Uzbekistan Travel Guide For First Timers: Know Before You Go

Uzbekistan was my introduction to Central Asia. I spent almost three weeks in this beautiful country going along the popular tourist route of cities like Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara, while also exploring offbeat routes including Chimgan, Fergana and Nuratau Mountains. (More details on my travels further into this Uzbekistan travel guide).

More than anything, the warmth and hospitality of the Uzbek people are very close to my heart. I was also surprised to see beautiful nature in Uzbekistan which gets often overlooked on the ‘Gram by its other Central Asian siblings more famous for nature.

If you are fond of history, architecture, experiencing different cultures and the beauty of mountains and mountain lakes all in one country, Uzbekistan is the place to be!

So here is a detailed Uzbekistan travel guide on everything you need to know before you go as a first time visitor in this country.

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Uzbekistan Visa and Entry Requirements

Uzbekistan tourist visa requirements depend on your nationality and the length of your stay.

Visa-free entry

• Citizens of several countries, including many European nations, Israel, South Korea, Singapore, and Turkey, can enter Uzbekistan visa-free for up to 30 days.

Uzbekistan E-visa

• Citizens of 75 nations including India and the USA can apply for an electronic visa (e-visa) online. Single-entry, double-entry, and multiple-entry e-visas are available and cach entry allows a stay of up to 30 days. It takes 3 business days to process your e-visa and as of May 2024, it costs $20. You can apply for an e-visa on the official Uzbekistan e-visa portal.

Uzbekistan visa from an embassy or consulate

• You will need to apply for a visa from an Uzbek embassy or consulate in person if you are not eligible for a visa-free entry or e-visa.

General Uzbekistan travel requirements for an easy entry:

• A valid passport with at least six months validity remaining from your date of entry into Uzbekistan
• A completed visa application form (if required)
• One passport-sized photograph

Best Time to Visit Uzbekistan

The best time to visit Uzbekistan is during the spring (April to early June) and autumn (September to early November) seasons.

I visited during May and while different cities had slightly different conditions, overall the weather was very pleasant and mild throughout the country (apart from a couple of hot days in Tashkent reaching 35 degrees Celcius). During the night, it often got a little chilly in some places so I would recommend carrying a light jacket!

Spring (April to Early June)

• Weather: Mild and pleasant temperatures ranging from 15°C to 30°C.
• Scenery: The landscape is lush and green, with blooming flowers everywhere.
• Events: Navruz (Persian New Year) celebrations in March, marking the arrival of spring, with various cultural festivities and events.

Autumn (September to Early November)

• Weather: Comfortable temperatures ranging from 20°C to 25°C during the day, cooler in the evenings.
• Scenery: The harvest season with ripe fruits everywhere in the markets. The vibrant autumn foliage also makes it a picturesque time to visit.

The summer season in Uzbekistan (June to August) is usually very hot, with temperatures often exceeding 40°C, especially in desert areas around Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva. The intense heat may also not be ideal for outdoor activities and sightseeing. Trust this Uzbekistan travel guide and avoid summer travel in Uzbekistan.

The winter season in Uzbekistan (December to February) sees freezing temperatures, with snow common in most areas of the country including Tashkent, Bukhara, Samarkand, and of course the mountains.

Money and Currency in Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan Currency

Uzbekistan’s official currency is the Uzbekistani Som (UZS). The banknotes denominations start from 1,000 som and go up to 100,000 som.

Coins are less commonly used, but can still be found. I only came across denominations of 200, 500 and 1,000 som.

Usually, smaller amounts are waived off and rounded up to the closest 1,000. While travelling on public transport, you might be tendered the exact change.

Uzbekistan travel guide tip: Don’t expect to be given your 500 som change back from taxi drivers, restaurants, shops etc.

ATMs in Uzbekistan

ATMs are widely available in all cities including Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva. They usually dispense cash in local currency.

MasterCard and Visa both work perfectly fine to dispense cash and pay in shops and online like for taxi apps, railway tickets, etc. I used my Niyo Global DCB Visa Debit Card several times and faced no issues.

Exchanging Money in Uzbekistan

USD is the preferred currency to exchange in Uzbekistan for the best rates. I was carrying Euros and paid more in commission everywhere than I would’ve with USD. Trust my Uzbekistan travel guide and if you can, bring dollars!

