The Igor Savitsky State Museum of Art is undoubtedly the jewel of Nukus. But step just a block or two away — and you'll discover another "face" of the city: intimate, warm, sometimes unexpected. Museums rarely mentioned in guidebooks tell the story of Karakalpakstan in a way no catalog ever could. We've gathered the places you should see to understand Nukus more deeply.
Museum of History and Culture
Address: Sabir Kamalov St., 24
This intimate museum tells the story of Karakalpakstan in all its natural and cultural diversity. Herbariums, stuffed rare birds and animals, minerals, models of ecosystems, and, of course, a separate hall dedicated to the problem of the Aral Sea. Archival photos show how the appearance of what was once the world's fourth-largest lake has changed.
Why go: if you are interested in ecology and want to see with your own eyes what has happened to the Aral Sea over the decades, then this is the place for you. Spoiler: here you can hear the story of how the Aral Sea has dried up and returned more than once.
Berdaq Museum of Karakalpak Literary History
Address: 1 Charjou Abdirov Street
Dedicated to Berdakh, a 19th-century poet, one of the symbols of Karakalpak identity. However, the exhibition is broader: it covers the development of literature in the region. The halls contain rare books, manuscripts, photographs, and personal belongings. Periodically, meetings with writers and poetry evenings are held.
Poor girls sit silently. / They are not allowed to have fun now. / They cannot sing — they say: 'Sharia' — / Darkness has covered our dark time.
– from Berdakh's poem "Hard Times"
Why go: if you want to hear the voice of the region — start with its poetry.
Exhibition Hall of the Karakalpak Branch of the Academy of Arts
Address: Berdakh Guzar St., 52a
Tucked away on the first floor of a textured panel building, the exhibition hall of the Karakalpak branch of the Academy of Arts of Uzbekistan is a place almost unknown to tourists, but one that can become a real discovery for lovers of contemporary art.
Exhibitions of works by students and teachers of the academy, as well as recognized masters from Karakalpakstan, are regularly held here. Painting, graphics, sculpture, ceramics — the exhibitions are constantly updated and allow one to see how traditional motifs intertwine with contemporary artistic trends.
Why go: the exhibition hall offers a look at the contemporary cultural life of the region—vibrant and evolving. Here you will see how the heritage of the past inspires a new generation of artists.
Bazarbay Sereyekev House-Museum
Address: Ak Kol St., 24
Working hours: daily 09:00-19:00
This is not just a museum, but almost a living archive of one of the most significant Karakalpak painters of the second half of the 20th century. Bazarby Serekeev's paintings are a celebration of everyday labor. He himself was incredibly hardworking: this is immediately evident from the number of works — studies, sketches, finished canvases — that are stored in his house today.
Why go: to see Karakalpakstan through the eyes of a Karakalpak person — in daily life, in the light, in the details, with respect and love.
Bakhtiyar Serekeyev's Gallery-Workshop
Address: Diyar St., 10
Business hours: Mon–Sun 09:00–23:00
Here is a different energy, even though the surname is familiar. Bakhtiyar — the son of Bazarbai Serekeev — inherited from his father a love for the land and folk motifs, which he has transferred into contemporary art. In his gallery hang unfinished paintings, stand easels, and lie tubes and albums. This space does not display art — it produces it.
Why to go: this is a rare opportunity to see not just the result, but the process. And to feel that the art of Karakalpakstan is not a page in an old textbook, but something that is happening right before your eyes. You can also catch the artist themselves and have a conversation about art.
Berdakh Academic Theater Museum
Address: 1 Yernazar Alakoz St
Working hours: Mon-Fri 09:00-17:00
Located right in the building of the city's main theater. The exhibition will tell you how the theatrical scene in the region was formed — through posters, scenery, costumes, props, and archival documents.
Why to go: if you love theater, this is like going backstage, and if you don't, you have a chance to fall in love with it.
Amet and Aiymkhan Shamuratovs House-Museum
Address: Zhipek Zholy St., 6
Poet and actress. He is the author of children's stories and plays about the Aral Sea region. She is a People's Artist of the USSR, having played over a hundred roles. Their home is a library, drafts, photographs, stage costumes, and an atmosphere of deep love for culture.
I live without haste, without rush, / I carry winter clothes in summer... / But my soul chases after knowledge, / To eradicate the ignoramus within myself.
- Amet Shamuratov
Why go: a warm, living space where the cultural history of the region becomes personal.
Nukus is not only the Savitsky Museum. It is a city where antiquities coexist with workshops, and poetry resonates as much as painting. Take a walk through these museums — and you will understand what and how Karakalpakstan lives.