The Old City Tour

Astana has an older story to tell. This private Old City Tour takes you past the capital’s famous modern buildings and into Kazakhstan’s cultural and political past, with stops at Atameken, the Saken Seifullin Museum, Khan Kenesary’s monument, and the Museum of the First President.

I like the private air-conditioned vehicle, which keeps a three- to four-hour outing comfortable and flexible. I also like the mix of monuments, museums, and local shopping, since you get more than a drive-by look at Astana. The main consideration is physical fitness: the tour covers several stops, and the listed visits take about two hours before transport and other stops are counted.

Key points to know before booking

• See Kazakhstan in miniature at Atameken, a large outdoor map with more than 200 marked sights.
• Step into the Soviet period at the Saken Seifullin Museum, housed in a six-room museum about the poet’s life.
• Learn about Khan Kenesary, the last king of the Kazakh Khanate, beside the Ishim River.
• Visit the Museum of the First President for documents, books, and official material connected with Nursultan Nazarbayev.
• Shop inside a historic trading building, the former Trade House of Merchant Matvey Kubrin, now Astana Supermarket.
• Travel privately with water and an air-conditioned vehicle, at a listed price of $93.42 per person.

Why this is a useful first look at Astana

Astana can feel like two cities placed side by side. One is the young capital of striking towers, grand public buildings, and carefully planned avenues. The other reaches back through Kazakh statehood, Soviet rule, local writers, national leaders, and the older commercial life of the city.

This tour focuses on that second Astana. It does not try to cover every major sight in the capital. Instead, it gives you a guided introduction to the people and events behind Kazakhstan’s national story.

I find that approach useful early in a visit. A modern building can impress you in a few seconds, but it may not explain much. A monument such as Khan Kenesary’s, or a room filled with documents from the Soviet period, gives you something to connect with when you later see Astana’s newer landmarks.

The tour is private, so only your group takes part. That matters here because the stops cover different subjects. You can ask for clarification about Kazakh rulers, the Soviet era, or the first years of independent Kazakhstan without trying to fit your questions into a large group.

The experience lasts about three to four hours. Four listed stops account for roughly two hours, with the remaining time allowing for driving, explanations, and the shopping visit. The exact pace may depend on traffic, the time spent at each museum, and how much time you take at the supermarket.

Atameken: Kazakhstan spread out beneath your feet

The first stop is Atameken Ethno-Memorial Map of Kazakhstan, a miniature presentation of the country. The park marks Kazakhstan’s regions and major cities, including Astana and Almaty, on a large map.

You can expect to spend about 40 minutes here, and admission is included. The park contains more than 200 sights to find, so this is not just a quick photo stop. It gives you a visual sense of Kazakhstan’s size and variety before you start examining particular parts of its past.

I like Atameken as an opening stop because it gives names and places some shape. If you are new to Kazakhstan, Astana and Almaty may be the only cities you recognize. Seeing them marked among the country’s other regions can make the rest of the tour easier to follow.

The limitation is simple: a miniature map cannot replace visiting the real places. Treat it as an orientation stop rather than a full cultural museum. Forty minutes should be enough for a good look, but you may want more time if you enjoy model displays and want to identify many of the marked sights.

Saken Seifullin Museum and the Soviet chapter

The Saken Seifullin Museum offers a more personal way into the twentieth century. It has six rooms devoted to different periods of the poet’s life, with material that helps explain the Soviet period.

This visit also lasts around 40 minutes, and admission is included. The focus on one writer gives the tour a human scale. Instead of hearing only about institutions and dates, you encounter the life of a Kazakh literary figure within changing political conditions.

For me, this is likely to be one of the most meaningful stops for anyone interested in culture. Poetry, public life, and Soviet history meet in one place. You can better understand how Kazakhstan’s identity developed under the USSR, rather than treating the Soviet period as a short footnote between older khanates and modern independence.

The museum may be less immediately entertaining than the miniature park or a riverside monument. If you prefer large displays and broad city views, 40 minutes here may feel quiet. If you want context for Kazakhstan’s twentieth-century experience, it earns its place on the route.

Khan Kenesary beside the Ishim River

The Monument to Khan Kenesary is a short stop of about 10 minutes, with no separate admission charge. The statue shows Kenesary, described as the last king of the Kazakh Khanate, across the Ishim River.

Do not expect an extended museum visit here. The value is in the symbol and the setting. A guide can place Kenesary within the story of Kazakh political identity, while the river gives you a brief change of pace after the indoor museum.

The tour also highlights monuments connected with Zher Ana and Kerey and Zhanibek. These names matter because the route is not only about the Soviet and post-Soviet capital. It reaches back to the formation and leadership of Kazakh society.

Since the Kenesary stop is short, listen closely to the explanation and use the time for photographs. You may not have a long period to study the monument on your own. This is one reason a private guide is useful: the meaning of a statue can be easy to miss if you only see it from a vehicle window.

The First President Museum and modern Kazakhstan

The Museum of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan takes about 30 minutes, with admission included. It presents the career and public role of Nursultan Nazarbayev, who served as Kazakhstan’s first president from 1990 to 2019.

The museum displays archive documents, scientific materials, and books written by Nazarbayev. This makes the stop useful for understanding the political period that shaped modern Kazakhstan, especially the early years after independence.

