Uzbekistan Travel Guide: The Ultimate 10-Day Itinerary

Uzbekistan Travel Itinerary

This undiscovered gem of Central Asia has a rich history due to its location on the legendary Silk Road. The great blend of the old and the new is a pleasant touch to the country. “But why has Uzbekistan been so under the radar?” The new president heavily invested in tourism by building a high-speed railway system and by making the visas much cheaper or free. One to two weeks is enough time to travel around Uzbekistan.

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Day 1: Tashkent

Tashkent is the largest city in Central Asia. This modern capital is the starting point of your Uzbekistan travel itinerary because of its well-connected international airport.

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Tashkent is very different from others and doesn’t have much to offer apart from visiting the Bazaar and the picturesque Metro stations.

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Day 2 – 4: Samarkand – Uzbekistan Travel Favorite

Step into the wonderful city of colorful mosques, minarets, mausoleums, and the traditional market – Samarkand is the must-see city of Uzbekistan. Spend three days visiting all its sites and having a chat with the welcoming locals.

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Tashkent to Samarkand
The high-speed train from Tashkent to Samarkand only takes two hours and is very convenient. 

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Day 5 – 7: Bukhara

The walkable city of Bukhara might be the most picturesque city of Uzbekistan. The labyrinth of narrow quiet streets and green parks make it a rather pleasant place to spend a couple of days. Visit the Ark and Po-i Kalyan Complex, two architectural masterpieces.

Samarkand to Bukhara
Jump on the high-speed train in Samarkand and arrive in Bukhara under 2 hours. 

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Day 7 – 9: Khiva

Khiva, the open-air museum in the desert, was the first place in Uzbekistan to get a UNESCO heritage listing. Taste the delicious food of this region and wander around in this old, mud-brick-walled, village that feels like walking in an actual movie scene. 

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Bukhara to Khiva
From all the destinations on your Uzbekistan travel itinerary, Khiva is certainly the hardest to get to. From Bukhara, it is best to take the train (5h) or taxi (7h). 

Day 10: Tashkent

Finally, spend the last day of your time in Uzbekistan making your way to Tashkent to catch your international flight back home with a backpack filled with new experiences. You can either take the night train from Khiva (16.5 h) or fly back from Urgench to Tashkent. (1.5h)

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Costs of traveling in Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan is a very affordable country to travel around and can easily be done on your own. Transportation and accommodation are the biggest expenses while traveling in Uzbekistan. 

Expect to travel in Uzbekistan for 25 – 45 USD per person on a budget and 60 – 100 USD when choosing for a bit more comfort in tours and hotels.

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Getting cash in Uzbekistan

Each city has a handful of good working ATM’s. Some dispense Uzbek Sum and other US Dollars. Maestro and Visa cards are widely accepted whereas Mastercard is limited. 

Food in Uzbekistan 

The large markets with fresh fruits, vegetables, and loaves of bread represent the tasty meals of the food in Uzbekistan. Expect delicious salads, soups, bread, plov, dumplings and so much more. Even for vegetarians, it isn’t too difficult to find great meat-less meals like pumpkin dumplings (Manti). 

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How to get around Uzbekistan

A commonly misunderstood fact is that you would have to see Uzbekistan with a tour company – wrong! Uzbekistan’s rail network is a super convenient, affordable and overall great way to get around the country. The fast-trains are from the same quality as Italy or another European country. 

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All major cities are connected with a domestic or international airport and have regularly scheduled flights. Right now, we would only advise taking a flight to go back from Khiva to Tashkent because the train between the other cities is a much better way of traveling.

Best time to travel in Uzbekistan

It is best to visit Uzbekistan in their spring (April to June) and autumn (September – October) when the weather comfortably warm and dry. In general, it is recommended skipping the summer months June to August however our visit late August was fine if we would stay out of the sun in the afternoon. 

What to wear in Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan is a modern country without strict rules on how women should dress. Although the majority of the country is Muslim, headscarves are not required at all, and you will see women wearing whatever they feel comfortable with, even ripped jeans or skirts. Expect quite a few selfie questions as western tourists are still new and exciting. 

Dress in a way that is respectful to everyone. Of course, at some religious sites, you are required to cover yourself so always take an extra scarf with you while traveling in Uzbekistan. 

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Safety in Uzbekistan

Besides corruption happening a few years ago, the crime rate in Uzbekistan is very low making it a safe country to travel in. In contrast to a city trip to Europe, you don’t have to pay attention to pickpockets. The Uzbek people are respectful and couples nor solo travelers have to worry in this beautiful country.

Visa in Uzbekistan

Getting your visa for Uzbekistan has become a piece of cake for most nationalities due to changes in 2018. E-visas can now be acquired and to some countries the visa is free.