Samarkand
Save29 hand-picked places in 9 lists. Tick the categories you want to see on the map.
Only have a day? See 2 ready-made day plans ↓10 places on the map
Top 10
- 1
Iconic square framed by three tiled madrasahs
- Tip: Go early
- Tip: At night
2 tips
- See it again at night when lit
- Climb the minaret for extra fee if available
📷 Photos
- 2
Tomb of Timur and his descendants under a ribbed turquoise dome
- Tip: Go early
2 tips
- Entry ticket needed
- Beautiful gilded interior
📷 Photos
- 3
Monumental Timurid mosque with a giant blue dome
- Tip: Sunset
3 tips
- Partly restored, large ruins remain
- Great at sunset
- Next to Siab Bazaar
📷 Photos
- 4
Avenue of tombs with the finest tilework in Central Asia
- Tip: Dress code
2 tips
- Allow 1 hour
- Photograph the blue alley
📷 Photos
- 5
Lively bazaar selling bread, dried fruits and spices
- Tip: Go early
2 tips
- Try the Samarkand bread
- Bargain politely
📷 Photos
- 6
Remains of the 15th century observatory and its museum
3 tips
- See the underground sextant arc
- Small museum onsite
- Allow 45 minutes
📷 Photos
- 7
Museum with ancient Sogdian murals found on the Afrasiab site
3 tips
- Look for the 7th century wall paintings
- Small museum, 45 minutes
- Combine with the observatory
📷 Photos
- 8
Hilltop mosque with a carved wooden portal near Siab
3 tips
- Short walk from Shah-i-Zinda
- Good views over the city
- Free entry
📷 Photos
- 9
Pilgrimage complex honouring the hadith scholar Imam al-Bukhari
- Tip: Dress code
2 tips
- About 25 km northeast, hire a taxi
- Allow 1 hour
📷 Photos
- 10
Revered tomb attributed to the prophet Daniel on a hill outside the centre
3 tips
- Take a taxi
- Notice the very long tomb
- Quiet and spiritual
📷 Photos
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Before you go: Samarkand tips
Transportation
- Take the Afrosiyob train: High-speed Afrosiyob trains link Samarkand with Tashkent and Bukhara; book on the Uzbekistan Railways site as seats sell out.
- Use Yandex Go for taxis: The Yandex Go app shows fares upfront and avoids haggling with street taxi drivers.
- Walk between monuments: The Registan, Bibi-Khanym Mosque, Siab Bazaar and Shah-i-Zinda are linked by a pleasant pedestrian route.
Security
- Watch for fake guides: Men offering rooftop access or special tours at the Registan may expect payment; agree terms first or politely decline.
- Carry your registration slips: Hotels register foreign guests; keep the slips in case officials ask for them when you leave.
- Check taxi meters and fares: Street taxis may overcharge tourists, so confirm the price before the ride or use an app.
Saving
- Eat plov at lunch: Plov centres serve this rice and meat dish mainly at midday; it is filling, cheap and a local staple.
- Change money at banks: Use banks or official exchange points rather than street changers for fair rates in som.
- Buy a combined ticket if offered: Check at the Registan for combined tickets that may cover several madrasas at once.
Weather/Clothing
- Avoid peak summer heat: July and August are very hot and dry; sightsee early and late and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Visit in spring or autumn: April to May and September to October bring pleasant temperatures ideal for walking.
- Pack warm clothes for winter: Winters can be cold with occasional snow, so bring a warm coat and layers.
Cultural
- Dress modestly at mosques: Cover shoulders and knees, and women should carry a scarf for active religious sites like Shah-i-Zinda.
- Break bread with respect: Non bread is treated with respect; never place it upside down or throw it away.
- Accept tea hospitality: Green tea is offered everywhere; hosts pour small amounts and refill often as a sign of care.
Local Hacks
- See the Registan at night: The square is lit up in the evening and sometimes hosts light shows, offering a different view.
- Visit the paper workshop at Konigil: The Meros paper mill near Samarkand makes traditional silk paper using old techniques.
- Shop Siab Bazaar in the morning: Go early to see locals buying dried fruit, nuts and fresh bread at their best.
1-day itineraries in Samarkand
Only have a day? Each one keeps you in one area, from morning to late afternoon, with lunch nearby.
Day 1 of 2
Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum and around
🕘 9:30–17:15📍 7 stops
- 1Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum
- 2Rukhabad Mausoleum
- 3Ulugh Beg Madrasah
- 4Registan
- 5Siab Bazaar
- and 2 more
Day 2 of 2
Shah-i-Zinda and around
🕘 9:30–17:30📍 5 stops
- 1Shah-i-Zinda
- 2Hazrat Khizr Mosque
- 3Afrasiab Museum
- 4Ulugh Beg Observatory
- 5Mausoleum of Prophet Daniyar