Top places to visit in Samarkand

• Bibi-Khanym Mosque

  mosque · 4.7 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  Once one of the largest mosques in the Islamic world, commissioned by Timur in the late 14th century.

• Hazrat Khizr Mosque

  mosque · 4.4 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Hilltop mosque overlooking Siab Bazaar, rebuilt in the 19th century on a site dating back over a millennium.

• Registan Square

  timurid square · 4.9 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  The most magnificent public square in the Islamic world — three colossal 15th–17th-century madrasas (Ulugh Beg, Sher-Dor, Tilla-Kari) face each other across a vast sandy plaza, their facades entirely sheathed in intricate blue-and-gold…

• Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis

  necropolis · 4.8 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  A sacred avenue of mausoleums stretching along a ridge near the ancient city of Afrasiyab — one of the most beautiful and spiritually charged sites in Central Asia. Fourteen glittering blue-tiled tomb facades from the 9th–15th centuries…

• Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum

  timurid mausoleum · 4.8 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  The dynastic mausoleum of Timur (Tamerlane) and his family — a prototype for the later Mughal tomb architecture that culminated in the Taj Mahal. The ribbed azure dome rising 34 metres above a stalactite-vaulted portal is one of the most…

• Siab Bazaar

  local market · 4.4 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  Samarkand's main traditional market, operating in the shadow of Bibi-Khanym mosque — a compact, fragrant bazaar specialising in the local round bread (non) baked fresh in clay ovens, dried mulberries, walnuts, spices, and the city's…

• Ulugh Beg Observatory

  archaeological museum · 4.5 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  The ruins of the 15th-century observatory built by the astronomer-king Ulugh Beg, grandson of Timur. Using a 40-metre curved sextant built into the earth, Ulugh Beg calculated the length of the solar year to within 58 seconds of modern…

• Rukhabad Mausoleum

  mausoleum · 4.1 rating · about 0.3 h · check the fee at the gate

  Modest 14th-century mausoleum said to house a relic of the Prophet Muhammad, one of Samarkand's oldest Timurid buildings.

• Khoja Doniyor (St. Daniel) Mausoleum

  mausoleum · 4.3 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Pilgrimage site revered by Muslims, Christians and Jews alike, said to hold the tomb of the prophet Daniel.

• Afrasiyab Museum

  archaeology · 4.4 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  Museum built on the ruins of ancient pre-Mongol Samarkand, famed for its 7th-century Sogdian palace murals.

• Konigil Meros Paper Mill

  craft-workshop · 4.5 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  Working watermill workshop reviving Samarkand's medieval tradition of mulberry-bark 'Samarkand paper'.

• Chorsu Trade Dome (Toki Sarrafon)

  bazaar-dome · 4.2 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Restored 15th-century domed trading arcade once used by Silk Road money-changers, now housing craft stalls.

Things to do

• Registan Square Evening Sound & Light Show Entertainment · 1.5 h · from UZS 150,000 per person
• Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis Guided Tour Heritage · 2 h · from UZS 74,900 per person
• Ulugh Beg Observatory Astronomical Tour Sightseeing · 1.5 h · from UZS 62,400 per person
• Samarkand Paper Workshop at Meros Paper Mill Cultural · 2 h · from UZS 112,000 per person
• Registan Night Photography Tour Sightseeing · 1.5 h · from UZS 80,000 per person
• Samarkand Wine Tasting at Hovrenko Winery Food · 1.5 h · from UZS 150,000 per person
• Silk Road Bazaar & Craft Trail Samarkand Cultural · 4 h · from UZS 130,000 per person

Day trips and tours

• Samarkand Silk Road Grand Tour 10 h · from UZS 374,000

Where to stay in Samarkand

• Registan Area about UZS 55 per night

  Staying within walking distance of the Registan is the definitive Samarkand experience — early-morning access before crowds, sunset views from guesthouse rooftops, and total immersion in Timurid grandeur.

• New City Centre about UZS 40 per night

  Samarkand's modern district with better amenities, larger hotels, and easy access to the train station. A 10–15 min walk or taxi to all major monuments.

