Things to do in Uzbekistan

The 18 best things to do in Uzbekistan

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1. 1Samarkand

   See the three madrasas of Registan Square

   Registan means "sandy place", and in the Middle Ages it was the central square of Samarkand, a trading and craft center that took on an official role under Ulugh Beg. Today it is framed by three madrasas: Ulugh Beg's, built in 1417 to 1420, Sherdor, built in 1619 to 1636, and Tilla-Kari. Look up at Sherdor's entrance arch, where a big cat chases a gazelle under a rising sun with a human face, an unusual image for an Islamic school. Ulugh Beg's madrasa once held 50 rooms and its tiled portal fills most of the facade. It is the classic opening stop in Samarkand.

   Tip: Come at sunrise or in the evening, when the light is softer and the heat of midday is gone.

   UZS[fee]Know the fee?
   Sources: Official tourism portal of Uzbekistan (uzbekistan.travel, National PR-Center under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism); Official tourism portal of Uzbekistan (uzbekistan.travel, National PR-Center under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism); Official tourism portal of Uzbekistan (uzbekistan.travel, National PR-Center under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism); UNESCO World Heritage Centre; Uzbekistan Tourism (official)
2. 2Samarkand

   Climb the stairway of tombs at Shah-i-Zinda

   Shah-i-Zinda is a street of tombs and small mosques linked to Qusam ibn Abbas, a cousin of the Prophet Muhammad, who according to legend was attacked here and went alive into a well and on to Paradise. It became one of the most revered places for pilgrims in Central Asia, and rulers and their families sought burial nearby. Walk up between buildings covered in blue and turquoise tiles, built over a span from the 11th century to the early 20th century. The tile work changes from one doorway to the next, so go slowly and look at the details.

   Tip: Dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered, because this is an active pilgrimage site.

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   Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: Official tourism portal of Uzbekistan (uzbekistan.travel, National PR-Center under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism); UNESCO World Heritage Centre; Uzbekistan Tourism (official)
3. 3Samarkand

   Stand before Amir Temur's tomb at Gur-Emir

   Gur-Emir is the royal tomb of the Temurid dynasty and the burial place of Amir Temur, known in the West as Tamerlane. The story told here is that after he died on campaign in January 1405, his body was brought home secretly and buried beside his favorite grandson Muhammad Sultan, in a crypt attached to a madrasa. His grave is marked by a dark green jade stone, said to have been found by his grandson Ulugh Beg in China. The ensemble is part of Samarkand's UNESCO listing.

   Tip: In summer, go early in the morning or late in the day to avoid the midday heat.

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   Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: Uzbekistan Tourism (official); UNESCO World Heritage Centre
4. 4Bukhara

   Gather at Poi Kalon beneath the Kalon Minaret

   Poi-Kalon is the religious heart of old Bukhara, a group of buildings that grew between the 12th and 16th centuries around the Kalon Minaret. It includes the Kalon Mosque and two madrasas, Miri-Arab and Amir-Alimkhan. A cathedral mosque and minaret stood on this site as far back as the Arab conquest in the 8th century. The chronicler Narshakhi wrote that an earlier minaret fell soon after it was finished and destroyed much of the mosque, and the minaret you see now survived. UNESCO counts the Poi-Kalyan group among the most celebrated buildings of Bukhara.

   Tip: Walk around the square at different times of day, since the brickwork reads very differently in low light.

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   Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: Official tourism portal of Uzbekistan (uzbekistan.travel, National PR-Center under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism); UNESCO World Heritage Centre
5. 5Bukhara

   Linger by the pond at Lyabi-Hauz

   Lyabi-Hauz means "by the pond", and it is one of the central squares of old Bukhara. Once a trading post on the Silk Road, it is framed by the Nadir Divan Begi madrasa, a Sufi lodge, and the large Kukeldash madrasa, built in the 16th century with 160 student rooms. A bronze statue of Khoja Nasriddin, the folk hero known for his humor, sits near the madrasa. Cafes line the water, and the square is a natural place to sit with tea and let the old town come to you. Concerts and other events are held here too.

   Tip: In the summer heat, plan your visit for early morning or evening, and stop for tea at one of the cafes.

   Pay as you go
   Sources: Official tourism portal of Uzbekistan (uzbekistan.travel, National PR-Center under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism); UNESCO World Heritage Centre
6. 6Samarkand

   Admire the huge courtyard of Bibi-Khanym Mosque

   Bibi-Khanym was Amir Temur's cathedral mosque, built from 1399 to 1404, and it was the largest mosque in Central Asia in its day. It is named for his senior wife, Saray Mulk Khanym. Its courtyard covers about 5,000 square meters and was designed for up to 10,000 worshippers, with a grand entrance portal, a main mosque and two smaller ones. The story goes that Temur came back from his campaign in 1404, found the portal less grand than planned, and had it torn down and rebuilt. Marble, painted decoration and tiles show the work of masters from many countries.

