★4.9Aidos Serikov
Senior guide, mountain routes
walking tour · city center
Old Center of Almaty: Secret Spot
4.9 · 21 reviews
A walking tour of Almaty's old center, visiting hidden courtyards and secret places known only to locals. You'll see 19th-century architecture, learn stories of merchants, and find a secret spot with a panoramic view.
WhenDaily, starting at 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM
Duration3 hours
StartAlmaty
Pricefrom $71/person
Program
Walking tour itinerary of the old center of Almaty
10:00
Meet at the Abay Monument
Meet the guide at Abay Square. Brief instructions and start of the route.
10:15
Panfilov Street — Merchant Houses
Walk along the city's oldest street, viewing wooden mansions from the late 19th century.
10:45
Courtyard Wells and Secret Passage
Pass through arches and courtyards hidden from tourists. Stories about the daily life of citizens.
11:30
Observation Deck 'City Roof'
Climb to the roof of a historic building — a secret spot with a view of the mountains and the center.
12:00
Green Bazaar — Tasting
Visit the colorful market, taste local sweets and kumis (for an additional fee).
12:45
Ascension Cathedral and Park
View the wooden cathedral, walk through the Park of 28 Panfilov Guardsmen.
13:00
End at the 'Nedelka' Fountain
Tour ends, the guide answers questions and gives recommendations.
What's included
What is included in the cost of the walking tour of the old center of Almaty
Included in Price
Already included in the tour price
- Services of a professional historian guide
- Visit to the secret observation deck
- Tasting of national sweets (2 types)
- Audio guide (for groups of more than 10 people)
- Photo session from the guide (up to 10 photos)
Paid separately
Optional, on site
- Personal expenses (souvenirs, additional tastings)
- Lunch (nearby cafes from $3)
- Transfer to the meeting point
What to Bring
To make the day comfortable
- Comfortable shoes (lots of walking)
- Camera or phone with a good camera
- Bottle of water (mandatory in summer)
- Umbrella or raincoat (seasonal)
- Passport (for entry to some buildings)
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.
★4.9
★5Dinara Kassymova
Guide-lecturer in Almaty
★4.8Marat Zhunussov
Trekking instructor
★4.9Oleg Kim
Driver-guide, jeep tours
★4.8Zhanna Abenova
Tour manager
★4.9Timur Beketov
Multi-day tour guide
★5Aliya Nurlan
Group coordinator
★4.8Sergey Volkov
Instructor, ski tours
Reviews
Reviews of the walking tour Old Center of Almaty: Secret Spot
4.9 ★
Our rating · 312 reviews
4.8 ★
Google · 540
4.9 ★
Yandex · 268
4.8 ★
2GIS · 197
1317
Total reviews
Aizhan K.
2GIS ·
★★★★★At first I doubted, but the 'Old Center' tour opened my eyes to the history of Almaty! The guide showed courtyards I didn't even know about. Thanks to the guide for the atmosphere
Bekzhan U.
Google ·
★★★★★We chose this tour on the advice of our friends. It was very interesting! The guide is very experienced, we learned a lot. Thank you!
Yuliya L.
Our website ·
★★★★★The 'Old Center' tour exceeded expectations. Secret spots, old streets - very atmospheric. Departure was slightly delayed, but it didn't spoil the impression.
Lyazzat I.
Our website ·
★★★★★Celebrated my birthday with my husband – decided to walk along the old streets. Most of all I liked the hidden garden in the courtyard of the house, though we didn't find it right away, but the guide helped. The 19th-century merchant houses surprised us, so many details! And the climb to the roof was a pleasant finale – the panorama of the city and mountains is simply mesmerizing. The guide told the story with soul, we learned a lot of new things about the merchants. I recommend it to everyone, especially those who think they know the city!
Oksana P.
Our website ·
★★★★★Went with a friend, we both love architecture. Took this tour spontaneously, just walking around the center. Really liked the courtyard with art objects – unexpected to see such a thing among old houses. The guide showed a secret passage through the arches, we wouldn't have guessed it ourselves. Then we climbed to the roof, from there a wonderful view of the mountains opens up. Also memorable was the wooden cathedral, impressive. Thanks to the guide for the interesting story!
Gulnara T.
2GIS ·
★★★★★I really liked the tour! Secret places in the city center are cool. The guide is great, knows many stories. The only thing is that in one place the road was a bit slippery, but that's minor
Anara D.
Yandex ·
★★★★★Really liked the excursion! Learned so much new about our city. Thanks to the organization, everything was clear. Dinara is an excellent guide, knows her stuff
Asel Zh.
Our website ·
★★★★★My wife and I decided to celebrate our anniversary in an unusual way – we went on this excursion. Most impressive was the secret passage through the arches in the old center, we would never have found it ourselves. The guide interestingly told about the life of townspeople, we seemed to plunge into the past. Then we climbed to the roof – the view of the city and mountains opens up magically, we took a bunch of photos. We also liked the merchant mansions, you can feel the history. We got a bit tired by the end, but it was worth it. Thanks for the emotions!
Ruslan Z.
