Old Astana turns the volume down on futurism. This private Old City tour is built for first-time visitors who want a clear sense of Kazakhstan’s story—starting with Soviet-era context and ending with a very real local shopping stop. You’ll cover multiple monuments in one smooth run, guided and air-conditioned, with admission tickets included at key stops.

What I like most is how the tour mixes big-picture history with small, human details. At Atameken Ethno-Memorial Map of Kazakhstan, you get a quick orientation using miniatures, then the Saken Seifullin Museum slows things down with a room-by-room look at the poet’s life across different periods.

One consideration: the timing is tight—each stop is about 10 to 40 minutes—so if you like to linger and sketch, you may feel slightly rushed. Also, you’ll want good weather since several highlights are outdoors and require a solid basic walking pace.

Key points before you go

• A fast orientation with a miniature Kazakhstan map: 200+ sights in one place, ideal early in your trip
• Soviet-era context through a focused museum: the Saken Seifullin Museum is organized in six rooms
• Quick but meaningful landmark stops: Kenesary’s monument is brief, but placed for a strong photo moment across the Ishim
• A dedicated look at Nazarbayev’s era: archive material and books on display at the First President Museum
• A USSR-style architecture shopping break: the Trade House of Merchant Matvey Kubrin now functions as the Astana Supermarket
• Private, air-conditioned comfort: pickup is offered and you’ll have bottled water during the tour

Getting oriented in Nur-Sultan’s Old City

Nur-Sultan (Astana) is famous for its shiny new look—wide avenues, bold shapes, and the kind of skyline that makes you wonder where history fits in. This tour answers that question by steering you toward the city’s older cultural layers: monuments, museum rooms, and the places locals still use.

I like that it doesn’t try to be everything at once. Instead, you’re guided through a compact route that helps you connect Soviet-era influence with Kazakhstan’s own national story, then ends with something practical: shopping and snacks in a classic building.

You’ll be in a private group, with a guide and an air-conditioned vehicle. The overall time is about 3 to 4 hours, which is perfect if you want history without eating your whole day.

Stop 1: Atameken Ethno-Memorial Map of Kazakhstan (40 minutes)

Your first stop is Atameken Ethno-Memorial Map of Kazakhstan, a huge park of miniatures. The idea is simple: you walk through a scaled-down Kazakhstan that marks regions and major cities like Astana and Almaty, and it’s packed with over 200 mini sights.

This is a great early stop for two reasons. First, it helps your brain stop treating Kazakhstan as a blank space on the map. Second, the miniature format is easy to read even if your knowledge is still basic—no lectures needed to follow along.

A practical note: plan for standing and walking through the park paths. If you’re visiting when it’s windy or cold, dress for it, since outdoor time adds up even with a 40-minute slot.

Stop 2: Saken Seifullin Museum (40 minutes)

Next comes the Saken Seifullin Museum, and this is where the tour shifts from map orientation to personal history. The museum is organized into six rooms, each filled with items that cover different periods of Saken Seifullin’s life.

Seifullin is a poet and public figure tied to Kazakhstan’s cultural development, and the museum structure makes the Soviet era feel more concrete. You’re not just hearing dates; you’re seeing artifacts and staged room themes that help you understand how the poet’s world changed over time.

The benefit for you: this stop gives your tour a backbone. It turns the monuments you’ll see later into something more meaningful, instead of just impressive statues with captions.

The only drawback is how time-boxed it is: 40 minutes means you’ll see the big highlights, not every detail. If you’re the type who wants to read every label, you may skim more than you like.

Monument to Khan Kenesary across the Ishim (10 minutes)

Then you’ll reach the Monument to Khan Kenesary, a statue of the Kazakh nationalist and the last king of the Kazakh Khanate. It’s positioned across the river Ishim, which is a nice layout for photos and a quick sense of place.

This stop is short—about 10 minutes—but it matters because it anchors the national story outside the museum walls. The timing works well after the Saken Seifullin Museum: you shift from interior context to exterior symbolism.

If you want a smoother photo moment, keep your camera ready as you approach and give yourself time for one or two angles toward the river. The tour move is fast here, so don’t rely on last-minute adjustments.

Museum of the First President: Nursultan Nazarbayev’s era (30 minutes)

The fourth stop is the Museum of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. This museum focuses on Nursultan Nazarbayev, who served from 1990 to 2019.

The displays are described in practical, tangible terms: unique archive documents, scientific materials, and books written by Nazarbayev. That mix is useful because it doesn’t just frame him as a leader; it also shows how his work is preserved and presented through written and documented evidence.

For you, the value here is perspective. Even if you already know the name, seeing the museum content helps you understand why Kazakhstan’s modern identity often gets explained through institutions and recorded decisions, not just events.

Downside to expect: like the other stops with admission included, your time is about 30 minutes. You’ll get the main points, but you won’t have a long sit-down experience unless you deliberately move slower than the group pace.