As of May 2024, here is the exchange rate for Uzbeki Som:

• USD: 12,000 UZS
• EUR: 13,000 UZS
• INR: 150 UZS

To exchange foreign currency,

• Airports are surprisingly good with their prices. So you should be okay converting some money as soon as you land.
• Banks have the worst fees. I only exchanged 100 EUR at a bank once and paid 5 EUR in commission.
• Some hotels and hostels also offer currency exchange and these can be better than bank rates.
• Bazars or “Dehqon Bozori” (farmer’s markets) like Chorsu Bazar in Tashkent and Siyob Bazar in Samarkand give you the best rates in my opinion. There are sellers everywhere in the street and you can even negotiate the prices. This is where I mostly exchanged from and usually paid 3 EUR in commission per 100 euros. US Dollars are far better with just $1.5-2 commission.

Best SIM Card in Uzbekistan

The most SIM Cards in Uzbekistan are U Cell, Uztelecom and Beeline. All three can be found at the airport, but prices might be slightly higher than in the city.

I bought a U Cell sim card for 40,000 som ($3) with 24 GB data + 12 GB for Instagram and Facebook and unlimited local calls which was more than enough for 3 weeks.

U Cell mostly worked fine throughout the country. But someone I met in Tashkent and travelled with was carrying Uztelecom, which definitely had better coverage. Also, in the Hayat village in the Nuratau Mountains, my hosts had Uztelecom and it was the only mobile operator that worked in that remote area.

Uzbekistan travel guide tip: Opt for Uztelecom for wider coverage.

Language in Uzbekistan

In Uzbekistan, the official language is Uzbek, which is spoken by the majority of the population. Uzbek is a Turkic language written in the Latin script. Cyrillic is also used in some areas, but you will find a rapid shift from Cyrillic to Latin everywhere to remove the “post-Soviet” identity that is still put on Central Asian countries.

Most people also speak Russian. Tajik can also be heard by ethnic Tajiks, especially in the Bukhara and Samarkand regions. My hosts in Nuratau spoke Tajik.

Finding English-speaking locals everywhere might not be easy, so having Russian and Uzbek downloaded on your Google Translate app is best. However, in most tourist establishments like hotels, restaurants and souvenir shops, you can find people speaking English.

Public signs, menus, and information are often bilingual, in Uzbek and Russian. In tourist areas, signs in English are also common.

Uzbekistan travel guide top tip: You might even be approached randomly by young kids learning English, looking to practice their fluency with English speaking tourists. Don’t be shy, it’s a great chance to exchange ideas and make local friends!

Taxis in Uzbekistan

In most cities like Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Fergana region etc, Yandex Go is your best friend for taxis. This is the Uber of Uzbekistan and is always cheaper than local taxis. However, I found the prices to be quite inflated in Bukhara for some reason.

For the most part, expect to pay fewer than 2 dollars for your taxi rides in any city.

Public Transport in Uzbekistan

Public transport in Uzbekistan includes various modes such as buses, trolleybuses, trams, and the metro, primarily in urban areas. The public transportation system also varies depending on the city you’re in. This Uzbekistan travel guide will give you an overview of the main public transportation options:

Buses

Most cities in Uzbekistan have an extensive network of city buses that are the backbone of public transport. The buses are relatively cheap and cover most parts of the cities. A one-way ticket in most cities usually costs 2,000 som regardless of how far you want to go. The schedule, bus route etc can be easily found through the public transport option on the Yandex Navigation and Maps app.

Trams

Tashkent used to have a comprehensive tram network, but it has been largely phased out in favour of buses and the metro. However, Samarkand is the only Uzbek city that still operates its tram service. There are only two routes for the tram in Samarkand, which can be found on the Yandex app.

Metro

The Tashkent Metro is a highlight of the public transport system in Uzbekistan, and the only city with the metro. Opened in 1977, it was the first metro system in Central Asia. The metro stations in Tashkent also flaunt beautiful Soviet-era art and architecture.

Tashkent metro is well connected throughout the city, though most trains are non-AC, with only a few, newer ones that come with AC. One way ticket costs 2,000 soms and routes can be found on the Yandex Maps app.

Marshrutkas

These are shared minibuses or vans that mostly operate in smaller cities like Fergana where buses or metros aren’t very common. They run on fixed routes but do not have fixed schedules. They only run once they have enough passengers so you might have to wait a bit.

Inter-City Travel in Uzbekistan

Getting around Uzbekistan is a breeze. The country has a well-developed transportation system, with a mix of modern and traditional transportation options. Trust this Uzbekistan travel guide, you don’t need private transport in this country!

Train

Uzbekistan has an extensive rail network connecting various cities, including most tourist towns. Trains were the only way I went around Uzbekistan between cities.