Google ·
★★★★★I'm a local, but the tour opened a new Almaty for me. Old houses, courtyards, stories - everything is super. The downside - the queue at the observation deck was long, but that doesn't depend on the tour company
Dmitriy S.
Our website ·
★★★★★My wife and I decided to spice up our weekend. The Old Center tour was a great idea. We learned a lot, especially about the architecture. Zhanna was very passionate in her storytelling, I recommend it!
Sergey M.
Our website ·
★★★★★I've long wanted to see non-touristy Almaty. This tour is just what I needed! Unusual courtyards, old buildings, interesting facts. The guide told everything very competently, without fluff
Arman K.
Yandex ·
★★★★★I got the tour for my family, everyone is very happy. The Old Center surprised even me, a native Almaty resident. The guide told interesting stories, we were a bit slow with gathering, but that's not important
Vladimir G.
Our website ·
★★★★★I was skeptical about such tours, but this one changed my mind. The guide showed us the real old city, not the pop stuff. I recommend it! True, we got a bit tired at the end, but that's minor.
Alexey R.
Our website ·
★★★★★Came with my sister from Karaganda for the weekend, had long wanted to see non-touristy Almaty. Friends recommended this route, and we didn't regret it. The guide took us through courtyards we would never have entered ourselves. Especially memorable were the wooden merchant houses on Panfilov – it's like you're transported to the past. And the climb to the roof of a historical building was a real surprise, the view of the mountains is simply stunning. The guide told stories so enthusiastically that we didn't notice how time flew. At the end, we were even treated to sweets at the bazaar. We will definitely come back and take other tours!
Karlygash A.
Google ·
★★★★★We went on this tour with the kids on a day off. The secret places of the old center were very interesting. The guide led us through narrow streets and courtyards, telling about the life of merchants. Especially impressive was climbing to the roof and looking at the mountains and the city. The kids were happy too, especially liked the sweets at the bazaar. The guide is very knowledgeable, answered questions. Thanks, it was a great holiday!
Aliya K.
Our website ·
★★★★★Took the tour for a group of friends. Everyone is delighted! Especially remembered the location with frescoes. The guide's name was Dinara, she's great, thanks to her
Tatyana F.
Our website ·
★★★★★Long dreamed of getting to such places. Thanks to the organizers, especially Dinara for the fascinating story. Highly recommend!
Ivan N.
Yandex ·
★★★★★Great tour! Surprised by secret spots in the center. Guide Dinara is just fire, told so much. Recommend to everyone who wants to know the real Almaty.
Raushan G.
Our website ·
★★★★★Great tour! The hidden spots of the old center are very interesting. Many thanks to Dinara! I recommend it to everyone.
Damir Kh.
Our website ·
★★★★★I spent a long time choosing where to go on the weekend, and came across this tour. I used to think I knew the center, but it turned out there are places where time seems to have stopped. The guide took us through hidden courtyards, showed ancient merchant houses. Especially liked the secret passage through the arches – I would never have guessed that you can pass there. Also memorable was the climb to the roof: the view of the mountains and the city opens up stunningly. The guide told the story very interestingly, with soul. Thanks for the new impressions!
Elena V.
Our website ·
★★★★★I spontaneously signed up for the tour. Very interesting! It turns out there are so many hidden gems in the center. Thanks to the guide for the fascinating story
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the walking tour Old Center of Almaty: Secret Location
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 questionYou spend three hours on your feet, there is no transport on the route, but the pace is calm with stops at each site. No special preparation is needed, however the surface varies — pavements, old courtyards and a climb up to the roof, so footwear matters. If you are unsure about your stamina, message us on WhatsApp, and the guide will advise you before departure on where you can take a rest along the way.
Tours run every day, starting at 10:00 and 15:00; we meet at the Abai monument on Abai Square, where the guide will be waiting. It's a mini-group format, so we set off on schedule and continue on foot. If you're running late, message us on WhatsApp straight away so the guide can direct you to the starting point.
The main things are comfortable footwear, because you will be walking a lot, and a bottle of water, especially in summer. Take a phone or camera for shooting from the viewpoint, and in the shoulder seasons an umbrella or raincoat will come in handy. Also keep your passport with you: some historical buildings only admit visitors with a document.
The $71 per person already includes a historian guide, access to the secret viewpoint, a tasting of two kinds of national sweets and a photo session from the guide — up to ten photos — plus an audio guide for groups of more than ten. At the Green Bazaar, extra tastings and souvenirs are at your own expense, as is lunch — there are cafés nearby from around $3. Everyone makes their own way to Abai Square.
Yes, it's a calm city tour: the whole route is covered on foot in three hours with stops at each site. Children usually love the well courtyards, the secret passage and the climb onto the roof, while older guests enjoy the merchant mansions, the cathedral and the park. If anyone finds it hard, just tell the guide — the mini-group moves at an easy pace and takes breaks along the way.
The tour runs in a mini-group format, but for your dates we will check on WhatsApp whether a departure can be arranged just for your group. We hold the booking by message on WhatsApp, with no prepayment, and you pay on the day of the trip — Kaspi, by card or in cash. Cancellation is free: if your plans for the walk change, just message us on WhatsApp.
