🇺🇿 Uzbekistan

The best months are April to early June and September to October. Spring brings green foothills, orchards in blossom and comfortable temperatures for walking between monuments; autumn is dry, golden and harvest-rich, with bazaars piled high with melons, grapes and pomegranates.

High summer (July and August) is fiercely hot on the plains, especially in the desert around Bukhara and Khiva, so plan sightseeing for early morning and evening. Winter is cold and can bring snow, but the great sites are quiet and atmospheric. Navruz, the spring new year on 21 March, is a lively time to be in the country.

Most first trips follow the classic triangle of Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva, starting or ending in Tashkent. Allow at least a week; ten days lets you add slower days and a desert night.

Uzbekistan has a sharply continental climate: long, dry, very hot summers, short springs and autumns, and cold winters. Rain falls mainly between late autumn and spring, and the sky is clear for much of the year.

Temperatures swing widely between day and night, particularly in the Kyzylkum Desert, so pack a warm layer even in shoulder seasons. The Fergana Valley and mountain areas east of Tashkent are greener and cooler in summer than the western desert cities.

Citizens of more than 80 countries can visit Uzbekistan without a visa for up to 30 days, including the UK, France and many other European states; US citizens have been visa-exempt for up to 30 days since 1 January 2026, and several Gulf and Arab states have been added to the list. Others can apply online through the official e-visa.gov.uz portal.

Passport validity rules vary by source and nationality (the UK asks for at least three months beyond your stay, France recommends six months from your return), so check yours carefully. All foreign visitors must be registered within three days of arrival: hotels and licensed guesthouses do this automatically through the E-mehmon system. Keep the registration slips or confirmations, as they may be checked on departure. Large sums of cash must be declared on arrival.

Rules change, so confirm the current rules for your nationality with the official source before booking. Checked October 2026.

The rail network is the backbone of travel. The high-speed Afrosiyob links Tashkent with Samarkand in roughly two to two and a half hours and runs on to Bukhara, with newer electric trains now reaching Khiva. Book on the official Uzbekistan Railways site (eticket.railway.uz): tickets open around 60 days ahead and popular departures sell out, so book a week or two in advance at least.

Uzbekistan Airways and other carriers fly domestically, useful for Nukus, Urgench (for Khiva) or the Fergana Valley. Samarkand's airport has grown quickly and now handles a range of international routes, including connections via Istanbul. Tashkent has a clean, efficient metro.

In cities, use ride-hailing apps such as Yandex Go or official taxis rather than unmarked cars. Shared taxis cover routes the trains miss. Self-driving is possible but road surfaces and driving standards are uneven.

Uzbekistan is good value by European standards. Family-run guesthouses in the old quarters of Samarkand and Bukhara offer simple, characterful rooms; there are also mid-range hotels and a handful of upmarket properties. Meals in local cafés (choyxona) are inexpensive, while restaurants with terraces facing the monuments cost more.

The biggest variable costs are high-speed train tickets (business and VIP classes cost noticeably more than economy), monument entry tickets and private drivers for day trips. Cards are increasingly accepted in hotels and larger restaurants, but carry so'm for bazaars and small cafés. Change money only at banks, official exchange booths or ATMs: black-market exchange is illegal.

Hospitality is central to Uzbek life. Greet people with Assalomu alaykum; men often place a hand on the heart when greeting. Bread (non) is treated with respect: never put it upside down or on the floor, and break it by hand rather than cutting it.

Uzbekistan is a secular, majority-Muslim country. Dress is relaxed in cities, but cover shoulders and knees at mosques, mausoleums and shrines, where women may also be asked to cover their hair. Remove shoes when entering homes and prayer areas. If invited to a home, a small gift such as sweets is welcome. Tea is poured in small amounts so it can be refilled often; this is a sign of attention, not stinginess.

The national dish is plov: rice cooked with carrots, onions, lamb and spices in a giant cauldron, traditionally a lunchtime dish. Every region claims its own version, and the plov culture of Uzbekistan is recognised by UNESCO as intangible heritage.

Look out too for samsa (flaky pastries baked in a clay oven), lagman (hand-pulled noodles), shashlik (skewered grilled meat), manti (steamed dumplings) and shurpa soup. Round non bread is a point of local pride, especially in Samarkand. Meals come with green or black tea, and summer brings exceptional melons, apricots and grapes. Vegetarian options exist but are limited outside bigger cities. Alcohol is legal and local wine and beer are sold widely.

Uzbekistan is generally a safe and welcoming country to travel in, and violent crime against visitors is rare. Watch for pickpockets in crowded bazaars and on public transport, and use licensed taxis or apps, especially at night.

You are legally required to carry your passport at all times. Do not photograph military sites, police, border installations or other sensitive buildings, and ask before photographing people. Some medicines that are legal at home are controlled here, so carry prescriptions. Same-sex relations between men are illegal and LGBT+ travellers should be discreet. Areas near the Afghan border are militarised; follow local instructions there.

Read your own government's travel advice before you go (for example the UK FCDO or the US State Department) and check it again shortly before departure.