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The region’s cradle of culture for more than two millennia, Uzbekistan is the proud home to a spellbinding arsenal of architecture and ancient cities, all deeply infused with the bloody, fascinating history of the Silk Road. In terms of sights alone, Uzbekistan is Central Asia's biggest draw and most impressive showstopper.

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Attractions

Must-see attractions.

This ensemble of majestic, tilting medressas – a near-overload of majolica, azure mosaics and vast, well-proportioned spaces – is the centrepiece of the…

Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum

The beautiful portal and trademark fluted azure dome of the Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum marks the final resting place of Timur (Tamerlane), along with two sons…

Shah-i-Zinda

Samarkand’s most moving and beloved site is this stunning avenue of mausoleums, which contains some of the richest tilework in the Muslim world. The name,…

The spectacular-looking Ark, a royal town-within-a-town, is Bukhara’s oldest structure, occupied from the 5th century right up until 1920, when it was…

Savitsky Museum

The Savitsky Museum houses one of the most remarkable art collections in the former Soviet Union. About half of the paintings were brought here in Soviet…

Kalon Minaret

When it was built by the Karakhanid ruler Arslan Khan in 1127, the Kalon Minaret was probably the tallest building in Central Asia – kalon means…

Tosh-Hovli Palace

This palace, which means ‘Stone House’, contains Khiva’s most sumptuous interior decoration, dense with blue ceramic tiles, carved wooden pillars and…

Kumtepa Bazaar

Fergana Valley

The fantastic Kumtepa Bazaar, 5km west of Margilon centre, is a time capsule full of weathered Uzbek men in traditional clothing exchanging solemn…

Top picks from our travel experts

9 of the best things to do in uzbekistan.

Yodgorlik Silk Factory

Margilon's main attraction is this fascinating factory, a block west of the central Dekon Bazaar. English-language guides can walk you through traditional…

Khan’s Palace

The palace of the Khan of Kokand, with seven courtyards and 114 rooms, was built in 1873, though its dazzling tiled exterior makes it look so perfect that…

Rishton Ceramic Museum

Of the thousand local potters who make a living from the legendary local loam, only a handful are considered true masters who still use traditional…

Planning Tools

Expert guidance to help you plan your trip.

Best Things to Do

From skiing and wine-tasting to exploring the historic cities of the Silk Road, you’ll never be short of things to do in Uzbekistan.

Things to Know

Uzbekistan is now much easier to visit than in the past. We've got all the planning tips you need to make your first visit all you dreamed it would be.

Transportation

Travel the Silk Road through Uzbekistan by train, car or taxi with these essential transport tips.

Visa Requirements

It’s never been easier to travel to Uzbekistan – read on to see if you need a visa to and how to go about getting one.

Money and Costs

Experience everything the Silk Road has to offer in Uzbekistan, one of Asia’s most affordable destinations.

Traveling with Kids

Experience the Silk Road as a family with this guide to exploring Uzbekistan with kids.

Best Road Trips

Uzbekistan has been the setting for some of Asia’s most important road trips. Follow the network of Silk Roads with these driving routes.

Spending Diaries

A bucket-list trip to Central Asia for €2400 – and worth every cent.

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Regions [ edit ]

Cities [ edit ]

• 41.311111 69.279722 1 Tashkent — the modern capital and largest city.
• 40.781944 72.344167 2 Andijan — Uzbekistan's fourth largest city, right in the heart of the vibrant but combustible Ferghana Valley.

• 41.381389 60.361111 4 Khiva — site of the Itchan Kala
• 40.995278 71.6725 5 Namangan — the third largest city, at the northern edge of the Ferghana Valley.
• 42.464722 59.602222 6 Nukus — the capital of Qaraqalpaqstan on the Amu Darya is the home of the avant-garde painting collection of the Savitsky Gallery, and is surrounded by a region devastated by the environmental degradation wrought by the drying of the Aral Sea.
• 39.654722 66.975833 7 Samarkand — the nation's second largest city, the whole of which is a UNESCO World Heritage site, home to the most famous Silk Road attraction of them all, the Registan.
• 39.05 66.833333 8 Shakhrisabz — a small city, whose historical center is a UNESCO World Heritage site for its impressive monuments from the Timurid Dynasty.
• 37.224167 67.278333 9 Termez — the southernmost city near the border with Afghanistan .

Several of these were once great trading cities on the Silk Road .

Other destinations [ edit ]

• 45 60 1 Aral Sea — a lesson in the perils of environmental degradation, the drying of the Aral Sea has ravaged a region roughly the size of Germany with disease, birth defects, agricultural and economic devastation, and one-time cargo ships lying on their side in the dust.

Understand [ edit ]

The meaning of the name Uzbek is disputed. One version is that it is derived from Turkish 'uz/öz' ('good' or 'true') and 'bek' ('guardian'). Unlike the neighbouring Kazakhs and Kyrgyz, but like their close cousins the Uyghurs, the Uzbeks were mostly a sedentary people, building impressive cities along the old Silk Road .

There is a large population of people in Uzbekistan that speak Tajik (or other dialects of Persian), owing to historic communities in the region. Some of those people consider themselves Uzbek while others consider themselves as Tajik/Persian and living in Uzbekistan . There are also plenty of people who come from mixed Uzbek-Tajik families.

History [ edit ]

The earliest people in what is now Uzbekistan (that we have names for) are the Saka/Scythians, an Iranian-speaking nomadic peoples that controlled the western steppes from Dobruja to Tocharia from the 9th-3rd centuries BCE. Eventually, Iranian peoples settled down in the region, founding the great cities of Samarkand, Khiva, and Bukhara. These cities served as the northernmost border cities of the different Persian empires, although Irainian-speaking nomads still roamed the steppes to the north. Samarkand (then known as Maracanda ) was conquered by Alexander the Great during his campaigns against the Achaemenids (Persia under Cyrus the Great), and the cities of Cyra and Khujand (now both in Tajikistan) were the furthest north Alexander ever got.

With the death of Alexander, his empire split as different satraps (regional warlords) fought for total control. Eventually, the Greco-Bactrian kingdom emerged in the region, so named because it was a fusion of Hellenic and Bactrian cultures. Buddhism was introduced to the region about the same time that Alexander's empire crumbled (around 125 BCE), and it was through Uzbekistan that Buddhism spread into China and further east. Many Sanskrit words and place names are still found in Uzbek (the city of Bukhara is Sanskrit for "abbey"), which is a testament to the influence Buddhism had in the region. It was also in the Greco-Bactrian kingdom that many artistic elements of modern Buddhism (such as the robed figure and the top-knot hairstyle) took hold.

The Greco-Bactrian kingdom eventually collapsed from nomadic invasions (the Hephthalites or White Huns) and its cities were (re)conquered by later Persian and Indo-European states, including the Samanids, the Kushans, and Sasanians. By this time Christianity and Judaism had spread to Central Asia, and Bukhara became famous for its sect of Judaism. Nestorianism, a sect of Christianity, was dominant here, and spread into China and Mongolia before dying out with the arrival of Islam.

Islam was introduced by Arabs in the 8th-9th century. For the Iranian peoples, Islam was introduced as Arab conquests conquered the Sasanian Empire. At the same time as the Persians were being introduced to Islam, nomadic Turkic peoples became dominant on the steppes. The Battle of Talas (751 CE) between the Arab Caliphate and Tang China in modern-day Kyrgyzstan introduced Islam as a religion of victory for the Turkic peoples and reinforced Islam as a dominant religion in Central Asia (the battle itself was a stalemate otherwise).

Eventually, Arab dominance over Central Asia fell to local rulers, the largest of which was the state of Khworezmia (modern-day Turkmenistan and SW Kazakhstan ). Unfortunately for everyone in the region (especially the occupants of Merv ), the leader of Khworezmia, Shah Mohammed II, deliberately went to war with the rising Chinggis Khan, and the Mongols invaded. With Mongol victory, Central Asia was forever changed. No longer were Persian peoples politically dominant in the cities of Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva - they were still heavily Persian-populated, but they were now ruled by Mongolian or Turkic peoples. With the splitting of the Mongol Empire, the region became part of the Chagatai Khaganate, and Turkic peoples became more politically dominant. It was about the same time that the Uzbek people became more sedentary, and they mixed with local Persian peoples in most of the cities that are now in Uzbekistan.

The most famous leader to come from Uzbekistan is Timur ( Tamerlane in the West) who was born in Shahrisabz south of Samarkand in 1336 CE. He quickly overthrew the Chagatais and went on to conquer most of Central Asia, Afghanistan, and parts of Iran and India. His descendants were unable to support his empire (except in India where Babur founded the Mughal dynasty), and by the rise of European colonialism what is now Uzbekistan was composed of three main khanates: Khiva, Bukhara, and Kokand . With the rise of eastward Russian expansion into Siberia, the Russians became more involved in Central Asia. There was a traditional slave trade in the region (especially in Khiva), and Russian desires to prevent their people from being carted off as slaves led to further and further Russian conquests. Eventually, Russia outright annexed Samarkand and the Khanate of Kokand, and turned Khiva and Bukhara into "protectorates".

With the October Revoution in 1917, the Soviet Union was born, bringing communism to Central Asia. The Basmachi Revolt (1916-1934) kept communism out of the region for a while, but was eventually harshly repressed by the victorious Bolsheviks. As punishment (or paranoia), the protectorates of Khiva and Bukhara were formally annexed and Stalin carved Central Asia into the borders we have today, to deliberately weaken the power of any one SSR. Ostensibly, these SSRs were drawn to reflect the ethnic populations inhabiting them, but in reality this meant carving the historically-Persian-dominated cities of Samarkand and Bukhara out of the Persian Tajik SSR and into the Uzbek SSR.

Soviet rule brought about both good and bad things to Uzbekistan. Poverty levels decreased while education levels increased rapidly, and women had more social and political freedom than before. But the anti-religious bent of the ruling Soviets kneecapped Central Asian Islam (Soviets would gather up imams and muftis and shoot them), and planned monoculture agribusiness destroyed the Uzbek environment. During the Soviet era, intensive production of "white gold" (cotton) and grain led to overuse of agrochemicals and the depletion of water supplies, which have left the land poisoned and the Aral Sea and certain rivers half dry. The redirection of the Amu Darya into the Turkmen Canal has been the main source of the Aral Sea's depletion.

Uzbekistan gained independence in 1991, following the breakup of the Soviet Union. Between 1991 and 2016, the country was ruled by Islam Karimov and his government was widely criticized for its poor human rights record. Corruption was rampant during the Karimov years, and Uzbekistan was practically isolated from the rest of the world.

After the death of Karimov, newcomer Shavkat Mirziyoyev was elected president. Under Mirziyoyev, Uzbekistan has started opening up to the world and it would appear that his government is actively trying to improve Uzbekistan's global image and reputation. Whether or not this is genuine is yet to be seen.

Climate [ edit ]

Uzbekistan is very hot and sunny most of the year. There is an inland temperate subtropical climate (but palm trees do not grow). the climate is similar to the climate of northern Greece , central Italy or northern Spain or southern France , central Turkey or the climate of Nevada , Colorado or northern California . The hottest months in this country are June, July and August. July is especially hot, and the temperature is considered normal from +45 to +55. Nevertheless, such temperatures are easier to tolerate here, since the air here is very dry, and not humid, as for example in India , Malaysia and similar countries. The most comfortable is to visit this country from mid-May to early June or from August to early September, when it is not cool as in winter, but also not very hot as in summer peak. But it is worth considering that in April and May, as well as in September and October, rainy, cloudy and windy days are not uncommon. There will definitely be no rains and cloudy days only in the summer months. It may snow in Uzbekistan in winter, but it usually melts in a few days, remaining only in mountainous areas.

The hottest regions are Surkhandarya, Kashkadarya, Navoi and Bukhara Vilayats, and the coldest (meaning in winter) are Khorezm Vilayat and the autonomous Republic of Karakalpakstan.

Geography [ edit ]

Uzbekistan measures 1450 km West to East and 930 km North to South.

Mostly flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes; broad, flat intensely irrigated river valleys along course of Amu Darya, Syr Darya (Sirdaryo) and Zarafshon; Ferghana Valley in east surrounded by mountainous Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan ; shrinking Aral Sea in west.

• Syr Darya crosses the Ferghana Valley and runs on the North East edge of the Kizil Kum Desert. It is 2212 km long (3019 km including its source Naryn). In antiquity, it was called Jaxartes . Syr Darya flows into the (smaller) Northern part of the Aral Sea .
• Amu Darya rises in the Hindukush and has a length of 2540 km. It was called Oxus in antiquity. It can be a rapid river in spring and is called Dsaihun (suffering from rabies) in Arabic. The river has changed its course several times. Konye Urgench in Turkmenistan , the capital of the old empire of Chwarezm, was situated on the banks of the Amu Darya. Today the distance between the river and the old city is about 40 km. Amu Darya flows into the (bigger) Southern part of the Aral Sea .

Uzbekistan and Liechtenstein are the only two doubly landlocked countries in the world; all their neighbours are landlocked. However, Uzbekistan has the southern shoreline of the Aral Sea, and a couple of its neighbours border the Caspian Sea, but both "seas" are (or, were, in the case of the Aral) actually huge lakes and do not connect to the oceans.

Holidays [ edit ]

• 1 Jan – New Year ( Yangi Yi Bayrami )
• 8 Mar – International Women's Day ( Xalqaro Xotin-Qizlar Kuni )
• 21 Mar – Navroz (Persian New Year) ( Navro'z Bayrami )
• 9 May – Remembrance Day, Peace Day or Liberation Day ( Xotira va Qadirlash Kuni ), remembering that Uzbek troops participated in the Soviet army and that 500,000 Uzbek soldiers were killed in World War II.
• 1 Sep – Independence Day ( Mustaqillik Kuni ), remembering the proclamation of independence from the Soviet Union in 1991
• 1 Oct – Teachers' Day ( O'qituvchi va Murabbiylar Kuni )
• 8 Dec – Constitution Day ( Konstitutsiya Kuni ), remembering the proclamation of the first constitution of independent Uzbekistan in 1992.

Holidays in accordance with the lunar year: the dates of these holidays vary according to the lunar calendar.

• Kurban Kait (Qurbaon Hayit)
• Ramadan ( Ramazon Hayit )

Read [ edit ]

Colin Thubron, The Lost Heart of Asia, 1994, Penguin

Visitor information [ edit ]

• uzbekistan.travel (official tourism website)

Talk [ edit ]

The official state language of Uzbekistan is Uzbek , a Turkic language. The majority of citizens (over 85%) are ethnic Uzbeks and speak it as their native language, although due to its history as part of the Soviet Union, many (especially in Tashkent ) also speak Russian , which is still a mandatory second language in all schools, and is the de facto second official language and used for interethnic communication. Local Russian has been strongly influenced by Uzbek, and many Uzbek speakers often use Russian words and terms in their everyday conversations (especially in cities), although there are very few Russian words and terms in the official register (for example in television, mass media, books and newspapers). The official script of the Uzbek language has been the Uzbek Latin alphabet since 1993, but the Cyrillic alphabet, introduced during the Soviet period, is actively used de facto in parallel (simultaneously) with the Latin alphabet. Uzbek speakers will easily understand the Uyghur language, they generally understand Turkish and Azerbaijani, they have a little difficulty understanding Turkmen, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Tatar, Crimean Tatar and Bashkir, as well as many other Turkic languages.

There are also significant numbers of ethnic Tajiks and Kazakhs in Uzbekistan, primarily speaking their native tongue as a first language. In Samarkand and Bukhara, for instance, one is just as likely to hear Tajik being spoken as Uzbek. Russian is widely spoken especially in the cities. In Tashkent the majority of the population speak Russian as a first language and one is just as likely to hear it being spoken as Uzbek. Identity may or may not be tied with language, depending on who you ask; it is equally as likely to find someone speaking Tajik who identifies as Tajik as it is to find someone speaking Tajik who identifies as Uzbek.

In the semi-autonomous region called the "Republic of Karakalpakstan" in western Uzbekistan, ethnic Karakalpaks (over 33% in Karakalpakstan) speak their native language, which is closely related to Kazakh and Kyrgyz. Karakalpak and Uzbek have equal rights as an official language here. Many Karakalpaks also speak Russian and Uzbek and understand Kazakh and Kyrgyz well, having three or even four or five languages.

In cities, more and more people speak English , especially in the field of hotel business and catering. In tourist cities (for example, in Tashkent, Bukhara, Samarkand or Khiva) and establishments you will not encounter problems with English. English has become compulsory to study (along with Russian) in schools starting from the first grade (previously, English was studied only from the third grade and Russian from the first grade), and in May 2021, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced that graduates up to the university level must be proficient in at least two foreign languages. As a result, English has become an increasingly popular language of study. However, this does not mean that any passerby (even young age) will be able to speak English proficiently, especially given the relative rarity of well-trained English teachers in the country. The generation born after 1995 speaks English better than others, while the older generation, who studied in Soviet schools, learned German as a foreign language, and remember a few German words.

Get in [ edit ]

Entry requirements [ edit ]

Uzbekistan eased its visa requirements and as of March 2019 citizens of 65 countries can visit the country without having to get a visa. These include the CIS countries whose citizens generally can stay for 90 days, and nationals of most first world countries (notably U.S. citizens have to obtain a visa for anything other than transit) and some others that can stay for 30 days.

One note: Citizens of China (PRC) on tours, the U.S. , and Vietnam who are 55 years or older are able to visit Uzbekistan visa-free for up to 30 days as a tourist. Anyone younger than 55 from one of those countries (or citizens of China who are not on a tour) are required to have a visa in advance.

