★5Senior guide, hiking & jeep-tour organizer
Walking tour · history
Alma-Ata: from pre-revolutionary to Soviet — a city tour
4.8 · 24 reviews
Stroll through the streets of Almaty and see how the city transformed from merchant Verny to Soviet Alma-Ata. The route passes through historic mansions, constructivist buildings, and Stalinist Empire style — living witnesses of the eras.
WhenDaily, time upon request
Duration3 hours
StartAlmaty
Pricefrom $17/person
Program
Hourly program of the tour «Alma-Ata: from pre-revolutionary to Soviet»
10:00
Meeting point in central Almaty (Panfilov St., 100)
Meeting with the guide at the Abay monument. Introduction to the route.
10:15
Pre-revolutionary Verny — Panfilov St.
Explore wooden mansions of the late 19th century: merchant Shakhvorostov's house, Tverskoy estate.
10:45
Constructivism of the 1920s — Government House
Story about the first Soviet skyscraper in Alma-Ata and avant-garde architecture.
11:15
Stalinist Empire style — Abai Ave.
Walk along Stalinist high-rises, Hotel «Alma-Ata», Opera and Ballet Theatre.
11:45
Soviet Modernism — Hotel «Kazakhstan»
History of the famous hotel's construction and city panorama from the observation deck.
12:30
Finale — Republic Square
End at the Independence Monument, discussion of what was seen.
13:00
End of the tour
You are in the city center, near the metro and cafes.
What's included
What is included in the cost of the tour «Alma-Ata: from pre-revolutionary to Soviet»
Included in Price
Already included in the tour price
- Services of a licensed historian guide
- Walking tour along the route
- Audio guide (for groups of more than 5 people)
- Route map with architectural landmarks
- Bottle of water 0.5 L
Paid separately
Optional, on site
- Personal expenses (souvenirs, extra drinks)
- Entrance tickets to museums (if you wish to enter)
What to Bring
To make the day comfortable
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Camera or phone for photos
- Hat in sunny weather
- Raincoat (if forecasted)
- Good mood and interest in history
Team
Our team — guides and instructors from Almaty
Routes are led by working guides and instructors. The same people answer in WhatsApp and accompany groups on tour.
★5
★4.52Alexander Пашкин
Driver-guide, инструктор по трекингу
★4.74Andrey Шевелёв
Driver-guide
★4.27Анжелика Чвыкова
Гид-фотограф
★4.27Ильяс Дарбеков
Гид-переводчик
★4.55Мадина Данина
Организатор туров
★4.49Сергей Бабичев
Personal guide-водитель
Reviews
Reviews of the tour «Alma-Ata: from pre-revolutionary to Soviet»
4.9 ★
Our rating · 312 reviews
4.8 ★
Google · 540
4.9 ★
Yandex · 268
4.8 ★
2GIS · 197
1317
Total reviews
Zulfiya R.
Google ·
★★★★★I signed up for this route because I've been interested in architecture for a long time. I didn't regret it. The guide is a professional. The departure was slightly delayed, but it's a trifle
Serik B.
Yandex ·
★★★★★I've long been interested in architectural history, so I chose this route. I went alone, but the group turned out to have pleasant people. The guide talked in detail about each era, starting from the pre-revolutionary one. I was especially impressed by the constructivist buildings and Stalinist Empire style. We reached Republic Square, where we finished. A small minus — we took a long time gathering at the start, but it didn't spoil the impression. Overall the tour is excellent, I recommend it to anyone who wants to understand Almaty's architecture.
Vladimir K.
Yandex ·
★★★★★My colleague and I decided to take a useful walk after work. We chose this tour because it's walking and not too long. The guide started a bit late, but then the story was very engaging. We walked through the center, saw wooden mansions, then Soviet buildings. I especially remember the Hotel Kazakhstan — I never thought it had such a history. Overall I'm satisfied, though the beginning dragged a little. There was enough time to see everything without rushing.
Asel M.
Our website ·
★★★★★The tour is very rich, I learned many facts. Thanks to the guide for the individual approach
Tatyana V.
2GIS ·
★★★★★Davno hoteli uznat istoriyu goroda. Tour prevzoshel ozhidaniya. Gid rasskazal interesnye detali
Maira E.
Yandex ·
★★★★★The tour is very interesting, I learned the city's history through buildings. The guide showed hidden courtyards that I didn't know about. I recommend it to everyone who wants to get to know Almaty more deeply. It's a pity there was no time to go inside some buildings
Marat S.
Our website ·
★★★★★Byli na tour s Anzhelika, vse ochen interesno rasskazala. Pravda bylo nemnogo zharko, no eto ne isportilo vpechatlenie
Ermek D.
Our website ·
★★★★★Liked the excursion, but it was hot. Madina explained everything excellently
Elena G.
Our website ·
★★★★★Really liked the excursion. Anzhelika told a lot of interesting things about pre-revolutionary buildings. The only thing, it was hot, but that's not the organizers' fault
Ivan T.
