Samarkand
Quick facts
- District
- Samarkand city
- Recommended stay
- 2 days
- Difficulty
- easy
- Typical cost
- $
One of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Central Asia, Samarkand was the jewel of the Silk Road and the capital of Amir Timur's empire. Its iconic Registan Square remains one of the most breathtaking sights in the Islamic world.
Why visit
Samarkand is the reason many travellers come to Uzbekistan at all. Registan Square, the Bibi-Khanym mosque, Shah-i-Zinda's corridor of tiled tombs and Ulugbek's observatory are all within a compact area, and the city is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as Crossroads of Cultures.
Tour Highlights
- ✦ Registan Square
- ✦ Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis
- ✦ Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum
- ✦ Bibi-Khanym Mosque
- ✦ Siab Bazaar
What you can do
See Registan at opening time and again after dark; walk Shah-i-Zinda in early morning light; visit Gur-e-Amir, Bibi-Khanym and the Afrosiyob museum; watch silk paper being made at the Konigil workshop outside town.
Where to stay
Boutique hotels and courtyard guesthouses cluster in the old Jewish quarter near Registan, with larger hotels along University Boulevard and in the Silk Road Samarkand complex.
Food
Samarkand non bread, shivit oshi in nearby Khorezm style, non-stop tandoor samsa and autumn grapes. Vegetarian dishes such as pumpkin manti and lagman without meat are widely available; vegan travellers should confirm broth and butter in advance.
How to get there
Afrosiyob high-speed train from Tashkent takes about 2h10; Sharq trains are slower and cheaper. Samarkand also has an international airport with regional flights. The historic centre is walkable, with taxis for longer hops.
When to visit
Late March to early June and September to early November. Spring brings green hills around the city; autumn brings grapes, melons and clear light for photography.
Transport
Trains from Tashkent, Bukhara and Khiva stop at Samarkand station, 20 minutes from the centre by taxi. City buses and metered taxis are inexpensive.
Practical information
Most monuments charge an entrance fee payable in som, with a separate photo fee at some sites. Registan is floodlit in the evening. Dress modestly at working mosques and shrines.
Safety
Very safe for walking, including in the evening around Registan. Summer heat is the main risk; carry water and plan indoor stops at midday.
360° Virtual Tour
Coming soon
We are filming this place ourselves. The 360° tour will appear here once it is ready, we do not publish tours we have not made.
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Frequently asked questions
Is one day enough for Samarkand?
One long day covers the headline monuments, but two days let you see them in good light and add Konigil or Afrosiyob.
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