Uzbekistan Travel Guide – Essential Info For An Amazing Trip

• Official Name: Republic of Uzbekistan
• Capital: Tashkent
• Official Language: Uzbek, but Russian is widely spoken
• Currency: Uzbekistani Som (UZS)
• Visa Information: Many nationalities can apply for an eVisa or enjoy visa-free travel for up to 30 days. Check the official eVisa portal for details.
• Getting There: Major airports include Tashkent International Airport and Samarkand International Airport. Airlines like Turkish Airlines, Wizz Air, and Air Astana offer regular flights.
• Getting Around: Uzbekistan has an efficient rail network connecting major cities like Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, and Tashkent. I primarily got around using trains, or using the taxi app, Yandex. Shared taxis are common for shorter distances. Renting a car is ideal for exploring remote areas like Termez or Fergana Valley.
• Best Time to Visit: Spring (April-May) and autumn (September-November) are ideal for pleasant weather and fewer crowds. Summers are hot, but great for exploring cities. Winters are cold but atmospheric.

Must-See & Do in Uzbekistan

Explore Vibrant Cities

• Experience Tashkent: This modern capital city blends Soviet modernism with Uzbek tradition.
  • Tashkent Metro: Known for its ornate, soviet-era stations resembling underground palaces. This is inexpensive, and a fun way to get around the city.
  • Chorsu Bazaar: A bustling, domed market where you can experience local life and flavours through vibrant stalls
  • Kukeldash Madrasah: A 16th-century Islamic School
  • Teleshayakh Mosque: Houses the famous Uthman Quran
  • Amir Timur Museum: A museum dedicated to the great conqueror, Amir Timur
  • Independence Square: Central plaza with fountains
  • Seattle Peace Park: Symbolic international friendship garden

•  Explore Samarkand: A UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the crown jewel of Uzbekistan.
  • Registan Square: I loved this place. Admire the three majestic madrasas—Ulugh Beg Madrasa, Sherdor Madrasa, and Tilla-Kori Madrasa—known for their intricate tilework, and stunning architecture. You can also climb a narrow, tower staircase at the Ulugh Beg Madrasa for aerial views over the square.     
  • Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis: A collection of beautifully tiled mausoleums.
  • Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum: The resting place of Tamerlane, and Timur’s tomb. Most people are silent in here. It’s nice to take a moment in silence to reflect, and look around at the beautiful tilework.
  • Bibi-Khanym Mosque: Once one of the largest mosques in the world.

• Wander Through Bukhara: Bukhara is an ancient city brimming with Islamic architecture and Silk Road history.
  • Ark Fortress: An ancient rulers’ citadel, and the city’s oldest monument dating back to the 5th century.
  • Kalyan Minaret: Known as the “Tower of Death” when Buhkharan Emirs of the 16th-20th centuries would push political prisoners off of it as a form of public punishment. In 1220, Mongols sacked Bukhara, but Genghis Khan actually spared the minaret because he was impressed by its height, and beauty.
  • Lyabi-Hauz Ensemble: A historic plaza surrounded by historic buildings with a tranquil pond
  • Poi-Kalyan Mosque: An iconic Bukharan complex

• Discover Khiva: Step into history in Khiva’s Itchan Kala, a walled inner city filled with historical treasures:
  • Walls of Itchan Kala: the walls of the old town. These are really impressive, and live rent free in my brain.
  • Islam Khoja Minaret: A striking 57-meter minaret offering panoramic views
  • Juma Mosque: Famous for its 200 intricately carved wooden pillars
  • Kunya Ark: Khans’ fortress residence

Experience Stunning Nature

• Fergana Valley: Lush orchards & silk workshops. Learn about Silk Road history while visiting Rishtan’s ceramics workshops, and Margilan’s silk factories.
• Charvak Reservoir: Mountain-ringed turquoise lake
• Alisher Navoi National Park: Diverse ecosystems
• Nurata Mountains: Ancient petroglyphs & hiking
• Aral Sea: Ecological disaster site. Step on the bed of the vanishing sea at the Aral Sea ship graveyard.
• Western Tien-Shan: UNESCO mountain biosphere

Delve Into Culture & History

Ancient Sites

• Historic Centre of Shakhrisabz: Timur’s birthplace
• Afrasiyab Settlement: Ancient Samarkand ruins
• Itchan Kala: Khiva’s walled inner city
• Mizdakhan Necropolis: Significant archaeological near the Aral Sea, showcasing Zoroastrian and Islamic heritage. Offers insights into ancient burial practices, and cultural syncretism of these two cultures.
• Gyaur-Kala Ruins: 10-meter-thick walls guarding Zoroastrian, and later Mongol-era ruins.
• Mazlumkhan-Sulu Mausoleum (14th century): Timurid-era tomb atop the eastern hill.
• Shamun Nabi Mausoleum: A 7-domed shrine tied to Sufi traditions.
• Termez: Discover ancient Buddhist ruins like Kara Tepa, and Fayaz Tepa.
• Chor Minor: Unique gatehouse built in 1807, featuring four minarets, which symbolize the cardinal directions. Chor Minor used to be part of a madrasa complex, but is now part of the historic centre of Bukhara. I saw this place at golden hour, and it was really magical.