Yandex ·
★★★★★Liked everything, but got a bit tired by the end. Otherwise excellent
Anton L.
Google ·
★★★★★Good tour, but could add more stops. Overall liked it, thanks to Madina for the information
Aigul S.
Our website ·
★★★★★Ochen interesno, sozhaleyu chto malo vremeni. No vse ravi krasivo
Gulnara A.
Our website ·
★★★★★Very happy with the tour! I learned a lot of new things about the city's history. The guide told us about merchant houses and Soviet buildings. The only thing was there was little time for photos, but it didn't spoil the impression
Pavel N.
Yandex ·
★★★★★Khoroshiy tour, sovetskaya arkhitektura vpechatlila. Gid rasskazal ochen podrobno
Natalya P.
Google ·
★★★★★Excellent tour, I recommend it! Learned a lot about the city's history. Thanks to Anzhelika for the interesting stories
Nikolay S.
Our website ·
★★★★★Friends from another city came to visit me, and I decided to show them Almaty not from a shopping perspective, but from a historical one. We went on this walk. The guide took us through different eras, telling the story smoothly and with details. My friends liked it, and I was satisfied too. The only thing was that it was hot, but that's just luck.
Viktor P.
Yandex ·
★★★★★Excellent walk, the guide knows their stuff. Madina told about every house. It would be better if more time was given for photos
Zhanar K.
Our website ·
★★★★★We went with family, the kids were interested too, though they prefer modern buildings. The guide explained very clearly how the city changed. I especially liked how she talked about pre-revolutionary houses — she really brought history to life. We didn't even know so many old mansions survived in the center. Then we saw constructivism and Stalinist Empire style, the contrast is strong. The tour is educational, I recommend it to anyone who wants to discover Almaty from another side.
Larisa M.
Our website ·
★★★★★The tour is excellent, the guide is very erudite. She showed places that I didn't know
Galina A.
Our website ·
★★★★★I walked with a friend, she had long wanted to see old architecture. I'm more interested in the Soviet period, but the pre-revolutionary part was good too. I especially remember the Art Nouveau buildings — such details you don't notice in everyday life. The guide talked about each house with soul, you could see the person is passionate. The weather was great, November but sunny. The only thing, I would have liked more time for photos, but that's minor. Overall an interesting walk, I learned a lot of new things.
Olga V.
Our website ·
★★★★★My wife and I came for the weekend, we wanted not just to stroll but to understand the city. We signed up for this route because it covers several eras at once. The guide told interesting stories about merchant mansions, especially the wooden house with carvings stuck in my memory. Then we moved on to constructivism, it was curious to compare with modern buildings. The only thing is, we left a bit late due to traffic, so we had to speed up towards the end. Overall, the route is well thought out, good impressions.
Dmitry L.
Our website ·
★★★★★Took the tour out of interest in Soviet architecture. No regrets.
Denis T.
Google ·
★★★★★Davno hotel sravnit arkhitekturu raznykh epokh. Tour otlichny, Anzhelika ochen poznavatelno rasskazala. Edinstvennoe, nemnogo zaderzhali vyiezd, no eto ne kriticheski
Alexey P.
Google ·
★★★★★Great tour, learned a lot about Alma-Ata's architecture. Particularly impressed by the Soviet-era buildings.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the tour «Alma-Ata: from pre-revolutionary to Soviet»
We've collected the questions travelers ask most often. Didn't find your answer? Write to us — a guide will reply in a couple of minutes.
Ask a questionThe route is entirely on foot, but relaxed: we walk through the centre of Almaty with stops at each site, and the guide talks while standing. In 3 hours we manage both to see the Verny mansions and to go up to the observation deck at the Kazakhstan Hotel — that is the most active stretch. No special fitness is needed, the pace is a stroll, and at the end you are already in the centre, with the metro and cafes nearby.
Yes, the format is private, so we adjust the pace to suit you: with children and older people we go through the route calmly, with pauses. The only point is the observation deck at the Kazakhstan Hotel and the climbs in the centre, but that is not long. If it is hard for someone, the guide will advise before departure where it is more convenient to take a rest.
We meet at 10:00 in central Almaty, at 100 Panfilov St., by the Abai monument — the guide meets you there. Tours run daily and the start time can be chosen on request, so we'll confirm it for your date on WhatsApp before booking. The tour ends at 13:00 on Republic Square.
The main thing is comfortable shoes, because the whole route is on foot through the streets of Almaty. Take a hat if the day is sunny, and a raincoat if rain is forecast, plus a phone or camera — there will be many photos. We provide a bottle of water, so you do not have to carry your own.
Yes, this is a private tour — only you and your guide go, without a mixed group. That is why both the pace and the questions during the walk are adjusted to you. An audio guide is provided for groups of more than 5 people, but in the private format the guide tells you everything in person.
Write to us on WhatsApp with the date and a convenient time — we hold the booking without prepayment, you pay only on the day of the trip: Kaspi, by card or in cash, $17 per person. If plans change, cancellation is free — just let us know. The guide will tell you everything else about the route before departure.
