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Two days in Samarkand
2 days 18 stops

Two days in Samarkand

© Kraftabbas, CC BY-SA 4.0

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.

Practical information

Day one is entirely on foot, with every stop within a kilometre of the next. On hot days, take a couple of hours' break after lunch. The morning of day two — Gur-e-Amir, Rukhobod, Aksaray and University Boulevard — is walkable too; after that you'll want taxis: 10–15 minutes to the Afrasiab Museum, short hops on to the Tomb of Daniel and the observatory, then 15–20 minutes out to the Eternal City.

The Afrasiab Museum usually opens 9:00–18:00; the observatory and Shah-i-Zinda stay open late in summer but close earlier in winter, so check current hours each morning. The Siab Bazaar may be closed on Mondays — if so, swap it to day two. The Registan evening show takes a break from roughly late November to late February.

Variations

Instead of the Afrasiab Museum, you could visit the Konigil paper mill, close to the Eternal City. Travelling with children? Spend the second evening by the Silk Road Samarkand canal and its musical fountain. There is no need to buy tickets in advance — the ticket offices are on site.

Stops

  1. Day 1
  2. 08:30

    Registan

    The Registan looks its best in the morning light. Take your time over all three madrasas and the artisans' workshops in the old student cells.

    Registan

    The great square of three madrasas

  3. 10:45

    Islam Karimov Street (formerly Tashkent Street)

    Wander up the pedestrian street towards Bibi-Khanym, stopping for coffee or tea on the way.

  4. 11:00

    Bibi-Khanym Mosque

    The vast mosque Timur raised after his Indian campaign. Plenty of legends surround the marble Qur'an stand in its courtyard.

  5. 11:45

    Bibi-Khanym Mausoleum

    Cross the road to the mausoleum opposite the mosque, which preserves an underground crypt.

  6. 12:15

    Siyob Bazaar

    Wander the bazaar, then lunch on plov nearby. Stallholders will let you taste bread and dried fruit before you buy.

  7. 14:00

    Hazrat Khizr Mosque

    A mosque on the slope of the Afrasiyab mound, with views over the old city from its veranda.

  8. 14:45

    Shah-i-Zinda

    A necropolis that grew up around the grave of Qusam ibn Abbas. Look closely at each tomb's tilework — no two patterns repeat.

  9. 20:00

    Registan Evening Show

    The evening show is seasonal and free to watch from the open square. Have dinner on Tashkent Street beforehand.

  10. Day 2
  11. 08:30

    Gur-e-Amir

    Start day two at the Timurid family tomb, resting place of Timur and his grandsons Muhammad Sultan and Ulugh Beg.

  12. 09:30

    Rukhabad Mausoleum

    A compact 14th-century domed mausoleum next to Gur-e-Amir; a short stop is enough.

  13. 09:50

    Ak-Saray Mausoleum

    A Timurid-era mausoleum behind Gur-e-Amir. The interior is often closed, so ask on site.

  14. 10:15

    Amir Temur Monument

    Pause for a photo at the Amir Temur statue at the head of University Boulevard.

  15. 10:30

    University Boulevard

    Stroll the shady boulevard and rest in a café; it's a good area for lunch.

  16. 13:30

    Afrasiyab Museum

    A 10–15-minute taxi ride. The highlight is the 7th-century 'Ambassadors' mural.

  17. 14:45

    Afrasiyab

    From the museum, walk out across the mounds of ancient Samarkand. There's little shade, so wear a hat.

  18. 15:30

    Khoja Doniyor (Tomb of Daniel)

    The riverside mausoleum houses a sarcophagus some 18 metres long, revered by Muslims, Christians and Jews alike.

  19. 16:30

    Ulugh Beg Observatory

    Five minutes by taxi. See the surviving arc of Ulugh Beg's sextant and the museum.

  20. 18:30

    Eternal City (Boqiy Shahar)

    Finish with dinner in the Eternal City. On warm evenings the nearby musical fountain plays.