Blog

Month by month: weather, crowds, festivals and what each season is good for.

Month by month

1. JanuaryWeather, skiing and winter tips
2. FebruaryWeather, skiing and low-season tips
3. MarchNavruz, spring weather and tips
4. AprilSpring weather, long days and tips
5. MayWeather, holidays and travel tips
6. JuneWeather, heat, mountains and fruit season
7. JulyWeather, heat, mountains and summer fruit
8. AugustWeather, Melon Festival, grapes and mountains
9. SeptemberWeather, events and travel tips
10. OctoberWeather, cotton harvest and tips
11. NovemberWeather, crowds and what to do
12. DecemberWeather, New Year and winter tips

Uzbekistan in winter: what to do from December to February9 min read Uzbekistan in spring: what to expect from March to May8 min read Tulip season in Uzbekistan: wild tulips, blossom and where to see them5 min read Uzbekistan in summer: how to travel in the heat, June to August9 min read Uzbekistan in autumn: what to expect from September to November8 min read Weather in Uzbekistan by month: temperatures, what to wear, what to do7 min read When is the Best Time to Visit Uzbekistan? Seasons & Weather5 min read Festivals in Uzbekistan 2027: dates and how to plan a trip around them7 min read New Year in Uzbekistan 2027: where to go and how to celebrate8 min read Navruz in Uzbekistan: the sumalak night, 21 March and how to join the celebration7 min read

Cities, sights and day trips, grouped by place, with how much time each needs.

Across Uzbekistan

Sights of Uzbekistan: the main places to see, city by city12 min read The 10 Places That Actually Justify a Trip to Uzbekistan8 min read Uzbekistan’s UNESCO Sites: What’s Actually There6 min read Where to take photos in Uzbekistan: the best spots and the best light8 min read Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva at night: what to do after sunset7 min read

Samarkand City guide →

Ancient Samarkand: a City Read in Layers, from Afrasiyab to the Registan7 min read Legends of Samarkand: 11 stories and where to hear them10 min read Samarkand in 1, 2 and 3 days: how we plan it5 min read The Registan in Samarkand: history, legends and how to see it9 min read Gur-e-Amir in Samarkand: Timur’s tomb, its history and legends8 min read Bibi-Khanym Mosque in Samarkand: history, legends and how to visit8 min read Ulugh Beg Observatory in Samarkand: the sextant, the stars and how to visit7 min read Shah-i-Zinda in Samarkand: facts, legends and how to visit11 min read Imam al-Bukhari Memorial Complex near Samarkand: history and how to visit6 min read Samarkand paper: the Meros mill in Konigil, from mulberry bark to polished sheet8 min read Around Samarkand: day trips to Urgut, Konigil, Shahrisabz, Bagizagan and the Seven Lakes9 min read Samarkand sights: tickets, opening hours and how long to stay7 min read Museums of Samarkand and Bukhara: the Ambassadors’ Painting, the Ark and the emir’s palace7 min read Afrasiyab Museum, Samarkand: the ancient city and the Ambassadors’ Painting7 min read Siab Bazaar, Samarkand: what to buy and taste, and how to visit6 min read

Bukhara City guide →

Bukhara, the Open-Air Museum City: Nine Centuries in One Walk6 min read Legends of Bukhara: nine stories and where to hear them9 min read Bukharan Jews: a page in Bukhara’s history3 min read Bukhara in 1, 2 or 3 days: a local plan7 min read The Ark of Bukhara: history, legends and how to visit the fortress8 min read Poi Kalyan in Bukhara: the Kalyan minaret, mosque and Mir-i-Arab, with facts and legends9 min read Lyabi-Hauz and Chor Minor: Bukhara’s pond square and the gatehouse with four towers8 min read The Samanid Mausoleum and Bolo-Hauz: Bukhara beyond the old centre8 min read Around Bukhara: day trips to the emir’s palace, Bahauddin, Chor-Bakr, Gijduvan and Paykend8 min read Bukhara and Khiva sights: tickets, opening hours and how long to stay11 min read The trading domes of Bukhara: Toki Sarrafon, Toki Telpak Furushon, Toki Zargaron and Tim Abdullah Khan6 min read Sitorai Mohi-Hosa, Bukhara: the last emir’s summer palace and its museum4 min read

Khiva City guide →

Khiva: the Old Town That Is Younger Than It Looks6 min read Legends of Khiva: eight stories and where to hear them9 min read Khiva in 1 or 2 days: a local plan9 min read Itchan Kala, Khiva: history, legends and how to see the walled town15 min read Kalta-Minor and Islam Khoja: the two minarets of Khiva9 min read Arda Khiva: the new evening quarter of Khiva, for travellers and MICE groups8 min read Around Khiva: day trips to Dishan Kala, the desert fortresses, Hazarasp, Urgench and Nukus8 min read Kunya-Ark and Tash-Hauli, Khiva: the khans’ citadel and palace in Itchan Kala7 min read

