Top places to visit in Shahrisabz

• Ak-Saray Palace Ruins

  timurid palace ruins · 4.6 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  The breathtaking ruins of Timur's intended greatest monument — a summer palace so vast that the gateway alone (two towers still standing at 38 metres) dwarfed anything else in the medieval Islamic world. An inscription above the portal…

• Kok Gumbaz Mosque

  timurid mosque · 4.5 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  A magnificent 15th-century Friday mosque built by Ulugh Beg in honour of his father Shah Rukh — its name means "Blue Dome" and the turquoise ribbed dome is one of the finest in Central Asia. The mosque forms part of the Dorut Tilavat…

• Dorut Tilovat Complex

  religious-complex · 4.6 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  Timurid religious complex ("House of Contemplation") including the Kok Gumbaz Mosque and shrines to Timur's father and teacher.

• Dorus Saodat Mausoleum Complex

  mausoleum · 4.4 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  "House of Power and Might" — ruined mausoleum complex Timur built to bury his eldest son and, eventually, himself.

• Chorsu Bazaar Shahrisabz

  bazaar · 4.1 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Central covered bazaar of Shahrisabz selling produce, dried fruit and local crafts.

• Malik Ajdar Mausoleum

  mausoleum · 3.9 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Small hilltop mausoleum with sweeping views over Shahrisabz and the surrounding valley.

• Shahrisabz City Museum

  history · 3.9 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  Local history museum covering the Timurid era and Shahrisabz's role as Amir Timur's birthplace.

• Sahibqiron Square

  city-square · 3.9 rating · about 0.3 h · check the fee at the gate

  Central ceremonial square of Shahrisabz used for national holiday celebrations, near the Ak-Saray ruins.

• Amir Temur Statue Shahrisabz

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

  Monumental statue of Amir Timur in his hometown, near the Ak-Saray Palace gate.

Things to do

• Ak-Saray Palace & Dorut Tilovat Heritage Tour Heritage · 2.5 h · from UZS 62,400 per person
• Shahrisabz Day Excursion from Samarkand (with Kitab-Shahrisabz Route) Sightseeing · 8 h · from UZS 312,000 per person
• Shahrisabz Heritage Walking Tour Heritage · 2.5 h · from UZS 90,000 per person
• Kitob-Shahrisabz Mountain Village Day Trip Adventure · 6 h · from UZS 250,000 per person

Where to stay in Shahrisabz

• Heritage Zone about UZS 35 per night

  Small hotels and guesthouses near the Ak-Saray ruins — the entire Shahrisabz historic centre is compact enough to walk everywhere. Best as an overnight stay after the Samarkand day-trip crowds leave.

Hotels

• Sultonim Plaza Hotel Shahrisabz 3-star · UZS 300,000 to UZS 550,000 per night
• Hotel Shahrisabz 3-star · UZS 300,000 to UZS 600,000 per night
• Emir Hotel Shahrisabz 3-star · UZS 280,000 to UZS 500,000 per night
• Shakhrisabz Inn 2-star · UZS 150,000 to UZS 280,000 per night
• Meros Guesthouse Shahrisabz 1-star · UZS 100,000 to UZS 200,000 per night

Where to eat

• Dilnavoz Restaurant Uzbek, Central Asian · about UZS 40,000 per person
• Sultonim Restaurant Uzbek · about UZS 35,000 per person
• Ak-Saray Chaikhona Uzbek · about UZS 25,000 per person
• Shakhrisabz Milliy Taomlar Uzbek · about UZS 30,000 per person
• Silk Road Cafe Shahrisabz Uzbek, Cafe · about UZS 28,000 per person
• Temur Malik Restaurant Uzbek · about UZS 55,000 per person

Getting to Shahrisabz

Airport: Shahrisabz (RBZ)

How visitors arrive in Shahrisabz

• Shared taxi from Samarkand By road from Samarkand · common

  Shared taxis leave from Samarkand and cross the mountain pass; the pass can close in winter, adding a detour. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Shared taxi from Bukhara By road from Bukhara · possible

  Shared taxis run from Bukhara, sometimes with a change at Qarshi. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the bus terminal to the centre

• Shared taxi from Samarkand unconfirmed

  Shared taxis leave from outside the Registon Supermarket on So'zangaron street and cross the Takhtakaracha pass. Some stop at Kitab, so you may need another taxi. The pass can close in winter. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Shared taxi from Bukhara via Qarshi unconfirmed

  Shared taxis leave from across the Sharq bus station in Bukhara. You may need to change taxis at Qarshi. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Getting around

• Bus
• Taxi

  Shared taxis run to Shahrisabz from Samarkand, leaving from near the Registan; the route crosses a mountain pass that can close in winter.

• Walking

Safety and scams to avoid

• Forced Souvenir Purchase

  Ak-Saray Palace grounds

  Street vendors place items (scarves, coins) in your hands and demand payment, becoming aggressive if you return them.

  How to avoid it: Do not accept items placed in your hands. A firm but calm refusal works; walk away if they persist.

• Shared Taxi Overcharge

  Shahrisabz–Samarkand shared taxi stand

  Tourists are quoted 200,000+ UZS for the Shahrisabz–Samarkand journey that locals pay 40,000–50,000 UZS.

  How to avoid it: Ask locals at the stand what the going rate is before approaching a driver.

Best time to visit Shahrisabz

• Jan 9°C
• Feb 11°C
• Mar 17°C
• Apr 23°C
• May 29°C
• Jun 35°C
• Jul 37°C
• Aug 36°C
• Sep 31°C
• Oct 24°C
• Nov 16°C
• Dec 11°C

More in Uzbekistan

• Samarkand
• Bukhara
• Tashkent
• Khiva
• Fergana
• Nukus

Frequently asked questions about Shahrisabz

How many days do you need in Shahrisabz?

A typical trip to Shahrisabz is 1 day.

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

The highest-rated places in our Shahrisabz guide are Ak-Saray Palace Ruins, Dorut Tilovat Complex, Kok Gumbaz Mosque, Dorus Saodat Mausoleum Complex, Chorsu Bazaar Shahrisabz.

Where should I stay in Shahrisabz?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Shahrisabz: Heritage Zone.

How do I get around Shahrisabz?

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

What scams should I watch out for in Shahrisabz?

Scams reported to us for Shahrisabz include Forced Souvenir Purchase; Shared Taxi Overcharge. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in Shahrisabz?

Average daytime highs in Shahrisabz run from 9°C in Jan to 37°C in Jul.

Which airport is nearest to Shahrisabz?

The nearest airport to Shahrisabz has the code RBZ.