Hotels

• Registan Plaza Hotel 5-star · UZS 2,000,000 to UZS 4,000,000 per night
• Samarkand Darvoza 5-star · UZS 2,200,000 to UZS 4,500,000 per night
• Jahongir Bed & Breakfast 2-star · UZS 200,000 to UZS 350,000 per night
• Hilton Garden Inn Samarkand Sogd 4-star · UZS 1,200,000 to UZS 2,200,000 per night
• Guesthouse Bahodir 2-star · UZS 150,000 to UZS 300,000 per night
• Silk Road Lodge Samarkand 3-star · UZS 450,000 to UZS 850,000 per night

Where to eat

• Siab Bazaar Samsa Stalls Uzbek, Street Food · about UZS 8,000 per person
• Samarkand Restaurant Uzbek, Central Asian · about UZS 80,000 per person
• Platan Uzbek, European · about UZS 120,000 per person
• Karimbek Restaurant Uzbek · about UZS 100,000 per person
• Registan View Restaurant Uzbek, International · about UZS 90,000 per person
• Marokand Restaurant Uzbek · about UZS 85,000 per person
• Bibi Khanum Teahouse Uzbek · about UZS 35,000 per person
• Vino & Vintage Wine Restaurant Uzbek, Wine Bar · about UZS 220,000 per person

Getting to Samarkand

Airport: Samarkand (SKD)

How visitors arrive in Samarkand

• Train from Tashkent By train from Tashkent · common

  Trains from Tashkent Central are the usual overland link, with further lines from Bukhara, Khiva, Nukus and the south; tickets can sell out. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Bus or shared taxi By road from Tashkent, Bukhara · common

  Buses and shared taxis from Tashkent and Bukhara use several stations in the city. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Flight to Samarkand Airport By air from Russia, Istanbul, Abu Dhabi, Tashkent · possible

  A small airport north of the centre has flights from Russian cities, Istanbul, Abu Dhabi and some domestic links. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the airport to the centre

• Airport bus to the railway station unconfirmed

  Buses M1, 31 and 52 run from Arrivals to the railway station, where you can change to a tram or taxi. The airport is north of the centre. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Taxi from the airport

  Taxis are available at the airport and are a straightforward way into the centre. Agree the fare before you set off. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the railway station to the centre

• Tram from the railway station

  Tram T2 runs from the railway station toward Siyob Bazaar, about a kilometre from the Registan. Minibuses and taxis also serve the station. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Getting around

• Bus

  White marshrutka minibuses serve Samarkand; for farther sights such as the Ulugh Beg Observatory the guide suggests a bus or taxi.

• Taxi useful for some trips

  Yellow taxis are available throughout Samarkand, and the Yandex Taxi app is recommended for the city centre.

• Walking

Safety and scams to avoid

• Registan "Official Guide" Scam

  Registan Square entrance

  Men claim to be licensed guides employed by the site and charge 200,000–400,000 UZS. After the tour, they demand a large cash "tip" not agreed in advance.

  How to avoid it: Confirm the total price before starting any tour. Licensed guides wear ID cards. Book through your hotel or a registered agency.

• Hotel Overbooking Bait

  Samarkand guesthouse district

  Budget travellers are shown a clean room on arrival but given a noticeably inferior room on check-in after paying in advance.

  How to avoid it: Pay only on arrival or use booking platforms with free cancellation. Inspect the actual room before handing over money.

Best time to visit Samarkand

• Jan 7°C
• Feb 10°C
• Mar 15°C
• Apr 21°C
• May 27°C
• Jun 32°C
• Jul 35°C
• Aug 33°C
• Sep 29°C
• Oct 22°C
• Nov 14°C
• Dec 9°C

More in Uzbekistan

• Bukhara
• Tashkent
• Khiva
• Shahrisabz
• Fergana
• Nukus

Frequently asked questions about Samarkand

How many days do you need in Samarkand?

A typical trip to Samarkand is 2-3 days.

What are the top-rated places to visit in Samarkand?

The highest-rated places in our Samarkand guide are Registan Square, Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis, Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum, Bibi-Khanym Mosque, Ulugh Beg Observatory.

Where should I stay in Samarkand?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Samarkand: Registan Area, New City Centre.

How do I get around Samarkand?

Ways to get around Samarkand covered in our guide: City bus, Taxi, Walking.

What scams should I watch out for in Samarkand?

Scams reported to us for Samarkand include Registan "Official Guide" Scam; Hotel Overbooking Bait. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in Samarkand?

Average daytime highs in Samarkand run from 7°C in Jan to 35°C in Jul.

Which airport is nearest to Samarkand?

The nearest airport to Samarkand has the code SKD.