Nur-Sultan (Astana)
The large, somewhat-untidy city park abuts the south side of the Ishim river. On its southern edge you'll find the Atameken, a 200m-long, walk-around…
Must-see attractions in Central Asia
Tajikistan
This elegant single-storey museum, with its white Doric columns and fine floral display, assigns a room to its namesake, Abu Abdullah Rudaki (858–941),…
History & Local Studies Museum
Kazakhstan
Displays at this regional museum run the gamut from prehistoric finds to some rare archaeological pieces, a collection of traditional Kazakh artefacts,…
Kazakhstan
A path from the back of the Polyana Abylay Khana clearing, 6km south of Burabay, leads up 947m Mt Kokshetau, the highest peak in Burabay National Nature…
Almaty
This dramatic socialist-realism memorial in Panfilov Park depicts soldiers from all 15 Soviet republics bursting out of a map of the USSR. An eternal…
Kyrgyzstan
The largest of a string of 42 small lakes, Tulpar Köl stretches for nearly a kilometre in between the final small foothills and the first major ridge of…
Kazakhstan
This mausoleum is the tomb of an early mentor of Kozha Akhmed Yasaui, a religious mystic whose tomb should be visited before that of Yasaui in Turkestan,…
Kazakhstan
This spectacular canyon, 50m deep in places, is typically reached on horseback or on foot from Darbaza. One 24km-long route passes through forest where…
Kazakhstan
The collection here, one of the country's best, covers Kazakh, Russian and Western European art from the 16th century onwards, including a not-to-be…
Kazakhstan
Located in the western part of Altyn-Emel, near the Terekty Petroglyphs, this Iron Age site comprises 31 Scythian kurgans (ritual burial mounds), believed…
Fortress of Alexander the Great
Uzbekistan
A series of eroded mud-walled fortifications and buttresses line the hill south of Nurata village, dating from Alexander the Great's founding of the town…
Kazakhstan
In an unmarked building that's part of Semey Medical University, this one-room museum exhibits the usual pickled organs you might expect medical students…
Bishkek
Where wide, green Erkindik (Freedom) Ave enters this pleasant central park, artists sell a range of locally themed paintings. There's a small open-air…
Kazakhstan
On the left, 600m past the end of the bridge that takes you south of the centre, across River Irtysh, is the sombre and impressive Stronger than Death…
Dushanbe
The Shah Mansur Bazaar, known in English as the 'Green Bazaar', is the heartbeat of Dushanbe trade and a great place to gain a sense of local life in the…
Kazakhstan
Housed inside an early 20th century merchant's house, this engaging art gallery is home to a large collection of painstakingly restored 19th century…
Bukhara
This museum of art has a worthy collection of mostly 20th-century paintings by Bukharan and Russian artists, including the atmospheric works of Pavel…
Kazakhstan
This 2000 sq km park comprises dense spruce forest, Alpine meadows, glaciers and the northern slopes of the Zailiysky Alatau mountains. It is largely…
Nur-Sultan (Astana)
The 91m-high tall Kazak Yeli monument, topped by a golden eagle, is intended to symbolise the historic destiny of Kazakhstan's people. The figures at the…
Kazakhstan
Having reopened in time for the 2017 Expo, this museum is a good introduction if you're looking to visit the Otyrar-Tobe ruins. Highlights here include…
Kazakhstan
The good History Museum has a natural history section with stuffed regional wildlife, including a snow leopard and a giant maral deer, and human history…
Uzbekistan
It's worth the 30-minute walk northwest from the Sultan Saodat Ensemble to this ruined fortified manor house, where you can wander the maze-like series of…
Kazakhstan
A wooded park on Ybyraev, 700m east of Dostyk alany, is a reconstruction of this small but important medieval mausoleum. It houses cloth-covered…
Uzbekistan
Beneath the Fortress of Alexander the Great is the trout-filled Chashma Spring, formed, it is said, where the Prophet Mohammed’s son-in-law Hazrat Ali…
Bukhara
On the western side of the Lyabi-Hauz is the Nadir Divanbegi Khanaka, a Sufi cloister used for religious ceremonies, debates and instruction. Both this…
Khiva
East of the Kuhna Ark, across an open space that was once a busy palace square (and place of execution), the 19th-century Mohammed Rakhim Khan Medressa is…
Kazakhstan
Four fishing boats stand on pedestals beside Aral's former harbour, near the town centre, as a tribute to fallen heroes. The biggest of the four now forms…
Nur-Sultan (Astana)
The rather squat Palace of Independence is well worth a visit especially for its huge scale model of how Nur-Sultan is planned to look in 2030. It also…
Samarkand
Those with adventurous taste buds can sign up for a tasting of eight wines, balzams and cognacs from the Hovrenko Wine Factory, which has been producing…
Khiva
The Old Town's East Gate, a long, vaulted 19th-century passage with several sets of immense carved doors, bridges the Anusha Khan baths and the bazaar…
Uzbekistan
The restored Timurid-style Sultan Saodat ensemble of monochrome mausoleums won’t impress you if you’ve been to Samarkand, but it makes a fun trip combined…
Kazakhstan
In the northern part of Park Zhastar, you can check out a number of historic log cabins, furnished and decorated in period style: early twentieth century…
Shymkent
In Abay Park, two tall concrete pillars lean on each other above an eternal flame, and the alley is lined with plaques bearing the names of the more than…
Tashkent
One of the more recent additions to Tashkent's museum scene is this impressive building, which presents rotating exhibits of Uzbekistan's top contemporary…
Kazakhstan
A little out of the way, but worth seeking out if you're into your Soviet memorials, this large statue depicts Lenin rising upwards from a block of…
Uzbekistan
The beached ships are a five-minute walk from the Oybek Hotel, at the northwest end of town, across the main road and beyond the collection of homes. Once…
Bukhara
Beside a pool opposite the Ark’s gate is the functioning Bolo-Hauz Mosque (1718), the emirs’ official place of worship. The stunning painted wood and…
Kazakhstan
This dramatic memorial portrays a young Kazakh pilot, Nurken Abdirov – a Hero of the Soviet Union – defiantly gripping the steering of his plane as he…
Kyrgyzstan
Herders from the Chuy Valley and beyond gather early on Sunday to sell livestock at this weekly market. Come early, as it's mostly wrapped up by 10am…
Tajikistan
The 15th-century Abdullatif Sultan Medressa is also known as the Kök Gumbaz (Blue Dome) after its turquoise Timurid dome. Closed in Soviet times, the…
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