To apply for a visa complete the application form from here [dead link] , print out the resulting PDF and take to your printed form, together with some photos and a photocopy of your passport to your nearest Uzbek embassy. They will then ask the MFA in Tashkent for permission to issue a visa, which takes 7-14 days. Once this permission is granted you can pick up your visa. To avoid two trips to the embassy you can get a Letter of Invitation (LOI) in advance (by email) and once approval has been granted you can pick up your visa from your chosen embassy in only 1 visit - this is handy for people travelling who want to pick up a visa 'on the go'. An LOI can be obtained from travel companies when a hotel booking is made. Talk to your local travel agent in your own country. The LOI will typically cost US$30-40 for a short stay. For the latest information see the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs .

Visitors to the country are officially required to register their lodging at least every three days. Most established hotels will register you by default for free. Make sure you ask your hotel to give you a copy of the registration slip - you could well have to show them to the border guards when you leave the country. If you stay at a house, you will face a lot of bureaucratic paperwork in order to register yourself. Make sure that it is done, else you risk a 100-dollar fee when you depart.

While the official rules for registration are quite clear, the necessity of providing documentation of registration upon exiting the country are vague. The minimum effort you can get away with will depend on the border crossing, how harmless you look, and the whimsy of any given customs officer. Still, they aren't so strict now on the whole "re-registration every three days" business. You can likely get away with registering a couple of times in a month (even not at all) and making a few excuses at your exit point. Sometimes they don't even ask. Keep overnight train tickets for this. Probably a good idea to register once or twice though just for the sake of a smooth crossing. Online registration is an expensive effort.

When you enter Uzbekistan you might find fairly lengthy immigration and passport procedures (or not), but these are fairly painless.

Travel permits are required for the mountain areas near the border to Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan , including great parts of the Ugam-Chatkal National Park and Zaamin National Park .

Update: Since July 2017, Uzbekistan offers a full online process for certain citizens that wish to apply for a visa. The eVisa can be applied for on the government's website . As the website can be quite finicky (e.g. very specific but poorly explained requirements for passport photos, unclear error messages), soliciting other's experiences in navigating the application is useful.

By plane [ edit ]

There are airports at Andijan , Bukhara , Ferghana , Karshi , Namangan , Nukus , Samarkand , Tashkent , Termez and Urgench .

By train [ edit ]

Usable passenger services only exist to Kazakhstan and via Kazakhstan to Russia . These include the following trains:

• Tashkent - Moscow (3 times weekly): Train 6 Uzbekistan leaves Moscow on M W and F at 23:15 and arrives in Tashkent at 22:35 on W F and Su. The distance from Moscow to Tashkent by rail is 3,369 km. Some Moscow-bound trains run to/from Andijan.
• Tashkent - Ufa (3 times weekly)
• Tashkent - Chelyabinsk (once weekly)
• Tashkent - Novosibirsk (every 4 days)
• Nukus - Tashkent - Almaty (once weekly)

There are also railway lines linking Uzbekistan to Turkmenistan and Tajikistan , but they are used only by transit trains, therefore inaccessible for people to/from Uzbekistan. See respective countries for details.

By car [ edit ]

Generally, Uzbek border posts are open during normal business hours (usually 9am - 6pm), although some busier ones can be open 24/7. It is relatively easy to take a (shared) taxi to the border, walk across, and find a (shared) taxi on the other side to take you to your final destination. Driving your own or rented car across a border necessitates more paperwork and includes some import costs.

From Afghanistan [ edit ]

The Friendship Bridge, 10 km south of Termez , links Afghanistan with Uzbekistan.

From Kazakhstan [ edit ]

There are only two border crossings between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan:

• Gisht Kuprik (Chernyaevka) between Shymkent and Tashkent is the main road crossing between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan . A shared taxi or marschrutka from Kolos bus stop at Shymkent to the border costs about US$4. The trip takes about 1 hour. The border is open 07:00 to 21:00 (Tashkent time). You will have to walk over the border and to take a taxi from the border to Tashkent , which will cost about 6000 som. There are reports of waiting times up to 6 hours at the border.
• There is another crossing between Beyneu in Western Kazakhstan and Kungrad in Uzbekistan.

From Kyrgyzstan [ edit ]

• Buses from Bishkek to Uzbekistan stop at Gisht Kuprik (Chernyaevka) border. You will have to take a taxi from the border to Tashkent for 6000 som. A transit visa for Kazakhstan is required.
• You can take a taxi or minibus from Jalal Abad to Khanabad (20 som) and walk over the border.
• You can take a taxi (50 som) or minibus (5 som) from Osh to Dustlyk (Dostyk) and a shared taxi from there to Andijan in Uzbekistan

From Turkmenistan [ edit ]

There are three main crossings from Uzbekistan to Turkmenistan that foreigners can use: Farap-Alat (connecting Bukhara and Türkmenabat ), Shavat-Dashoguz (connecting Khiva / Urgench and Dashoguz ), and Hojayli-Konye Urgench (connecting Nukus with Konye Urgench ). If traveling from Uzbekistan into Turkmenistan, make sure all of your paperwork (especially your visa) is taken care of before you cross the border.

By bus [ edit ]

When land borders are open, buses run to all neighboring countries.

By boat [ edit ]

Apart from the southern section of the inland Aral sea, Uzbekistan is land-locked: it's one of only two doubly landlocked countries in the world, the other being Liechtenstein .

Get around [ edit ]

The most comfortable way to travel between the major tourist cities in Uzbekistan is by train. The main line Tashkent - Samarkand - Bukhara is served once a day in each direction by two express trains named "Afrosiob" and "Sharq": The Afrosiob is a Talgo-250-type train that takes 2.5 hours for Tashkent to Samarkand and it even meets most definitions of high speed rail at 250 km/h (160 mph) top speed . The "Sharq" takes less than 7 hours for the 600-km-journey Tashkent - Bukhara (with intermediate stop in Samarkand). A daily overnight train to and from Tashkent to Kungrad offers the possibility to travel during the night and so a day is not lost travelling. Comfortable sleeping carriages allow a good sleep.

The timetable is available online [dead link] . The server is often down, but you can use the Russian Railways website to see timetables.

Unlike to ordinary local trains the express trains have three classes: The economy class (2nd) with 36 persons per carriage and still plenty of space and comfort, the business class (1st) and the VIP class (expect some free drinks and snacks). The Afrosiob is the fastest and most expensive train which costs from Tashkent to Samarkand for 2nd/1st/VIP 51,000/68,000/98,000 soms. Doing the same trip with the Sharq will save you around 22,000 soms ($7) in each class, but increases the travel time for almost 1.30h.

Overnight trains also run from Tashkent via Samarkand to Kungrad (7 times weekly), so it's also possible to travel to Khiva (30 kilometres from Urgench, taxi/bus available) or to the Aral Sea (Moynaq, 70 km from Kungrad) by train. On Thursdays, there is an overnight train in Urgench that also stops in Bukhara.

There are four types of sleepers:

• miagki vagon (soft wagon) - 2 berth compartments
• kupeiny vagon - 4 berth compartments
• platskartny vagon - closely packed beds in a commonspace
• obshi vagon - as above but beds used in the seating configuration, therefore used for day trips

Train tickets can be purchased online up to 45 days in advance. Booking in advance is recommended; booking on the day of departure is sometimes not possible as trains can get full or due to computer problems. If you buy the ticket in person, you'll have to show your passport. Some basic Russian can come in handy as well.

By shared taxi [ edit ]

The second best option, and an experience. Don't be put off as these are pretty safe as far as the people go, although the roads may be a different story. But for getting between Nukus and Khiva, or Khiva to Urgench to Bukhara, this is the only realistic way to go.

The taxi driver will have a destination city: so at the ranks ask around for the city you're headed to. If you match, you then negotiate a rate. Ask around beforehand, you can quite easily get ripped off, because each passenger negotiates separately with the driver, so he can charge locals normal rates and take you for all you have.

Once you've done that, you wait. The car only leaves when full, or when the driver gets bored. If possible, get the front passenger seat. Don't be polite about this as you do not want the middle seat. When it's over 50°C in the middle of the desert, with no air conditioning (you pay extra for a car with that), you want to be as close to a window as possible, and with only one person sweating against you!

Also, some roads are slow and sometimes of very poor quality. It takes 6-8 hours from Urgench to Bukhara if you're lucky. When you do this section you'll understand why you don't want to risk the bus.

10,000 som per hour in a shared taxi between cities is a good rule of thumb, depending on your haggling skills.

If you travel any distance on a bus in Uzbekistan, take toilet paper with you and be careful what you eat at stops along the way.

Intercity buses are uncomfortable. No more uncomfortable than other intercity buses in this part of the world, but the constant hooting, bickering locals, tinny Russian music videos and ever-present smell of sausages can make for an irritating journey.

On the bright side, if you're lucky you might be offered some sausages.

Drive on the right. International driving permit required. Minimum age: 17. Speed limit: 60 to 80 km/h in urban areas, 90 km/h on highways.

Traffic is dangerous for both drivers and pedestrians. Cars are often in poor condition and traffic rules are rarely followed. The country has a seat-belt law, but compliance is haphazard. The use of mobile phones while driving is prohibited.

In remote areas, roads are often poorly surfaced and poorly lit. Outside the metropolitan area, petrol stations are scarce and fuel quality can vary. Access to spare parts can be difficult.

There are several paved highways with two lanes in Uzbekistan:

• AH5 from Gishtkuprik/Chernyavka on the border to Kazakhstan via Tashkent , Syrdaria, Samarkand , Navoi and Bukhara to Alat on the border to Turkmenistan (680 km),
• AH7 from the border to Kyrgyzstan via Andijon, Tashkent and Syrdaria to Xovos/Khavast on the border to Tajikistan (530 km),
• AH62 from Gishtkuprik/Chernyavka on the border to Kazakhstan via Tashkent , Syrdaria, Samarkand and Guzar to Termez on the border to Afghanistan (380 km),
• AH63 from Oazis on the border to Kazakhstan in the North West of Uzbekistan via Nukus and Bukhara to Guzar (950 km paved road, 240 km unpaved)
• AH65 from Uzun on the border to Tajikistan to Termez on the border to Afghanistan (180 km)

Others [ edit ]

You can travel by private taxi, minibus or normal bus. While there are official taxis, most cars will become taxis if you wave them down. Meters are rare, so agree the price beforehand.

Urban transport [ edit ]

During the day the metro (underground train) is the good option. After midnight you are recommended to use taxi services. It is better to call the taxi (car-service) to pick you up in advance. Some car-services can serve the foreign speaking tourists. You can get more information in the hotel.

See [ edit ]

Uzbekistan, a republic in the former Soviet Union , is one of the cradles of culture in the Central Asia region. The country offers an array of semi-arid landscapes and ancient sites, steeped with a history along the Silk Road .

Architecture [ edit ]

Uzbekistan has preserved a rich architectural heritage. The construction of monumental buildings was seen as a matter of prestige, emphasizing the power of the ruling dynasty, leading families and higher clergy. The external appearance of towns was determined to a great extent by their fortifications. The walls were flanked at regular intervals by semicircular towers and the entrances to towns were marked by darwazas (gates). These gates usually had a high vault and a gallery for lookout and were flanked by two mighty towers. The doors were closed at night and in case of danger. Along the main streets were rows of shops, specialized in different goods, and many skilled craftsmen had their workshops in these stalls. The most important covered markets are called tag , tim or bazaars (shopping passages) and charsu (crossroads, literally "four directions"). In big cities the ark (fortress) was the administrative center. It contained the emir's palace, chancellery, treasury, arsenal and the jail for high-ranking prisoners. The towns also had large public centres, consisting of a maydan (open square) surrounded by large buildings for civil or religious purposes.

Religious buildings [ edit ]

• The Friday Mosque (Masjid Al Jumu'ah) is located in the town. It had a spacious courtyard with a surrounding gallery and a maqsura (screened-off enclosure) in the main axis. A typical example is the Kalan Mosque at Bukhara .
• The Oratory Mosque (Namazgah) is situated outside of the town. Prayers at two important Muslim festivals were conducted in public. The worshippers gathered in an open space in front of the building where the minbar (imam's pulpit) stood.
• The Neighbourhood Mosque was smaller in size and consisted of a covered hall with the mihrab and an exterior gallery with columns. They were built from donations of the inhabitants of the neighbourhood and are often richly decorated. An example of this type is the Baland (Boland) Mosque at Bukhara .
• The Madrasa is an institution for higher education of ulama (Islamic scholars). The madrasa has a courtyard with two or four aywand (arched portals) on the axes which were used as classrooms in the summer, a row of cells on one or two floors, darsakhanas (lecture rooms) in two or four corners and a mosque for daily prayer. The main facade has a high portal with two or four minaret-like towers at the corners of the building. Madrasas from the 16th and 17th centuries that have been preserved are Madar-Khan , Abdullah Khan , Kukeldash , Nadir Divan Begi and Abdul Aziz Khan at Bukhara , Shir-Dor and Tilla-Kari at Samarkand , Kukeldash and Baraq Khan in Tashkent , Said Ataliq at Denau and Mir Rajab Dotha at Kanibadam . Madrasas built in the 18th and 19th century include Narbuta Bi at Kokand , Qutlugh Murad Inaq , Khojamberdybii , Khoja Moharram , Musa Tura and Allah-Quili Khan in Khiva .
• The Khanaqah was originally a guest house for travelling Sufis near the residence of their pir (spiritual masters). Under the Timurids they became meeting places of the followers of a Sufi order, attended by representatives of the ruling elite and often a zikr-khana (room for exposition and Sufi rites) was added. Examples of khanaqas from the 16th and 17th century include Zaynuddin , Fayzabad , Bahaudin and Nadi Divan-Begi at Bukhara , Mulla Mir near Ramitan , Qasim Shaiykh at Karmana and Imam Bahra near Khatirchi .
• Memorial buildings were erected in the 14th and 15th centuries git Temur and his family, e.g. Gur-Emir and Shah-i Zinda at Samarkand and at Shakrizabs . In the 16th and 17th centuries fewer mausoleums were built. An example from this period is the Qafal Shashi Mausoleum in Tashkent . Monumental buildings were often erected near holy tombs. At Bukhara a monumental kanaqah was built near the founder of the Naqshbandi order, Bahauddein and at Char Bakr , the family necropolis of the powerful Juybari shaykhs. From the 16th century onwards, mausoleums for rulers were no longer built. The rulers were interred in madrasas, the Shaybanids of Samarkand in the Abu Said Mausoleum on the Registan , Ubaydullah Khan from Bukhara in the Mir-i Arab Madrasa and Abdul Aziz Khan in the Abdul Aziz Madrasa .

Civic architecture [ edit ]

• Market buildings (Charsu, Tim, Taq) form the very heart of an oriental town. The charsu is a building covered by a central dome, standing at the crossroads, surrounded by shops and workshops covered by small domes. The tim is a trading passage and the taq a domed building on a smaller scale built at the intersection of major streets. At Bukhara the Taq-i Zargaran (Goldsmiths' Dome) has an octagonal central space covered by a dome set on 32 intersecting arches. Shops and workshops around the central space are topped by small domes.
• Caravanserais played an important role along the trade routes. According to the traditional plan a caravanserai is a rectangular building with a large courtyard, galleries for animals and baggage, lodgings for the travellers and a mosque. The outer walls were high and thick, the entrance was well guarded and at the corners there were towers for defense. The best exampla is at Rabat al-Malik . A small number of caravanserais have survived, party in ruins, e.g. the caravanserai near the Qaraul Bazar on the road from Bukhara to Karshi , the Abdullah Khan caravanserai on the road from Karshi to Termez .
• Bathhouses from the 16th and 17th centuries have been preserved at Samarkand , Sahrh-i Sabz , Bukhara and Tashkent . They are heated by a system of channels under the floor, distributing the heat uniformly through the whole building. Some of them have rooms for disrobing, hot and cold rooms, a massage room or a water closet. Bathhouses are covered with domes which give them their characteristic external appearance.

Architectural Ensembles [ edit ]

• The Pay-i Kalan (Pedestal of the Great at Bukhara ,
• The Kosh Madrasa at Bukhara ,
• The Lab-i Hauz at Bukhara ,
• The Registan at Samarkand
• The Char-Bakr Complex at Sumitan, outside of Bukhara

Nature Reserves [ edit ]

• Jeyran Ecological Centre ( 40 km from Bukhara ). The jeyran (Central Asian gazelle) was hunted in the last century by men in jeeps and helicopters. Today, the Uzbekistan jeyran is included in the Red Book of Endangered Species). The Jeyran ecological centre was founded about 1985 and is the only one of its kind in Central Asia. At the beginning 42 jeyrans were brought here, but today 700 unique animals live here in a fenced area of 5000 hectares. Besides jeyrans, Prezhevalskiy horses and koulans are bred in the reserve.  
• Kitab State Geological Reserve .  

• Kyzylkum Tugai and Sand Reserve ( in the north-west of Bukhara Province ). The reserve was founded in 1971. It covers the flood-lands of the Amu Darya river and the sand-dune desert near-by. The riverside vegetation occupies an area of 3177 hectares and the sand area is 2544 hectares. The best time to visit the reserve is spring. According to ornithologists there are 190 species of birds in the reserve, including herons, river terns, wild ducks, sandpipers NS turtle-doves. The reserve has a lush flora of poplars, silver oleasters and riverside willows. Deer, wild boars, wolves, jackals, foxes, hares and reed cats live on the tugai woods and zhe population of jeyrans is being restored.  
• Nuratau-Kyzylkum Biospheric Reserve . The Nuratau-Kyzylkum Biospheric Reserve is being implemented by the government of Uzbekistan, Global Ecology Fund and UN Development Program and co-financed by German Union of Nature Protection. The reserve lies between the desert and mountain systems of Central Asia. It consists of the southern part of the Kyzylkum Desert, lakes Aydarkul and Tuzgan and the mountain ridges of Nuratau and Koitash. The existing Nurata Reserve and Arnasay Ornithological Reserve on Lake Tuzgan will be integrated into the new Nuratau-Kyzylkum Biospheric Reserve. Among the animals integtrated in the Red Book of Endagered Species are the Severtsev ram or Kyzylkum ram, golden eagle, bearded and black griffon-vulture. In the reserve are rare sorts of walnut-trees, Central Asian juniper, Bukhara almond-trees, pistachio-trees, wild vines, apricot-trees, apple-trees and various sorts of dog-roses. Nuratau-Kyzylkum Biospheric Reserve will be included in the UNESCO global list of biosphere reserves. The experiences will be used in founding biosphere reserves in the Central Kyzylkum Desert, Southern Ustyurt Desert and the tugai woods of the river Amu Darya.  
• Ugam-Chatkal National Park ( in the spurs of the Western Tien Shan, about 80 km from Tashkent ). Ugam-Chatkal National Park is one of the oldest nature reserves in Uzbekistan, founded in 1947. The Western Tien Shan is the natural habitat to 44 species of mammals, 230 species of birds and 1168 species of plants including several endemic plants. In the National Park live white-claw bears, wolves, Tien Shan foxes, red marmots, stone-martens, Turkestan lynx, snow leopards, wild boars, badgers, Siberian roes, mountain goast and Tien Shan wild rams as well as wild turkeys, mountain partridges, golden eagles, bearded and eagle vultures. The slopes of the Pskem ridge are covered with walnut-trees, wild fruit trees and wild bushes. The banks of the river are occupied by archa (Central Asian juniper). The Chimgan-Charvak-Beldersay Resort Zone , covering an area 100,000 hectares, has three health-recreation complexes: 'Charvak', 'Chimgan' and 'Beldersay'.  