Tashkent City guide →

Tashkent in 1 or 2 days: Hazrati Imam, Chorsu, the metro and the way on to Samarkand9 min read Tashkent in 3 days or more: what to see when you have time9 min read Evening Tashkent: where to go and what to see after dark8 min read The Tashkent metro: an underground museum, station by station10 min read Tashkent modernism: the UNESCO-listed buildings and a one-day route10 min read The Center of Islamic Civilization in Tashkent: what to see and how to plan your visit6 min read Tashkent museums: what to see, how long to stay and when they open8 min read Day trips from Tashkent: mountains, the Solar Furnace, Samarkand and beyond8 min read Tashkent with kids: where to go and what to see7 min read Chorsu Bazaar, Tashkent: the dome, the sections, what to try and how to get there5 min read

Shahrisabz City guide →

Shahrisabz from Samarkand: the road over the pass, the sights, the day5 min read Ak-Saray: the ruined gate of Timur’s White Palace in Shahrisabz7 min read

Fergana Valley City guide →

Fergana Valley: silk, ceramics and how to get there7 min read Margilan silk: Yodgorlik factory, from cocoon to ikat9 min read Rishtan ceramics: ishkor glaze, patterns and how to buy9 min read Kokand: what to see in the city of the khans9 min read Akhsikent: the ancient capital of Fergana on the Syr Darya7 min read Andijan and Namangan: what to see in the east of the Fergana Valley8 min read

Karakalpakstan and Nukus City guide →

Karakalpakstan: Nukus, the Aral Sea and the desert fortresses — a travel guide8 min read The Savitsky Museum in Nukus: the avant-garde in the desert8 min read Khorezm’s desert fortresses: Ayaz-Kala, Toprak-Kala and the oasis of fifty fortresses8 min read The Sea That Left: A Guide to the Aral6 min read

Termez and Surkhandarya City guide →

Termez and Surkhandarya: a guide to Uzbekistan’s Buddhist south10 min read Baysun: mountains, villages and a UNESCO cultural space6 min read

Mountains and nature

Mountains near Tashkent: Chimgan, Amirsoy, Beldersay and Charvak6 min read Holidays in Uzbekistan: mountains, lakes, Charvak and a break from sightseeing10 min read Chimgan and Charvak in a day from Tashkent: how to plan it7 min read Amirsoy: the mountain resort near Tashkent in winter and summer7 min read Hiking in Uzbekistan: where to walk, when, and how7 min read Cable cars in Uzbekistan: Amirsoy, Beldersay, Zaamin, Miraki and the new line in Samarkand5 min read Aydarkul lake and a night in a yurt camp: what to expect5 min read Nurata: the holy spring, Alexander’s fortress and suzani on the way to Aydarkul7 min read Sarmysh Gorge petroglyphs near Navoi, and what to see on the way8 min read Zaamin: a national park in the Turkestan Range6 min read Wellness and rest in Uzbekistan: mountain resorts, sanatoriums and quiet places7 min read Birds and nature reserves of Uzbekistan: where to watch wildlife8 min read

Neighbouring countries

Central Asia tours: combining Uzbekistan with Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan6 min read Tajikistan travel guide: Khujand, Penjikent, the Fann Mountains and the Pamirs from Uzbekistan8 min read Turkestan from Tashkent: the Khoja Ahmed Yasawi mausoleum and around8 min read Aisha Bibi mausoleum near Taraz: the legend and the terracotta tomb8 min read A Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan loop from Tashkent: Turkestan to Issyk-Kul, Charyn and Almaty8 min read Kyrgyzstan in summer from Uzbekistan: Song-Kul, Tash Rabat, Issyk-Kul and yurt camps7 min read Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan or Kyrgyzstan: where to go in Central Asia8 min read

Ready itineraries for 7, 10 and 14 days, trains and roads between cities, and how to travel.

Uzbekistan in 5 days: Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara by fast train8 min read Uzbekistan in 7 days: Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva6 min read Uzbekistan in 10 days: Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva at an easy pace6 min read Uzbekistan itinerary for 14 days: 2 weeks from the Fergana Valley to Khiva8 min read Samarkand, Bukhara or Khiva: which one to choose7 min read Best Tours of Uzbekistan: How to Choose Yours9 min read Silk Road tours in Uzbekistan: what a Silk Road trip looks like today5 min read Tashkent to Samarkand: train, car or day tour6 min read Samarkand to Bukhara: train, car and how long it takes7 min read Tashkent to Khiva: plane, train or car6 min read Khiva to Bukhara (and back): train, car and what to see on the way6 min read Uzbekistan by car with a driver: a road trip along the Silk Road10 min read Trains in Uzbekistan: Afrosiyob, Sharq, the new Khiva train, tickets and boarding5 min read The Mat in the Compartment: a Weekend Yoga Retreat in Khiva5 min read Uzbekistan on your own or with a local operator: an honest comparison10 min read A private guide in Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva and Tashkent: what you get and how to book5 min read

Visas, registration, money, phones, safety and what to wear: what to sort out before the trip.

