Founded about 2,750 years ago, this Silk Road hub was the capital of Amir Temur's empire. Listed by UNESCO as 'Samarkand – Crossroads of Cultures', it gathers blue-tiled monuments such as Registan Square, Gur-Emir, the Bibi-Khanym Mosque and Shah-i-Zinda in its old town.
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Check prices →Uzbekistan's national tourism site calls spring and autumn the 'velvet season', the best time to travel. Samarkand's winters are usually mild and rarely drop below 0°C, but nights can be chilly, so bring a sweater and scarf. Summers are very hot, and from around 20 June to early August comes 'chillya', the 40 hottest days, so carry a hat, sunglasses and water. Navruz, the spring holiday, falls on 21 March every year.
The airport is on Ibn Sino Street in Samarkand city. The operator's official page gives no city transport details. According to Uzbekistan's national tourism site, taxis can be ordered via official taxi apps in Samarkand, and it advises using them to avoid overpricing.
The tourism site says minibuses and taxis are commonly used to reach airports and railway stations in Uzbekistan. There is no official information on route numbers or hours from the airport to the city, so check locally.
According to Uzbekistan Railways, the Afrosiyob high-speed train began running between Tashkent and Samarkand on 8 October 2011. It covers 344 km with a top speed of 250 km/h. Buy tickets with your passport details on the railway's booking site (eticket.railway.uz).
Registan Square, Gur-Emir and the Bibi-Khanym Mosque are all in the historic centre, and Siab Bazaar is right next to the Bibi-Khanym Mosque. There is little shade at midday in summer, so walk early in the morning or in the evening.
The tourism site says taxis can be ordered via official taxi apps in Samarkand and recommends them to avoid overpricing. Check fares officially.
According to the tourism site's general information for Uzbekistan, a city bus ride costs UZS 1,700 and tickets can be bought from the conductor on board. Fares may differ by city, so check locally. Minibuses are popular for long cross-city trips.
The tourism site says the Afrosiyob links Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara and other cities, and the standard traveller's route is Tashkent → Samarkand → Bukhara by train, then a bus to Khiva. Book ahead in peak season. Uzbekistan Railways says passenger details must match your ID (passport).
Good for: First-timers, sightseeing
The heart of the historic centre, with Registan Square and the Gur-Emir Mausoleum. According to official announcements the Registan stays open late, so it is good for night views too.
Good for: Bazaar browsing, souvenirs
Siab Bazaar sits next to the Bibi-Khanym Mosque in the middle of the old town, selling dried fruit, nuts, sweets, Samarkand bread and halva.
Good for: Late dinners
According to a September 2026 announcement by the Registan directorate, this service street was created under Samarkand's '24/7 tourism' policy, with 20 eateries serving Uzbek and international food around the clock.
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Samarkand's main square, whose name means 'sandy place', framed by three madrasahs: Ulugbek, Sherdor and Tilla-Kari. The Ulugbek Madrasah was built in 1417-1420, and the Sherdor ('abode of lions') Madrasah, famous for the beast chasing a deer on its portal, in 1619-1636. Officially open daily, 07:00-24:00 from 20 February to 20 November and 08:00-20:00 from 20 November to 20 February. E-tickets are sold on the official site (tickets.registon.uz).
The royal tomb of the Temurids, where Amir Temur, his mentor and members of his family are buried. Temur began building it in 1403 for his grandson Muhammad Sultan, and it was completed under Ulugbek. Temur's famous dark green jade tombstone lies in the middle of the main hall.
The great mosque built on Temur's orders in 1399-1404, then the largest mosque in Central Asia. It is named after Temur's beloved wife, Saray Mulk Khanym, and its 5,000-square-metre courtyard is surrounded by tall minarets on four sides.
The market right next to the Bibi-Khanym Mosque, in the middle of the old town. It is full of dried fruit, nuts and sweets, and Samarkand bread and halva are its specialities. As of a September 2026 announcement, it stays open until midnight.
One of Central Asia's most revered pilgrimage sites, associated with Qusam ibn Abbas, a cousin of the Prophet Muhammad. Its mausoleums, decorated with blue and turquoise tiles, date from the 11th to the early 20th century. It is a place of pilgrimage: visit quietly, and women are advised to cover shoulders, back and legs.
The medieval observatory built near Samarkand in 1428-1429 by Ulugbek, Temur's grandson and an astronomer. It was a round three-storey building 46.4 m across; today part of its huge marble quadrant, reaching underground, survives. Its star catalogue described 1,018 stars.
One of Central Asia's key archaeological sites, in the north of the city, dating back to the 8th century BC. Excavations found palaces, nobles' houses, mosques, baths and Samanid-era cobbled streets. The Samarkand State Museum-Reserve also runs a Museum of the History of Samarkand and Afrasiab.
The resting place of the hadith scholar Imam al-Bukhari, in Chelak district about 25 km from Samarkand. A mausoleum and mosque in traditional style were built over the grave; the mausoleum is topped by a 17-metre dome. It is a religious site, so dress and behave respectfully.
Uzbekistan's signature dish of rice, meat, carrots, onions and spices, inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2016. In Samarkand style it is not stirred while cooking, so each diner can choose how much carrot and meat to take.
Tandoor-baked Samarkand bread is so famous that legend says it never goes hard however long it is kept. Samarkand uses vertical tandoors.
The tourism site says various kebabs are popular in Samarkand alongside plov.
Large dumplings of minced meat in thin dough, steamed in a tiered pot. They are served with suzma, a fermented milk product that Samarkand calls 'chakka'.
Siab Bazaar is packed with dried fruit, nuts and sweets, and Samarkand halva is especially well known. Good for souvenirs too.
Hot tea follows every meal. Before serving a guest, the host pours tea into a bowl and back into the pot three times, then serves the fourth pour.
Amounts are rough figures in local currency. Check exchange rates before you go.
Registan Square (the three madrasahs) in the morning → Gur-Emir → Bibi-Khanym Mosque → lunch at Siab Bazaar (plov, bread) → Shah-i-Zinda in the afternoon → back to the Registan at night (a music show daily at 21:00, per a September 2026 announcement).
Ancient Settlement of Afrasiab and its history museum → Ulugbek Observatory → afternoon trip to the Imam al-Bukhari Memorial Complex (~25 km) → dinner on Orzu Mahmudov Street.
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