Do [ edit ]

• Camel trekking ( in the yurt camps at Lake Aidarkul or Ayaz-Quala ).  
• Bird watching .  
• Trekking ( in the Ugam Chatkal National Park ).  
• Rafting ( in the Chatkal or Syr-Darya Rivers ).  
• Skiing .  
• Yillar . The socio-religious observance, where traditions carried out during Christmas abroad take place across Uzbekistan during the New Year, including the trimming of its decorations.  

Costs [ edit ]

Uzbekistan is cheaper than neighbouring Kazakhstan, but probably a little more expensive than Kyrgyzstan or Tajikistan. A street snack costs about US$0.80. A comfortable double room is US$40.

Bazaars [ edit ]

In Uzbekistan people traditionally buy goods at bazaars . Prices are fixed in department stores only. In bazaars, private shops and private souvenir stores haggling is part of the game. Bazaars are the best place to observe the daily life of the locals. The Alayski Bazaar is one of the oldest and most famous bazaars of Central Asia. You will find beautiful rugs, silk, spices, handicrafts and traditional clothes in the Eski Djouva and Chor Su bazaars in the Old City of Tashkent.

Typical souvenirs are:

• babaichik , figurines,
• tubeteika , traditional Uzbek caps and
• Shiljait , Shilajit means "Conqueror of mountains and destroyer of weakness". It is used in Ayurvedic medicine as an herbal rejuvinator, nerve tonic and natural stimulant.

Eat [ edit ]

When you go to restaurants, always ask for menu or price if they do not provide one. While some of the well-established restaurants provide surprisingly good value by European standards, some of the random or less popular restaurants try to take advantage of tourists by overcharging up to five times the normal price.

• Bread - Uzbeks eat lots of bread ( non in Uzbek). Round bread is called lepioshka in Russian. You can buy it anywhere, in the bazaar it costs around 1,000-2,500 som. It is delicious when freshly baked and makes a good snack by itself. Samarkand is very famous for its bread. The characteristic Samarkand bread obi-non is traditionally baked in clay furnaces. Bread is served with every meal.
• Chocolate - Not something you associate with Uzbekistan, but the country produces some very good chocolate cake. A slice of rich moist cake can cost 10,000 to 25,000 som in a cafe or restaurant. However, if you purchase in a cake shop expect to pay 4,000 to 5,000 som per slice. A slice can cost even less if you are able to charm one from a seller in the wholesale section of the market. Individually wrapped chocolates are also available by the kilogram from mix and match bins in the markets and also in some convenience stores.
• Chuchvara - similar to ravioli and stuffed with mutton and onions (aka 'pelmeni' in Russian).
• Lagman - thick soup with meat, potatoes, spices, vegetables and pasta. By right, it should include 50 ingredients. Often carrot, red beet, cabbage, radish, garlic, tomatoes, peppers and onions are added. The noodles should be very thin.
• Manti - lamb and onion filled dumplings, often with onions, peppers and mutton fat.
• Osh (also known as plov, palov or pilaf) is the national dish. It's made of rice, carrots, onions, and mutton, and you will eat it if you go to Uzbekistan. Each region has its own way of cooking plov, so you should taste it in different places. According to legend plov was invented by the cooks of Alexander the Great . Plov can also be made with peas, carrots, raisins, dried apricots, pumpkins or quinces. Often spices such as peppers, crushed or dried tomatoes are added.
• Shashlik - grilled meat. Usually served only with raw onions. Veal or mutton is marinated in salt, peppers and vinegar and eight to ten pieces of meat are grilled on a spit over the open fire.
• Somsas , which are pastry pockets filled with beef, mutton, pumpkin or potatoes. In spring, "green somsas" are made from yalpiz , mint or pennyroyal growing wild in the mountains and rural areas. And the amazing thing is people just pick them up for free and make tasty somsas. You can find somsas being cooked and sold on the streets.
• Mastava . rice soup with pieces of onion, carrots, tomatoes, peas and occasionally wild plums.  
• Shurpa . soup of mutton (sometimes beef) and vegetables.  
• Bechbarmak . a speciality of the nomadic Kazakhs, boiled meat of sheep or ox and pieces of liver, served with onions, potatoes and noodles.  

Being a historic crossroads and part of numerous empires, Uzbek food is very eclectic in its origins. Indian, Iranian, Arab, Russian, Chinese and even Korean influences all contribute to Uzbekistan's unique cuisine.

Drink [ edit ]

There are two national drinks of Uzbekistan: tea and vodka (result of more than a century of Russian domination of the land).

• Tea is served virtually everywhere: home, office, cafes, etc. Uzbek people drink black tea in winter and green tea in summer, instead of water. If tea is served in the traditional manner, the server will pour tea into a cup from the teapot and then pour the tea back into the teapot. This action is repeated three times. These repetitions symbolize loy (clay) which seals thirst, moy (grease) which isolates from the cold and the danger and tchai (tea or water) which extinguishes the fire. If you are being served tea in an Uzbek home, the host will attempt at all times to make sure your cup is never filled. If the host fills your cup, it probably means that it is time for you to leave, but this occurs really rarely, because Uzbeks are very hospitable. The left hand is considered impure. The tea and the cups are given and taken by the right hand.

A mind-numbing variety of brands of wine and vodka are available almost everywhere.

Since the Republic of Uzbekistan is a secular state, the sale/purchase and consumption of alcoholic beverages are allowed and absolutely free, as for example in Turkey or Russia . Previously, alcohol was sold in any stores, but now the laws allow selling alcoholic beverages only to those stores that have a license and are several hundred meters away from schools/kindergartens and religious sites.

• Wine produced in Uzbekistan has won numerous international prestigious awards for a high quality. Although Uzbekistan is predominantly Muslim, for the most part the Islam practiced there tends to be more cultural than religious.
• Beer is available in every shop and is treated as soft drink and does not require any license to sell. There are special licensed shops selling Vodka, Wine and other Drinks. Russian made vodka is available in only few shops.
• Kumis is fermented mare's milk, which is alcoholic.

Nightlife [ edit ]

In Tashkent there are various night (dance) clubs and restaurants. They usually work till late night/early morning. Take enough cash because drinks and snacks are much more expensive than in daytime restaurants. Also you can find overnight Uzbek "chill-out" restaurants where you enjoy traditional food laying on large wooden sofas (tapchans/suri). It is not recommended to hang out on the street or parks after 11PM; even if you do not face problems with criminals, you will definitely attract unwanted interest from local police (militsiya) patrolling the area.

Sleep [ edit ]

Hotels [ edit ].

There are many hotels in the country. In Tashkent , accommodations can cost US$30 or more, depending on your preferred level of luxury.

Yurt stays [ edit ]

• Nurata Yurt Camp , about 500 km (7 hours drive) from Tashkent , 250 km /3 hours drive) from Samarkand and Bokhara , near Aydakul Lake, US$60 per person incl. full board and camel trip. The Yurts can accommodate 8 to 10 people.
• Ayaz Kala Yurt Camp , about 100 km from Khiva , 70 km from Urgench , 450 km from Bokhara and 150 km from Nukus. phone 2210770, 2210707, 3505909, fax 53243–61. Access from Khiva and Urgench is via a pontoon bridge over the Amu Darya River. The yurts are on a hill about 30 meters high, near the archaeological site of Ayaz Kala. The ancient fortresses of Ayaz Kala are nearby. US$ 60 per person incl. three meals. The yurts can accommodate 20 to 25 persons.
• Aydar Yurt Camp , in the Navoi region in the center of the Kyzyl Kum desert, 10 km from Lake Aydar Kul. The Aydar Yurt Camp is famous for camel safaris.

Work [ edit ]

The economy of Uzbekistan is experiencing an acute shortage of highly qualified and simply qualified personnel after the country's opening to the outside world and the transition to a full-fledged market economy after the fall of Islam Karimov's dictatorship in 2016. If you are highly qualified or just a qualified specialist, then it is not difficult to get a work permit now. They are issued by your employer. For simple professions, it is more difficult to get a permit if you are not a citizen of one of the CIS member countries, since the state wants to provide simple professions primarily to its citizens. There is an IT visa for IT specialists.

In the early 2020s, many IT specialists from sanctioned Russia and Belarus , as well as from war-torn Ukraine , have begun to move to Uzbekistan to work because of the cheapness of the country and the similar mentality and lifestyle of the inhabitants of these countries. Uzbekistan also has a lot of qualified expats from the USA , European countries (mainly citizens of Germany , United Kingdom , Poland , Czech Republic , France , Italy , Latvia , Spain , Balkans ), Turkey , Iran , India , China , South Korea , Japan , Pakistan and Malaysia . There are a lot of labor migrants and just immigrants from neighboring Tajikistan , Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan . Mostly migrants from Afghanistan (a lot of them live and work in Termez ) work in low-paid jobs.

Nevertheless, there is a lot of unemployment in simple professions in the country, as the market is oversaturated with cheap labor by the residents of Uzbekistan themselves. In addition, wages for ordinary occupations on average does not exceed $250 per regions and $350 in Tashkent, which the citizens of Uzbekistan's go to work (mostly just a profession) mainly in Russia (it employs no less than 4 million migrants from Uzbekistan) and Turkey (400-450 thousand), and in Kazakhstan, the USA, South Korea, to a lesser extent in European countries (mainly Germany, Sweden , Spain, United Kingdom, Switzerland , Portugal , Czech Republic and Poland), and in Israel , UAE , Japan, Malaysia , Canada, China.

The working week in Uzbekistan usually lasts 5 or 6 days (respectively, Sunday or Saturday/Sunday are days off), and usually starts at 8-9 in the morning and lasts until 5-7 in the evening. The culture of working relations is similar to Russia and other countries of the former Soviet Union, with a pinch of Muslim culture and the culture of working relations in East Asia .

Learn [ edit ]

If you want to learn Persian or find yourself with native speakers, and you don't have the opportunity to get to Iran , Afghanistan or Tajikistan , then you need to go to Uzbekistan, to the cities of Samarkand and Bukhara , where there are many Persian speakers.

Stay safe [ edit ]

The areas of Uzbekistan bordering Afghanistan should be avoided for all but essential travel. Extreme caution should also be exercised in areas of the Ferghana Valley bordering Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. There have been a number of security incidents in this region, as well as several exchanges of gunfire across the Uzbek/Kyrgyz border. Some border areas are also mined. Travellers should therefore avoid these areas and cross only at authorized border crossing points.

For the most part, Uzbekistan is generally safe for visitors, perhaps the by-product of a police state. There are many anecdotal (and a significant number of documented) reports of an increase in street crime, especially in the larger towns, particularly Tashkent. This includes an increase in violent crime. Information on crime is largely available only through word of mouth - both among locals and through the expat community - as the state-controlled press rarely, if ever, reports street crime. As economic conditions in Uzbekistan continue to deteriorate, street crime is increasing.

Normal precautions should be taken, as one would in virtually any country. Especially in the cities (few travellers will spend much time overnight in the small villages), be careful after dark, avoid unlighted areas, and don't walk alone. Even during the day, refrain from openly showing significant amounts of cash. Men should keep wallets in a front pocket and women should keep purses in front of them with a strap around an arm. Avoid wearing flashy or valuable jewellery which can easily be snatched.

Scams are not unheard of. One of the most common (and one that is not limited to Uzbekistan) involves a stranger coming up to the victim and saying they have found cash lying on the street. They will then try to enlist you in a complicated scheme that will result in you "splitting" the cash - of course only after you have put up some of your own. The entire scenario is ludicrous, but apparently enough greedy foreigners fall for it that it continues. If someone comes up to you with the "found cash" routine, tell them straight away that you are not interested (in whatever language you choose) and walk away.

Also beware of locals you don't know who offer to show you the "night life." This should be completely avoided, though some visitors seem to leave their common sense at home.

While all of these precautions should be observed during travel virtually anywhere in the world, for some reason many tourists in Uzbekistan seem to lower their guard. They should not.

It is also possible that you will be asked by police (Militsiya) for documents. This doesn't happen often, but it can, and they have a legal right to do so. By law, you should carry your passport and visa with you in Uzbekistan, though in practice, it is better to make a color scan of the first two pages of your passport and your Uzbek visa before you arrive. Carry the colour copies with you when you're walking around, and keep the original documents in the hotel safe. The scanned documents will almost always suffice. If not, make it clear to the Militsiya officer that he will have to come to your hotel to see the originals. Unless they have something out of the norm in mind (such as a bribe) they will almost always give you a big smile and tell you to go along. Always be polite with the Militsiya, but also be firm. While almost all of them take bribes, they take them from locals. For the most part, they understand that going too far with a foreigner will only cause them problems, especially if the foreigner is neither being abusive nor quaking with fear.

One note about locals offering to show you around: It is common for younger Uzbeks (usually male) who speak English to try and "meet" foreigners at local hotels and offer to serve as interpreters and guides. This is done in daylight and in the open, often in or near some of the smaller but better hotels. This can be rewarding for both the local and the visitor. The local is usually trying to improve their English or French (occasionally other languages, but usually English) and to make a few dollars/euros. If you are approached by a clean-cut person offering such services, and you are interested, question them about their background, what they are proposing to do for you and how much they want to charge you (anywhere between $10 and $25 a day is realistic depending on their services and how long they spend with you). Most of the legitimate offers will be from young people who have studied in the West on exchange programs and/or studied at the University of World Diplomacy and/or Languages in Tashkent. If everything seems to fit, their language skills are good and they seem eager and polite, but not pushy, you may want to consider this. They should offer to show you museums, historical sites, cafés, bazaars, cultural advice, generally how to get around, etc. They should ask you what you want to see and/or do. Often this works out well. However, for your and their protection, do not attempt to engage in political discussions of any type.

Again, if they are proposing "night life" (or related) services, do NOT take up their offers.

Stay healthy [ edit ]

Uzbekistan's health care is not up to Western standards. There is often a shortage of medicines and medical supplies. Travellers should take the necessary medicines (including prescriptions, see section on laws and practices) and supplies with them. Local hospitals should be used with caution.

Drink only bottled water. Tap water should be boiled before drinking and ice cubes should be avoided. Hygiene should also be taken into account when preparing food and peel fruits and vegetables.

Air quality in the Karakalpakstan and Xorazmi regions is particularly poor due to salt, dust and toxins emitted from the Aral Sea.

Uzbekistan has not implemented a no-smoking policy in bars and restaurants, unlike many Western countries. Consequently, enclosed spaces can be very unpleasant for non-smokers, especially in the cold weather.

Fruits and vegetables should be peeled before consumption. Avoid drinking home-brewed vodka and brandy. These are highly likely to contain methanol, the risk of which should not be taken lightly. One moderately famous and high-quality vodka is Qarataw.

Visitors should consider tap water to be unsafe to drink in regions, while in capital of Uzbekistan the water is safe for drinking. In any case drinking bottled water is advised.

Respect [ edit ]

In Uzbekistan, and in Central Asia in general, elderly people are greatly respected. Always treat the elderly with great respect and be deferent to them in all situations.

Also be polite with females. Traditionally it is not welcomed to flirt openly with women. If you are a male and there is an option to address a male with the question instead of female, choose it. But likewise use caution if seeking out a same-sex conversation on a romantic level, as LGBT rights aren't a thing in Uzbekistan but rather still criminalized.

This might strike you as a quirk, but it really is not: bread is sacred in Uzbekistan. Do not waste it, and if you do: do not do so visibly. Don't worry, you are not obliged to eat all the bread you get served in the restaurant, but if you are carelessly throwing away a half a loaf in the street you will get some mean looks. Either way, Uzbek bread is among the best in the world, so you'll probably enjoy it until the last crumb.

Connect [ edit ]

Mobile connection works in most parts of Uzbekistan and the services are cheap. There are several popular mobile service providers in Uzbekistan - Ucell [1] , Beeline, MTS (MTC in Cyrillic), Perfectum Mobile. A foreigner can get a SIM card after showing his passport. For activating the cell phone connection a person has to be registered. Generally some vendors are not aware of the law and refuse to sell to foreigners.

You can find Internet cafés in most of the cities. Speeds can sometimes be fast but generally speed is relatively slow.

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How to Visit Uzbekistan, A Country Undergoing a Tourism Renaissance

By Brandon Presser

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

“Don’t forget my license plate number,” my driver said, dropping me off in front of a soaring, tile-clad mausoleum. “We all drive white cars—you’ll never find me otherwise!” The popular color seemed illogical considering the smudging gray desert winds that regularly blew through. The explanation (“It’s got something to do with a knight and his white horse”) didn’t quite satisfy, but the fairy tale comparison was apt. There were many times on my trip through Uzbekistan when I half expected a magic carpet to swoop me up into the air.