Uzbekistan travel tips: what to know before you go7 min read Is Uzbekistan worth visiting? An honest answer from locals5 min read Uzbekistan: expectations vs reality8 min read Do You Need a Visa for Uzbekistan? A Complete Guide for Tourists4 min read Uzbekistan Visa Support for Tourists: A Complete Guide to the Letter of Invitation7 min read Registration and customs in Uzbekistan: what travellers need to know5 min read Flights to Uzbekistan: how to get from Europe, the USA & the UAE4 min read How to get to Uzbekistan: flights, hubs, trains and land borders9 min read Arriving at Tashkent airport: terminals, taxis, money, SIM cards and your first evening8 min read Domestic flights in Uzbekistan: when we fly and what we arrange6 min read Getting around Uzbek cities: transfers, walks and the metro7 min read A layover in Tashkent: the city in one day between flights7 min read How much does a trip to Uzbekistan cost? A 1-week budget4 min read Cards, cash and tipping in Uzbekistan3 min read Where to Exchange Foreign Currency in Uzbekistan: USD, Euro, CNY3 min read Bringing a phone to Uzbekistan: IMEI registration explained5 min read SIM card and internet in Uzbekistan: a local SIM or eSIM for tourists6 min read Useful apps for Uzbekistan: taxis, maps, trains, delivery, plus sockets and the time zone5 min read Where to Stay in Uzbekistan: Hotels, Hostels, Guesthouses5 min read Where to stay in Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva: areas and types of hotels9 min read Safety and health in Uzbekistan: advice from a Tashkent tour operator4 min read Travel insurance for Uzbekistan: is it required and what should it cover?6 min read What to wear and how to behave in Uzbekistan6 min read What to pack for Uzbekistan: a packing list by season7 min read Languages of Uzbekistan: Uzbek, Russian and How to Read the Signs6 min read Uzbek words and phrases for travellers: a pocket phrasebook8 min read

Plov and other food, crafts, shrines, history and the festivals of the year.

Plov in Uzbekistan: how it differs by city, where to eat it and where to learn to cook it6 min read Uzbek food by city: what to eat in Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, Fergana and Karakalpakstan8 min read Vegetarian in Uzbekistan: what to eat and how to order7 min read Uzbek Cuisine: 10 Dishes Every Traveler Should Actually Try6 min read How to read an Uzbek menu: 30 dish names explained, beyond plov7 min read Uzbek wine: regions, wineries and tastings6 min read Navruz: Uzbekistan's New Year Is Older Than Islam and Bigger Than a Holiday6 min read What to buy in Uzbekistan: suzani, ikat, ceramics, knives and how to tell handmade8 min read Suzani: Uzbek embroidery, where to see it and how to choose7 min read Bazaars of Uzbekistan: Chorsu, Siab, Bukhara and the Fergana Valley as locals shop them8 min read Traditional Crafts of Uzbekistan: Which Town Makes What, and Where to Watch7 min read Cotton season in Uzbekistan: when it happens and how to see a field4 min read Ziyarat in Uzbekistan: Imam al-Bukhari, Bahauddin Naqshband and the shrines of Bukhara, Samarkand and Tashkent7 min read Power Places of Uzbekistan: Springs, Shrines and Their Legends7 min read A Short History of Uzbekistan in Six Things You Can Still See7 min read How to read Uzbek architecture: madrasah, mausoleum, minaret, khanaka and iwan10 min read The Timurids: what Timur and his descendants left behind, and where to see it8 min read What Was the Silk Road, and Why Does Uzbekistan Call Itself Its Heart6 min read Music of Uzbekistan: maqom, dutar, doira and where to hear it live7 min read Uzbek bread: flatbreads, the tandir oven and table customs6 min read Tea and the chaikhana: how Uzbekistan drinks its tea6 min read Uzbek ceramics: the schools of Rishtan, Gijduvan, Khorezm and Samarkand8 min read Uzbek wedding traditions: what a guest should know6 min read Uzbekistan history in 10 minutes: a timeline from Sogdiana to today8 min read The Sogdians: merchants of the Silk Road and where to see their heritage7 min read Melons and fruit season in Uzbekistan: what to eat, month by month5 min read What to eat in Uzbekistan in each season: spring, summer, autumn and winter9 min read Hammams of Bukhara and Khiva: the old bathhouses you can still visit4 min read Uzbek sweets: halva, navat, parvarda, chak-chak and what to bring home6 min read 30 interesting facts about Uzbekistan, from nature to plov13 min read Amir Timur (Tamerlane): his life, his capital and where to see his legacy7 min read Great scientists of Uzbekistan: al-Khwarizmi, al-Biruni, Ibn Sina, Ulugh Beg and where to see their traces8 min read Uzbek ikat: khan-atlas, adras and velvet, what the patterns mean and how to buy7 min read Uzbek crafts in wood, metal and gold: Khiva carving, Bukhara copper, Chust knives6 min read Symbols in Uzbek ornament: how to read tiles, suzani, ikat and carved doors6 min read Alisher Navoi: the poet behind every Navoi street, and where to find him in Uzbekistan6 min read