You should approach this museum as an official presentation of national leadership. It offers material about Nazarbayev and his time in office, but it is not the same type of place as the Saken Seifullin Museum. One centers on a poet’s life and the Soviet era. The other presents the country through its first president and state institutions.

That contrast is one of the tour’s strengths. You get different kinds of historical evidence: a miniature national map, a literary museum, a public monument, and an official political museum. Together, they help explain why Astana is more than a new capital built from scratch.

Shopping in the old Trade House of Matvey Kubrin

The shopping stop adds a practical local touch. The Trade House of Merchant Matvey Kubrin is now known as the Astana Supermarket, and the building preserves the feel of a classic USSR-era commercial space.

This is not presented as a luxury shopping experience. Its appeal is the chance to enter a working local building with an older architectural identity. You can see how a historic trading site functions in everyday life today, rather than viewing it only as a preserved monument.

I especially like this part of the route because it breaks up the formal museum visits. A supermarket can tell you something about daily routines, food, and shopping habits that a national museum may not. You may also find it a convenient place to look at local products, though the available selection is not specified.

The stop is important for another reason. People often use the word old loosely in Astana. For a visitor from England or another part of Europe, buildings described as old here may be just over 100 years old. That difference is worth keeping in mind. Astana’s older architecture is historically useful, but it will not look ancient by European standards.

What the private transport adds

Private transportation is included, and the vehicle is air-conditioned. In Astana, that is more than a minor comfort. The route combines outdoor monuments with indoor museums, so a private vehicle gives you a place to move between stops without managing separate taxis.

Bottled water is also included. Alcoholic drinks are not, although that should not affect most people on a short daytime cultural tour.

Pickup is offered, and the published meeting point is Zher-Ana, Astana 010000. The listed end point is Tserkov, at the address marked 5C6J+FGH in Astana. Check these details when your booking is confirmed, especially if you are staying elsewhere in the city.

One practical note comes from the experience of a visitor who had trouble with an airport taxi before joining the tour. For independent rides in Astana, it is sensible to compare prices through Yandex.Taxi or inDrive. That advice concerns getting around before the tour, not the private transport included with this experience, but it can save you an avoidable headache.

Is $93.42 per person fair?

The price is $93.42 per person. That is not the cheapest way to see a few monuments, but the comparison changes when you count what is included.

You receive private transport, an air-conditioned vehicle, a guide, bottled water, admission fees for the included museums and Atameken, and all taxes and fees. A private tour also removes the need to arrange separate rides between several parts of Astana.

The value is strongest for a small group that wants historical explanation without joining strangers. Group discounts are offered, so the final cost may work better for families or friends booking together. The price is less attractive if you only want a quick look at the Khan Kenesary monument or a general city drive.

I would also factor in your interest level. The tour earns its price through interpretation. If you simply want photographs of Astana’s biggest modern buildings, this is not the best use of your budget. If you want a compact introduction to Kazakh culture, Soviet-era life, national leadership, and older city landmarks, the package makes more sense.

Who will get the most from this tour?

This experience suits a first-time visitor who wants a clear introduction to Astana’s past. It is also a good fit for families, couples, and small groups that value a private vehicle and the ability to set their own questions and pace.

History-minded visitors will appreciate the range of subjects. The route moves from the broad national picture at Atameken to literature, monarchy, presidential politics, and local commerce.

It may be less suitable if you want a relaxed sightseeing drive with very little walking or museum time. The tour requires a strong level of physical fitness, according to the booking information. Weather also matters, and poor conditions can lead to a new date or a full refund.

The three- to four-hour length works well as a half-day activity. You still have time for other parts of Astana, but you should not expect to see every major district or landmark. This is a focused old-city and cultural route, not a complete capital-city tour.

Booking details worth keeping in mind

Confirmation is sent within 48 hours, subject to availability. The experience is offered with free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund.

Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start are not accepted for a refund. The cut-off follows local time in Astana. Since the experience requires good weather, a cancellation caused by poor conditions comes with the choice of another date or a full refund.

The tour is offered by To-Go-In Astana. A mobile ticket is available, and pickup is offered. Group discounts may help bring down the per-person cost when several people book together.

Should you book the Old City Tour?

Book it if you want Astana explained, not just photographed. The strongest part is the combination of the Atameken map, Saken Seifullin Museum, Khan Kenesary monument, First President Museum, and the former Matvey Kubrin trading house. Each stop shows a different period or part of public life.

I would choose it early in a Kazakhstan visit, especially if this is your first time in the capital. The guide, private car, included admissions, and compact half-day format make the $93.42 price easier to justify for a small group.

Skip it if your main goal is modern architecture, nightlife, or a fast list of famous photo stops. The route is more thoughtful than flashy, and it asks you to give museums and national history your attention. For the right visitor, that is exactly its appeal.

FAQ

Where does The Old City Tour start?

The published starting point is Zher-Ana, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan.

Where does the tour end?

The published end point is Tserkov, listed with the address 5C6J+FGH, Astana 010000, Kazakhstan.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately three to four hours.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates in the activity.

What transportation is included?

Private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle is included.

Is bottled water provided?

Yes. Bottled water is included.

Are admission fees included?

Admission is included for Atameken Ethno-Memorial Map of Kazakhstan, the Saken Seifullin Museum, and the Museum of the First President. The Monument to Khan Kenesary has no admission charge.

Is pickup available?

Yes. Pickup is offered.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you will be offered another date or a full refund.