Afrasiyab Museum
Afrasiyab Museum
4
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
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4.0
134 reviews
Excellent
41
Very good
44
Average
37
Poor
9
Terrible
3
LondonE3Traveller
London, UK2,491 contributions
Aug 2023 • Friends
We visited as had quite a few days in Samarkand. It’s a small museum with some info in English but not a huge amount. The video (go into the video room to the right when you go in) was interesting to learn about the mural. We watched it at the end but would suggest you watch that first and then look at the mural and then the museum.
Not a must do attraction but interesting if you have 30 minutes free. You can walk into the Afrosiyab site without charge (there is no charge as it’s a large open air site) by walking through a gate next to the museum.
Not a must do attraction but interesting if you have 30 minutes free. You can walk into the Afrosiyab site without charge (there is no charge as it’s a large open air site) by walking through a gate next to the museum.
Written 4 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stay28466117071
2 contributions
May 2024 • Solo
If you are interested in the history of Samarkand, you will want to stop by to see this museum. The exhibits inside include maps and timelines of historical events. There is a room with remains of art found outside in an archeological area, along with a short video to explain it. This is a smaller museum but newer, modern, and well-kept. The only downside was that it was packed with tour groups, which is unavoidable in Samarkand.
Written 2 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andrew M
7,589 contributions
Jul 2019
We visited this museum on arriving in Samarkand by train. Tram # 2 runs from the train station to the end of it's route on Shah-i-Zinda Street, and then a 10 minute walk north on Tashkent Road is required to reach the museum. There is no public transport which runs past the museum, but if you wish to avoid a hot walk, a taxi can also be taken from town. The museum is situated on the site of the old city and has been open since 1970. Once you have paid for a ticket and entered the lobby, the self guided tour is in a clockwise direction.
The exhibits start with the Palace of the Ihshids where the famous fresco was found in 1965. There were great models of the ancient city on display. The main attraction here is the 7th century fresco, but it is difficult to get an understanding of the fresco unless you have seen photos of the recreated version. We were very interested in the Zoroastrian pictures, as the Afrasiyab site was a mix of many cultures including Buddhism and Islam. There were also interesting displays of samples of pottery of the Achaemenid Period.
A section was dedicated to the Macedonian and Hellenistic periods. This included pictures of Alexander and samples of the coins of the period. There were also pottery samples from this period. The next room was dedicated to the Sasanian Empire. The Sasanids were Zoroastrians and prohibited burial of bodies. A great display of burial urns and skulls was in this section. The Tang Dynasty was next and we spent quite a bit of time comparing the frescos to the recreated drawings below. After completing the exhibits downstairs, watch the free video on the excavations which highlight the fresco.
The displays upstairs are limited but also interesting. There were mostly exhibits of pottery, but also included maps of the Mongol route during the invasion of the Khwarezm Empire. We were glad to see this map, as we had visited most of the ancient cities which the Mongols had captured. Another interesting exhibit was a detailed map of the old city showing the location of the gates and the inner and outer defensive walls. In the center of the room was a yurt which was beautifully decorated inside.
We enjoyed our short tour of the museum, and made sure to buy water from the cashier to drink on the hot walk back to town. The gift shop was small but had quite a few interesting items. A great sculpture of camels on the silk road is to the right of the museum near to the main road. If you continue north, Daniels tomb can be visited. If you head south towards town, the Jewish Cemetery, Presidents Tomb and Hazrat Khizr Mosque are all located on Tashkent Road.
The exhibits start with the Palace of the Ihshids where the famous fresco was found in 1965. There were great models of the ancient city on display. The main attraction here is the 7th century fresco, but it is difficult to get an understanding of the fresco unless you have seen photos of the recreated version. We were very interested in the Zoroastrian pictures, as the Afrasiyab site was a mix of many cultures including Buddhism and Islam. There were also interesting displays of samples of pottery of the Achaemenid Period.