Travelling from Europe, the Americas, Australia or Russia, with kids, solo or at an easy pace, and for travel agencies.

Uzbekistan tours from Europe: flights from the UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain, entry and money6 min read Uzbekistan tours from Germany, Austria and Switzerland: flights, entry and the best weeks of 20279 min read Uzbekistan tours from Switzerland: visa-free entry, flights from Zurich and Geneva and the best weeks of 202711 min read Uzbekistan tours from Austria: entry, flights from Vienna and the best weeks of 20279 min read Uzbekistan tours from France: the Paris flight, visa-free entry and Samarkand’s French archaeologists8 min read Uzbekistan tours from the Netherlands and Belgium: visa-free entry, flights from Amsterdam and Brussels and the best weeks of 20279 min read Uzbekistan tours from Sweden and Finland: visa-free entry, flights from Stockholm and Helsinki and the best weeks of 20279 min read Uzbekistan tours from Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia: visa-free entry, flights from Riga, Vilnius and Tallinn and the best weeks of 20278 min read Uzbekistan tours from Czechia, Slovakia and Hungary: visa-free entry, flights from Prague and Budapest and the best weeks of 202710 min read Uzbekistan tours from Italy: the Milan flight, visa-free entry and the Polos in Bukhara9 min read Uzbekistan tours from the UK: the Heathrow flight, visa-free entry and Ulugh Beg in Oxford10 min read Uzbekistan tours from Spain: Clavijo’s Samarkand, flights, visa-free entry and the best weeks of 20278 min read Uzbekistan tours from Portugal: tiles of Samarkand and Khiva, flights from Lisbon and Porto, visa-free entry and 2027 holidays8 min read Uzbekistan tours from Poland: the Warsaw flight, visa-free entry and Ulugh Beg in Hevelius’s Gdańsk9 min read Uzbekistan tours from the USA and Canada: visa-free entry, flights and planning7 min read Uzbekistan tours from Australia: flights, entry, seasons and how many days6 min read Uzbekistan tours from Brazil and South America: visa, flights and the best months7 min read Uzbekistan tours from Russia: flights from Moscow and other cities, entry and money6 min read Uzbekistan tours from Kazakhstan: flights from Almaty and Astana, the train, the border and entry6 min read Uzbekistan tours from Turkey: flights, visa-free entry, Navoi and Ulugh Beg9 min read Uzbekistan tours from China: flights, visa-free entry and the road of Xuanzang8 min read Uzbekistan tours from Japan: the Narita flight, visa-free entry and the Buddhist Silk Road7 min read Uzbekistan tours from South Korea: flights from Seoul, visa-free entry and the ambassadors of Afrasiyab8 min read Uzbekistan tours from Malaysia and Indonesia: the Kuala Lumpur flight, 30 days visa-free and the land of al-Bukhari10 min read Uzbekistan tours from Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam: flights, visas and the road of Xuanzang10 min read Uzbekistan tours from the UAE and the Gulf: four hours from Dubai, 30 days visa-free, Samarkand in five days10 min read Uzbekistan tours from Israel: 30 days without a visa, a nonstop flight from Tel Aviv and the best weeks of 20278 min read Uzbekistan with kids: season, food, trains and places they will love6 min read Uzbekistan for solo travellers, including women travelling alone7 min read Uzbekistan for older travellers: pace, trains, hotels6 min read Accessible travel in Uzbekistan: an honest guide for limited mobility6 min read Honeymoon in Uzbekistan: sunsets in Khiva, a night in a yurt and dinner facing the Registan8 min read Working with a DMC in Uzbekistan: a guide for travel agencies6 min read Corporate events in Uzbekistan: how to plan an incentive, a conference or a team off-site8 min read