   Tip: Walk across the road to Siab Bazaar afterward, since the two sit side by side.

   UZS[fee]Know the fee?
   Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: Official tourism portal of Uzbekistan (uzbekistan.travel, National PR-Center under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism); UNESCO World Heritage Centre; Uzbekistan Tourism (official)
7. 7Bukhara

   See the Samanid Mausoleum, a 10th-century brick tomb

   The Samanid Mausoleum is a small cube of fired brick topped with a dome and four smaller domes, built between 892 and 907. UNESCO calls it the best surviving example of 10th-century architecture in the whole Muslim world. Its walls are up to 1.8 meters thick, and the builders laid the bricks in different patterns so that the ornament seems to change as the sun moves across it. Ismail Samani built it over his father's grave and was later buried in it himself. A local legend says Genghis Khan's army did not notice it among the surrounding graves.

   Tip: Return at a different hour if you can, because the patterned walls look different in morning, afternoon and evening light.

   UZS[fee]Know the fee?
   Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: Official tourism portal of Uzbekistan (uzbekistan.travel, National PR-Center under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism); UNESCO World Heritage Centre
8. 8Tashkent to Samarkand

   Ride the high-speed train from Tashkent to Samarkand

   The Afrosiyob high-speed train is one of the most popular ways to link Uzbekistan's big cities. It is named for the ancient settlement at Samarkand, and it runs from Tashkent to Samarkand and on to Bukhara. The Tashkent to Samarkand line covers about 344 km in a little over 2 hours. Official tourism advice is to take the fast train to Bukhara and then an intercity bus to reach Khiva. This is the standard way to reach Bukhara from Tashkent.

   Tip: Check the current timetable and buy your ticket before you travel.

   Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: Uzbekistan Railways (official); Uzbekistan Railways (official); Uzbekistan Tourism (official)
9. 9Tashkent

   Wander the food halls of Chorsu Bazaar

   Chorsu Bazaar sits in the heart of Tashkent's old town and is the largest bazaar in Uzbekistan, with roots going back to about the 10th century, when it formed where four trading streets met. The main food hall sits under a big blue dome. Inside, dairy, spices, dried fruits and sweets each have their own section, and you can try sour milk, nuts, halva and other sweets. Pavilions nearby sell carpets, clothing, jewelry and crafts, and food stalls serve pilaf, samsa and other local dishes with fresh flatbread. Kukeldash Madrasah is a short walk away.

   Tip: Ask permission before photographing vendors or their stalls.

   Pay as you go
   Sources: Official tourism portal of Uzbekistan (uzbekistan.travel, National PR-Center under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism); Uzbekistan Tourism (official)
10. 10Bukhara

    Walk up to the Ark Citadel in Bukhara

    The Ark is the old fortress of Bukhara's rulers, and UNESCO notes that the citadel, rebuilt in the 16th century, has marked the civic center of the town since its earliest days. It was also home to the scholars Avicenna and Omar Khayyam. The story of its founding tells of a young man, Siyavush, who built the fortress on a bull's hide to win a ruler's daughter. It is described as the oldest archaeological monument in Bukhara.

    Tip: In summer, go early in the day or late in the afternoon to avoid the midday heat.

    UZS[fee]Know the fee?
    Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: Official tourism portal of Uzbekistan (uzbekistan.travel, National PR-Center under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism); UNESCO World Heritage Centre
11. 11Samarkand

    Visit Ulugh Beg's observatory in Samarkand

    Ulugh Beg, Timur's grandson, was both a ruler and an astronomer. His observatory near Samarkand was built in 1428 to 1429 as a round, three-story building about 46 meters across. Its main instrument was a marble quadrant with an arc radius of 40.2 meters, most of it buried more than 10 meters underground. Working with the naked eye, his team compiled a catalog of 1018 stars. Parts of it were first published in 1648 by John Greaves, an Oxford professor. A lunar crater is named after him. It is a good stop for anyone curious about the science of the Silk Road.

    Tip: Read up on the quadrant and the star catalog before you go, since the site makes more sense with that background.

    UZS[fee]Know the fee?
    Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: Official tourism portal of Uzbekistan (uzbekistan.travel, National PR-Center under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism); UNESCO World Heritage Centre
12. 12Samarkand

    Taste Samarkand bread and dried fruit at Siab Bazaar

    Siab Bazaar stands right beside the Bibi-Khanym Mosque, almost in the middle of the old part of Samarkand. It is known for dried fruits, nuts and sweets, along with Samarkand bread and halva. A local legend says Samarkand bread never goes stale, and that an emir of Bukhara kept ordering it because nobody in his own city could copy it. Walk the stalls, ask to taste, and pick up gifts.

    Tip: Ask permission before photographing sellers.