Beyond the dramatic iterations of Islamic architecture and its arabesque swirls, and the dozens of not-in-Kansas quirks like the proliferation of only white cars, Uzbekistan feels magical because it’s one of the best value destinations on planet—and it's finally primed for self-exploration. For years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the country fell under an oppressive regime that continued until the death of its leader, Islam Karimov, in 2016. Since then, however, Uzbekistan has modernized by leaps and bounds as foreign investment has poured in (a billboard in downtown Tashkent advertises a recent real estate venture made by none other than Mike Tyson). And tourist numbers have kept pace , with international visits doubling year after year. Here’s how to experience its charms on an adventure through Uzbekistan.

Samarkand's Registan is the center of the city's hustle and bustle.

What to see

Uzbekistan has four major destinations: from east to west, Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva. Each urban center helps tell the 5,000-year-old tale of the crossroads between East Asia, Arabia, and Europe, from ancient polytheistic dynasties to the emergence of Islam and eastern conquerers like Genghis Khan, to more modern Russian—and ultimately Soviet—influences.

You can adequately visit all four destinations in a week. At the three Ms— mosques , madrassas, and mausolea—you’ll see where the region’s mightiest rulers prayed, studied, and were laid to rest. Tashkent is more workaday than the other cities, but the capital’s lack of patina makes it an intriguing pitstop. The main draws are the nods to its Soviet influence, like the metro system that slinks below the streets and the hypnotizing Hotel Uzbekistan, the city’s finest brutalist monument.

At the other end of the spectrum is little Khiva, near the far western edge of the country in the middle of the desert. Long linked to a different Khanate (similar to an emirate state) than the rest of the country, the antique wonders feel markedly different here, with unique tilework and an inner town surrounded by a high adobe-esque wall.

Khiva's inner town is surrounded by a 18th-century, adobe-esque wall.

Samarkand and Bukhara are somewhere in the middle, and tourists wildly prefer one to the other, but the votes seem evenly cast. Samarkand’s ancient relics flirt with the possibility of a modern future. It’s a vast urban center in flux, where wide Parisian boulevards—paved by ambitious Russians—carve up cluttered quarters with skyscraping turquoise minarets. Its Registan, the source of the city’s gravity, gives Venice’s Piazza San Marco or London’s Trafalgar Square a run for their money as one of the world’s most compelling plazas. Bukhara was a tourist town even during the days of the Silk Road , built atop a constellation of small oases where weary desert travelers could find water and rest. Some of the ponds and narrow waterways remain, trickling between the hundreds of mosques and caravanserais.

With more than a week, there are two compelling codas to consider. From Khiva, witness the dramatic effects of the vanishing Aral Sea at distant Muynaq where a graveyard of rusting ships marks the memory of its former shoreline, now located an additional 150 miles beyond. Go east from Tashkent for a dose of verticality in the Fergana Valley, which worms its way between neighboring Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. Fed by two rivers and surrounded by punishingly steep mountains, the fertile bowl has some of the best vistas in Central Asia, and was a key part of Silk Road trade.

Where to stay

With the burst of foreign investment, Uzbekistan is on the verge of an accommodation renaissance as the country seeks to double its number of beds from the current 24,000 rooms to over 50,000 by the end of 2021.

A flurry of small inns have opened in the old, centrally located Jewish Quarters of both Bukhara (the side streets just north of Lyab-i Hauz) and Samarkand (the blocks due east of the Registan) in old merchant mansions now getting a second life with the help of eager entrepreneurs seeing newly buoying effects of the almighty tourism dollar. Expect to spend no more than $50 on accommodations everywhere besides Tashkent for prim digs and a generous breakfast set inside an amplified historical dwelling. Besides the Hyatt Regency in Tashkent , big brands are not yet represented throughout the rest of the country; properties currently attempting an international level of sophistication haven’t quite cracked the code.

Arati Menon

Maya Silver

Charlie Hobbs

What to eat

With wide-reaching fields of wheat and grain, the Ubzek dinner table leans heavily into rice and noodle dishes. Each region boasts their own distinct versions of two staples: plov—a pilaf-like rice dish with stewed meat and vegetables—and bread, called non, that’s available fresh at the market every morning. Samarkanders are particularly proud of their loaves, which are significantly denser than other areas’ recipes. Khiva’s plov is lighter and less greasy, with a higher vegetable-to-meat ratio.

The Uzbek palate pulls from a variety of international influences. The aforementioned non bread sounds etymologically similar to Indian naan. Lagman, a noodle dish usually in soup topped with local vegetables and meat, comes from the Chinese lamian. Manti—meat dumplings—were likely an old Mongol recipe now found as far as the Caucasus and even Korea (called mandu) in the wake of their invasion.

You’ll be hard-pressed to spend more that $5 per meal at a restaurant not geared (read: inflated) towards tourists, but an uptick in the number of establishments isn’t moving as speedily as the rise in traveler numbers, meaning dinnertime in the old quarters of Khiva and Bukhara require an advance reservation if you have a particular dining venue in mind. Group tours still reign supreme, so expect closures of some of the better restaurants in the scenic parts of town to accommodate these extra-large parties during high season (June to September).

Non bread is available fresh each morning at Samarkand's Urgut market.

Getting around

“We’ve found that in emerging countries, the first travelers in usually tour as part of an organized group,” says Jarrod Kyte of Steppes Travel , one of the first companies to operate in Uzbekistan. “But we’ve seen a 66 percent year-on-year increase in visitors wanting to experience the country by themselves, and according to the UN World Tourism Organization, Uzbekistan registered the fourth highest increase in travelers last year.” This is largely due to the ease with which you can move between destinations. While the distances are far, private transfers and comfortable train travel are a cinch to organize. Steppes recommends traveling overland one way from Tashkent to Khiva, but taking a domestic flight back to your origin in the other direction to save a significant amount of travel time.

“As one of the world’s oldest trading posts, the bazaars in Uzbekistan are enthralling,” says Kyte. ”Urgut Sunday market just outside Samarkand is a byword for bustle; without an escort you are likely to find the experience overwhelming.” He encourages all travelers—solo or not—to pre-organize a local guide in each city. The regional history is dense; having a guide will curtail any potential mosque and monument burnout, like how it’s easy to overdo it on churches and art museums in Western Europe.

Getting there

The only direct flight from the U.S. to Uzbekistan connects New York-JFK with Tashkent on the national carrier, Uzbekistan Airways . Service ramps up from two weekly flights (Thursday and Sunday) to four departures (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday) during July, August and early September—the most ideal season to visit—before temperatures drop precipitously in winter. Turkish Airlines’ routes, via their newish hub in Istanbul , is the preferred flight plan for most visitors, providing a higher standard of service on board. There’s been an emerging trend among U.S. travelers to use the layover as an opportunity to pair an extended stay in Turkey with their Uzbek foray. Although geographically distinct, there are many ties that bind the two nations. The Turkish and Uzbek languages, for example, both belong to the Turkic linguistic family; several recipes, like manti, are found on dinner plates in both countries; and, interestingly, Turkey was the first country to recognize Uzbekistan’s independence in 1991.

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Uzbekistan Travel

Uzbekistan travel is an exploration of dreamy medieval landscapes accentuated by minarets that pierce the desert sky. Local pilgrims arrayed in dazzling sequined robes whose kaleidoscopic colors are as vibrant as the people themselves. Aromatic scents that combine with the melodic banter of a thriving bazaar, welcoming you to a country both foreign and inviting, adventurous yet comfortable. 

This Silk Road destination has been making history for thousands of years – decrepit Buddhist stupas and Zoroastrian shrines speak of its antiquity, while jaw-dropping vestiges of palaces and mosques make it easy to believe how these medieval kingdoms spawned stories of fantasy and lore.

Perhaps Uzbekistan has already captured your imagination and you’re simply looking for practical details on how to prepare for your upcoming trip, in which case we encourage you to check out Uzbekistan Trip Planner .

Uzbekistan Travel Guide by Local Expert

• 1. Is Uzbekistan Worth Visiting?
• 2. Your Dream Vacation
• 3. Visa Matters
• 4. Is Uzbekistan Safe for Travel?
• 5. Choose Your Transport
• 6. Uzbekistan Travel Seasons
• 7. Uzbekistan Travel Map
• 8. How Many Days Do You Need in Uzbekistan?
• 9. At Your Service
• 10. Holidays and Festivals
• 11. Curious about Uzbek Cuisine?
• 12. Dos and Don’ts in Uzbekistan
• 13. Speak the Language
• 14. Virtual Uzbekistan Travel Guide: Further Reading
• 15. Did You Know That…

Is Uzbekistan Worth Visiting?

With a myriad of destinations open to 21st century globetrotters, why choose Uzbekistan, a seemingly obscure country in Central Asia?

Uzbekistan is unique , offering visitors exquisite architecture that echoes from the days of Tamerlane, Alexander the Great and the land’s earliest Zoroastrian inhabitants. Not to be outdone by the past, contemporary Uzbekistan is equally alluring, replete with a magnetic culture and diverse landscapes that form the perfect backdrop to endless adventures.

Uzbekistan travel is an affordable option for thrifty travelers, with all-inclusive, guided tours available for a fraction of the cost of equivalent trips in Europe or South America. Inexpensive transportation, cheap meals and an ever-growing selection of hostels have also opened the door to independent travelers.

Uzbekistan is more accessible than ever before, with citizens of almost every nation eligible for either 30-day visa-free entry or an inexpensive online visa. Once in country, all major attractions are connected by a modern and reliable rail system, while each major city welcomes you with a wide array of comfortable accommodation choices. At the same time…

Uzbekistan is still off the beaten path and sure to satisfy those with a thirst to explore the world’s unknown corners. You won’t have to battle throngs of tourists and may well find yourself the lone visitor at some of its most ancient and mind-blowing sites.

Uzbekistan hosts many important international events, such as the Tashkent International Investment Forum , which will be held for the second time in 2024.

The bottom line? There’s never been a more ideal time for Uzbekistan travel – one of the world’s best-kept secrets, a seat of ancient empires that’s steeped in culture and host to a wealth of beauty.

Your Dream Vacation in Uzbekistan

Dive into Uzbek culture with homestays, cooking classes and yurt camping. Hop on a time machine for a cross-country tour of historic Uzbekistan. Craft your tour around Uzbekistan’s fine-tuned artistic traditions with pottery lessons, silk paper production and carpet weaving.

Our Uzbekistan tourism packages are as diverse as the clients we serve. Whether you’re into history, outdoor adventures or cultural immersion, wanting a quick jaunt to Uzbekistan’s main sites or an extensive, multi-country expedition, chances are we have a tour that’s just what you’re looking for. And if not, drop us a note so that we can begin designing a personalized Uzbekistan travel itinerary that’s tailored to your specific needs and interests.

Uzbekistan Visa Matters

Thanks to relaxed Uzbekistan visa policies that made their grand debut in 2018, travel to Uzbekistan has never been easier. Citizens of nearly 80 nations, including Australia, Japan, South Korea, and many European and South American countries can now travel in Uzbekistan visa-free for up to 30 days. Passport holders of over 50 additional nations, including the US, India, Hong Kong, China and most Middle Eastern nations can apply online for a 30-day electronic tourist visa at a cost of 20 USD.

Additionally, 5-day transit visas may be obtained pending prior approval or flight tickets that confirm your departure.

Is Uzbekistan Safe for Travel?

Uzbekistan is safe, with an extremely low rate of violent crime. Law enforcement officers patrol the streets regularly and stand prepared to help and support tourists as needed. Also in Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva you will find English speaking Tourist Police ready to assist guests of this sunny land. Travelers often remark on the kindness and helpfulness of Uzbekistan’s people, who will go out of their way to assist a guest in need. The nation has become increasingly tourist-friendly in recent years and takes a genuinely welcoming stance towards foreigners and tourists .

Choose Your Transport

The Silk Road sojourners of old would doubtless be jealous of the ease with which modern explorers can reach that golden road to Samarkand described in the poem of James Elroy Flecker. Uzbekistan, located in the very heart of Central Asia, is more accessible than you may think. Direct flights currently connect capital city Tashkent with Istanbul, Bangkok, Moscow and even New York City, while most major cities in Europe and the eastern US are one layover away from this otherworldly land.

Once in Uzbekistan, each region and major city is conveniently connected by an intricate, efficient railway system. If train travel isn’t your thing, short domestic flights are a quick alternative, while transport by private car allows you to soak in the scenery as you go .

Uzbekistan Travel Seasons

Being the diverse and temperate country that it is, Uzbekistan is a worthy travel destination year-round. While spring and autumn draw the most crowds with their pleasant temps and vibrant landscapes, each season has its own perks:

Winter: Perfect for ski enthusiasts, who can while away the time at Chimgan, Beldersay and Amirsoy Ski Resort, the latter of which opened in December 2019. Fewer tourists in winter also mean discounted accommodations and reduced Uzbekistan travel costs near many touristic sites.

Summer: Sultry summers bring succulent fruits and vegetables of every variety. In July and August, you won’t have to battle crowds and can often find tickets and accommodation at discounted prices. It’s also a great time to cool off in the mountains at Lake Charvak near Tashkent.

Spring: Uzbekistan’s most gorgeous season with pleasant weather, green pastures, flowers in full bloom and several local holidays and festivals that are well worth seeing.

Autumn: Cool and sunny weather, coupled with bazaars that burst with melons and grapes, call a second wave of tourists to this Silk Road land.

• Uzbekistan Weather
• When is the best time to visit Uzbekistan?

Uzbekistan Travel Map

Use the Uzbekistan Map to locate the country’s main cities and find out what each one has to offer:

How Many Days Do You Need in Uzbekistan?

Every trip to Uzbekistan will be uniquely patterned after the interests, dreams and schedules of each individual traveler. If you’re looking for a general blueprint to follow, however, these guidelines are based on the experiences of numerous tourists before you and can be a helpful starting point for planning your Uzbekistan Travels:

• Tashkent – Metropolitan capital of Uzbekistan with welcoming parks, modern amenities and a smattering of historical sites How long should I stay? 1-2 days Major sites: Tashkent Metro , Chorsu Bazaar , Amir Temir Square How to get off the beaten path: Wander the streets of Old City in the neighborhood of Chorsu Bazaar, or scrounge for Soviet antiques at the used-goods Yangiabad Bazaar
• Samarkand – Seat of Tamerlane’s medieval empire with striking turquoise-domed palaces and mausoleums, including the glorious Registan How long should I stay? 2-3 days, especially if you wish to include a visit to nearby Shakhrisabz Major sites: Registan , Gur Emir , Shakhi Zinda How to get off the beaten path: Spend the day roaming the archaeological ruins of Afrosiyob, or try your hand at traditional carpet weaving at Hudjum Carpet Factory
• Bukhara – Famed center of learning in the Islamic world, its charming Old City quarters will transport you back in time How long should I stay? 1.5-2 days Major sites: Ark Fortress , Lyabi-Hauz , Poi Kalyan Ensemble How to get off the beaten path: Take a day trip from Bukhara to Gijduvon for a ceramics master class; grab some of Bukhara’s famous sofi osh at a local café outside Old City quarters
• Khiva – A ‘Museum Under the Open Sky’ and former Silk Road trade city preserved for over 1500 years How long should I stay? 1-2 days Major sites: Kunya Ark Fortress , Juma Mosque , Kalta Minor Minaret How to get off the beaten path: Tour the impressive Nurullaboy Palace in Khiva’s Dishan-Kala; take a day trip to the Desert Castles of Ancient Khorezm
• Nukus – Gateway city to the Aral Sea and capital of the Republic of Karakalpakstan How long should I stay? 1.5-2 days, including a trip to Muynak Major sites: Aral Sea , Savitsky Museum , Mizdakhan Necropolis How to get off the beaten path: If you’re in Nukus, you’re already well off the beaten path! While in town, visit the House Museum of Ahmet Shamuratov, one of Karakalpakstan’s greatest authors, or spend a half day shopping at the bazaar
• Fergana Valley – Beautiful, populous valley where the country’s finest ceramics and silk products are produced, it includes the cities of Andijan, Fergana, Margilan, Rishtan and Kokand How long should I stay? 2-3 days if you wish to travel to each city Major sites: Ceramics Workshop (Rishtan), Yodgorlik Silk Factory ( Margilan ), Palace of Khudoyar Khan ( Kokand ) How to get off the beaten path: Explore ancient Kuva; enjoy the small central parks in Margilan and Fergana
• Termez – Small town laying claim to 1st-century Buddhist ruins and some of the oldest sites in all Uzbekistan How long should I stay? 1-2 days Major sites: Kara Tepa , Fayaz Tepa , Kirk Kiz Fortress How to get off the beaten path: Admire the lonely Jarkurgan Minaret; track down Zurmala Stupa, believed to be the oldest structure in Uzbekistan

At Your Service

Whether you’re looking to join a group tour, arrange a day trip as a supplement to independent travels or could simply use a little help with in-country transport, we would love to make your trip as smooth and memorable as possible. Our Uzbekistan Travel services include:

Holidays and Festivals

Uzbekistan’s splendor is never more gloriously displayed than during local holidays and festivals. Come lose yourself in the graceful rhythm of richly ornamented dancers, the irresistible scents of freshly ground spices and home-cooked delights and the kind-hearted embrace of a people eager to welcome you into their beloved traditions.

