Uzbekistan Travel Guide

Central Asia · Sam and Rach's travel guides

We travelled through Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva, from busy bazaars and metro stations to the Silk Road cities. This is the starting point for our Uzbekistan guides: what we enjoyed, where we stayed and the practical details from our trip.

Where to go in Uzbekistan

Start with the city guides for our experience of each stop, then use the planning sections to decide how they fit into your trip.

Tashkent, photographed on our Uzbekistan trip

Tashkent

Our two-day sightseeing plan, places to eat and where we stayed in Uzbekistan’s capital.

Samarkand, photographed on our Uzbekistan trip

Samarkand

Registan Square, our favourite sights and the practical details from almost 48 hours in the city.

Bukhara, photographed on our Uzbekistan trip

Bukhara

A slower stop for exploring the old town, with our guide to sights, food and accommodation.

Khiva, photographed on our Uzbekistan trip

Khiva

Explore Ichan Kala, plan your time in the city and read our honest thoughts after two nights.

Planning a stop in Tashkent?

Is Tashkent worth visiting? Our honest experience helps you decide whether to include the capital. For a quick sightseeing shortlist, read our top five things to do in Tashkent. The full Tashkent guide brings the two-day plan, food and accommodation together.

Plan your Uzbekistan trip

Transport and getting around

Our city guides explain arriving and getting around, including trains, station transfers and taxis where we used them.

Costs and practical tips

Use the city guides for the prices and practical details recorded on our trip. These are our experiences at the time of travel, so check current prices before booking.

Samarkand sights, food and transport · Bukhara planning tips · Khiva planning tips

Organise your stops with our free travel planner →

Our Uzbekistan itinerary: time in each city

These are the stays recorded in our guides, totalling 11 nights across four cities. Use them as a starting point for your own route; travel days and your preferred pace will affect how much time you need.

  1. Tashkent — 3 nights. Our sightseeing plan covers two full days. See our Tashkent two-day plan.
  2. Samarkand — 2 nights. We had almost 48 hours; a third night would allow a slower pace. Plan your time in Samarkand.
  3. Bukhara — 4 nights. This included a planned rest day. Our guide discusses three nights for a visit without that extra downtime. Read our Bukhara timing advice.
  4. Khiva — 2 nights. We would add a third for a more relaxed stay. Decide how long to spend in Khiva.

Short on time? Our honest verdict on Tashkent and the city guides explain what we liked and what we would prioritise.

Where we stayed in Uzbekistan

These are the hotels named in our city guides. Read the full stay notes for the location and our experience before comparing availability.

Affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Mobile data for your trip

We personally use Airalo when we travel. You can have mobile data ready before you arrive, without needing to find a SIM card at the airport.

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All our Uzbekistan travel guides

Watch our Uzbekistan videos

Our city guides bring the videos and practical details together. Open a guide to watch alongside the sights, stay notes and onward-travel advice.

Tashkent on video

Watch our Tashkent vlog in the city guide

Deciding whether to go? Read our honest Tashkent verdict alongside it.

Samarkand on video

Watch our Samarkand vlog in the city guide

Use the same guide to plan your sights and stay.

Explore more videos on Sam and Rach Travel’s YouTube channel →

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