Kyrgyz State History Museum, Bishkek

In 2016 Bishkek’s Soviet-era National History Museum closed for ‘brief’ renovations. Six long years later it finally re-opened. And boy was it worth the wait. The new German-designed museum is, in our opinion, the best museum in Central Asia, and absolutely stuffed full of treasures, from Saka gold and 9th century Buddhist icons to beautiful traditional clothes.

All the artifacts are thoughtfully displayed, with English, Russian and Kyrgyz descriptions. Some of our favourite things include: the bronze helmet of a Saka warrior dating to the 5th century BC, a 4th century BC Syrian glass bowl, in perfect condition, found at at the Jalpak-Dobo burial ground, and a stunning collection of 18th and 19th century Kyrgyz nomads’ attire. And of course there’s the incredible 5th century golden mask of Shamsi, found by a farmer in a gorge near Bishkek in 1958.

When we first visited the museum, soon after it re-opened in early 2022, we spent a whole morning there, faces pressed against the glass cabinets. We could easily have spent longer. This fabulous museum is a must-see on any tailor-made visit to Kyrgyzstan.