Organize your Uzbekistan travels around one of these celebrations:

Navruz (21st March) – Uzbekistan welcomes Persian New Year in full fanfare every March 21, when the long- anticipated arrival of spring is celebrated with song, dance, games and copious amounts of food. Best place to celebrate: Boysun, Bukhara, Fergana Valley, Samarkand

Silk and Spices Festival (late May-early June) – Bukhara’s annual resurrection of its Silk Road legacy will revolutionize your idea of a party with its days-long celebration splashed with color, folk music, master classes, sporting events and a huge handicrafts fair. Best place to celebrate: Silk and Spice Festival is only held in Bukhara

Sharq Taronalari (August) – Sharq Taronalari (Eastern Melodies) is a weeklong music festival held every two years at the famed Registan in Samarkand, attracting top-notch performers and attendees from dozens of nations. Best place to celebrate: Sharq Taronalari is only held in Samarkand

Independence Day (1st September) – Uzbekistan’s independence is duly commemorated with grandiose shows, firework displays, concerts and special programs. Best place to celebrate: Tashkent

New Year season – Beginning in mid-December, the capital of Uzbekistan is decked out with lights and ‘New Year’ trees, with mini carnivals and holiday villages open daily throughout the city. Best place to celebrate: Tashkent

Curious about Uzbek Cuisine?

Our list of Top Best Dishes to taste while in country:

A sumptuously seasoned dish of rice, carrots, meat and raisins.

Uzbek bread may not be a meal in itself, yet no meal is complete without this fresh staple.

Finely chopped noodles and meat served with hot broth, this is a local favorite.

Cute dumplings wrapped in paper-thin dough and served with fresh cream and broth.

Delicious homemade noodles topped with a meat and vegetable stew.

Chunks of fresh meat and potatoes stewed with spices and greens.

Perfectly steamed, juicy dumplings filled with ground beef and onion.

Flaky pastries stuffed with meat, potato, chicken, pumpkin or spinach - there’s a samsa out there for everyone.

A gooey spring treat, this quintessential Uzbek snack is made with wheat sprouts and lots of patience.

Check out our Uzbekistan Travel Guidebook for Food for an in-depth look at:

• Uzbekistan’s National Dishes
• Vegetarian Food in Uzbekistan

Dos and Don’ts in Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan’s people are a gracious and forgiving bunch, particularly towards foreigners who may not be familiar with local customs. Still, knowing a bit about the host culture can go a long way in showing respect and forging friendships as you travel:

• Take off your shoes before walking into a mosque or home
• Show respect for those older than you by giving them the right of way and allowing them the best seats on buses, at dinner tables and near tourist sites
• Bring a gift if you’ll be joining a local family for a meal or an overnight stay
• Confirm prices with taxi drivers before getting into the car to avoid paying more than you bargained for
• Watch your step, as roads may be uneven, with unexpected steps or inclines
• Leave bread on the ground or place it on the table upside down, as it’s considered sacred by many
• Blow your nose loudly in public, which is considered rude
• Talk very loudly in public, particularly near religious sites
• Accept an offer to have tea in someone’s home unless they insist several times – inviting someone to come in for tea is a polite gesture that’s not always intended sincerely
• Hesitate to ask for help or interact with local people, most of whom are more than happy to answer your questions or practice English with you!

Speak the Language

Knowing a few basic phrases in the local language will endear you to people and open up doors for friendship and connection during your travels in Uzbekistan. Some words and sayings that may come in handy:

Virtual Uzbekistan Travel Guide: Further Reading

• Uzbekistan Travel Tips
• Uzbekistan Tours Pages

Did You Know That…

Uzbekistan may be unfamiliar to many, but its influence has already spread far and wide:

• India’s Taj Mahal was built by an Uzbek and inspired by Samarkand architecture.
• Avicenna (Father of Modern Medicine), Al-Khorezmiy (Father of Algebra) and Tamerlane (world conqueror) were all born in the region.
• Uzbekistan is one of the world’s largest producers of cotton.
• Along with Liechtenstein, Uzbekistan is one of only two double-landlocked nations on earth.
• Formerly a part of the Soviet Union before independence in 1991, it remains Central Asia’s most populous and most visited country.

News: Uzbekistan Travel

Uzbekistan guide.

• Great Silk Road
• Uzbek People
• UNESCO World Heritage Sites
• Uzbekistan Cuisine
• Uzbek Dishes
• Uzbek Wines
• Landmarks and Attractions
• Museums and Galleries
• Internet & Cellular
• Telephone Codes
• Exhibitions & Events
• Myths and Legends
• Petroglyphs
• Golf Holiday
• Travel Restrictions - Covid-19
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• Medical Tourism
• Uzbekistan Trip Planner
• Best Time to Visit
• Solo Traveler Guide
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• Uzbekistan Consulates
• Embassies in Uzbekistan
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The 14 BEST Places to Visit in Uzbekistan [2024 Guide]

• Last Updated: February 5, 2024

If you’re not sure what places to visit in Uzbekistan then check out our guide on some of the top spots in this beautiful Central Asian nation!

Uzbekistan is growing in popularity as a travel destination and is home to some of the Islamic world’s most stunning architecture, pretty epic scenery and a fair number of reminders of its brief stint as part of the Soviet Union.

With the visa process now very straight forward and currency exchange rates at banks matching what’s on the black market, Uzbekistan has become a far more accessible travel destination. 

Without further ado, let’s check out some of the best places to visit in Uzbekistan. 

Table of Contents

1) Tashkent

2) chimgan canyon, charvak reservoir and chatkal biosphere reserve, 3) samarkand, 4) shahrisabz, 5) bukhara , 7) elliq-qala fortresses, 9) aral sea, 11) fergana, 13) nurata and lake aidarkul, the most incredible places to visit in uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan is a relatively small country and each of these places is quite accessible with a one or two-week itinerary.

Uzbekistan’s capital is the largest city in Central Asia. A sprawling metropolis of almost 2.5 million people, it is here where Tashkent’s Soviet past is most apparent.

The area around Amir Timur Square and the Navoi Theatre is home to plenty of Soviet-style buildings. Giving the impression that the influence of mother Russia is still strong here. 

For the majority of travellers, Tashkent is their first stop. Sadly it doesn’t get a lot of love from the travel community, with many seeing it as a more of a get-in-get-out kind of place.

However, if you scratch the surface you’ll find there is plenty to see and do , with the city offering a very different experience to anywhere else in the country.

Check out old Tashkent around the Kolkuz Canal . Get lost in the hustle and bustle of Chorsu or immerse yourself in one of the cities many museums.

Alongside this, there’s some lovely Islamic architecture. Although it’s not really on par with Uzbekistan’s ancient cities, it’s certainly nothing to scoff at.

Khast Imam and Tashkent’s Islamic University are well worth checking out. The modern, but little known Minor Mosque is also particularly lovely to visit at sunset.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the country was ruled by it’s President/Dictator Islam Karimov .

Since his death in 2016 the country has opened up to the outside world. But it’s still one of the world’s most repressive states.

Head to the Islam Karimov museum close to Kosmanavtlar subway station for an understanding of the cult of personality that surrounded and, to some extent, still surrounds Mr Karimov.

READ MORE: Check out all the other great things to do in Tashkent in this post !

Approximately 2 hours north of Tashkent you will find one of Uzbekistan’s mountain playgrounds.

Granted Uzbekistan doesn’t have the alpine wonder of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. However, there is some decent hiking and outdoor activities to be taken on in this small northeastern pocket of the country. 

The Charvak reservoir is a great place to visit if you want to relax by the water. Plenty of locals from Tashkent head up here in the summer months.

And there’s a healthy community of windsurfers and paraglider’s here as well!

Half an hour or so up the road you will find the village of Chimgan , the gateway to the Chimgan canyon. There are quite a few hiking trails here. But don’t expect things to be clearly marked.

Further on again and you will find the Chattel Biosphere Reserve . There are oodles of trekking options.

However, as this region and this type of tourism is still very under-developed in Uzbekistan you need to be an experienced trekker with all your own gear.

Although it can be a challenge to get out here, the rewards are worth it.

READ MORE: This travel guide will help you prepare for your trip to Uzbekistan.

Samarkand may be home to some of the most breathtaking architecture in the Islamic world .

At the city’s beating heart is the Registan , which is a stunning complex made up of 3 madrasas and a public square.

The Registan at Samarkand is regarded as being the hub of the Timurid Renaissance; a period of extensive culture, architectural and scientific discoveries and developments within the Timur empire between the 14th and 16th centuries. 

From 1370 to 1405 Samarkand was the capital of the Timurid Empire and the empire’s opulence and power can be seen everywhere.  

Although a modern city has grown around the Registan, Gur-e-Amir and Shah-i-Zinda, the history that conceived the stunning structures is still almost tangible. 

Get to the Registan early to avoid the crowds before checking out the Bibi-Khanyam Mosque and Shah-i-Zinda . Sunrise presents great lighting for photos, with the Registan being particularly stunning. 

Further away from the city centre you’ll find Ulugbek’s Observatory and Russified Navoi Ko’chasi area . The latter generally escapes the tourist radar and has plenty of old mosques and mausoleums to check out. 

If architecture is your thing then this is one of the best places to visit in Uzbekistan and, indeed, in all of Central Asia.

READ MORE: Check out all of these other great things to do in Samarkand!

About an hour outside of Samarkand is Shahrisabz, a town of great importance during the Timurid empire.

Its highlight is the ruins of the Ak-Saray Palace . Building commenced on the orders of Timur, Central Asia’s greatest conqueror.

Although now all that remains of this once spectacular palace is two 38 metre Pishtaqs (a rectangular frame around an archway in Islamic architecture).

Shahrisabz’s sights are clustered together in the city’s heart. Alongside the Ak-Saray palace, there is the rather lovely Kok-Gumbaz Mosque and the Khazrati-Imam Complex that are well worth checking out. 

Taking your time exploring the ruins and mosques and madrasa’s that make up the centre of Shahrisabz. On a hot day, this huge open area bakes under the oppressive Uzbek sun. 

Most people visit Shahrisabz as a day trip from nearby Samarkand, with private taxi’s available for roughly $40+ for the day. 

Important Note! Before you book any international trip, we honestly recommend getting travel insurance. You never know when things will go wrong, and medical bills can add up quickly if you get sick or injure yourself overseas.

Our personal recommendation based on our own experience is World Nomads .

Bukhara is the second of Uzbekistan’s 3 ancient cities , the other two being Samarkand and Khiva.

Much of the old town remains, with its iconic Kaylon Mosque and minaret and the Ark forming the slightly off-centre portion of the city. 

Bukhara was at the heart of the great game between the Russian and British Empires, with the former moving south and latter have interests in Afghanistan. 

The fearsome Khan of Bukhara was an uncompromisingly cruel ruler with a penchant for rules, order and respect. The city became synonymous with the fate of Charles Stoddart and William Conolly .

Both men were beheaded outside the Ark. Safe to say their missions were not a great success.

You could easily while away a couple of days exploring the city’s back streets and various nooks and crannies. Bukhara is chock-full of mosques and mausoleums that are well worth exploring.

Head a little further afield to check out the Emirs summer palace and the Jewish cemetery. 

Make sure you head to Chashmai Mirob for a spectacular sunset view over the city. 

In addition head over to the Emirs Summer Palace on the city’s outskirts for a glimpse of the luxury, the last Khan of Bukahra lived in.

READ MORE: Be sure to read this post for all of the other great things to do in Bukhara !

The smallest of Uzbekistan’s three ancient cities, Khiva’s highlight is the beautiful walled Ichan-Kala .

Whereas the history of Samarkand is routed in majesty and opulence, and Bukhara is known for its historical executions, Khiva was home to the largest slave market in Central Asia.   

It was here that slaves from Russia, Persia and various other tribes we brought, sold and held to ransom. But walking amongst the mosques, madrases and mausoleums the city certainly has a very different feel now. 

At the Ichan-Kala’s western gate you can purchase a 2-day ticket giving you entry to numerous sights within the old town’s walls.

The city’s most well-known sight is the Kalta Minor Minaret . Whereas most minarets are tall and slender, the Kalta Minor is short and fat. And when it’s lit up at night it’s absolutely spectacular.

There are also numerous other mosques, madrasas and mausoleums dotted throughout the city’s narrow twisting streets.

The Islam-Khoja Minaret offers some amazing views over the city.

One great tip is to start the day with an early morning walk around the city walls, the old town will be coming to life and you will avoid the brutal midday sun. 

READ MORE: We recommend these other great things to do in Khiva!

Another gem close to Khiva are the Elliq-Qala fortresses, a group of 50 of so ancient desert fortifications.

The vast majority have been lost to the harsh desert climate.

However, there are some that are still in standing tall and give a sense of the power of the regions ancient khanates. 

Your guesthouse or the guesthouses close to the west gate will be able to arrange transport for the day.

Expect it to be between $20-$40 depending on the number of people and the size of the vehicle.

Alternatively head to the north gate where private taxi and marshrutka drivers hang out.

You may be able to negotiate a cheaper price, but be aware that it’s very unlikely any of them will speak English. 

Nukus is the capital of Karakalpakstan and rather unsurprisingly has an ‘end of the line’ feel about it.

All organised tours to the Aral Sea depart from and finish in Nukus. However, it is also possible to reach Moynaq by public transport from Nukus. 

Nukus is mainly known for being the home of the Savitsky Museum , a collection of banned Soviet-era art.

There are some rather fantastic pieces on display. However, it’s hard to really understand why some of these pieces were banned.

Let’s face it, if you were to hide some artwork from the authorities, Nukus is a pretty good place to start.

There’s also the number of mini versions of Uzbekistan’s architectural wonders at the children’s recreation centre. It also contains a few fairground style activities and refreshment stands.

Just on the outskirts of Nukus, you will find the spectacular mausoleums of Mizdakhan , although they are very often included in Aral Sea tours.

If you have the time and money (it’s not a budget-friendly option) then a 2 day trip out to the Aral Sea is an experience you won’t soon forget.

Once the world’s 4th largest lake, the Aral Sea is now just 20% of its original size. This is because the Soviet Government diverted tributary rivers to feed thirsty cotton fields elsewhere in Uzbekistan.

Its decline has decimated towns and industries. Cancer rates in the surrounding areas have skyrocketed thanks to the saline-rich dust and the exposure to metals as the sea has receded.

This is of the greatest man-made ecological disasters in history.

As the sea has receded, numerous countries are now searching for the natural gas Soviet scientists believed lay below the sea bed. 

Check out the abandoned fishing village of Urga and the spectacular views from the Ustyurt Plateau .

Be bowled over by military-grade runway in the heart of said plateau and contemplate it all as you watch the sunset over the Aral Sea.

This is definitely a fascinating and emotive experience.

Moynaq is perhaps the starkest demonstration of the human impact of the Aral Sea disaster.

As the sea receded the fishing industry, which was the lifeblood of the town, literally dried up. Unemployment remains high and many people still live in poverty. 

For many, tourism brings in much-needed revenue.

As the sea receded many of the fishing ships that used to ply these waters were left to rust. They now sit some 50km from the sea itself as a poignant reminder of the impact felt in this town. 

Moynaq’s ship graveyard is what draws visitors. The sight of rusting ships alone on what was once the seabed is tragically poignant.

Located in the heart of the Fergana Valley, this is one of the newest and least Uzbek (in terms of ethnic makeup) cities in the area.

However, it is a great place to base yourself to explore the surrounding area.

With a large population of Russians and Koreans, it offers something very different from other cities in Uzbekistan.

Its tree-lined streets and Russian architecture give it a mini Tashkent feel.

The city’s bazaar is the most notable attraction. However the museum of regional studies and Al-Fergani Park are also worth visiting. 

The town of Margilon is an easy day trip from Fergana.

The main attraction here is the Yodgorlik Silk Factory , where silk garments are still made using the traditional method of steaming the silkworms. Tours are available in multiple languages.

Home to some of the most spectacular architecture in the Fergana Valley, Kokand is definitely worth a visit if time permits.

The jewel in the crown here is the Khan’s Palace .

It was built in 1873 by Khudayar Kahn, a cruel and ruthless ruler.

Revolts by his people meant that he was booted out of the palace 2 years after it’s construction. After winding up under Russian protection, the Tsar’s forces moved in defeated the Khanate permanently relieving him of his job. 

Half of the palace was taken up by the Khan’s harem. With Islam only permitting four wives the Khan had a mullah on stand by to perform marriages that were set to last one night at the drop of a hat. 

In addition to the Kahn’s palace make sure you check out Dakhma-i-Shokhon, the Modari Khan Mausoleum, the Narbutabey Mosque and Madrasa and the Stone Tablet of Nodira .

These sights are all clustered together in the city’s North East. 

Also, be sure to spend some time wandering around the city’s old town, which has few mosques and madrasas that are worth checking out. 

This area is home to Uzbekistan’s burgeoning eco-tourism movement around Lake Aidarkul and within the Nuratau-Kyzylkum Biosphere Reserve. 

Nurata is a great place to base yourself to experience either.

The town itself has a few quirky sights including the fortress of Alexander the Great and Zukarnay Petroglyphs that are believed to be from the Bronze Age.

Beneath the fortress, you will find the Chatham Spring where the Prophet Mohammed’s son-in-law drove his staff into the ground.

The trout that live in the spring live off of the mineral-rich waters of the spring.

To experience Lake Aidarkul head to the yurt camps in Yangikazgan or Dungalok.

Camel treks and hiking tours can be arranged. Hiking tours are also offered, ranging from short treks to multi-day hikes. 

Within the Nuratau-Kyzylkum Biosphere Reserve, there are some excellent community-based tourism projects where local families have converted parts of their homes into guesthouses.

To arrange homestay’s and activities head to this website . 

This rather colourful border town is Uzbekistan’s last stop before Afghanistan. The surrounding area is home to numerous excellent archaeological sites and finds. 

The excellent archaeological museum is well worth visiting and is a highlight of any trip to Termiz.

The collection contains artefacts from the many ravaged civilisations of the Surkhandarya region, which Termiz is the capital of. 

Out of town, two major highlights are Fayoz-Tepe and Kara-Tepe .

Fayoz-Tepe is the ruins of a Buddhist monastery from the 3rd-Century-AD. Work to restore the structure is ongoing and some good progress has been made.

Kara-Tepe is a Buddhist cave monastery which is very close to the Afghan border. You must have special permission to visit this monastery, though this can be arranged through the archaeological museum. 

Another interesting site is Kyr Kyz (forty girls), where legend has it 40 young women fought off the sex-crazed nomads who had slain their noblemen husbands.

