Karaganda Central Park
A Green Giant of Karaganda
Spanning nearly 150 hectares, Karaganda Central Park is a true “green giant.” It is three times larger than the First President’s Park in Almaty and almost twice the size of the Botanical Garden in Astana. If you’re coming here for a stroll, make sure you wear comfortable shoes.
At the heart of the park lies a large lake with an island in the middle. In the 1990s, visitors could reach the island via a bridge, but today it is reserved for wildlife and fenced with buoys.
The main alley is lined with carousels, rides, shooting galleries, and kiosks selling cotton candy and ice cream. It leads to a square with a stage, where on Fridays you’ll find lively music and dance evenings.
If you prefer peace over festivities, head to the southern side of the park or stroll along the lakeshore, where it’s quieter and more spacious. The northern part is home to a birch grove with several monuments dedicated to miners who lost their lives.
One of the most moving monuments depicts a mother holding her child, with a miner’s helmet on the child’s head – a tribute to the father who never returned. Nearby stands a memorial to the 2023 Kostenko mine tragedy, along with a sculpture of a resting miner, as if he had sat down for a moment to catch his breath. 
Hogwarts Express
Central Park has a unique attraction that few parks in the world can rival. Tucked away near Chkalov Street is a children’s railway station. Once common across the USSR, only a handful of such railways have survived. In Kazakhstan, there are just two: in Karaganda and Semey. Karaganda’s version, however, has been transformed into something truly magical.
Here, the train has become the legendary Hogwarts Express, and the station has been turned into King’s Cross. The building is decorated with Hogwarts house flags, and inside there’s even a hall reminiscent of the Great Hall, complete with floating candles. Outside, you’ll find the famous brick wall leading to Platform 9 ¾. Don’t forget to snap a photo with the trolley and Hedwig the owl. Posters of Sirius Black’s “Wanted” notice add to the authenticity.
And the magic doesn’t stop there. Just a short walk away you’ll discover Hagrid’s hut, the flying Ford Anglia that once crashed into the Whomping Willow, Dementors lurking among the trees, and even a dragon from the Triwizard Tournament. Every detail is crafted with such care that Harry Potter fans may feel like they’ve truly stepped into the Wizarding World.
The train operates from Thursday to Sunday and on public holidays.
- Thursday-Friday: 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm
- Weekends and holidays: 11:00 am - 6:00 pm
A minimum of 10 passengers is required for the train to depart, though in practice, groups form quickly. Plenty of visitors are eager to feel like Hogwarts students. Tickets are sold at the box office, and you’ll even receive a replica Hogwarts Express ticket, just like in the films. The journey takes about half an hour, covering a 5 km (3 mi) route around the park before returning to the station.
But this railway is more than just an attraction. Since its opening in 1957, it has also served as an educational site. Through the Young Railwayman Club, schoolchildren learn the basics of railway professions, trying their hand as conductors, signalmen, and more.
Winter Entertainment
From October to April, the Hogwarts Express pauses its journeys, but the magic remains. You can still take photos at Platform 9 ¾, beside Hagrid’s hut, or next to the flying Ford Anglia. The setting feels straight out of a Christmas scenes from the films.
And the park itself doesn’t sleep in winter. It transforms into a festival of cold-weather fun. Visitors will find sledding hills, skating rinks, ice sculptures, and festive decorations at every turn. If you’re searching for holiday spirit, it’s here in abundance.
How to Get There?
The main entrance to Central Park is on Bukhar-Jyrau Avenue, directly opposite the Miners’ Palace of Culture. Here stands one of Karaganda’s symbols – the Miner’s Glory Monument, depicting two miners holding a lump of coal. The nearest stop is “Miners’ Palace of Culture.” You can get there by buses №1, 33, 43, 44, 45, 55, 65, 70, and 145. This stop also serves intercity buses to and from Temirtau, Dubovka, Shakhtinsk, Abay, Aktas, and Saran.
Other tourist attractions near Central Park:
- Miners' Palace of Culture
- Saken Seifullin Kazakh Drama Theater
- Museum of Ecology
- Fountain Cascade Square
- Church of Saints Peter and Paul
- Karaganda Circus
Gallery
Recommended tours:
All offers
On request
This journey will take you to the gems of Central Kazakhstan, including Karkaraly National Park, the Bronze Age Kent settlement, Scythian burial mounds, and the remnants of the ancient Buddhist temple known as Kent Palace.
_420x650_4ab.jpg "CIP Lounge at Karaganda Airport")
Escape the busy airport environment. Book the CIP lounge access at the Karaganda Airport online. This service is available to passengers traveling on domestic and international flights.