A section was dedicated to the Macedonian and Hellenistic periods. This included pictures of Alexander and samples of the coins of the period. There were also pottery samples from this period. The next room was dedicated to the Sasanian Empire. The Sasanids were Zoroastrians and prohibited burial of bodies. A great display of burial urns and skulls was in this section. The Tang Dynasty was next and we spent quite a bit of time comparing the frescos to the recreated drawings below. After completing the exhibits downstairs, watch the free video on the excavations which highlight the fresco.
The displays upstairs are limited but also interesting. There were mostly exhibits of pottery, but also included maps of the Mongol route during the invasion of the Khwarezm Empire. We were glad to see this map, as we had visited most of the ancient cities which the Mongols had captured. Another interesting exhibit was a detailed map of the old city showing the location of the gates and the inner and outer defensive walls. In the center of the room was a yurt which was beautifully decorated inside.
We enjoyed our short tour of the museum, and made sure to buy water from the cashier to drink on the hot walk back to town. The gift shop was small but had quite a few interesting items. A great sculpture of camels on the silk road is to the right of the museum near to the main road. If you continue north, Daniels tomb can be visited. If you head south towards town, the Jewish Cemetery, Presidents Tomb and Hazrat Khizr Mosque are all located on Tashkent Road.
Written 23 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gert78
Saint Nicolas, Belgium125 contributions
Jul 2019 • Solo
This is a small museum, of which the collection consists mainly of terracotta. It's main draw is it's fabulous fresco in the central room. Over all, the museum is definitely worth its low income price. As it is located on the end of the city, and you probably are staying more in the center, I suggest arranging transport to this museum and then walk back to your accomodation on a route past all the other attractions of Samarkand.
Written 24 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sgporteruk
Weston super Mare, UK7 contributions
Apr 2017 • Couples
Most European visitors arrive as part of an organised tour and might well miss this small gem of a museum as it is tucked away from the main tourist attractions. The exhibits do not have much by way of explanation for the English speaking and my wife and I were therefore grateful to Tuycheiva for taking us through the various ages of settlement of the Fort and the remarkable artifacts topped of course by the historic murals.
Written 25 April 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MamboMumbai
Mumbai, India115 contributions
May 2016 • Couples
See the English documentary first before you explore the ancient zorastrian murals found in a home and then restored at this museum. Definitely worth visiting.
Written 7 June 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mamed Askerov
Tashkent, Uzbekistan584 contributions
Feb 2016 • Friends
The museum was founded in 1970, five years after the ruins of ancient Afrosiyob city were discovered by chance. The museum holds many artifacts which could be of interest for history buffs. The most interesting, in my opinion, is the Painting of the Ambassadors, hall on the first floor. Thanks to restorer Geraldine Fray (with the funding coming from the U.S., French, South Korean and other international governmental and non-governmental organizations), the painting has almost been restored and is available for visitors.
The painting represents a rare example of Sogdians' (inhabitants of the Samarkand region) golden age. According to history books, the painting belonged to the palace, which is now in ruins, and dates back to the middle of the 7th century.
The painting represents a rare example of Sogdians' (inhabitants of the Samarkand region) golden age. According to history books, the painting belonged to the palace, which is now in ruins, and dates back to the middle of the 7th century.
Written 5 February 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fleurlass
St Peter Port, UK20 contributions
Apr 2023
This was such an interesting museum as the frescoes were clean and clear with the blue colours standing out. We later walked up the hill to see the area where they had been found. The displays around the central room were also well done and of great interest.
Written 8 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
grimj03
st helier343 contributions
Nov 2021
It is close to st David’s site and interesting showing the dig sites and finds. Coin collection very interesting.
Written 19 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kiransfootprints
Gurugram (Gurgaon), India306 contributions
Oct 2019
We were the only visitors in the museum that afternoon and I can understand why. The artifacts are well arranged and information is clear and concise. However, there are many items that require deeper understanding or greater appreciation than most of us possess.
Written 28 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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