The Silk Road, still standing
Turquoise domes, desert citadels and bazaars that have traded for a thousand years. This guide covers the four classic cities, the hotels worth booking, and what a trip really costs — with every figure dated and sourced.
Why Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan is the most rewarding easy introduction to Central Asia: compact, safe for careful travellers, and so affordable that a week among world-class monuments costs less than a long weekend in most of Europe.
The postcard city. Registan Square at sunrise is the single most beautiful sight in Central Asia.
A living old town of domes, minarets and trading domes — best explored slowly, on foot.
A walled desert city frozen in the 19th century. Small, walkable, unforgettable at dusk.
April–May and September–October are the best months: warm, dry days made for walking. Summer (June–August) reaches 35–40 °C in Bukhara and Khiva; winter is cold but quiet, and hotels are cheaper. Average July highs: Tashkent 36 °C, Samarkand 34 °C, Bukhara 37 °C (1991–2020 climate normals, Uzbekistan Hydrometeorological Service, via the WMO).
Good to know
The four facts every first-time visitor asks about — each checked on 26 October 2026.
Visa
Citizens of the EU, the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea enter visa-free for 30 days; citizens of several neighbouring states get 60–90 days. Everyone else can usually apply for a 30-day e-visa at the official portal e-visa.gov.uz — apply at least 3 working days before travel. Rules change: check the portal before booking.
Money
The currency is the Uzbekistani som (UZS). Around 11,950 UZS per US dollar in late October 2026 (mid-market reference). Cards work in larger hotels and restaurants; bazaars, taxis and small cafés are cash-only, so carry small notes.
Safety
The US State Department rates Uzbekistan Level 1 — Exercise Normal Precautions (advisory dated 26 January 2026), and the UK advises against travel only within 5 km of the Afghanistan border, except Termez. Take normal care against pickpocketing in bazaars and on the Tashkent metro.
Tourism is growing fast: Uzbekistan received 10.3 million foreign visitors in January–September 2026, up 20.4% on the same period of 2025, with tourism earnings of $5.3 billion (Tourism Committee of Uzbekistan, October 2026). Book trains and hotels early for April–May and September–October.
Guides
One honest guide per city — what to see, how long to stay, and how to get there.
The capital: Soviet metro stations, Chorsu Bazaar, and the country's best transport links. Allow 2 days.
