Uzbekistan travel guide

Getting there

Tashkent International Airport is the main gateway, with growing international flights to Samarkand, Bukhara and Urgench; land borders connect with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.

Best time to visit: Apr–Jun and Sep–Oct – warm and pleasant for sightseeing.

Tougher months: July to August – heat often tops 40°C in Bukhara and Khiva; December to February can be cold and grey.

Weather by month in Tashkent

• 6°J●
• 9°F●
• 15°M●●
• 22°A●●
• 28°M●
• 33°J
• 36°J
• 34°A
• 29°S
• 22°O●
• 14°N●
• 8°D●

Average daytime highs in °C; dots show how rainy the month is (one dot dry, three dots wet).

Time zone: Asia/Samarkand, Asia/Tashkent. Compare with your local time.

Visas: in our passport dataset, 94 of 198 other passports can enter Uzbekistan without arranging a visa first (visa-free or visa on arrival), 46 need an e-visa or electronic authorisation, and 58 need a visa in advance. Check your passport.

Background: Visa policy of Uzbekistan (Wikipedia).

Official advisory: Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions (U.S. Department of State, updated 2026-01-26). Read the advisory.

Source and more: Uzbekistan travel facts on RoamSun

Stay

Most trips to Uzbekistan are based around Samarkand, Bukhara or Khiva. Pick a base for your main interest, then add day trips rather than moving hotels every night.

Typical daily budget: about US$25–40 for a backpacker and US$70–130 mid-range, per person.

Source: RoamSun Uzbekistan page · Browse hotel guides

Connect

Plug types: C, F. Voltage: 220 V. Check your own devices on the plug and currency checker.

Calling code: +998.

Mobile data: read the travel eSIM setup guide before you fly so the plan is installed and ready on landing.

Source: Advinne eSIM guide · RoamSun

Do

• Samarkand (Central · Silk Road city): Home to the Registan, Gur-e-Amir and Bibi-Khanym, Samarkand is the jewel of Timur's empire.
• Bukhara (Central · historic city): A remarkably intact old town of madrasas, mosques and caravanserais, best explored on foot.
• Khiva (Khorezm · walled city): The open-air museum of Itchan Kala feels like stepping into a Silk Road legend.
• Tashkent (Northeast · capital city): A modern capital with leafy parks, Soviet architecture, a stunning metro and busy bazaars.
• Shakhrisabz (Kashkadarya · Timur's birthplace): The ruins of Timur's vast Ak-Saray Palace, an easy trip from Samarkand.
• Fergana Valley (East · crafts region): Fertile valley famous for silk-weaving in Margilan and ceramics in Rishtan.
• Nukus (Karakalpakstan · art museum): Home to the Savitsky Museum and its extraordinary collection of avant-garde art.
• Chimgan Mountains (Tashkent region · mountains): Hiking, cable cars and the Charvak Reservoir, a short drive from the capital.

Things to do

• Stand in the Registan. Watch the sunset light up the tiled façades of three great madrasas in the heart of Samarkand.
• Wander Bukhara's old town. Get lost among trading domes, madrasas and the towering Kalyan Minaret in a living medieval city.
• Walk Khiva's walls. Climb the ramparts of Itchan Kala for views over minarets and mud-brick domes at dusk.
• Ride the high-speed train. Zip between Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara on the fast Afrosiyob trains.
• Explore Shah-i-Zinda. Climb the avenue of glittering turquoise mausoleums, one of Samarkand's most beautiful sights.
• Tour the Tashkent Metro. Admire chandeliers, marble and mosaics in some of the most ornate stations in the world.
• Shop at Chorsu Bazaar. Browse dried fruits, spices, bread and textiles under Tashkent's giant blue dome.
• Eat plov. Share a hearty rice dish with lamb, carrots and chickpeas, cooked in huge cauldrons at lunchtime.

Source: full Uzbekistan guide on RoamSun

Eat and drink

• Plov – rice with carrots, meat and spices, the national dish
• Samsa – flaky baked pastry with meat and onion
• Lagman – hand-pulled noodles with meat and vegetables
• Non – round bread baked in a clay oven

Source: RoamSun Uzbekistan guide

Money and safety

Currency: Uzbekistani som (UZS). Currency and plug checker.

Tipping: 5–10% in restaurants is common; some add a service charge..

Emergency numbers: 102 police · 103 ambulance · 101 fire.

• The currency is the Uzbek som; ATMs are now common in major cities and many accept foreign cards.
• Carry cash for bazaars, small guesthouses and rural areas, where cards may not be accepted.
• Uzbekistan is generally very safe, with low crime and friendly locals.
• Keep your accommodation registration slips, as you may be asked for them when leaving.

Source: RoamSun Uzbekistan facts