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The Perfect Uzbekistan Itinerary (2024 Guide)

The 25 BEST Things to Do in Uzbekistan [2024 Edition]

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Uzbekistan Travel Guide: The Ultimate 10-Day Itinerary

Uzbekistan, a deserted landscape where time-stood still or, that’s what everyone thinks! In reality, Uzbekistan is a well-developing country with beautifully-tiled mosques, palaces with detailed ornaments, tasty food with their fresh vegetables and fruits, a high-speed train network and best of all, some of the friendliest and welcoming people out there. Plan to travel Uzbekistan with our 10-day itinerary.

Uzbekistan Travel Itinerary

This undiscovered gem of Central Asia has a rich history due to its location on the legendary Silk Road. The great blend of the old and the new is a pleasant touch to the country. “But why has Uzbekistan been so under the radar?” The new president heavily invested in tourism by building a high-speed railway system and by making visas much cheaper or free. One to two weeks is enough time to travel around Uzbekistan.

Check if you need a visa online here

Day 1: Tashkent

Tashkent is the largest city in Central Asia. This modern capital is the starting point of your Uzbekistan travel itinerary because of its well-connected international airport.

Tashkent is very different from others and doesn’t have much to offer apart from visiting the Bazaar and the picturesque Metro stations.

Tip: Download the Verum QR app since mid-2019 all sites have QR codes that provide information about the object. (Like a free tour guide)

Day 2 – 4: Samarkand – Uzbekistan Travel Favorite

Step into the wonderful city of colorful mosques, minarets, mausoleums, and the traditional market – Samarkand is the must-see city of Uzbekistan. Spend three days visiting all its sites and having a chat with the welcoming locals.

All about: The Things To Do in Samarkand

Tashkent to Samarkand

The high-speed train from Tashkent to Samarkand only takes two hours and is very convenient.

Where to stay in Samarkand

The hotels and guesthouses in Samarkand are for every kind of budget. We highly recommend B&B Antica . A wonderful guesthouse with a beautiful garden where you will get the best breakfast in the city! It is also located right next to Gur-e Amir.

Hotels in Samarkand 😴

Day 5 – 7: Bukhara

The walkable city of Bukhara might be the most picturesque city in Uzbekistan. The labyrinth of narrow, quiet streets and green parks make it a rather pleasant place to spend a couple of days. Visit the Ark and Po-i Kalyan Complex, two architectural masterpieces.

Bukhara – The Ancient Mosque city guide

Samarkand to Bukhara

Jump on the high-speed train in Samarkand and arrive in Bukhara in under 2 hours.

Where to stay in Bukhara

It’s best to find a hotel in Bukhara near the area where cars are not allowed, and most restaurants are located.

Hotels in Bukhara 😴

Day 7 – 9: Khiva

Khiva, the open-air museum in the desert, was the first place in Uzbekistan to get a UNESCO heritage listing. Taste the delicious food of this region and wander around in this old, mud-brick-walled village that feels like walking in an actual movie scene. 

Read: Full Khiva Museum City Guide

Bukhara to Khiva

Of all the destinations on your Uzbekistan travel itinerary, Khiva is certainly the hardest to get to. From Bukhara, it is best to take the train (5h) or taxi (7h).

Where to Stay in Khiva

Khiva offers affordable accommodation for all budgets. The higher-end hotels are located within the city walls, and just outside those walls, hotels get much more affordable.

Hotels in Khiva 😴

Day 10: Tashkent

Finally, spend the last day of your time in Uzbekistan, making your way to Tashkent to catch your international flight back home with a backpack filled with new experiences.

You can either take the night train from Khiva (16.5 h) or fly back from Urgench to Tashkent. (1.5h)

Costs of traveling in Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan is a very affordable country to travel around and can easily be done on your own. Transportation and accommodation are the biggest expenses while traveling in Uzbekistan. 

Costs of Traveling in Uzbekistan

Travel on a budget in Uzbekistan, from $290 − $460 USD weekly per person, mid-range $710 − $1240 USD, and high-end from $1200 − $1810 USD. However, costs depend on factors like accommodation, transportation, and activities. We did not include flights. Check flight prices here

• Hotels: $60 − $200 USD Check available hotels
• Hostels: $20 − $50 USD Check available hostels
• Transport: $5 − $10 USD Book public transport
• Food: $10 − $30 USD
• Activities: $3 − $20 USD See tickets & tours
• Sim: $1 − $3 USD Get an eSIM or SIM here
• Travel Insurance: $2 − $6 USD Get Travel Insurance

Getting cash in Uzbekistan

Each city has a handful of good working ATMs. Some dispense Uzbek Sums and other US Dollars. Maestro and Visa cards are widely accepted, whereas Mastercard is limited. 

Food in Uzbekistan 

The large markets with fresh fruits, vegetables, and loaves of bread represent the tasty meals of the food in Uzbekistan. Expect delicious salads, soups, bread, plov, dumplings, and so much more. Even for vegetarians, it isn’t too difficult to find great meatless meals like pumpkin dumplings (Manti). 

How to Get Around Uzbekistan

A commonly misunderstood fact is that you would have to see Uzbekistan with a tour company – wrong! Uzbekistan’s rail network is a super convenient, affordable, and overall great way to get around the country. The fast trains are of the same quality as Italy or another European country. 

Right now, booking tickets online is still very difficult (2019) but fortunately, Advantour, the silk road tour operator , takes away the hassle by pre-booking everything for you.

Train tickets for the above Uzbekistan travel route cost between 5 and 20 USD per ride per person, depending on the class. 

Browse and book your train tickets online

All major cities are connected with a domestic or international airport and have regularly scheduled flights.

Tip: Right now, we recommend taking just one flight back from Khiva to Tashkent because the train between the other cities is a much better way of traveling.

Best Time to Travel in Uzbekistan

It is best to visit Uzbekistan in the spring (April to June) and autumn (September – October) when the weather is comfortably warm and dry.

In general, it is recommended to skip the summer months, June to August. However, our visit in late August was fine if we would stay out of the sun in the afternoon. 

What to Wear in Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan is a modern country without strict rules on how women should dress. Although the majority of the country is Muslim, headscarves are not required at all, and you will see women wearing whatever they feel comfortable with, even ripped jeans or skirts. Expect quite a few selfie requests as Western tourists are still new and exciting. 

Dress in a way that is respectful to everyone. Of course, at some religious sites, you are required to cover yourself, so always bring an extra scarf with you while traveling in Uzbekistan. 

Safety in Uzbekistan

Besides corruption happening a few years ago, the crime rate in Uzbekistan is very low, making it a safe country to travel to .

Travel Insurance Don't forget a travel insurance for your Uzbekistan trip! Heymondo covers medical emergencies, theft, delays, cancellations, lost luggage, and more, with 24/7 worldwide assistance and medical chat. As a Salt in our Hair reader, we've got you 5% off! Check Heymondo here

In contrast to a city trip to Europe , you don’t have to pay attention to pickpockets. The Uzbek people are respectful, and couples and solo travelers have to worry while traveling in this beautiful country.

Discover more about: Finding the right travel insurance

Do I Need a Visa for Uzbekistan?

Getting your visa for Uzbekistan has become a piece of cake for most nationalities due to changes in 2018. E-visas can now be acquired, and for some countries, it’s even free.

By purchasing through our links, you support us at no additional cost. Thank you for your support. ♥️

• Find Hotels via Booking.com
• Find a Rental Car via Sunny Cars
• Find Flights to Uzbekistan via Skyscanner
• Get a Travel Insurance via Heymondo
• Book Tours & Attractions via GetYourGuide
• Book a Bus/Train/Transfer via 12Go

The Ancient Mosque City Bukhara, Uzbekistan

Samarkand, uzbekistan: best things to do & see, things to do in khiva, uzbekistan: the open air museum.

Looking for more travel information? Plan a chat with us for personalised travel advice or get an answer from the Salt in our Hair Travel Community on Facebook.

We were looking for information about Uzbekistan. We are glad we reached you site. Your coverage of this wonderful land is detailed and ready to use.

Can you tell us if online booking has started for their train network?

Thanks for this wow blog and thanks in anticipation for your expected reply to our query on rail booking.

Thanks! As far as we’re aware that system is still not working for bookings as foreigners.

Hi there, you can book easily through the national Uzbek trains website with no extra commission as a foreigner. We had no problems doing it for our trip right now!

Thanks for pointing that out & we hope you’re having a great trip! 🤗

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O‘zbekiston Respublikasi Ekologiya, atrof-muhitni muhofaza qilish va iqlim o‘zgarishi vazirligi huzuridagi Turizm qo‘mitasi

Flights from Nukus to Istanbul open

Flights are scheduled every Monday of the week

A B2B meeting with French investors was held in Khorezm region

Negotiations were held on organizing new ecotourism zones and accommodation facilities in the reg ...

The delegation of the Fergana region takes part in the international tourism forum in Tajikistan

More than 30 speakers from Central Asia and Russia share their experience and skills at the forum

Shakhrisabz is an actual destination for all types of tourist holidays

The city is going to host a number of events

Interactive services

A special electronic automated program for keeping records of residents in hotels and other accommodation facilities

Register Guides

Single Electronic Register of Guides

Obtaining a license

Obtaining a new license to carry out tourism activities

Register of accommodation facilities

Unified Republican Register of Accommodation Facilities

• Certification

The procedure for certification of tour operator and hotel services

• Electronic reporting

Legislation

• Constitution
• Presidential Decrees and Resolutions
• Government decisions
• Rules and instructions
• No longer valid legal acts
• Interagency agreements
• Intergovernmental agreements
• Virtual reception
• List of documents
• Hotel register
• Wi-Fi areas
• Sanitary units

O‘zbekiston Respublikasi Ekologiya, atrof-muhitni muhofaza qilish va iqlim o‘zgarishi vazirligi huzuridagi Turizm qo‘mitasi Manzil: Amir Temur shox ko'chasi, 107B-uy Tel: 71 205 06 00 Devonxona: 71 205 06 00 (730)

Friday, 12 April, 2024

Tourism in Uzbekistan in 2021 and beyond

European Commission approves €15.34 million to support tourism in Bulgaria

48 hours in Leuven

António Buscardini is the CEO and Founder of Travel Tomorrow and the CEO of Buscardini Communications. He is also the journalist and director of the Embarquement, Clin d’Oeil sur le Monde, 60 secondes and Cérès TV series broadcast by TV5 Monde. With more than 10 years of experience in the field of press and communications. António was the director of communications of the Assembly of European Regions.

Tourism has become a strategic pilar of Uzbekistan’s national economy. This Central Asian country welcomed in 2016 2.1 million visitors and before the pandemic, in 2019, 6.7 million.

2020 was a disastrous year, as anywhere in the world: 1.5 million tourists visited the country.

Travel Tomorrow sat down with Aziz Abdukhakimov, Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Tourism and Sports, to discuss what tourism will looked like in Uzbekistan this year and what are the perspectives for 2022.

What impact had the pandemic on Uzbekistan’s tourism sector?

As with most countries in the world, the pandemic and the strict quarantine measures taken in connection with it, have negatively affected various sectors of the economy. It is worth noting that the tourism industry was one of the first industries to feel the impact of Covid-19. The reduction in the flow of foreign tourists arriving in Uzbekistan with the complete suspension of tourism naturally led to a sharp reduction in the volume of exports of tourist services. So, in 2020, about 1.5 million tourists came to the country, which is no more than 23 per cent of last year’s figure of 6.7 million. Exports of tourism services amounted to US$260 million, which is less than 20 per cent of last year’s figure of US$1.313 billion.

What measures were taken to restore tourist flow and attract tourists in 2021?

In order to mitigate the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic and restore the tourist flow in the post-pandemic period, the country has adopted a set of measures to support the tourism business by further developing and restoring domestic and inbound tourism. A number of benefits and preferences have been provided for the tourism sector by presidential and government decrees.

The government is paying special attention to attracting new foreign air carriers in order to expand the geography of international flights from Europe, Russia and the CIS countries, the Middle East and Southeast Asia, including China, South Korea, Japan and India. Also, work continues to improve the material and technical bases of the tourism industry and to develop related infrastructure. As a result of the measures taken to support tourism, even despite the pandemic, 136 hotels were built in 2020, with a total room stock of 6385 rooms. We now have a total of 1308 hotels. At the same time, 478 family guesthouses were opened, for a total of 1364 guesthouses altogether.

The programme ‘Travel Around Uzbekistan’ was also introduced with the aim of developing domestic tourism in Uzbekistan by encouraging the general population to travel and take excursions. This programme has already proven its high efficiency in generating mass domestic tourism; at the end of 2019, the volume of domestic Uzbek tourist trips had already increased 3.2 times compared to 2015. The programme significantly stimulated the development of tourist services and the production of goods for travellers, and also improved the level of seasonal occupancy of hotels throughout the country. In order to promote the tourism potential of Uzbekistan during the pandemic, virtual excursions were developed for 50 sightseeing spots and offered on the sites Uzbekistan.travel and Uzbekistan360.uz . Work continues on the creation of virtual tours to other attractions.

One of the priority areas in the tourism sector for the next few years is the creation of large tourist zones and all-season resorts, including in Bostanlyk district in the Tashkent region, in the Zaamin district of Jizzakh region, in the Namangan and Surkhandarya regions. There are also plans in place to create a modern complex for recreational, beach and aquatic tourism around the Aydar-Arnasay Lakes.

Along with the support for domestic tourism that has been implemented, have any wider lessons been learned from this new reality?

Of course, the situation with the pandemic has determined new approaches and solutions for the sector. For example, to ensure the safety and health of tourists, we launched the ‘Uzbekistan. Safetravel Guaranteed’ programme of sanitary and epidemiological security. All safety standards have been approved by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC).

The standards include the best international guidelines for the provision of safe services to tourists in order to ensure the safety of their health during their stay. As for the expansion of geography, in 2022, based on the epidemiological situation around the world, there are plans to add flights specifically to cater to pilgrimage tourism. These include 1500 flights from Indonesia, Turkey, Pakistan, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Iran and India, 240 flights from Israel, the USA, France and Russia, and 200 flights from Japan, India, Korea, China, Thailand and Buryatia. In 2021, we increased the number of flights to 18 per week from Turkey, quadruple the number from Indonesia, triple the number from Malaysia, and open connections with five new destinations in the Middle East.

At present, citizens of 86 nations can come to Uzbekistan without a visa, and work in this direction will continue in the coming year. The availability of transport is key in this, so from this year, we will reduce prices for aviation fuel and air tickets, launch additional railway routes from the Fergana Valley regions to the rest of the country, as well as continuing to improve highways and roadside infrastructure from Khonobod in the Andijan region to Termez in Surkhandarya and Moynaq in Karakalpakstan. Standardised service areas and service points are also being introduced along highways.

In previous years, in addition to traditional cultural and historical tourism, special attention was paid to promoting themed tourism around pilgrimages, gastronomy, youth, events, winter sports and eco-tourism. Which of these areas might be especially in demand in the context of the post-pandemic trend towards ‘tourism with social distance’?

First of all, I would like to highlight pilgrimage and medical tourism. There is huge untapped potential for these in Uzbekistan. Consequently, in the coming years, special attention will be paid to developing these two types of tourism. Together with the phased resumption of regular and charter air travel with the countries of Southeast Asia, the Middle East and a number of other countries with high potential for tourism, in 2022 we aim to attract more than 700,000 pilgrimage tourists to Uzbekistan. Also this year, systematic work with target markets will continue for attracting international tourists around culture and history, extreme, mountain, medical, agro, ethno, gastronomic, rural tourism, etc. Priority markets include Europe, Russia and the CIS countries, the Middle East, and Asia, including Southeast Asia, China, South Korea, Japan and India.

Are there plans to develop other tourism destinations? Some experts recommend moving away from the mass tourism model (particularly due to risks of environmental pollution, damage to monuments, overcrowding, safety issues, and low profitability of budget travel packages), and instead recommend developing conditions and iinfrastructure for small-group tourists that will stay longer and spend more.

As I have already noted, Uzbekistan has a huge untapped potential across the tourism sector. Focusing on domestic tourism and the implementation of the State Program will give a significant result in overcoming the current crisis, with the gradual involvement of foreign tourists and an increase in the tourist flow to the country. At the moment, the Ministry of Tourism is actively working on improving the existing tourism infrastructure in the country, where, in order to attract new tourists, it is necessary to create new destinations and introduce new tourism products and services. In terms of solvency, it is very important to develop luxury tourism products, which requires improving the existing infrastructure, as well as the construction of modern, new tourist facilities with latest technologies.

At the moment, most visitors’ main requirement is a customized vacation, including specific hotel rooms, special types of car hire, tickets for events, reservations in popular restaurants, pre-orders for Spa & Beauty treatments, etc. Tourists prioritise first-class flights, and the quality and variety of service levels. Private transfers on small planes and helicopters are very popular. Travellers increasingly prefer unique accommodation rather than traditional hotels. This can range from luxury hotels to a treehouse, monasteries, glass bubbles or a yurt in the middle of the steppe.

Also, modern tourists often plan travel around events, like sports competitions, cultural festivals and carnivals, concerts, major exhibitions, or recently opened landmarks. Also, it can be dinner parties with the participation of celebrities, writers, politicians, scientists. In the direction of luxury tourism, Uzbekistan can offer helicopter tours around the country. For example, flights over the Aral Sea, over the Tashkent region, places of outstanding and natural beauty. We also need to offer special tour packages for ‘all inclusive’ resorts, such as the Bukhara Resort Oasis & Spa, Konigil tourist village and Heaven’s Garden Resort & Spa.

Also, we shall promote hunting tours in Bukhara, Navoi, Khorezm regions and the Republic of Karakalpakstan. Hunting and falconry tours is the most demanded type of tourism among luxury tourists.