There are three different types of trains in Uzbekistan: Afrosiyob (high-speed, Spanish-made trains), Sharq (day trains) and Sleeper (longer distances, overnight trains).

Regardless of which kind you choose, I found trains in Uzbekistan to be super comfortable and also a scenic way to travel.

You will want to book your train tickets at least 2 to 3 days in advance. This can be done either at a train station, through the Uzbekistan Railways website, or better yet the Uzrailwayticket mobile app. Both website and app have the option to pay via Visa and MasterCard.

Uzbekistan travel guide tip: Some people reported issues booking tickets online and that the payment did not go through for them without being connected to a Uzbekistan server through a VPN.

Bus

While I personally did not travel intercity via buses, I found out retrospectively for this Uzbekistan travel guide that there is decent bus connectivity across major tourist cities in Uzbekistan. These are also a better option if you are a spontaneous traveller who does not make a booking till the very last minute!

You can check for the bus schedule and buy tickets online through the Avto Ticket website. For routes not listed online on the website, it is best to reach the bus station (Avto Vozkali) in person and enquire.

Shared Taxi

In places where both trains and buses do not ply, there is the third option of a shared taxi or marshrutka as it is locally known. These are the lifeline of transportation in places like the Fergana region and Nuratau mountains.

These shared taxis can be either regular cars or minivans like the Uzbekistan-made Damas. Prices usually range between $1.5 to $4 depending on the distance and terrain.

Budget Travel in Uzbekistan

Budget travel in Uzbekistan is definitely possible. That is how this Uzbekistan travel guide came into being!

To give you an idea, I spent just $480 (excluding flights) through 18 days in Uzbekistan. That comes to as little as $26.5 per day including everything: food, transport, accommodation, sightseeing and attractions, the odd snacks, and other expenses like money exchange commission, sim card, emergency medication etc.

Here are this Uzbekistan travel guide’s best hacks to make sure your Uzbekistan trip cost is a minimum:

• Stick to public transport like buses and metro, and walk as much as possible. I found Uzbekistan to be very walkable and pedestrian-friendly. Book a taxi only when truly necessary.
• Book cheap hostels with breakfast. Nowhere did I pay more than $10 for my stay.
• Eat local. On average, I paid about $2.5 per meal. Food in Uzbekistan is cheap!

Important Mobile Apps for Uzbekistan

Here are some mobile applications in this Uzbekistan travel guide that I just could not do without:

Yandex Go

This app is the equivalent of Uber in Uzbekistan. You can hail a taxi, see the estimated fare and track the driver’s location in real time. It also doubles as UberEats and you can order food online.

Yandex Maps

Google Maps does not work very efficiently in Uzbekistan. The walking routes and public transport routes are often incorrect or unavailable on Google Maps. Yandex Maps is a reliable alternative for navigation. It offers detailed maps, public transport routes and directions, information about businesses and services, offline maps and traffic updates.

Uzrailwaystickets (Uztemiryo’lyo’lovchi)

This is the official app for Uzbekistan Railways, which allows you to check train schedules, book tickets, and get updates on your train travel.

Nord VPN

NordVPN is a popular virtual private network (VPN) service. It is my preferred VPN app and it is especially useful for connecting to Uzbekistan servers in case you face issues booking your train tickets online from your home country.

Uzbekistan travel guide tip: I prefer Nord VPN because it offers over 5,000 servers in more than 60 countries, including Uzbekistan — which a lot of VPN apps do not offer.

iTicket.UZ

The iTicket.uz app is a useful tool for purchasing tickets for various events and activities in Uzbekistan, but especially for theatre performances in Tashkent to see the opera, ballet or more.

Google Translate

Google Translate is essential for translating between Uzbek, Russian, and other languages. It offers text, voice, and image translation features.

Uzbekistan travel guide tip: Make sure to download your preferred languages beforehand so you can still communicate even with limited internet connectivity.

Solo Female Travel in Uzbekistan

As a solo female traveller in Uzbekistan, I had a wonderful time where I (almost) never felt unsafe.

I found men to be quite chivalrous and respectful and maintain appropriate physical distance. And yet, they are friendly, curious and ready for a chat.

I arrived in Tashkent post midnight and took a taxi from the airport to my hostel at 1 am, without working internet and did not once feel threatened.

I also took several overnight train journeys, once in a first-class coupe with a male passenger sleeping beside me, and did not feel unsafe.

That said, it is of course important to practice general caution as a solo female traveller in Uzbekistan, as you would anywhere else. Dress modestly, trust your gut and do not be afraid to ask for help.

