Sophia Cathedral, better known to many visitors as Ascension Cathedral or Zenkov Cathedral, is one of Almaty's signature landmarks. Its brightly painted timber structure rises in Panfilov Park and shows the Russian Orthodox layer in the city's architectural history.
The cathedral is easy to combine with the park, memorials, and nearby museums. Step inside quietly if services allow, but give equal attention to the exterior carpentry and the way the building anchors one of central Almaty's most useful green spaces.