Today, tourists are increasingly requesting activities related to nature and conservation. Based on this, we have accelerated implementation of infrastructure projects aimed at smoothing tourist flows and creating conditions for year round recreation. These places incorporate environmental measures for sustainable tourism, such as the preservation of natural heritage, respect for nature reserves and parks and will be further opened for tourists in compliance with all environmental standards.

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The 15 Best Things to do in Tashkent Uzbekistan – Tashkent City Guide

Tashkent will be very likely the first city you’ll arrive in when you travel to Uzbekistan. What are the best places to see in Tashkent Uzbekistan? Read this travel guide to have a wonderful stay in Tashkent city!

Uzbekistan’s modern capital Tashkent lives a bit in the shadows of the more attractive-looking Silk Road cities Samarkand ,  Bukhara  and  Khiva . 

It’s a shame because Tashkent is a really nice destination to visit and spend some time if you know where to go.

Tashkent city can be seen as an introduction to the stunning Islamic architecture – probably the reason why you’re going to travel to Uzbekistan – as it has some beautiful historical sites.  It’s also a very modern city with many parks and fountains, beautiful statues, nice cafes, and great restaurants.

Tashkent city is a fantastic base from which to explore the rest of Uzbekistan.  It’s very easy to take buses or trains from Tashkent to all the other interesting destinations around the country.

You’ll very likely begin and end your trip to Uzbekistan here as it’s home to the country’s international airport. If you prefer to travel overland, it’s also very straightforward to travel from Almaty (Kazakhstan),   Bishkek   (Kyrgyzstan) or Osh (Kyrgyzstan) to Tashkent by bus or train. 

It’ll also be a nice place to hang out at the end of your travels in Uzbekistan because trust me, after spending days and/or weeks of staring intensely at radiant colors and interlaced patterns of architectural masterpieces, you’ll be feeling a little “ tiled-out” !

Tip: See my  Uzbekistan Travel Page  for a complete overview of all my travel guides and blog posts about Uzbekistan!

The 26 most beautiful and best places to visit in Uzbekistan

Disclaimer: This posts might contain affiliate links, meaning that if you make a purchase through these links, I may earn an affiliate commission. Thank you for helping to support this website!

Plan your trip to Uzbekistan

• 18 important things to prepare your trip to Uzbekistan
• 26 beautiful places to visit in Uzbekistan
• Uzbekistan Itineraries: 1 to 4 weeks in Uzbekistan
• How to travel aroun d Uzbekistan by train
• What to pack for Uzbekistan
• Uzbekistan Safety Guide
• Uzbekistan Money Guide
• Tours & Experiences: Guided City Tours in Uzbekistan, Adventure Tours in Uzbekistan

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Tashkent City – Things you need to know before you go

Tashkent is the economic and cultural center of Uzbekistan and one of the wealthiest cities in Central Asia. It used to be the most populated city of ex-Soviet Central Asia and the 4th largest city of the Soviet Union. 

It’s very easy and cheap to get around Tashkent by metro. It only costs $0.15, there are metro stations near all the must-see places to visit in Tashkent and one of the top things to do in Tashkent is riding its metro as the city has some of the most beautiful metro stations in the world! 

Another way to get around Tashkent is by taxi. Install the Yandex Taxi app on your phone to easily order a taxi and see the rate in advance. This saves you the hustle of bargaining or the risk of paying triple the standard rate.

Tashkent is also a very clean and green city filled with Soviet, Islamic and modern-day architecture. It’s really not as conservative as you might think and I was even surprised to see young women walking around in cute little dresses.

This doesn’t mean you can start wearing tank tops and shorts that barely cover your bum but you also don’t need to cover yourself completely. 

Tashkent has many banks where you exchange your money for Uzbekistani Som (UZS). There are also ATMs in the city where you can withdraw Uzbekistani Soms or US Dollars.

The best time to visit Tashkent (and Uzbekistan) is during spring (April – May) and fall (October – November). The weather during those seasons is very pleasant and the temperatures are usually around 20°C (68°F). 

Summers in Tashkent (July-August) are dry and hot with average temperatures of 35°C (95°F). Once the sun has set though, it’s nice to walk around the parks and boulevards as this is the time when the city and its inhabitants come to life. 

Winter in Tashkent can also be a nice time if you want to see the city covered in snow. The average temperature during the winter is usually around 5°C (41°F).

Uzbekistan Travel Guide: 18 u s e f u l t h ings you need to know before you go

Discover the mystical Silk Road cities and travel along the ancient caravan trails in the mountains and desert of Uzbekistan during the 14-day H i g h l i g h t s o f Uzbekistan Adventure Tour !

Is Tashkent safe for tourists?

The capital of Uzbekistan is very safe for travelers and it has even become safer now that the government introduced a ‘tourist police’. You’ll find their boots in every tourist destination in Uzbekistan.

So in case you’d ever feel uncomfortable or in danger – which I highly doubt – just go to one of those touristic police stands and they will help you.

When I traveled for the first time to Tashkent in 2017, I was a bit worried about my safety. 

I was a woman traveling alone, I didn’t know many people who had been there before, and the country was a bit of a mystery to me.

Whether you’re a solo traveler or not, you shouldn’t worry too much about your safety in Uzbekistan and in Tashkent.

The Uzbeks are very friendly and have no bad intentions whatsoever. If they see you’re lost or you’re in need of help, they’ll kindly approach you and offer you their help.

When I traveled for the second time to Tashkent with my friend, we had a bit of an awkward situation in the metro.

A group of young guys surrounded us and our first instinct was to walk away as we thought they might want to rob us. But they were students and just wanted to have a chat so they could practice their English with us!

There might be cases of petty crime such as pickpockets, especially in crowded places and in the bazaars of Tashkent, but they don’t happen often. Just always keep your valuables in a safe place, no matter where you are in the world.

Is Uzbekistan safe? 1 4 useful safety tips

What I recommend to avoid being pickpocketed is to always keep your wallet in your front pocket or carry a money belt . Another great option is to travel with a slash-resistant and lockable anti-theft bag .

I would also recommend getting good travel insurance that covers theft .

The 3 most budget-friendly travel insurance companies compared!

Need Travel Insurance for Central Asia ? I use and highly recommend HeyMondo Travel Insurance . As a reader of Journal of Nomads, you get a 5% discount off your insurance plan!

15 places to visit and top things to do in Tashkent in one day

While Tashkent is a nice place to relax and do some sightseeing for a couple of days, you might not have much time on your trip around the country.

That’s why I made a 1-day itinerary for Tashkent so that even if you only have one day to spare in Uzbekistan’s capital city, you won’t miss out on the highlights and main tourist attractions in Tashkent. I would also recommend going on a guided city tour in Tashkent as you’ll learn so much more about the history and importance of Uzbekistan’s capital.

If you follow the map below, you’ll have an enjoyable time and you’ll also find out what Tashkent is famous for!

Tashkent Tourist Places – Map

I marked the places and attractions on the map below. You can open this map on your phone and also quickly find your way to and from the nearest metro stations.

1. See the world’s oldest Koran at the Hazrat Imam Complex

The Hazrat Imam Complex , also known as the Hast-Imam Ensemble or Khast Imam, is the religious heart of Tashkent. It’s the perfect place to start your Tashkent sightseeing trip.

While you walk around the complex, you’ll see some beautiful architectural monuments, such as the Barak Khan Madrasah, the Tilla Sheikh Mosque and the mausoleum of Saint Abu Bakr Kaffal Shashi. 

They are a nice introduction to the impressive Islamic architecture that you’ll find in other Uzbek cities like Bukhara . You can freely enter the courtyard of the Barak Khan Madrasah.

Barak Khan Madrasah

Hazrat Imam is also home to the Muyi Mubarak Library, a library with oriental manuscripts and the Uthman Koran, which is claimed to be the world’s oldest Koran. The entrance fee to visit this library is  30,000 UZS (around €3/ US$3). 

How to get to Hazrat Imam Complex

Get out at the Gafur Gulom Metro Station . Follow Abdulla Qodiriy Street to the left and turn into Qorasaroy Street (see map).

The Hazrat Imam Complex is a 10-minute walk from the metro station and on your way there, you’ll get a glimpse of the old town of Tashkent. 

2. Shop at Chorsu Bazaar

The Chorsu Bazaar is Uzbekistan’s largest market where locals can buy anything from raw food products, fresh fruits and veggies, honey and spices to clothing, jewelry, beauty products and more. You can find everything here!

The central part of the bazaar is covered by an impressive blue dome but you’ll also find many outdoor food, textile and household stalls in the surrounding streets and alleys. It seems like this market just goes on forever!

Even if you don’t want to buy anything, the Chorsu Bazaar is an ideal place to do some people-watching and observe the cultural blend Tashkent is famous for. 

How to get to Chorsu Bazaar

The moment you walk out of Chorsu metro station , you’ll be in the midst of bread and cheap Chinese products stalls. You’ll also quickly see the blue dome.

If you’re coming from the Hazrat Imam Complex, walk back to Abdulla Qodiriy Street and go right at the intersection. Follow the road towards Zakaynar Street (see Tashkent Tourist Places map above).

It’s about 15 minutes walking from Hazrat Imam to the Chorsu Bazaar.

3. Visit the Kukeldash Madrasah and the Dzuma Mosque

The Kukeldash Madrasah is the largest madrasah and one of the most famous historical places in Tashkent.

While Kukeldash is not as impressive as the three madrasahs surrounding Registan Square in Samarkand , the building still is a beautiful example of Islamic architecture and worth a quick visit.

Kukeldash was originally an educational institution (madrasah means ‘school’ or ‘college’ for Islamic education) but over the centuries the building has been used as a caravanserai for merchants, a fortress of the Kokand rulers and even as a place of execution.

The Madrasah survived several earthquakes and has repeatedly been repaired and restored. Today Kukeldash functions again as a spiritual institution.

You can enter the courtyard of the madrasah where you’ll find a small wood carving workshop. The entrance fee to the courtyard is 10000 UZS .

The Dzuma Mosque is right next to the Kukeldash Madrasah and worth a quick stop to admire the architecture.

How to get to Kukeldash Madrasah and Dzuma Mosque

Kukeldash Madrasah and Dzuma Mosque are right outside the Chorsu Bazaar and the Chorsu Metro . Just walk between the outdoor stalls in the direction of Beruniy Street (see the Tashkent Tourist Places Map above). 

4. Admire the Minor Mosque

Minor Mosque is a striking new mosque in Tashkent. It was built in 2014 on the banks of the Ankhor Canal.

Locals call it the “Snow Mosque” because it’s completely made of white marble. It’s particularly beautiful when the sun rays hit its walls, making the mosque sparkle and shine. 

How to get to Minor Mosque

Take the metro (at Chorsu metro station if you’re following this itinerary) and get out at Bodomzor Station . Walk along Amir Temur Avenue until you reach the intersection with Kichik Halqa Ring Road.

Turn right and keep walking along Little Ring Road until you reach Minor Mosque. It’s about 15 minutes walking from Bodomzor metro station.

Top Things to do in Samarkand – Samarkand City Guide

5. Climb the Tashkent TV Tower

The Tashkent Tower is at its 375 meters, the 11th tallest tower in the world. You can take the elevator to the 6th floor and enjoy the panoramic views over the city from the observation deck.

There’s also a restaurant on the 7th floor where you can have a beer and/or enjoy a meal at a reasonable price. 

The entrance fee to go to the observation deck is  40,000 UZS . You’ll also need your passport to go up the tower. The Tashkent Tower is open daily from 10 am until 8 pm. 

It could be a nice spot to return in the evening and see how the sun sets over the city’s skyline.

How to get to Tashkent TV Tower

Get out at  Bodomzor Station   and walk along Amir Timur Avenue in the direction of “Tashkent Land”. The Tashkent TV Tower is a 5-minute walk from the metro station.

6. Visit the Memorial to the Victims of Repression and the surrounding park

  I really enjoyed spending some time near the Memorial to the Victims of Repression and the park surrounding it.

The memorial itself is a large gazebo-shaped structure with a blue dome.

The museum of the Victims of Political Repression is also a beautiful building but the story behind it is a bit sad.

The museum is dedicated to the people who fought for the independence of Uzbekistan during the Soviet Union time and who were killed by the government. Inside you can find photographs, documents and personal belongings of those killed.

If this sounds a bit too heavy, just stroll around the complex and enjoy the peace and quiet of the park near the river bank.

How to get to the Memorial to the Victims of Repression

The museum and Memorial to the Victims of Repression are across the Tashkent TV Tower. You have to cross Amir Timur Avenue to reach it.

7. Have lunch at Besh Qalan, the Central Asian Plov Center

Plov is the most famous Central Asian dish. This traditional Uzbek dish consists of rice fried with raisins, carrots, and spices with meat on top of it. It’s usually cooked in lamb fat and served with pieces of lamb meat. 

You can find this dish anywhere in Uzbekistan and Central Asia but Besh Qozon claims to have the best Plov of the whole region.

What is really cool about this Plov Center is that you can see how the plov is made in huge pots that can serve hundreds of people!

Eating plov at the Central Asian Plov Center is an activity you can’t skip while in Tashkent!

For about 25000 UZS ($2.50) you get a big bowl of plov, freshly baked bread, pickled veggies, and lemon tea. Keep in mind that the Plov center closes at 2 pm . 

How to get to the Central Asian Plov Center

The Central Asian Plov Center is located across the Memorial to the Victims of Repression and next to the Tashkent TV Tower. The nearest metro station is  Bodomzor .

8. Ride the metro

Another top thing to do in Tashkent is to ride its metro. It’s the perfect activity to do in the early afternoon during the summer when it’s scorching hot outside as the metro has air conditioning. 

Tashkent has some of the most beautiful metro stations in the world! Visiting Tashkent’s subway was one of the most memorable highlights of my time in the city!

Almost every metro station in Tashkent is fascinating. They all have their own unique architectural features and artistic elements.

The 1 3 m o s t b e a u t i f u l m e t r o s t a t i o n s i n T a s h k e n t

9. Leaf through some books at the Book Bazaar 

If you love books and old magazines, you might enjoy this small Book Bazaar. 

We stayed in an Airbnb next to the park where this bazaar is located so we stumbled upon it by chance.

The Book Bazaar has little bookstalls lined up along a pedestrian street in a nice green park.

Most books are only in Russian but it’s quite fun to leaf through the books and find some old-school English books as well.

At one side of the bookstalls, you’ll also find some souvenir stalls and people selling antique items. 

On the other side of the book bazaar, you’ll pass some ice-cream shops and little dining places selling Uzbek and western food. 

How to get to the Book Bazaar

Get out at the  Kosmonavtlar metro station . This is a metro station you really can’t miss when visiting Tashkent! 

Cross the intersection of Afrosiyob and Mirabad Street and walk towards the park. That’s where you’ll find the book bazaar. 

10. Learn about Uzbekistan’s history in the State Museum of History

If you want to learn a bit more about Uzbekistan’s history, then the State Museum of History of Uzbekistan is the place to be.

This museum has 2 floors with a range of exhibits showing the history of Uzbekistan over the past 2500 years. 

The entrance fee is  10000 UZS, 25000 UZS  if you want to take photos (not really worth it in my opinion) and you can get an English-speaking guide for  8000 UZS  (this is worth it if you want to learn more).

The museum is open daily, except on Mondays, from 10 am until 6 pm. 

If you’re not really into musea, it’s worth passing there anyways as the architecture of the museum is quite interesting to see.

It’s built in the form of a cube, blending a Soviet approach with oriental decorative patterns. This Soviet-Modernism architecture can also be found back in other places in Central Asia. 

How to get to the State Museum of History of Uzbekistan

The nearest metro station is  Mustakilik Maydoni , one of the most beautiful metro stations in Tashkent!

If you’re following this itinerary, it’s a 7-minute walk from the Book Bazaar to the museum. You’ll pass the beautiful Alisher Navoi Opera on the way. 

If you want to see a performance in the opera building, you can check the program at the small ticket office outside the building. I didn’t go inside the opera building but I’ve heard it’s quite grandiose. 

Top Things to do in Bukhara – Bukhara City Guide

11. Watch the stunning fountains and monuments at Independence Square

Independence Square , also known as Memorial Square, is a popular gathering place for the residents of Tashkent. It’s located right in the center of Tashkent. 

This square used to be known as Lenin Square during the Soviet Union but upon declaration of independence in 1991, it was re-named Mustakillik Maydoni, which translates to Independence Square in English.

It’s used for large gatherings and performances on festive days, like Uzbekistan Independence Day (1st of September) and New Year (1st of January). 

Independence Square has some of the most beautiful fountains of the city and a number of significant monuments.

Among them, 16 marble columns joined by a bridge and sculptures of storks on top of it that symbolize peace, the Independence Monument itself and a statue of a woman holding a baby, the symbol of Motherland. 

How to get to Independence Square:

Mustakilik Maydoni   metro station is right at Independence Square. It’s a stunning metro you definitely have to see!

If you’re coming from the State Museum of History of Uzbekistan, just keep walking down the road. Independence Square is just a 5-minute walk from the museum.

12. Go for a stroll around Amir Timur Square

Amir Temur, also known as Tamerlane, is Uzbekistan’s national hero and the most famous Central Asian conqueror.

You’ll hear his name very often in Uzbekistan, especially in  Samarkand   as this city was the center of his Temurid Empire. 

The Amir Temur Square is a little park and ideal for an afternoon stroll or to take a break from all your sightseeing in Tashkent. 

The highlight of the square is the 7-meters high statue of Amir Temur on his horse, which is a popular spot for the locals to take photos and selfies. 

How to get to Amir Timur Square:

Get out at  Amir Temur   metro station. 

If you’re following this itinerary, you can make the pleasant 7-minute walk from Independence Square to Amir Temur square along Sailkogh Street (see #15 below). 

Travel Guide to Sharisabz and 6 more great day trips from Samarkand

13. Have a beer at Hotel Uzbekistan

Hotel Uzbekistan is one of the most iconic sights of Tashkent. It’s a must-see place in Tashkent if you like Soviet architecture.

