CityBuddy
State Museum of the History of Culture of Uzbekistan
Best time to visit
Morning on weekdays to avoid school classes and groups. The winter half of the year is perfect as outdoor activities are limited.
Budget tips
The entrance fee is modest, around 30,000 som (30 SEK). A guide costs extra but the audio guide is a cheaper alternative in several languages.
Recommended for
History enthusiasts, Archaeology fans, Cultural travelers, Families with older children
Plan your visit
1.5-2 hours
About
Quick facts: Over 250,000 objects are in the collections, from Stone Age tools to magnificent textiles from the 19th century. One of the museum's most fascinating objects is a 2,000-year-old bronze cauldron from the Greco-Bactrian kingdom.
Highlights: An entire hall is dedicated to the wall paintings from Afrasiab's palace, where a 7-meter-long colorful scene shows a procession with horses, camels and foreign dignitaries from the 7th century. The paintings were first discovered in 1965 and are considered one of the most important archaeological finds in Central Asia.
Insider tips
- Ask the staff to turn on the light in the display case with the gold jewelry from the Amu Darya treasure, otherwise the details are not visible.
- The third floor with the ethnographic department is often forgotten but has the most beautiful textiles and embroideries.
- Combine the visit with a walk up to the observation platform for a panoramic view of the city.
- Bring your own headphones for the audio guide, the borrowed ones are of varying quality.
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