    Pay as you go
    Sources: Uzbekistan Tourism (official); Uzbekistan Tourism (official)
13. 13Tashkent

    Visit the Hazrati Imam Complex in old Tashkent

    Hazrati Imam, also called Khast-Imam, is one of the spiritual monuments of Tashkent and sits in the old city, which survived the strong earthquake of 1966. The complex was built near the burial place of Kaffal ash-Shashi, the city's first imam. It includes the Tillya Sheikh mosque, the Kaffal ash-Shashi mausoleum, the Barak Khan madrasa and the Imam al-Bukhari Islamic Institute. In the library you can see an old Quran attributed to the third caliph, Osman, with 353 parchment leaves, brought here in Amir Temur's time. Storks nest in the grounds from spring to autumn.

    Tip: Plan some time after dark, because the lanterns make the complex especially atmospheric.

    UZS[fee]Know the fee?
    Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: Official tourism portal of Uzbekistan (uzbekistan.travel, National PR-Center under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism)
14. 14Tashkent

    Ride the Tashkent Metro station by station

    The Tashkent Metro opened its first line in 1977, and many stations are decorated as if they were galleries, with mosaics, traditional patterns, portraits of poets and thinkers, and sayings. Construction began in 1973, and the network has since added several lines, so it is both transport and an art tour. The network is small, which makes it easy to navigate. Service runs daily from 6:00 AM to midnight, and some stations host concerts and events. Alisher Navoi and Paxtakor stations have a reading room and library. Hop off at a few stations just to look around.

    Tip: Plan your stops by name before you go down, so you can step out at the stations that interest you.

    Pay as you go
    Sources: Official tourism portal of Uzbekistan (uzbekistan.travel, National PR-Center under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism); Uzbekistan Tourism (official)
15. 15Bukhara

    Shop under the trading domes of Bukhara

    Bukhara was a trade center on the Silk Road caravan route, famous for its craftsmen and bazaars. Tim Abdullah Khan, built in the 16th century and named after the son of the ruler who built it, is a fully enclosed market with a gate on the west side. The word tim means a closed public room. It stays cool in any weather, with sunlight falling through holes in the dome onto the stalls. Today you can look for carpets, handicrafts, paintings and musical instruments. UNESCO lists Taki Sarafon, Tim-Bazzazan and Tim Abdullah Khan among the monumental trading buildings of the old town.

    Tip: Come in summer to enjoy the shade, since it stays cool inside in any weather.

    Pay as you go
    Sources: Official tourism portal of Uzbekistan (uzbekistan.travel, National PR-Center under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism); UNESCO World Heritage Centre; Uzbekistan Tourism (official)
16. 16Bukhara

    Wander the grounds of Sitorai Mohi-Khosa Palace

    Sitorai Mohi-Khosa, about 4 km north of Bukhara, was the country residence of the last emir, Said Alim Khan, who ruled from 1911 to 1920. The old palace dates to the 18th century, and the emir finished the new one in the early 20th century with both Bukharan and Russian architects, so it feels closer to a European country house. Its name means "a star like the moon". A fountain courtyard, lions at one entrance, an ornate red-maroon gate and a turquoise terrace make it one of Bukhara's more unusual sights. The palace is divided into male and female sections.

    Tip: It lies about 4 km north of Bukhara, so plan transport there and back.

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    Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: Official tourism portal of Uzbekistan (uzbekistan.travel, National PR-Center under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism)
17. 17Samarkand

    Walk the Afrasiab ruins above old Samarkand

    Afrasiab is the original Samarkand, on the northern edge of the modern city. UNESCO says it was founded in the 7th century BC and destroyed by Genghis Khan in the 13th century. Excavations have found a citadel, fortifications, a ruler's palace built in the 7th century that displays wall paintings, and the remains of a large mosque built between the 8th and 12th centuries. It is one of the most important archaeological sites in Central Asia.

    Tip: Bring a hat and water in summer, when the heat is intense.

    UZS[fee]Know the fee?
    Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: Official tourism portal of Uzbekistan (uzbekistan.travel, National PR-Center under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism); UNESCO World Heritage Centre
18. 18Khiva

    Step inside the walled town of Itchan Kala in Khiva

    Itchan Kala is the inner walled town of Khiva, a Silk Road oasis that was the last resting place of caravans before the desert crossing to Persia. Brick walls up to 10 meters high enclose a rectangle about 650 by 400 meters. UNESCO counts 51 monuments and 250 dwellings inside. The Djuma Mosque has 212 carved columns, and madrasas, mausoleums, caravanserais and markets fill the lanes. People still live and work here. From Bukhara, official guidance is to continue by intercity bus, so it makes a good extension if you have extra days.

    Tip: Allow extra days for the trip, since Khiva is reached from Bukhara by intercity bus.

    Search tickets and tours on KlookSources: UNESCO World Heritage Centre; Uzbekistan Tourism (official); Uzbekistan Tourism (official)

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