Kok-Tobe: the cable car, what is at the top and when to go up

Kok-Tobe, the “green hill”, rises to 1,100 m with a cable car from the centre. From here you see the whole city from the mountains to the steppe, and the TV tower on top is visible from every street. It is the shortest mountain trip Almaty offers: ten minutes from Dostyk Avenue.

Getting up

The lower cable car station is on Dostyk Avenue next to the Kazakhstan Hotel. The cabins glide over the roofs of the old blocks and a spruce slope; the ride takes a few minutes. It runs until late evening and tickets are sold on the spot; at weekends there can be a queue to come down. The alternative is a taxi up the winding road to the top.

At the top

• Viewing platforms facing several ways: the mountains, the centre, the northern districts.
• A Ferris wheel, higher still, for those who want more than the hill.
• The Beatles monument, the only one in the world with all four together; everyone poses with it.
• A small zoo and rides for children.
• Cafes and restaurants with a view; book a window table for sunset.
• The TV tower, 372 m, closed to visitors but impressive from outside.

When to go

The best time is an hour before sunset. First the mountains in evening light, then pink sky over the steppe, then the city lights below. In winter the sun sets early, around five; in summer after eight. A clear day is lovely too, but summer afternoons are hot up there.

Walking down

From the upper station a road and paths descend through the private houses to Omarov Street, about forty minutes. In the evening take the cable car: the paths are unlit.

Kok-Tobe appears in almost every one of our collections: “Almaty in 1 day”, “A romantic evening” and “Almaty with kids”.