The Trade House of Merchant Matvey Kubrin, now the Astana Supermarket

After the monument and museum sequence, you’ll have time for a local shopping experience at the Trade House of Merchant Matvey Kubrin, today known as the Astana Supermarket.

This is the part I think many people underestimate. Monuments tell you what a city wants to remember. A classic commercial building tells you what a city still uses. And this stop is exactly that kind of contrast: older architecture with everyday life inside.

What makes it feel authentic is that shopping here isn’t a staged activity. You can browse, pick up small items, and get a sense of what “normal” looks like in Astana. It’s also an easy win if you want a souvenir that feels connected to daily routine rather than only to sightseeing.

If you’re sensitive to language barriers, this is still manageable because a supermarket vibe is universal. If you want to ask questions, your guide can help you navigate what to look for and what’s worth buying.

Alcoholic beverages are not included on the tour, so if you want a drink, plan that outside the included stops.

Private tour logistics: pickup, timing, and comfort

This is a private tour/activity, meaning your group stays together and you’re not merged into a large crowd. Pickup is offered, and the ride is in an air-conditioned vehicle, which is a real comfort factor in Kazakhstan’s weather swings.

The tour runs about 3 to 4 hours total. That matters because it lets you build a day that still includes other big sights without feeling like you’re chained to a schedule. The structure is also clear: a couple of museum/map stops, then monuments, then the shopping break.

A small practical detail that’s worth knowing: you’ll receive a mobile ticket, so keep your phone battery safe and your screen unlocked near the check-in moments.

Because the tour includes some outdoor exposure, good weather is required. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Also, the tour asks for a strong physical fitness level. That doesn’t mean you need to be an athlete, but it does suggest you should be comfortable walking between sites and standing for short periods.

Price and value: what $93.42 buys you

At $93.42 per person, this tour isn’t the cheapest option in town. But it’s also not trying to be one of those “pay for a van and hope for the best” experiences.

Here’s what you’re really paying for:

• Private transportation with air-conditioning
• A guide included for the full route
• Bottled water
• All fees and taxes
• Admission tickets where noted (and one free monument stop)

If you were to buy tickets and arrange transport on your own, the total could easily creep upward—especially if you factor in the time your guide saves you by keeping the route efficient.

So my take on value: it’s best when you want structure. If you love wandering without plans, you might not fully use the guide time. But if you want history explained clearly while you travel between sites, the price starts to feel fair.

Who this tour suits best

This is a strong fit for:

• First-time visitors who want a fast understanding of how Kazakhstan’s story overlaps with Soviet-era influences
• People who like monuments and museums, not just one or the other
• Anyone who wants a local shopping stop that feels connected to everyday space

It may feel less perfect if you’re hoping for long, slow sightseeing or very old, medieval-style ruins. The point here is cultural context and national narrative, not ancient archaeology.

One extra tip drawn from a real-world travel hiccup: if you’re arriving and grabbing a ride, don’t assume the first taxi offer is fair. One reviewer had a rough start with a taxi driver and said it helped them to compare with ride apps like Yandex.Taxi and inDriver. For you, that means: confirm the price before you go, especially if you’re headed to your meeting point.

Should you book the Old City Tour in Nur-Sultan?

I’d book this if you want a guided “history-to-life” loop in a few hours: map orientation, museum context, monuments with meaning, then a real shopping break. The tour’s biggest strength is that it connects Soviet-era context with Kazakhstan’s national storyline in a way that doesn’t require you to be a history expert walking in.

Skip it or reconsider if you’re the kind of visitor who needs lots of time per stop, or if you’re traveling on a day when weather might be iffy. Since good weather is required, check conditions and be ready with a flexible plan.

If your schedule is tight, you want comfort, and you like the idea of seeing the Old City as more than a backdrop to the modern skyline, this one is a solid choice.

FAQ

How long is the Old City Tour?

It runs about 3 to 4 hours.

Is this tour private?

Yes. It’s a private tour/activity, so only your group participates.

What is the price per person?

The price is $93.42 per person.

Is pickup available?

Pickup is offered, and you’ll be transported in a private vehicle.

What’s included in the tour price?

The tour includes bottled water, private transportation, all fees and taxes, and an air-conditioned vehicle, plus a guide. Admission tickets are included for the listed stops that have tickets included.

Which stops are part of the route?

You’ll visit Atameken Ethno-Memorial Map of Kazakhstan, Saken Seifullin Museum, Monument to Khan Kenesary, and Museum of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, followed by a local shopping experience at the Trade House of Merchant Matvey Kubrin (Astana Supermarket).

Are admission tickets included?

Yes. Admission tickets are included for Atameken and Saken Seifullin Museum, and for the Museum of the First President. The Monument to Khan Kenesary is listed as free.

Is alcohol included?

No. Alcoholic beverages are not included.

What if the tour is canceled due to weather?

The experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

How does free cancellation work?

Cancellation is free. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and changes made less than 24 hours before the start time aren’t accepted.