircase** climbs from the rink to the crest of the mudflow dam. It is free, open all year and has rest platforms with benches along the way. It is harder than it looks — you are at almost 1,700 m, so take it slowly. From the top you look straight down on the whole stadium, with the dam’s basin and the gorge behind you and, on a clear day, the city in the valley. While the rink is fenced off, this is the best way to see it at all. Not up for the full climb? Go 100–200 steps to the first platform — the rink view opens up from there. In winter the steps can be icy, so use the handrails. ## Why the dam is there The dam protects Almaty from mudflows — torrents of rock and mud that tear down the Malaya Almatinka valley. One in 1921 wrecked part of the city. Engineers **built the dam with directed explosions** in October 1966 and April 1967, blasting the gorge walls so that the rock fell across the valley. It was tested almost at once: on 15 July 1973 a catastrophic mudflow came down the gorge and the dam held. It was raised and strengthened afterwards. Walk along the crest to look both ways — down at the rink, up at the debris basin. ## Medeu to Shymbulak cable car: price and time The gondola’s lower station is next to the rink and runs during the reconstruction. Eight-seat cabins cover **4.5 km in about 15 minutes**, passing over the dam to the Shymbulak resort. Fares are set by Shymbulak and change with the season. In summer 2026 the resort quoted **12,000 KZT return** (7,000 KZT one way) for the Shymbulak Ticket from Medeu over three lifts up to 3,200 m; children 6–14 paid 4,000 KZT return, and 5 and under ride free. Holiday high season costs more. It runs in the daytime, usually until around 18:00, and closes for maintenance, most often in spring after the ski season. Check the resort’s website or app before you go. ## Is Medeu worth visiting now? Yes, if you pair it with Shymbulak or want a free mountain walk with a view — the staircase alone is a good hour. No, if you were coming only to skate: that won’t happen before late 2028, and the stadium itself is a building site. With a single day in Almaty, Medeu plus the gondola makes a better mountain morning than either on its own. ## What to see at Medeu - **The rink from above** — from the staircase platforms and the dam crest. - **The mudflow dam** — the crest, the debris basin and the gorge beyond. - **The gondola ride** — 15 minutes over the gorge to Shymbulak. - **Spruce forest** — the slopes of the Trans-Ili Alatau and the river along the road. - **The city below** — visible from the dam on a clear morning. > **Leave the car in town** Access to the car park by the complex was restricted during the works, utility upgrades are under way on the road, and spaces by the gondola station fill up early at weekends. The operator’s car park charges up to 4,500 KZT a day, with the first 15 minutes free. Bus 12 or a taxi is easier. ## Before you go: checklist - [ ] I know the rink is closed — I’m going for the dam, the view and the gondola - [ ] Comfortable shoes for 842 steps - [ ] A warm layer — it’s cooler up there - [ ] Onay card or tenge for the bus - [ ] Checked the gondola schedule if heading to Shymbulak - [ ] Water — there are no kiosks on the staircase ## Medeu, Shymbulak or Kok-Tobe | | Medeu | Shymbulak | Kok-Tobe | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Altitude | 1,691 m | 2,260 m at the resort, lifts to 3,200 m | ≈ 1,100 m | | What you do | Dam stairs, view of the rink | Lifts, peaks, skiing in winter | City viewpoints | | Cost | Free | 12,000 KZT return from Medeu | Cable car 10,000 KZT return | | Getting there | Bus 12 or taxi | Gondola from Medeu | Cable car from Dostyk Ave | | Time | 1–1.5 h | Half a day | ≈ 2 h | Medeu and Shymbulak are one trip: climb the stairs, then ride up. Save Kok-Tobe for the evening and the sunset over the city. ## Best viewpoints in Almaty Every viewpoint in Almaty rated by YesGo. - [Medeu](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/almaty/medeu) — YesGo score 35/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free; rink closed for reconstruction - [Kok-Tobe](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/almaty/kok-tobe) — YesGo score 32/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · Cable car 10,000 KZT return - [Shymbulak](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/almaty/shymbulak) — YesGo score 21/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · 12,000 KZT return, kids 4,000 KZT - [Big Almaty Lake](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/almaty/big-almaty-lake) — YesGo score 21/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · Park fee ≈ 865 KZT, under-18s free - [Lake Issyk](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/almaty/lake-issyk) — YesGo score 21/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · 648 KZT park