Medeu, Almaty’s high?mountain skating rink in the gorge
Published on 09/11/2026 at 22:09 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
High above Almaty on the northern slopes of the Trans?Ili Alatau range, Medeu is a high?mountain sports complex built around an outdoor Olympic?sized skating rink. Standing at about 1,691 m (5,548 ft) above sea level and framed by a narrow gorge, it offers ice and concrete set directly against steep, wooded slopes in Kazakhstan’s south?east.
An outdoor rink in a mountain valley
Medeu sits in Medeu Valley on the south?eastern edge of Almaty, in the mountains above the city and within the gorge of the Malaya Almatinka River.Medeu sits 1,691 m above sea level The sports complex occupies a terrace within this valley, with the rink laid out as a large, open rectangle of artificial ice and concrete surrounded by stepped spectator areas.
The ice field at Medeu extends over about 10,500 m² (around 113,000 sq ft), making it one of the largest outdoor artificial ice surfaces at high altitude.Medeu remains the world’s largest outdoor artificial ice rink Beneath the ice lies a freezing and watering system designed to maintain the artificial surface in the mountain climate, while terraces ring the rink and look directly onto the surrounding slopes.Medeu’s ice field extends over about 10,500 m²
Soviet?era construction and sporting records
The present Medeu arena was built as a Soviet high?mountain sports complex at the start of the 1970s, following earlier skating facilities in the valley.Built as a Soviet high?mountain sports complex at the start of the 1970s The skating rink itself was opened in 1972 and has since been renovated, reflecting the continued use of the complex for winter sports.The Medeu skating rink was opened in 1972
From its opening in 1951 as a speed skating venue in the valley, Medeu became known for a large number of international speed skating records set on its ice during the Soviet period.It was one of the top speed skating venues in the world from its opening in 1951 The combination of altitude, extensive ice surface and dedicated sports infrastructure turned the complex into a central site for skating competitions across several decades, while the arena itself continued to anchor recreational skating and other sporting activities for Almaty.
The wider Medeu tract and its setting above Almaty
The name Medeu belongs both to the sports complex and to the surrounding tract, which carries the name of Medeu Pusurmanov, a nineteenth?century entrepreneur whose presence in the area helped define its identity.it carries the name of Medeu Pusurmanov The complex stands within a wider high?mountain sports area, with the rink as its centrepiece and terraces arranged around the ice, backed by slopes that rise towards the Shymbulak ski area further up the Trans?Ili Alatau range.slopes that rise towards the Shymbulak ski area
Medeu lies south?east of central Almaty and is reached by road from the city along Dostyk Avenue, climbing from the urban grid into the mountain gorge that frames the valley.by car from Al Farabi Avenue southwards along Dostyk Avenue Within the valley, the sports complex sits as a constructed platform of concrete, ice and seating set against forested slopes and rocky outcrops, with the altitude placing visitors and skaters noticeably above the city’s level.
Visiting Medeu: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Medeu is located south?east of Almaty in Medeu Valley on the northern slopes of the Trans?Ili Alatau range, reached by road from the city along Dostyk Avenue.
- The sports complex stands at about 1,691 m (5,548 ft) above sea level, so visitors move from the city streets into high?mountain terrain with steps and gradients around the rink.
- Medeu lies in Kazakhstan, where the official language is Kazakh and the currency is the tenge.
- The mountain slopes above Medeu rise towards the Shymbulak ski area, so the rink forms part of a broader band of winter?sports infrastructure visible along the valley.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
Searching for Medeu on social platforms
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Frequently asked questions about Medeu
Where is Medeu located in relation to Almaty?
Medeu is situated in Medeu Valley on the south?eastern outskirts of Almaty, in the mountains of the Trans?Ili Alatau range above the city.
What can visitors expect when they arrive at Medeu?
Visitors find a large outdoor skating rink with an artificial ice surface, concrete terraces and surrounding mountain slopes forming a high?altitude sports complex.
What makes Medeu distinctive among skating venues?
Its combination of altitude around 1,691 m (5,548 ft), extensive 10,500 m² ice field and setting in a narrow mountain gorge gives Medeu a distinctive character among outdoor rinks.
