Getting to Samarkand
The high-speed Afrosiyob train runs from Tashkent in roughly 2 hours 10 minutes, and the international airport is just 6 km from the centre. Plus intercity buses, shared taxis and the border crossing to Tajikistan.
Travel
Travel essentials
Getting there, where to stay, money, connectivity, climate and etiquette — everything you need for a trip to Samarkand.
Getting around the city
The historic centre is compact enough to walk between the main sights. For longer hops there are ride-hailing apps, buses and a tram; since April 2025 paying by card is cheaper than cash.
Visas and registration
Citizens of many countries can enter Uzbekistan visa-free for up to 30 days, and most others can apply for an e-visa. Hotels register you automatically; if you stay in a private home, you must register within three days.
Money, cards and tipping
The currency is the Uzbek som. Visa and Mastercard work in hotels, restaurants and supermarkets, but bazaars, teahouses and street taxis run on cash. ATMs are plentiful in the centre.
Phones, internet and Wi-Fi
A local SIM card takes a few minutes to set up with your passport and is by far the cheapest way to stay online. 4G is solid in town but fades in the mountains. Staying longer than 30 days means registering your phone's IMEI.
Climate and when to go
Samarkand sits around 700 metres above sea level, with hot, dry summers and cool, relatively wet winters. The best months to visit are April–May and September–October.
Safety and emergency numbers
Samarkand is considered a safe city for visitors, though pickpockets work the crowded spots. The single emergency number is 112, and a dedicated Safe Tourism call centre answers on 1173.
Etiquette and local customs
Samarkand's people are warm and welcoming, but shrines come with their own rules on dress, photography and greetings. A few simple habits will make your visit all the more rewarding.
Where to stay
Family guesthouses in the historic centre, larger hotels in the leafy 'new town' or the Silk Road Samarkand resort on the city's edge — the right choice depends on your trip and your budget.
Food: what and where to eat
Samarkand plov, the city's famous tandoor-baked bread, samsa and shashlik — the local food is a reason to visit in itself. Here's what to know about teahouses, bazaars and restaurants.
Health, pharmacies and drinking water
No vaccinations are required to enter Uzbekistan, and there is no malaria. The main concerns are drinking water, food hygiene and the summer heat. Sort out travel insurance before you go.
Accessible travel
Samarkand is slowly becoming easier to get around: the Registan has ramps and the newer districts are flat. But the historic monuments are full of steps, uneven paths and thresholds, so plan ahead.
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Central Bank rate · 06.10.2026
Itineraries
A trip that fits your time
1day
Samarkand in a day
Only one day? See Gur-e-Amir, the Registan, Bibi-Khanym, the Siab Bazaar, Shah-i-Zinda and the Ulugh Beg Observatory, then end with the Registan's evening light show.
Gur-e-AmirRegistanIslam Karimov Street (formerly Tashkent Street)Bibi-Khanym MosqueSiyob Bazaar
2days
Two days in Samarkand
Day one covers the Registan, Bibi-Khanym, the Siab Bazaar and Shah-i-Zinda; day two takes in Gur-e-Amir, the 'new town', Afrasiyab, the Tomb of Daniel, the Ulugh Beg Observatory and the Eternal City.
RegistanIslam Karimov Street (formerly Tashkent Street)Bibi-Khanym MosqueBibi-Khanym MausoleumSiyob Bazaar
3days
Three days: city and mountains
Two days for Samarkand's great monuments, and a third for the countryside: Urgut's bazaar, the Chor-Chinor garden, the Amankutan gorge and the Takhtakaracha Pass.
RegistanIslam Karimov Street (formerly Tashkent Street)Bibi-Khanym MosqueSiyob BazaarHazrat Khizr Mosque
1day
The pilgrim's path
From the Imam al-Bukhari complex and the Makhdumi Azam shrine to Shah-i-Zinda, the Tomb of Daniel and Khoja Ahrar — the most revered shrines in and around Samarkand in a single day.
Imam al-Bukhari Memorial ComplexMakhdumi Azam ComplexKhoja Doniyor (Tomb of Daniel)Hazrat Khizr MosqueShah-i-Zinda
1day
In the footsteps of Ulugh Beg
Trace the legacy of the astronomer-king Mirzo Ulugh Beg (1394–1449): his madrasa, the family mausoleum, his teacher's tomb, the famous observatory and the hill of Chupan-Ata.
Ulugh Beg MadrasaGur-e-AmirShah-i-ZindaUlugh Beg ObservatoryChupan-Ata Hill and Mausoleum
1day
The craftsmen's trail
From the suzani of Urgut's bazaar to Konigil paper, and from the Eternal City's workshops to the silk-carpet weavers — Samarkand's crafts in a single day.
Urgut BazaarKonigil Meros Paper MillEternal City (Boqiy Shahar)Samarkand Bukhara Silk CarpetsIslam Karimov Street (formerly Tashkent Street)
1day
Samarkand by night
From sunset to midnight: golden light at Shah-i-Zinda, dusk over Bibi-Khanym, the Registan light show and a floodlit Gur-e-Amir.
Shah-i-ZindaHazrat Khizr MosqueBibi-Khanym MosqueIslam Karimov Street (formerly Tashkent Street)Registan Evening Show
1day
A family day out
An easy-paced day with children: the Registan in the morning, shady University Boulevard at lunchtime, then a paper mill, hands-on classes in the Eternal City and an evening musical fountain.
RegistanAmir Temur MonumentUniversity BoulevardKonigil Meros Paper MillEternal City (Boqiy Shahar)