fee, car 1,297 KZT - [Charyn Canyon](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/almaty/charyn-canyon) — YesGo score 20/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · Entry 865 KZT, car extra ## A mountain day: Medeu, Shymbulak and Kok-Tobe at sunset The dam stairs in the morning, the gondola to Shymbulak at midday, then back to town for sunset on Kok-Tobe. 1. [Medeu](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/almaty/medeu) — YesGo score 35/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free; rink closed for reconstruction 2. [Shymbulak](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/almaty/shymbulak) — YesGo score 21/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · 12,000 KZT return, kids 4,000 KZT 3. [Kok-Tobe](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/almaty/kok-tobe) — YesGo score 32/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · Cable car 10,000 KZT return ## Good to know Medeu is also the name of one of Almaty’s city districts, so you will see “Medeu District” on addresses all over town — including downtown sights. This page is about the gorge in the mountains, the rink and the dam. ## Tips - Heading to Shymbulak anyway? Start at Medeu — the staircase and the gondola leave from the same spot. - Go in the morning: clouds roll into the gorge later in the day, and bus 12 fills up at weekends. - Don’t fancy all 842 steps? The first 100–200 already give you the rink from above. - Take the bus back down — taxis are slower to arrive in the mountains. - Want to skate this winter? Look for the free seasonal rinks in town, such as the one in Panfilov Park by [Ascension Cathedral](https://yesgo.io/kazakhstan/almaty/almaty-ascension-cathedral). ## Questions ### Is Medeu skating rink open? No. It has been closed for reconstruction since autumn 2025, and the city expects to finish the work by the end of 2028. ### When will Medeu reopen? The latest target, given in October 2026, is late 2028. The date has already moved from the 2027–28 season, so it may shift again. ### Is Medeu worth visiting while the rink is closed? Yes, if you climb the dam staircase for the view or ride the gondola to Shymbulak. Not if you only wanted to skate. ### How many steps are there at Medeu dam? 842. The staircase climbs from the rink to the dam crest and is free. ### How do I get to Medeu from Almaty city centre? Bus No. 12 from Hotel Kazakhstan on Dostyk Avenue to the last stop, about 40 minutes; or a taxi, about 25 minutes. ### How much is the Medeu–Shymbulak cable car? In summer 2026 the resort charged 12,000 KZT return and 7,000 KZT one way from Medeu to 3,200 m; children 6–14 paid 4,000 KZT return. ### How long does the gondola from Medeu to Shymbulak take? About 15 minutes for the 4.5 km line. ### How high is Medeu? The rink is at 1,691 m above sea level, close to a kilometre above central Almaty. ### Is it Medeo or Medeu? The same place. Medeo is the older Soviet-era spelling; Medeu is the Kazakh name used today. ## How we checked The complex’s own website, medeu.kz, was down on 02.11.2026, so the rink’s status comes from Almaty city administration statements reported in the press. The reopening date differs by source: autumn 2027 in 2025, autumn 2028 in a June 2026 report, late 2028 in October 2026 — we give the latest and mark it as unconfirmed. Gondola fares are the Shymbulak press service’s figures as published by Nur.kz; we could not see them on the resort’s own site, so they are unconfirmed too. Other unofficial data marked unconfirmed: staircase access during the works (Tengrinews, December 2025), the bus 12 route and journey time, gondola hours, parking (one report said car access was restricted until December 2026, another covered new operator tariffs) and card payment. The distance from the centre is our own straight-line calculation between the coordinates of Panfilov Park and the rink. Speed-skating world-record totals vary wildly between sources (120 to 320), so we leave them out. ## Sources - 24.kz: Medeu reconstruction to be completed in 2028, 7 October 2026 — citing the Almaty akimat - Informburo.kz: car park near Medeu closed for almost six months, 15 June 2026 - Nur.kz: is work under way at Medeu, 22 October 2025 - Tengrinews.kz: Almaty is left without Medeu — what is happening there, 14 December 2025 - BES.media: Almaty akim inspects the Medeu reconstruction, 8 December 2025 - Tengrinews.kz: closing date of the Medeu rink before renovation, 20 March 2025 - Nur.kz: Shymbulak cable car fares, 28 September 2026 — resort press service - Bizmedia.kz: Medeu parking cheaper and easier, 24 August 2026 - Tengrinews.kz guide: Health Staircase in the Medeu gorge - English Wikipedia: Medeu, Medeu Dam, Cable car Medeu - Shymbulak; Russian Wikipedia: Medeo, Medeu mudflow dam; Wikidata Q864796 --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.