Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan holds the finest Silk Road cities in Central Asia. Samarkand's Registan ranks among the world's great public squares, Bukhara's old centre still works like a medieval trading town, and Khiva stands intact inside its mud-brick walls. Fast trains link them, the food is hearty and cheap, and hospitality is generous.
Overview
Uzbekistan sits at the heart of the old Silk Road, and its classic route almost plans itself. Fly into Tashkent, take the high-speed train to Samarkand for the Registan, Shah-i-Zinda and Gur-e-Amir, continue to Bukhara's ancient centre of madrasas and trading domes, then cross the Kyzylkum Desert to Khiva, a walled town of minarets near the Turkmen border. Ten days covers this loop comfortably. With more time, add the Fergana Valley's silk and ceramics workshops, village homestays and desert yurt camps around the Nuratau mountains, or far-western Nukus for the Savitsky Museum.
Tourism has boomed since the country began opening up after 2016, and the main sights are polished and busy in spring and autumn, yet prices stay low: good guesthouses, train tickets and plov lunches cost little. Summer is fiercely hot in Bukhara and Khiva, and winter is cold but quiet. Expect a mix of Soviet-era bureaucracy and modern convenience, with card payments and taxi apps spreading fast. It suits history and architecture lovers on any budget. Visitors are often surprised by the warmth of the welcome, how many people want to chat, and how good the bread is.
Map of Uzbekistan
Top 5 highlights
- 1Architecture
Registan, Samarkand
Three monumental madrasas, built between the 15th and 17th centuries, face each other across Samarkand's central square in a blaze of turquoise and gold tilework. Visit early, return for the evening light, and step inside Tilya-Kori's gilded mosque.
- 2History
Bukhara old city
A living medieval centre of madrasas, covered trading domes and the 12th-century Kalyan Minaret, which Genghis Khan reputedly spared. Eat beside the Lyabi-Hauz pool, and visit the Ark fortress and the tiny 10th-century Samanid Mausoleum.
- 3History
Khiva's Itchan Kala
A complete walled inner town of mud-brick ramparts, turquoise minarets and khans' palaces, and the first site in Uzbekistan on UNESCO's list. Climb the Islam Khodja minaret, and stay inside the walls to enjoy it after the day-trippers leave.
- 4Culture
Savitsky Museum, Nukus
A remote desert city's world-class museum, holding a huge collection of Soviet avant-garde art rescued from the censors by Igor Savitsky. Combine it with the ship graveyard at Moynaq on the shrunken shore of the Aral Sea.
- 5Culture
Fergana Valley crafts
Uzbekistan's fertile, densely populated east, where Margilan's Yodgorlik factory still weaves ikat silk on traditional looms and Rishtan's potters make the country's famous blue-glazed ceramics. Trains from Tashkent tunnel under the Kamchik Pass.
Biggest cities
Tashkent
Central Asia's biggest city is mostly Soviet boulevards rebuilt after the 1966 earthquake; ride the palatial metro, browse Chorsu Bazaar and see the ancient Quran at the Khast Imam complex.
Samarkand
Timur's capital: the Registan's three tiled madrasas, the blue-domed Gur-e-Amir and the Bibi-Khanym Mosque deserve at least two days, with Siab Bazaar for bread and dried fruit.
Namangan
A conservative, fast-growing Fergana Valley city with leafy parks and the Mullah Kyrgyz madrasa; a useful base for the valley's craft towns, though short on headline sights.
Ranked by urban-area population where available. Figures are rounded estimates, and sources define city limits differently, so rankings of similar-sized cities can vary.
When to go to Uzbekistan
Best time: Mar–May, Sep–Nov.
Average climate in Tashkent
Festivals & events
- MarNavruz
Persian New Year on 21 March, celebrated with music, dancing, family feasts and sumalak, a sweet wheat-sprout paste stirred through the night in huge cauldrons.
- May–JunSilk and Spices Festival
Bukhara's annual crafts festival, usually held in late May or June, fills the old city with textiles, embroidery, ceramics, dance performances and street food.
How much does Uzbekistan cost?
Estimates per person per day, excluding flights. Prices vary by season and city.
Food to try
Plov
The national dish: rice slow-cooked in a huge kazan with lamb, carrots, onions and cumin, traditionally eaten at lunchtime when plov centres fire up their giant cauldrons.
Samsa
Flaky pastry parcels of lamb, onion and fat, slapped onto the walls of a tandoor oven to bake and sold hot from street stalls everywhere.
Lagman
Hand-pulled noodles served in a rich broth or stir-fried with lamb, peppers and tomatoes; a Uyghur-influenced staple in every chaikhana.
Getting around
Uzbekistan Railways' fast Afrosiyob trains link Tashkent with Samarkand in two to two and a half hours and continue to Bukhara; a few faster trains a week and slower services reach Khiva, and regular trains serve the Fergana Valley. Book on the railway's website or app, as seats sell out. Domestic flights serve Urgench (for Khiva) and Nukus. Yandex Go works for taxis in the main cities, and shared taxis fill the gaps.
