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Voykit pocket guide · Uzbekistan
Samarkand
Самарканд
Give Samarkand two nights: it holds the Registan and the Timurid monuments that define a trip through Uzbekistan, and it is about 2 hours from Tashkent and 1.5 hours from Bukhara by fast train.
Samarkand is one of Central Asia's oldest cities and a major stop on the Silk Roads. Its Timurid-era madrasas, mausoleums and mosques are the reason most visitors come, and the main ones sit within a few kilometers of each other. Two nights covers the Registan, Gur-e-Amir, Shah-i-Zinda and Siab Bazaar; a third night lets you add Shakhrisabz or slow the pace in summer heat. It is the middle stop on the usual Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva line.
- Country
- Uzbekistan
- Local name
- Самарканд
- Best months
- Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (very hot), Dec–Feb (cold, some rain)
- Stay
- 2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- UZS
- Money
- Soʻm in small notes for bazaars, taxis and tea houses; the largest note is worth little abroad.
- Daily spend
- 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) (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Beeline, Ucell, Mobiuz and Uzmobile sell SIMs with a passport at the airport and city shops; registration takes a few minutes.
- Emergency
- Police 102 · Fire 101 · Ambulance 103
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 220 V · 50 Hz · European two-pin plugs fit; bring an adapter for UK or US plugs.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: A 10–15% service charge is often added; if not, 5–10%.; Taxis: Round up; no tip on app fares.; Guides and drivers: US$5–10 a day for a guide, a little less for a driver.
- Water
- Not safe from the tap; bottled water UZS 3,000–6,000 in shops. Boiled tea is always safe.
- Toilets
- Squat toilets at bazaars and bus stations, sometimes a small fee; carry tissue. Hotels and restaurants have Western toilets.
Get in
By air
- SKD · Samarkand International
- About 6 km from the centre; taxi or ride-hailing app about 20–30 min, roughly UZS 40,000–80,000 (2026 estimate, agree or use an app)About 3.7 mi from the centre; taxi or ride-hailing app about 20–30 min, roughly UZS 40,000–80,000 (2026 estimate, agree or use an app)
Get around
Taxis and ride-hailing apps (Yandex Go) cost about UZS 15,000–40,000 for most city rides (2026 estimate); the Registan, Bibi-Khanym and Siab Bazaar can be walked in a day, Shah-i-Zinda is a short walk beyond. Fast Afrosiyob trains link Samarkand with Tashkent (about 2 h) and Bukhara (about 1.5 h); the station is a few kilometers from the old town, so allow a taxi.
See and do
Known for
- Registan (three madrasas around one square)
- Gur-e-Amir (Timur's mausoleum)
- Shah-i-Zinda necropolis
- Bibi-Khanym Mosque
- Siab Bazaar (bread, dried fruit, nuts)
- Ulugh Beg Observatory
- Konigil paper mill (silk-mulberry paper)
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Konigil paper mill | Taxi, about 10 km east of the centerTaxi, about 6.2 mi east of the center | About 20–30 min each way |
| Shakhrisabz | Taxi or shared car over the Tashkent-Shakhrisabz mountain road, about 90 kmTaxi or shared car over the Tashkent-Shakhrisabz mountain road, about 56 mi | About 1.5–2 h each way |
| Tashkent | Afrosiyob fast train | About 2.5 h each way including the station |
| Bukhara | Afrosiyob or Sharq train, about 1.5–2 h | About 2–2.5 h each way |
Sleep
- Near the Registan
- Walkable to the main sights and the best evening views; the most expensive area.
- Around Siab Bazaar and Bibi-Khanym
- Local food and bazaar on the doorstep; 10-15 min walk or a short taxi to the Registan.
- Around Gur-e-Amir
- Quieter residential streets with guesthouses; near the mausoleum and a short taxi to the station.
- Along Registan and Tashkent streets
- Mid-range hotels and restaurants on the road between the old town and the modern center.
Language
Uzbek is the state language, written in Latin script, though Cyrillic signs remain. Russian is the common second language in Tashkent and among older people everywhere. Samarkand and Bukhara are largely Tajik-speaking; Karakalpak is spoken around Nukus. English is growing among young people and in hotels.
- Assalomu alaykum (hello), rahmat (thank you), qancha? (how much?) cover most transactions.
- Addresses are often given by landmark (oriyentir); save them on a map.
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Right hand on heart with 'assalomu alaykum'; men shake hands with men; avoid: Offering a hand to a woman unless she offers first
- Home visit: Shoes off; bring sweets or fruit; sit where the host shows; avoid: Sitting with feet pointing at people or at the table spread (dastarkhan)
- Tea: Accept at least one bowl; avoid: Refusing everything offered
- Bread: Break it by hand, place it face up; avoid: Throwing bread away where people can see
- Dress: Long trousers or skirts in old towns and villages; avoid: Shorts and bare shoulders at religious sites
- Elders: Stand when they enter; let them eat first; avoid: Interrupting
Scams and watch-outs
- Summer heat can pass 38 C at midday; start at opening and rest indoors from 12:00 to 16:00.
- Agree taxi fares before you get in, or use an app; airport and station drivers quote high.
- Many monuments charge separate entry, photography or tower-climb fees; carry small notes and check the current price at the gate.
- Fast trains sell out in spring and autumn; book Afrosiyob seats on the official rail site or app a few days ahead.
- Photography near government buildings, stations and the metro can be restricted; ask before you shoot.
Uzbekistan is generally low-crime for visitors; the usual risks are petty theft in crowds, taxi overcharging, and summer heat. Check your own government's travel advice before you go.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Samarkand yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Registan (three madrasas around one square)
- Gur-e-Amir (Timur's mausoleum)
- Shah-i-Zinda necropolis
- Bibi-Khanym Mosque
- Siab Bazaar (bread, dried fruit, nuts)
- Ulugh Beg Observatory
- Konigil paper mill (silk-mulberry paper)
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Uzbekistan Tourism: uzbekistan.travel/en/
- Wikivoyage — Samarkand: en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Samarkand
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/samarkand). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.