Samarkand Travel Guide

One of the oldest cities in the world and the jewel of the Silk Road. Samarkand was the capital of Amir Timur: the Registan square with its three madrasahs, the Gur-e-Amir mausoleum, the Bibi-Khanym mosque and the Shah-i-Zinda necropolis belong to a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Regional centre: Samarkand
Area: 16,400 km²
Population: 3,900,000
UNESCO World Heritage Sites: 1

Top places to visit in Samarkand

Registan — Samarkand
Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis — Samarkand
Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum — Samarkand
Registan Night Light Show — Samarkand
Bibi-Khanym Mosque — Samarkand
Samarkand Old City Walking Tour — Samarkand
Samarkand Plov Cooking Class — Samarkand
Samarkand Bread Baking Experience — Samarkand
Konigil Paper Mill — Samarkand
Ulugbek Observatory — Samarkand
Urgut Sunday Bazaar — Urgut
Siyob Bazaar — Samarkand
Samarkand Silk Road Museum — Samarkand
Samarkand Silk and Gold Embroidery Exhibition — Samarkand
Khovrenko Winery — Samarkand
Afrosiab Museum — Samarkand
Hazrat Khizr Mosque — Samarkand
Zarafshan Valley Trekking — Samarkand
Khoja Abdi Darun Mausoleum — Samarkand
Ishratkhona Mausoleum — Samarkand

Plan your trip to Samarkand

When is the best time to visit Samarkand?

April–May and September–October bring mild, sunny days for walking between the monuments. July and August are hot, often above 35 °C; winter is cold but quiet and cheaper.

How do I get to Samarkand?

High-speed Afrosiyob trains run from Tashkent in about two hours and from Bukhara in about one and a half to two. Samarkand airport has flights from Tashkent and a number of international routes.

How many days do I need in Samarkand?

Two full days cover the main monuments. A third day lets you add the Ulugbek observatory, the Siab bazaar, the Konigil paper mill or a day trip to Shakhrisabz.

Tours in Samarkand

Samarkand Marathon Trip — Samarkand
Samarkand Tour — Samarkand
Samarkand: Two-Day Tour by Sharq Train — Samarkand
Samarkand: Two-Day Bus Tour with Hotel Stay — Samarkand
New Year in Samarkand: Afrosiyob Train Tour — Samarkand
New Year in Samarkand: Sharq Train Tour — Samarkand
New Year in Samarkand: Bus Tour — Samarkand
Samarkand in One Day: 7 Sights and Imam al-Bukhari Complex — Samarkand
Hazrat Daud Cave and Imam al-Bukhari — Samarkand
Samarkand and Imam al-Bukhari: One-Day Tour — Samarkand

Upcoming events in Samarkand

Nodir Devonbegi Madrasah — 1 Feb 2026, Nodir Devonbegi Madrasah
Mirzo Ulugbek Museum Complex — 1 Feb 2026, Mirzo Ulugbek Observatory Museum Complex
Amir Temur's Mausoleum (Gur-i Amir) — 1 Feb 2026, Amir Temur's Mausoleum
Bibikhanim Mausoleum — 1 Feb 2026, Bibikhanim Mausoleum
State Museum of the History of Culture of Uzbekistan — 1 Feb 2026, State Museum of the History of Culture of Uzbekistan
Museum of the History of Samarkand City "Afrosiab" — 1 Feb 2026, Museum of the History of Samarkand and the City of Afrosiab
Mahmudhoja Behbudi House-Museum — 1 Feb 2026, Mahmudhoja Behbudi House-Museum
Sadriddin Ayni House-Museum — 1 Feb 2026, Sadriddin Ayni House-Museum
Samarkand Marathon 2026 — 7 Nov 2026, Registan Square
Ummon Concert in Samarkand — 5 Dec 2026, Family Park

Where to stay in Samarkand

Registan Plaza — Samarkand