Major city · Uzbekistan
BukharaБухоро
Give Bukhara two nights: its old town is the best-preserved in Uzbekistan and easy to walk, and it is about 1.5 hours from Samarkand by fast train.
Bukhara is a UNESCO-listed Silk Road city whose historic centre has domes, madrasas and trading arcades within walking distance. It sits in the desert west of Samarkand and is the natural stop before or after Khiva. Evenings around the Lyabi-Hauz pool are the local focus. Two nights is enough for the old town; add a third night if you want the outlying palace and necropolis without rushing.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- UZS
- Best months
- Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
- avoid Jul–Aug (very hot), Dec–Jan (cold)
- Airport
- BHK
- Nights
- 2
Rules in force · 5Land borders between Central Asian states open and shut w…
- Central Asia ↗Keep every hotel registration slip or its e-registration record until you leave Uzbekistan and Tajikistan; border officers can ask for proof of where you slept and fine gaps.
- Central Asia ↗Land borders between Central Asian states open and shut with politics and demarcation deals; confirm the exact post is open to foreigners the week you cross.
- Uzbekistan ↗Check entry rules on the official e-visa portal only; many nationalities enter without a visa for a limited stay, others need an e-visa. Lookalike sites charge extra.
- Uzbekistan ↗Foreign visitors are registered by hotels; keep any registration slip you are given and ask for one if you stay in a private home.
- Uzbekistan ↗Carry Uzbek soʻm in small notes; bazaars, taxis and small cafés are cash-first, and cards are accepted mainly in hotels and larger shops.
What is in this basic guide8 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Bukhara102 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Bukhara, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Soʻm in small notes for bazaars, taxis and tea houses; the largest note is worth little abroad.Uzbekistan-wide
- SIM or eSIMBeeline, Ucell, Mobiuz and Uzmobile sell SIMs with a passport at the airport and city shops; registration takes a few minutes.Uzbekistan-wide
- Tap waterNot safe from the tap; bottled water UZS 3,000–6,000 in shops.Uzbekistan-wide
- TippingRestaurants: A 10–15% service charge is often added; if not, 5–10%.Uzbekistan-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/F. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 220 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Uzbekistan-wide
- SafetyBukhara is a low-crime tourist town; expect persistent souvenir selling, summer heat and taxi overcharging rather than danger.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsSquat toilets at bazaars and bus stations, sometimes a small fee; carry tissue.Uzbekistan-wide
- Emergency numbers102 police · 101 fire · 103 ambulance (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysSome museums close on Monday or Tuesday; madrasas and mausoleums usually open daily with ticket offices closing about 1 h before dusk.Uzbekistan-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportBHK Bukhara International (About 5 km (3.1 mi) from the old town; taxi or app about 15 min, roughly UZS 30,000–60,000 (2026 estimate)).BHK Bukhara International (About 3.1 mi (5 km) from the old town; taxi or app about 15 min, roughly UZS 30,000–60,000 (2026 estimate)).
- Getting aroundThe old town is walkable in a day; use taxis or apps for the outskirts and the railway station…
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- BHK Bukhara International (About 5 km (3.1 mi) from the old town; taxi or app about 15 min, roughly UZS 30,000–60,000 (2026 estimate))BHK Bukhara International (About 3.1 mi (5 km) from the old town; taxi or app about 15 min, roughly UZS 30,000–60,000 (2026 estimate))
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
Feb
not flagged
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
Mar
not flagged
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Apr
Best
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
May
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Jun
Best
37°C (99°F)99°F (37°C)
Jul
Avoid
39°C (102°F)102°F (39°C)
Aug
Avoid
37°C (99°F)99°F (37°C)
Sep
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Oct
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Nov
not flagged
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
Dec
Avoid
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
Best: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct. Avoid: Jul–Aug, Dec–Jan. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (39°C (102°F)102°F (39°C)), coolest Jan (−2°C (28°F)28°F (−2°C) low), wettest Mar (5 rain days), driest Jul (0). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Bukhara: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
−2°C (28°F)28°F (−2°C)
4 rd
Feb
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
4 rd
Mar
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
5 rd
Apr
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
5 rd
May
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
3 rd
Jun
37°C (99°F)99°F (37°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
1 rd
Jul
39°C (102°F)102°F (39°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
0 rd
Aug
37°C (99°F)99°F (37°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
0 rd
Sep
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
0 rd
Oct
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
2 rd
Nov
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
3 rd
Dec
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
4 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The old town is walkable in a day; use taxis or apps for the outskirts and the railway station, which is about 12 km away at Kagan (fares about UZS 40,000–80,000, 2026 estimate). Afrosiyob and Sharq trains run to Samarkand and Tashkent; a shuttle taxi links Bukhara with Kagan.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Sitorai Mohi-Khosa palace
goDoor to door: About 15–20 min each way
Taxi, about 5 km (3.1 mi) north of the centerTaxi, about 3.1 mi (5 km) north of the center
Last emir's summer palace; pair it with Chor-Bakr necropolis in a half day.
Gijduvan ceramics
goDoor to door: About 45–60 min each way
Taxi or shared car, about 45 km (28 mi)Taxi or shared car, about 28 mi (45 km)
Working pottery studios; agree waiting time with the driver.
Samarkand
overnightDoor to door: About 2–2.5 h each way
Afrosiyob or Sharq train
Better as a move between cities than as a day trip.
Khiva
skipDoor to door: About 7–8 h
Sharq train or long road transfer, about 450 km (280 mi)Sharq train or long road transfer, about 280 mi (450 km)
Too long for a day; treat it as a transfer with an overnight in Khiva.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Old town near Lyabi-Hauz
Walk to nearly everything; guesthouses in old courtyard houses, best for a first visit.
Around Ark Fortress
Quieter, still central, and close to the Bolo-Hauz Mosque and the city walls.
Around Toki Zargaron and the trading domes
Bazaar streets by day; noisier and busier, with short walks to the Kalyan complex.
Jewish quarter and Khoja Nurabad area
Small family guesthouses in quieter lanes, about 10 min walk from Lyabi-Hauz.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- UZS 250,000–450,000 excl. bed (2026 estimate)
- Mid
- UZS 450,000–900,000 excl. bed (2026 estimate)
- High
- UZS 900,000+ excl. bed (2026 estimate)
Watch out
Safety
- Summer temperatures are very high; plan a midday rest and drink water.
- Carpet and souvenir sellers can be persistent; you can say no once and keep walking.
- The main station is at Kagan, not in the city: allow 30 min plus check-in time for the transfer.
- Winter nights can fall below freezing and some guesthouses heat poorly; ask about heating.
- Check the current entry fees for the Ark and other monuments, and whether a camera fee applies.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 102
- Fire
- 101
- Ambulance
- 103
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Bukhara. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct · avoid Jul–Aug (very hot), Dec–Jan (cold) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 4 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
- Walking clusters with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Field-verified times and fares
Sources
- officialUzbekistan Tourism
- secondaryWikivoyage — Bukhara