Practical information
- Plugs & voltage
- CF220V — bring a UK-to-C/F adapter
- Emergency numbers
- Ambulance: 103
- Fire: 101
- Police: 102
- A new unified emergency services number, 112, was introduced in 2024 to cover all emergency calls. The previous emergency numbers are still in operation.
Source: FCDO “Getting help”
- Dialling code
- +998
- Time zone
- UTC+5 (standard time)
- Tap water
- Not safe — drink bottled or treated water
- Driving
- On the right
- Tipping
- Many restaurants add a 10–15% service charge; otherwise round up or leave around 10%. Tip guides and drivers, and caretakers who unlock minarets or rooftops.
- Etiquette
- Never place bread upside down or throw it away. Dress modestly at mosques and mausoleums, remove your shoes when entering homes, and greet elders with a hand on your heart.
- Main airports
- Islam Karimov Tashkent International Airport (TAS), Tashkent; Samarkand International Airport (SKD), Samarkand; Urgench International Airport (UGC), Urgench
Visas & entry for Uzbekistan
Shown for a British passport.
No visa needed
You can visit Uzbekistan without a visa for tourism or business for up to 30 days.
If you’re travelling for any other purpose, or intend to stay longer than 30 days, check the requirements with the Uzbek Embassy in the UK.
From the UK government's FCDO entry requirements for British passport holders — read the full page for passport validity, permits and exceptions.
Health & vaccinations
- Recommended for most travellers
- Hepatitis ATetanus
- Sometimes advised — depends on your trip, activities and health
- Hepatitis BMeaslesRabiesTuberculosisTyphoid
- Yellow fever certificate
- No yellow fever certificate is required to enter.
- Malaria
- No malaria risk
Source: TravelHealthPro (National Travel Health Network and Centre), checked 21 October 2026. This is a summary, not medical advice.
Public holidays in Uzbekistan
The next 12 months. Banks, offices and some sights may close, and transport and hotels get busy around these dates.
| Tue 8 Dec 2026 | Constitution Day |
| Thu 31 Dec 2026 | Day off (substituted from 12/12/2026) |
| Fri 1 Jan 2027 | New Year's Day |
| Mon 8 Mar 2027 | Women's Day |
| Tue 9 Mar 2027 | Eid al-Fitr (date may shift) |
| Sun 21 Mar 2027 | Nowruz |
| Mon 22 Mar 2027 | Nowruz (observed) |
| Sun 9 May 2027 | Day of Memory and Honour |
| Mon 10 May 2027 | Day of Memory and Honour (observed) |
| Sun 16 May 2027 | Eid al-Adha (date may shift) |
| Mon 17 May 2027 | Eid al-Adha (observed, estimated) (date may shift) |
| Wed 1 Sep 2027 | Independence Day |
| Fri 1 Oct 2027 | Teachers and Instructors Day |
National holidays only. Dates based on lunar calendars can move by a day or two depending on official announcements.
Useful phrases in Uzbek
| English | Uzbek | Say it |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Assalomu alaykum | ah-sah-LOH-moo ah-LAY-koom |
| Thank you | Rahmat | rah-MAHT |
| Please | Iltimos | il-tee-MOS |
| Excuse me | Kechirasiz | keh-chee-rah-SEEZ |
| How much is this? | Bu qancha turadi? | boo kan-CHA too-rah-DEE |
Know before you go
- Book Afrosiyob tickets as soon as your dates are fixed; trains between Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara regularly sell out in spring and autumn.
- Cards now work in many hotels and city restaurants, but carry som in cash for bazaars, taxis and small guesthouses; ATMs are common in Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara.
- Use Yandex Go rather than hailing cars in Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara: the fare is fixed in the app, and you avoid haggling with drivers who rarely speak English.
Uzbekistan travel FAQs
When is the best time to visit Uzbekistan?
The best time to visit Uzbekistan is generally Mar–May, Sep–Nov. Peak months are April, May, September and October. Average highs in Tashkent range from 7°C to 36°C across the year.
How much does a trip to Uzbekistan cost per day?
Roughly £30 a day on a tight budget, £70 mid-range and £150+ for comfortable travel, per person including accommodation, food and local transport. Flights are extra.
What currency is used in Uzbekistan?
Uzbekistani som (UZS).
What plug type does Uzbekistan use?
Type C and F sockets at 220V. UK visitors need a travel adapter — UK Type G plugs will not fit.
Which side of the road do they drive on in Uzbekistan?
Traffic drives on the right in Uzbekistan, unlike the UK.
Is tap water safe to drink in Uzbekistan?
Not safe — drink bottled or treated water.
Do I need a visa for Uzbekistan?
For British passport holders, the FCDO says: You can visit Uzbekistan without a visa for tourism or business for up to 30 days. Entry rules change, so check the official FCDO entry requirements for Uzbekistan before you travel: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/uzbekistan/entry-requirements
What vaccinations do I need for Uzbekistan?
TravelHealthPro recommends Hepatitis A and Tetanus for most travellers, with Hepatitis B, Measles, Rabies, Tuberculosis and Typhoid sometimes advised depending on your trip. Make sure routine UK vaccinations are up to date and see a travel health professional 6–8 weeks before you go.
