What to see in Uzbekistan: 7 must-sees
Discover what to see in Uzbekistan: 7 must-see destinations, from Samarkand to Bukhara. Predominantly UNESCO heritage and natural; each entry includes the best time to visit and the link to its official source.
UNESCO Heritage(4)
Walk Samarkand and discover Registan Square, ringed by madrasas with minarets that defined Central Asian architecture. Tour the city inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001 — an exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition and to a vanished civilisation. Along its streets you will understand why its history, architecture and culture have inspired travelers for centuries.
Walk among the domes of Bukhara — a metropolis of 2,500 years where the Kalyan minaret still sets the pace of the old town. Cross the covered bazaars beside the Lyab-i Hauz square and enter madrasas keeping century-old tiles. UNESCO inscribed the historic center in 2001 for its exceptional value as a testimony to a vanished civilisation. Every portal, caravanserai and mausoleum tells a different stretch of the Silk Road.
Stop in the walled city where craftsmanship, the mosque and history create a fairy-tale landscape. UNESCO 2000, walled city. Take in the site declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where history, architecture and culture create a landscape that has inspired travelers for centuries. UNESCO experts have recognized it for its exceptional value. This site stands as an exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a vanished civilisation.
Walk Registan Square, the heart of old Samarkand and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001. Three madrasas ring it: Ulugh Beg, Sher-Dor and Tilya-Kori, with facades of turquoise tiles and portals of geometric mosaics. Walk their courtyards, look at the tigers of the Sher-Dor portal and the golden dome of Tilya-Kori. At dusk, the facades change tone and the square lights up.
Natural(2)
Behold the 'red sand' of the Kyzylkum — the desert Uzbeks crossed by the silk routes between Bukhara and Samarkand. Sleep in a traditional felt yurt, try tea beside the fire and listen to the songs of Karakalpak herders beneath a starlit sky. Then head to Lake Aydarkul, where turquoise water cuts the horizon of dunes, and you can swim or spot migratory birds. From Navoi, the camels and the 4x4s carry you to camps where a night in the sand is the true reward of the trip.
Admire the Samarkand valley from above after climbing the 1,200 steps leading to the cave of Hazrat Daud — the prophet David, according to local tradition. The stone path winds uphill, and pilgrims from all over Uzbekistan walk it daily to pray in the grotto, where some leave offerings and ask for health or protection. From the cave mouth a broad panorama over the valley opens — especially clear at sunset. It is wise to bring water and comfortable shoes, as the climb is demanding and in summer the sun beats hard on the slope.
City(1)
Visit Tashkent, Uzbekistan's capital, where Soviet facades coexist with blue domes and bazaars packed with spices and tandoor bread. Walk the Chorsu Bazaar beneath its enormous dome, ride the metro with stations decorated like museums, and stroll Amir Timur Square among fountains and poplars. A few kilometers out begins the steppe that anticipates the Kyzylkum Desert. Try plov at a chaikhana over green tea and see how restored mosques and brutalist blocks share the same street.
New destinations and itineraries, by email
Subscribe to receive newly published destinations and itineraries, plus seasonal travel ideas. One email, only when there is news.
Anything to correct or add about Uzbekistan?
If you have spotted incorrect or outdated information, or want to suggest additional details about destinations in Uzbekistan, leave us your comment. We review every one personally.