Major city · Uzbekistan
ShakhrisabzШаҳрисабз
Go as a day trip from Samarkand: 2–3 hours on foot covers Ak Saray, Dorus Saodat and Kok Gumbaz; sleep in Samarkand, not here.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- UZS
- Best months
- Apr–May, Sep–Oct
- avoid Jul–Aug (40 °C+), Jan–Mar (Takhzakaracha Pass may close)avoid Jul–Aug (104 °F+), Jan–Mar (Takhzakaracha Pass may close)
- Airport
- SKD
- Nights
- Day trip (0–1)
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.
Shakhrisabz is Timur's hometown and his second capital, 60 km south of Samarkand over a 1,780 m pass. The historic centre is UNESCO-listed and small: the Ak Saray gate ruins, the Dorus Saodat burial complex and the Kok Gumbaz mosque sit within a 15-minute walk. Most travellers see it in half a day and return to Samarkand.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Shakhrisabz, 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
- SafetyShakhrisabz is a small, calm town and violent crime against visitors is rare.
- RestroomsSquat toilets at bazaars and bus stations, sometimes a small fee; carry tissue.Uzbekistan-wide
- Emergency numbers101 fire · 102 police · 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.
- AirportcheckSKD Samarkand International (Nearest useful airport; about 1.5–2 h by road from Shakhrisabz (check)).
- Getting aroundThe historic centre is compact and flat: Ak Saray, Dorus Saodat, Dorut Tilavat and Kok Gumbaz are all within about 1 km of each other.The historic centre is compact and flat: Ak Saray, Dorus Saodat, Dorut Tilavat and Kok Gumbaz are all within about 0.6 mi of each other.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee or tea in a chaikhana10,000–25,000 UZS
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week50,000–120,000 UZS
- Museum or sight ticketSight entry20,000–50,000 UZS (check)
- Budget bedHostel bed, a night, per personUZS 100,000
- Mid-range bedGuesthouse double room, a night, per roomUZS 450,000
- High-end bedGuesthouse double room, a night, per roomUZS 900,000
A day, not counting the bed: Budget UZS 150,000 · Mid UZS 300,000 · High UZS 600,000
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
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
- SKD Samarkand International (Nearest useful airport; about 1.5–2 h by road from Shakhrisabz (check))
Weather and climate
Shakhrisabz: 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°C45°F
−3°C27°F
9 rd
Feb
9°C48°F
−2°C28°F
9 rd
Mar
14°C57°F
3°C37°F
10 rd
Apr
21°C70°F
9°C48°F
8 rd
May
27°C81°F
13°C55°F
6 rd
Jun
33°C91°F
17°C63°F
2 rd
Jul
36°C97°F
19°C66°F
1 rd
Aug
35°C95°F
18°C64°F
1 rd
Sep
30°C86°F
13°C55°F
1 rd
Oct
23°C73°F
8°C46°F
4 rd
Nov
16°C61°F
3°C37°F
6 rd
Dec
10°C50°F
−1°C30°F
8 rd
High / low °C°F · rd = rain days
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The historic centre is compact and flat: Ak Saray, Dorus Saodat, Dorut Tilavat and Kok Gumbaz are all within about 1 km of each other. Walk it. Shared taxis and marshrutkas cover the wider town; agree the fare before you get in.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: About 1.5–2 h each way
Shared taxi from So'zangaron ko'chasi, south of the Registan; or your own car over the Takhzakaracha Pass
The standard pairing: Shakhrisabz is the day trip, Samarkand is the base.
Qarshi
cautionDoor to door: About 2 h
Shared taxi or marshrutka south, about 120 kmShared taxi or marshrutka south, about 75 mi
Useful only if you are continuing to Bukhara or Termez; little to see for its own sake.
Termez
overnightDoor to door: 6 h+
Road via Qarshi, or train from Qarshi
Too far for a return day; break the trip in Qarshi.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Ipak Yoli axis (centre)
Guesthouses and small hotels along the main street between Ak Saray and Kok Gumbaz; walkable to every sight.
Samarkand (as a base)
Most travellers sleep in Samarkand and day-trip; more beds, more food, better transport.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- 150,000–250,000 UZS excl. bed
- Mid
- 250,000–450,000 UZS excl. bed
- High
- 450,000+ UZS excl. bed
Trip budget
| Guesthouse double room1 × 1 night × UZS 450,000 | UZS 450,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × UZS 300,000 | UZS 600,000 |
| Shared taxi Samarkand → Shakhrisabz, one way2 × UZS 60,000 · check | UZS 120,000 |
| Sight entries (Ak Saray, Kok Gumbaz, museum)2 × UZS 80,000 · check | UZS 160,000 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × UZS 80,000 | UZS 160,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | UZS 149,000 |
| Trip total≈ UZS 820,000 per person per day, bed included | UZS 1,639,000 |
2026 estimate in soʻm; long-distance transport and flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee or tea in a chaikhana | 10,000–25,000 UZS |
| Plov or lagman | 30,000–60,000 UZS |
| Bread (non) | 5,000–10,000 UZS |
| Shared taxi seat, Samarkand → Shakhrisabz | about 60,000 UZS (check) |
| Sight entry | 20,000–50,000 UZS (check) |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | 50,000–120,000 UZS |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- The Takhzakaracha Pass between Samarkand and Shakhrisabz can close from January to March; the detour adds about 3 hours.
- Shared taxis from Samarkand may only go as far as Kitab, 10 km short: confirm the destination before paying.Shared taxis from Samarkand may only go as far as Kitab, 6.2 mi short: confirm the destination before paying.
- Summer heat is serious: carry water and start early.
- Some sights charge separately and hours vary; check locally on arrival.
Emergency numbers
- Fire
- 101
- Police
- 102
- Ambulance
- 103
- Unified number
- 112
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
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ShakhrisabzШаҳрисабз
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
Мана шу манзилгаTo this address, please
Emergency
- Fire101
- Police102
- Ambulance103
- Unified number112
Embassy
No embassies in Shakhrisabz; most are in Tashkent. Consular help for the region is usually handled from Tashkent (check).
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Shared taxi Samarkand → Shakhrisabz: about 60,000 UZS, about 1.5–2 h (check)
- Taxi across town: 15,000–30,000 UZS (check)
- Ak Saray entry: about 40,000 UZS (check)
Say or show
- Ассалому алайкум — Hello (assalomu alaykum)
- Раҳмат — Thank you (rahmat)
- Қанча? — How much is it? (qancha)
- Мана шуни — This one, please (mana shuni)
- Ҳожатхона қаерда? — Where is the toilet? (hojatxona qayerda)
- Тушунмадим — I don't understand (tushunmadim)
Carry the address of your Samarkand hotel in Uzbek or Russian for the return taxi.
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 Shakhrisabz. 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–May, Sep–Oct · avoid Jul–Aug (40 °C+), Jan–Mar (Takhzakaracha Pass may close) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 3 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for Samarkand (SKD): last shared-taxi departures field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Walking cluster for the historic centre with rescue anchors: Ak Saray, Dorus Saodat, Dorut Tilavat, Kok Gumbaz, Chorsu.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (Ak Saray, Dorus Saodat, Kok Gumbaz, Amir Temur Museum) and eat pages with last orders.
- Pass-closure and hostile-arrival fixtures so gates A–D can go green.