Unique Experiences

• Zindon Prison: Walk through the museum, and learn what the infamous bug pit was like
• Silk Weaving Workshops: Margilan’s living traditions
• Plov Cooking Classes: National dish preparation
• Navruz Celebrations: Persian New Year festivals
• Central Asian Plov Centre: Visit this plov center in Tashkent where Master Chefs (oshpaz) prepare giant batches of plov in kazans (giant cauldrons). It’s really cool to witness this, and then get to try the plov. It was great.

Savour Uzbek Cuisine

• Plov (Pilaf): The national dish made with rice, meat, carrots, and spices. Try it at Central Asian Plov Centre or Chorsu Bazaar in Tashkent, or Lyabi-Hauz in Bukhara.
• Samsa: Flaky pastries filled with meat or vegetables. Perfect as a snack while exploring, or while taking trains.
• Lagman: Noodle soup with vegetables and meat in a savoury broth.
• Shurpa: A slow-cooked soup made with lamb or beef and vegetables.
• Khiva Noodles (Shivit Oshi): This is a unique dish found primarily in Khiva of bright green, dill infused noodles. These are great. I had them at Cafe Zarafshon, and enjoyed them, but you can also try them at Terrassa Cafe or Khorezm Art restaurant.
• Nan/Non (Tandyr Ovens Bread): Delicious traditional flatbread baked on the hot walls of a tandyr, creating a crisp crust with a soft interior. I had this basically everywhere, and highly recommend it. 

Essential Information for Your Trip

• Currency: Uzbekistani Som (UZS). Make sure you have cash. Most places only take cash. You can exchange money at a currency exchange, or use an ATM.
• Language: Uzbek is the official language, but Russian is widely spoken. English is not really spoken outside of major cities like Tashkent. If you don’t speak Uzbek or Russian, I suggest downloading Google Translate before you go.
• Visa: Many nationalities can apply for an eVisa or enjoy visa-free travel for up to 30 days in Uzbekistan. Check the official eVisa portal for further details.
• Weather: Uzbekistan’s climate is characterized as extreme continental, with significant temperature variations between seasons. Winters are cold, with January being the coldest month. Temperatures can drop to -10°C (14°F) in the north, and remain slightly above freezing in the south. Summers are long and hot, with July averaging 27.2°C (81°F), with highs often reaching 35°C (95°F). Uzbekistan is generally arid, with low precipitation—most areas receive less than 200 mm annually, though mountainous regions can see up to 800 mm. The best times to visit are spring (April to June), and autumn (September to October), when the weather is mild and pleasant.
• Safety Tips: Uzbekistan is considered generally safe for travel. Exercise caution near borders, and ensure you stay up to date on any real time updates before you travel. Avoid unmarked cabs (I suggest using the app Yandex). Watch for pickpockets in crowded areas, including public transit. Don’t drink tap water. Solo female travellers may be subject to some forms of harassment or verbal abuse. For more information of Travel Advisories related to Uzbekistan, click here.
• Cultural Etiquette/Tips: When travelling, please respect local customs. In Uzbekistan, dress modestly (covering shoulders and knees–especially in religious sites). Use your right hand for eating, and passing items (the left hand is considered unclean). Greet elders first. Accept food, and drink graciously from hosts. If you want to bring your host a gift, refrain from offering alcohol. Small gifts like sweets or fruit are appreciated. Never place bread upside down. Avoid blowing your nose or having loud conversations near religious sites.
• eSim: I always get an eSim while travelling. I highly recommend using Airalo (if you follow this link, you will get a discount upon sign up). Keep in mind there are regions in Uzbekistan where you may lose service, so you will want to download any maps you need ahead of time.
• Read: For non-fiction, I suggest The Silk Roads by Peter Frankopan for ancient history. I read this during my trip in Uzbekistan, and it definitely made me appreciate the historic sites I was visiting all throughout my trip to the Stans. For historical fiction, you could read Samarkand by Amin Maalouf, The Tale of Hodja Nasreddin by Leonid Solovyov, The Railway or The Devil’s Dance by Hamid Ismailov.