What to Pack for Uzbekistan

Apart from the regular packing list, here are some things specific to Uzbekistan that you will want to consider carrying according to this Uzbekistan travel guide:

• While Uzbekistan is a secular state, modest clothing is still key here. I did see the odd tourist wearing shorts and a tank top but I would recommend against it. T-shirts and tops are fine as long as they cover your shoulders. Skirts and shorts are okay if they go below your knees.
• Travel adapter (Uzbekistan uses type C and F plugs, 220V).
• Portable power bank because overnight trains do not have a charging point.
• Basic medications, especially electrolytes and pepto bysmol because for some reason, I did not find either in any pharmacy across the country.
• Portable bidets (see next section on toilets in Uzbekistan).

Toilets in Uzbekistan

Western style toilets are found in most hotels, restaurants, airports, shopping centres, trains and sometimes even public toilets across major cities in Uzbekistan.

Toilet paper is widely used and I found no issues finding toilet paper anywhere I went (even in remote areas like the Nuratau mountains where western style commodes were not available). In most public toilets, you will find the manager of the toilet sitting outside handing toilet paper for your use!

However, bidets were not as common as I would have liked. In fact, I only saw them at the airport, at my hostel in Bukhara and at the Tashkent City Park toilet and nowhere else. However, plastic wash jugs are found everywhere and seem to be the Uzbeki alternative to bidets.

Outside major cities and in many public toilets, you will need to use the squat toilet which is also found all over South and Southeast Asia. These have a plumbing system in place with a drainage and flush.

Uzbekistan travel guide tip good to know: Many traditional local homes (like the one I stayed in Hayat village in the Nuratau Mountains) still use squat toilets without a plumbing system. This means you do your business over an uncovered hole dug into the ground.

Common Phrases in Uzbekistan

Learning a few common phrases in Uzbek can greatly enhance your travel experience in Uzbekistan. People love to hear foreigners speak their language, and this can not only make travel easy but also help connect with locals.

Here are some common phrases in Uzbek to get you started on your trip to Uzbekistan:

• Hello: Salom (sa-lohm)
• Goodbye: Xayr (khayr)
• Please: Iltimos (il-tee-mohs)
• Thank you: Rahmat (rakh-maht)
• Yes: Ha (ha)
• No: Yo‘q (yok)
• Toilet: Hojatxona (hoh-jat-kho-na)
• How much?: Qancha? (qan-cha)
• Bus: Avtobus (av-toh-boos)
• Train: Poyezd (poh-yezd)
• Taxi: Taksi (tahk-see)
• Airport: Aeroport (a-e-ro-port)
• Hotel: Mehmonxona (meh-mon-kho-na)
• Water: Suv (soov)
• Tea: Choy (choy)
• Food: Ovqat (ov-kaht)
• Bill: Hisobni (hee-sob-nee)

Places to Visit in Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan is a treasure trove of historical sites, ancient cities, and beautiful natural landscapes. Here are some of the must-visit places from my Uzbekistan travel guide:

Tashkent

For a dose of urban Uzbek lifestyle, Chorsu Bazar, incredible underground metro art galleries, beautiful parks and long walks by the Ankhor Canal.

Fergana Valley

For pottery, fruits, silk and ikat weaving.

Chimgan Mountains

For a dose of stunning nature right outside Tashkent, Chorvoq Lake and the iconic Soviet Era Belderdoy ski chair lift.

Samarkand

For the iconic Registan Square, Afrosiyob settlement remains, wine tastings and the famous blue necropolis of Shah-i-Zinda.

Bukhara

For the sand brick coloured desert like old city, Chor Minor, incredible souvenir shopping and Lyab-i-Hauz.

Khiva

For the walled inner town of Khiva, Uzbekistan’s open air museum and Kalta Minor Minaret.

Nuratau Mountains

For Aydarkul Lake, hiking and experiencing rural village life and the beautiful landscapes.

Karakalpakstan

For the disappearing Aral Sea, the ship graveyard and Kyzylkum Desert.

Best Uzbekistan Tours

Lastly, while independent travel is amazing, sometimes it is worth paying for an organized tour to make things easier.

Here are my top picks for the best Uzbekistan tours to check out:

👉Day trip to Chimgan Mountains, Amirsoy & Charwak Lake from Tashkent
👉Samarkand One-Day Tour From Tashkent
👉Tajikistan Seven Lakes Day Tour from Samarkand
👉Khujand One-Day Tour from Tashkent
👉2 Days Yurt stay and Hiking in the Nurata Mountains
👉Shahrisabz Excursion From Samarkand
👉Fergana Valley Tour Day Tour from Tashkent

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