National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Opened in 2014 on Independence Square, this is the largest museum in Central Asia, occupying a striking modern complex of interlocking blocks clad in glass and marble. Its halls trace the country's history from ancient nomadic cultures and the Golden Man burial finds through the Kazakh khanates to the founding of the modern capital. Exhibits combine archaeology, ethnography, fine art and interactive displays, and the museum also serves as a venue for major state and cultural events.