The inside of the hotel isn’t really spectacular but you can walk in and go to the bar on the 17th floor for a beer and a good view of the city.  Tip: Go there for sunset!

How to get to Hotel Uzbekistan

Hotel Uzbekistan is behind the Amir Timur statue so get out at Amir Temur metro station. The hotel is so massive that you can’t miss it. 

14.  Visit Amir Temur Museum

As I’ve mentioned already above, Amir Temur is the national hero of Uzbekistan and this museum is dedicated to him.

The architecture of the building is quite photogenic. The inside of the museum is also very beautiful with its golden-domed ceiling.

The entrance fee to visit the Amir Temur Museum is 16000 UZS  ( 30000 UZS  if you want to take photos).  You’ll find some paintings and belongings of Amir Temur, as well as a copy of the Qoran and small-scale models of the most important mosques of Uzbekistan.

The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 9 am until 5 pm. It’s closed on Mondays.

How to get to Amir Timur Museum

The Amir Timur Museum is located next to Amir Timur Square. Get out at  Amir Temur metro station.

15. Enjoy the evening on Broadway Boulevard (Sailkogh Street)

Sailkogh Street is a pedestrian street that unites the two most important squares of Tashkent: Amir Temur Square and Independence Square. 

The street is known as Broadway Boulevard is a very popular place for the locals to enjoy time with their friends and families.

You can find all kinds of food, souvenir, and art stalls on this boulevard, along with street artists and carnival games for kids. 

It’s particularly nice to walk there during the early evening when Broadway Boulevard is illuminated by all kinds of lights. 

How to get to Broadway Boulevard

You can get out at Amir Temur metro station   and walk from Amir Temur Square or the museum to the boulevard.

You can also get out at Mustakillik Maydoni metro station  and walk along Broadway Boulevard after you’ve visited Independence Square.

Tashkent City Tours and Experiences

There are several guided city (walking) tours you can do in Tashkent. I often like taking a guided tour around a city as it allows me to learn more about the local culture and the history of a destination.

Tashkent is also on the itinerary of my Uzbekistan Adventure Tours .

Here are a couple of city tours in Tashkent I recommend:

Uzbekistan itineraries: 1 to 4 weeks in Uzbekistan

Where to eat in Tashkent – Tashkent Restaurants

Tashkent is a big city so the restaurant options are practically endless. There’s a wide selection of restaurants that can satisfy travelers with different budgets.

Whether you want a traditional restaurant where you can try some Uzbek Plov or you’re craving some western food, you’ll find plenty of savory options in Tashkent.

Here are the restaurants I suggest:

1.Besh Qozon

This is the place you don’t want to miss in the capital of Uzbekistan. Eating at Besh Qozon is one of the top things to do while in Tashkent (see above). 

This restaurant is a bit outside of the city center but believe me, eating there is absolutely worth it! If you arrive there a bit before noon, you’ll witness hundreds of kilograms of rice being cooked right in front of you.

The ambiance of this place is fantastic. When you’ll walk in, you’ll see men stirring the rice in a giant pot. It’s mainly locals who eat there. This is great because the best way to capture the spirit of Tashkent is to eat where the locals do.

The plov served here is delicious and it only costs 25000 UZS (around $2.50) for a big bowl of plov. You’ll find the Central Asian Plov Center in Tashkent near the metro station of  Bodomzor . 

2. National Food

National Food is one of Tashkent’s best restaurants. You’ll get a wonderful culinary experience of Uzbekistan’s cuisine and the restaurant is set in a traditional Uzbekistan decor that offers a warm and welcoming ambiance. National Food is located at walking distance from Gafur Gulom Metro Station .

Caravan is another great budget-friendly Tashkent restaurant that offers delicious traditional food, rustic decor, and live music. It’s located in a small suburb, about 30 minutes walking from Tashkent Metro (best would be to take a taxi to get there). They have great manti (Central Asian dumplings ), salads, and Uzbek wine. Caravan has both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options.

Afsona is a modern Uzbek restaurant with a terrace, located near Ming O’rik metro station . The budget-friendly menu offers traditional Uzbek dishes such as plov, somosa, manty and dolma, as well as vegetarian options. There’s often some live music so it’s a nice place to relax after a day of sightseeing.

Uzbekistan Budget Guide: How much does it cost to travel in Uzbekistan?

Where to stay in Tashkent?

Tashkent offers a wide choice of hostels for budget travelers to top-end hotels for those who enjoy that extra bit of luxury. I also stayed a couple of times at an Airbnb in Tashkent.

1. Budget Hostels (less than $20 per person)

• Topchan Hostel

Topchan hostel’s location is ideal if you’re traveling by yourself and visiting Tashkent for the day. It’s at a 30-minutes walking distance from the railway station to start (or finish) your travels in Uzbekistan. See the rates and availability for “Topchan Hostel”

• Light Hostel

This is another hostel conveniently located in Tashkent. It’s about 40-minutes walking from the train station and a 20-minute walk from Oybek metro station, from where you can easily travel to Tashkent’s city center. See the rates and availability for “Light Hostel”

• Jules Verne Hostel

Jules Verne is a lovely hostel located near the Minor Mosque in Tashkent. You don’t have to go far to get to a metro station or walk to the city center of Tashkent. Click to check out rates and availability for “Jules Verne Hostel”

2. Mid-range (between $20 and $50 per night)

• Leader Hotel

I stayed at the Leader hotel while hiking in Uzbekistan and it was my base across the trip. It has beautiful rooms (one of mine had a *chandelier*), hot showers, great food, and excellent service. The rooms average around $50 per night.  Check out rates and availability for “Leader Hotel”

• Great Trip Mini-Hotel

Great Trip Mini-Hotel offers comfortable rooms with a shared lounge, free private parking and a garden. It’s located in a quiet residential area close to the Tashkent TV-Tower and Japanse Garden and other places of interest in Tashkent. See rates and availability for “Great Trip Mini-Hotel”

• Hotel Suzuk-Ota

Hotel Suzuk-Ota is a highly-rated hotel in the center of Tashkent. It offers clean and nice rooms, a shared lounge and a garden and is located in a park next to the Suzuk Ota Mosque, at walking distance from a mall and many restaurants. The closest metro stations are Chorsu and Bunyodkor. Click to check out rates and availability for “Hotel Suzuk-Ota”

3. High-end (+ $50 per night)

• Hyatt Regency Hotel

If you like to splurge a bit, you can stay at the  Hyatt Regency Hotel   with its stunning rooms, indoor swimming pool and a restaurant on the 7th floor. Check out rates and availability for “Hyatt Regency Hotel”

• Ichan Qal’a Hotel

Another stunning luxurious hotel we’d recommend is the Ichan Qal’a Hotel. This hotel doesn’t only offer beautifully decorated rooms but also an indoor fitness center and swimming pool.  See rates and availability for “Ichan Qal’a Hotel”

6 Best Places to visit in the Fergana Valley – The Complete Travel Guide

My Tashkent photography gear

This is the gear I used to capture Tashkent. You can also see my article on photography essentials and cameras for travel photographers for more information.

• Camera: Panasonic LUMIX DC-90
• Main lens: Panasonic Lumix G Vario 14-140mm f/3.5-5.6
• Wide-angle lens : Leica DG Vario-ELMARIT 8-18mm f/2.8-4.0
• Prime lens: Leica DG Summilux 15mm f/1.7
• Tripod: Manfrotto Compact Action Tripod (Hybrid Head)

How to get to Tashkent?

Tashkent is very well connected by train with other Uzbek cities such as Bukhara , Khiva or Samarkand .

It’s a city that is also very easy to reach from Almaty in Kazakhstan or from Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan .

1. How to get from Tashkent airport to the city center

It’s a 30-minute drive to get from the airport to the city center of Tashkent by taxi.

As soon as you exit the airport, you’ll be greeted by eager taxi drivers who are happy to bring you to the city center of Tashkent for 50.000 UZS.

This is the same rate as the “official” taxi office in the airport, which doesn’t make sense as the standard price for a taxi from the airport to the city center of Tashkent is between 20.000 and 25.000 UZS (around US$2 – US$3).

This means you’ll have to negotiate the price with the driver and you might not feel like playing the bargaining game after a long flight. So here’s a good tip.

When you exit the airport, ignore the taxi drivers who are standing at the gate. Walk to the left towards the parking lot across ‘Departures’. There you’ll find taxi drivers who just drove travelers from the city center to the airport.

They’ll be happy to quickly return to the city center and therefore are a lot easier to negotiate with. Offer the driver 20.000 UZS, max 25.000 UZS.

Show him the money and tell him to take it or leave it. He’ll probably try to ask for more but as soon as you start walking towards another taxi, he’ll very likely take it…

Another way is to install the Yandex Taxi app on your phone. You can easily order a taxi through the app and it shows you how much you have to pay upfront.

2. How to get to Tashkent from Almaty by public transport

It’s possible to travel from Almaty to Tashkent by bus and by train. Although the bus and train rides can take a long time (13 and 16 hours respectively), it’s a very relaxing journey.

It’s definitely a good option to travel this way if you’re on a budget and/or if you have plenty of time to spare.

How to get from Almaty to Tashkent by bus or by train. 

3. How to get to Tashkent from Bishkek by public transport?

There is now a bus line connecting Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan with Tashkent in Uzbekistan.

Traveling between the two cities by bus takes about 8 to 13 hours depending on how long it takes to cross the borders and this bus runs at night.

How to get from Bishke k to Tashkent by bus. 

4. How to get to Tashkent from Bukhara by public transport?

Getting from Bukhara to the Uzbek capital is very easy. There is a high-speed train that connects the two cities as well as a standard train. It’s also possible to take a night train towards Tashkent. It leaves Bukhara at 10:30 PM and arrives in Tashkent around 6:30 AM.

Traveling between the two cities by bus is also super convenient.

Getting from Bukhara to Tashkent by train

Bukhara’s train station is about twenty minutes by taxi from the old town. It’s located in the newer part of Bukhara called Kogon.

You can reach it from the old city center by taxi for 20000 som. Taxi drivers tend to overcharge tourists but you shouldn’t pay more than this.

You’ll need your passport to buy a train ticket. The train station is usually very crowded with people so it’s preferable to arrive there early in the day.

You can book your tickets online on the official Uzbek Railways website . It also shows you the train schedules. Read my Uzbekistan Railways Guide with all the information on how to take trains in Uzbekistan and how to order tickets online.

In Tashkent, you will arrive at the Northern train station. It’s right next to a metro station so it’s easy to reach the city center from the station. You can also reach the city center of Tashkent from the station for 16000 som.

It’s possible to take a bus from Bukhara to Tashkent from the northern bus station on Gijduvon street, north of town.

How to get from Bukhara to Tashkent by bus?

Reaching Tashkent from Bukhara by bus takes around 8 hours and costs around 60000 som. You can buy your ticket directly at the bus station or through the official website where you can also check the bus schedules.

5. How to get to Tashkent from Khiva by public transport?

How to get from khiva to tashkent by train.

It’s possible to take trains from Khiva to Tashkent. There are currently 2 trains a day connecting Tashkent and Khiva and the journey takes around 16 hours.

I hope this guide was useful and that you’ll have a great time in Tashkent.

If you have any questions or updates about Tashkent, let me and other readers know in the comments below!

Related posts

• Tashkent City Guide
• Samarkand City Guide
• Shahrisabz City Guide
• Bukhara City Guide
• Khiva City Guide
• Fergana Valley Guide
• Karakalpakstan Guide

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12 thoughts on “the 15 best things to do in tashkent uzbekistan – tashkent city guide”.

hello Cynthia, what an incredible journey you’re sharing with us! Your adventures in Uzbekistan are truly captivating. I’ve been planning my own trip there next month, and your vlogs have only heightened my excitement and really a great help for me. Your insights into the culture, the food, and the breathtaking landscapes are invaluable for someone like me who’s about to embark on a similar adventure. Thank you for taking us along with you on this unforgettable expedition!”

Hello Eloisa, thank you so much for your kind words, it means a lot!! Wishing you a fantastic time in Uzbekistan!

Enjoyed reading your page and learning about you, Cynthia. We are planning a 5-day trip to Tashkent and Samarkand in November. Will let you know abour our experiences there.

Have a great time Suresh and always happy to hear more about your experiences!

Is the Central Asian Plov Center will be opened during Ramadan? I will be visiting Uzbekistan next month, and my visit to Tashkent still falls during Ramadan.

The Plov Center should be open as Ramadan isn’t as strictly followed in Uzbekistan as in other countries. Have a great trip!

Very help full information, currently planning a backpacking budget tour to Kazahstan & Usbekistan. Your detail information will definitely help me a lot, thanks.

Hi Jayshree, I’m very happy to hear that my travel guides are helping you! When are you planning to travel to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan?

Dag Cynthia Vermits jij in België woont veronderstel ik dat je Nederlands spreekt…indien niet dan zal ik de mail opnieuw sturen maar dan in ‘t Engels. Ik ga op m’n eentje van 9-26 oktober naar Uzbekistan. De route ligt vast. Maar ik zou je advies knn gebruiken ivm kiezen tussen een dag meer in Tashkent (1 dag of 2 dagen) ipv Khiva (2 ipv 3 dagen) . Het verschil is een ochtendvlucht in Tashkent (7.25u dus vroeg uit de veren) of een avondvlucht om 19.00u. Super dankje voor je advies en de prachtige foto’s !!. Fijne, zonnige groetjes uit Boechout. Peggy.

Nu begrijp ik wat je in je mailtje bedoelde 😀 Ik had je reactie hier nog niet gezien! Je hebt vermeld dat je intussen al je beslissing hebt gemaakt. Eigenlijk kan je alles in Khiva in 2 dagen bezichtigen, tenzij je nog een daguitstap vanuit Khiva naar de woestijn wil maken.

Groetjes! Cynthia

It is nice journey to know about Uzbekistan

I’m happy you enjoyed the post!

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The modern metropolis

Tashkent – The modern metropolis

Tashkent is the capital of Uzbekistan and also the largest city in Central Asia.

For many years, Tashkent has been the most important business and cultural center of the country, attracting tourists and businessmen from various countries of the world.

Popular landmarks

Tashkent has a large list of attractions. It will take several days to visit all of them.

✔️ Wide avenues, green alleys, fountains and eco-parks for leisurely walks;

✔️ Unique artifacts about the history and culture of the peoples of Central Asia in the numerous museums of the city;

✔️ Majestic architectural ensembles, mosques and minarets;

✔️ Theaters and galleries for every taste.

Here everyone can create his or her own itinerary through the top attractions of the city!

Alley of Writers in Tashkent

The state museum of the temurids history, the state museum of history, suzuk-ota complex, the complex of khazrati imam, barak khan madrasah, kukeldash madrasah, muyi muborak madrasah, the minor mosque, the state museum of arts of uzbekistan, islam karimov museum, museum of literature named after alisher navoi, the state museum of applied atrs of uzbekistan, museum of nature, ancient settlement of ming urik, national library of uzbekistan named after alisher navoi, monument to shamakhmudovs family, “tashkent land” park, the ruins of aktepa, amir temur square, the sacred heart cathedral of jesus in tashkent (catholic church), tashkent tv tower, tashkent botanical garden, metro in tashkent, mirzo ulugbek central park, tashkent ecopark.

• Video about Tashkent

Photo gallery 📸

Tv tower view.

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Palace of Prince Nikolai Konstantinovich Romanov

Palace of international forums "uzbekistan".

Most time of the summer in Tashkent is hot, so do not forget about sunscreen and hats! Winter is mostly mild and snowless, but do not neglect warm things, it is so cool in the evening that you want to wear a scarf!

Gifts and souvenirs 🛍

Walking along the streets of Tashkent, you can find many memorable things, ranging from small trinkets to huge memorable souvenirs. Most of the souvenir workshops are located in old madrassas and at Chorsu Bazaar. There you can find absolutely everything: crafts carved from wood, pottery, national clothes, and even knives and daggers forged in local forges.

Tashkent restaurants with their variety and the level of service can surprise any gourmet. In the city, you can find not only national cuisine, which in Tashkent differs in taste from the identical dishes in the other parts of the country, but also the best representatives of the foreign gastronomic industry. In Tashkent, you can try Uyghur, Korean, Chinese, Japanese, European and even molecular cuisine. However, the most delicious cuisine is naturally Uzbek! Did you know that in December 2016 pilaf was included in the UNESCO Intangible Heritage List? Now you know it! Come to see and taste the most delicious food in the world! You can read more about the national cuisine of Uzbekistan at this  link .

Photo zones 🙋‍♂️

An integral part of every trip is photography! In this section, we introduce you the most beautiful places in this city, where you can make the best shots.

P.S. Do not forget that during the visit the religious sights of Uzbekistan, women are advisable to cover the exposed parts of the body (shoulders, back and legs). Such attractions will be marked with

☪️ The Minor Mosque was built in 2014 and immediately fell in love with all residents and guests of the capital. It is made of white marble and is located in a picturesque place.

☪ The Khazrati Imam complex  (popularly known as the Khast Imam) is  one of the main attractions of Tashkent. It appeared about four centuries ago. Now many tourists come to appreciate the beauty of the architecture of this place every day.

Tashkent is the capital of Uzbekistan and, concurrently, the largest city in Central Asia. In 2008, the archaeologists announced that the city is already 2,200 years old. One of the first mentions of the city was found in the chronicles written in the II century BC. In the ancient Chinese sources, Tashkent was called “Shi”, which means stone, and in the early Middle Ages, Shash or Chach.

The scientists concluded that the Turkic tribes who settled on this territory later borrowed the name, as “tash” in the Turkic languages also translated as stone. Due to its favorable location, the city was considered one of the main points on the Silk Road.

In Tashkent, you can see historical monuments and modern mosques, stroll through the oriental bazaars, get acquainted with the thousand-year history and culture of the people in the capital’s museums, and, of course, relax in the parks, restaurants and nightlife of the city.

Tashkent region

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Termez – the Religious Centre

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Uzbek Switzerland

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