Highlights
Samarkand
The Registan, a square framed by three tiled madrasas, is one of the great sights of Central Asia. Nearby are the Shah-i-Zinda avenue of mausoleums, the Gur-e-Amir tomb of Timur and the huge Bibi-Khanym mosque.
Bukhara
A largely intact old city of madrasas, caravanserais and covered bazaars. The Kalyan Minaret rises above the Po-i-Kalyan complex, and the Lyabi-Hauz pool, shaded by mulberry trees, is the place for tea in the evening.
Khiva
The Itchan Kala, Khiva's inner walled town, is a UNESCO-listed ensemble of mosques, palaces and minarets in mud brick and blue tile. Climb the walls at sunset when the city glows gold.
Tashkent
The capital has an ornate Soviet-era metro with decorated stations, the domed Chorsu Bazaar and the Hazrati Imam complex, where an early copy of the Quran is kept that is traditionally associated with Caliph Uthman.
Fergana Valley
A fertile, densely populated valley in the east, known for crafts: silk weaving at Margilan, ceramics in Rishton and knife-making in Chust.
Shahrisabz
The birthplace of Timur, with the remains of the huge Ak-Saray palace gateway. It lies over a mountain pass from Samarkand.
Nuratau mountains and Aydarkul
Village homestays in the Nuratau range offer walks, rural life and starry skies, and nearby yurt camps on the edge of the Kyzylkum desert are combined with visits to Lake Aydarkul.
Moynaq and the Aral Sea
In the far west, in the autonomous Republic of Karakalpakstan, rusting fishing boats lie in the sand at Moynaq, a former port left far from the shore as the Aral Sea shrank. Nukus has the Savitsky Museum of Soviet avant-garde art.
Interesting facts about Uzbekistan
- Uzbekistan is one of only two doubly landlocked countries in the world, along with Liechtenstein: it is surrounded only by other landlocked countries.
- Photography in the Tashkent metro was banned for decades; the ban was lifted in 2018.
- Ulugh Beg, Timur's grandson, built an observatory in Samarkand in the 15th century whose star catalogue was one of the most accurate of its time.
- Plov, the rice, carrot and meat dish central to Uzbek life, is inscribed on UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage.
- The Aral Sea, once one of the largest lakes in the world, has shrunk dramatically since the 1960s, largely because rivers were diverted for irrigation.
Best time to visit
Spring (April to early June) and autumn (September to October) are the best times to visit, with warm, dry days and comfortable evenings. Summer is very hot, especially in Bukhara, Khiva and the desert, where temperatures often exceed 40°C. Winter is cold and can be snowy, but the cities are quiet and atmospheric. Navruz, the spring new year on 21 March, is celebrated with food and festivities.
Practical information
| Capital | Tashkent |
|---|---|
| Currency | Uzbekistani sum (UZS) |
| Languages | Uzbek, Russian (widely used), Karakalpak (in Karakalpakstan) |
| Plugs | Type C, F |
| Voltage | 220 V, 50 Hz |
| Emergency | 101 fire, 102 police, 103 ambulance |
| Driving | On the right |
| Tipping | Not traditionally expected; round up or leave around 10 percent in tourist restaurants, and tip guides and drivers. |
Getting around
High-speed Afrosiyob trains link Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara in a few hours, and other services reach Khiva and Urgench. Book in advance in peak season, as seats can sell out. Domestic flights save time on the long journey west to Urgench and Nukus. Shared taxis cover routes between towns, leaving when full. In cities, ride-hailing apps are cheap and widely used. Bukhara and Khiva's old towns are best on foot.
Staying connected in Uzbekistan
Mobile coverage is good in Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva and other cities, with 4G widely available. Along the railways and main roads coverage is mostly reasonable, but it thins out in the Kyzylkum desert, the mountains and parts of Karakalpakstan. Wi-Fi is common in hotels and guesthouses, though speeds vary. Install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land, so you can order a ride from the airport.
See Uzbekistan eSIM plans · How to install an eSIM
Useful apps for Uzbekistan
- Yandex Go: The most widely used ride-hailing app in Uzbek cities, with fares shown upfront.
- Yandex Maps: Detailed maps and public transport directions in Tashkent and other cities.
- Google Translate: Uzbek and Russian translation, with offline packs for rural areas.
- XE Currency: Converting the sum, which has large denominations.