To visit Samarkand, on the Silk Road, is to see Uzbekistan’s most famous city: Registan Square and its three madrasas, the Bibi-Khanym Mosque, the Shah-i-Zinda necropolis and the Gur-e-Amir mausoleum, the tomb of Tamerlane, have been UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 2001. What to see in Samarkand, in what order, how many days to stay, when to come to avoid the summer furnace and which entry requirements to plan for: here are the essentials, based on official sources.
Samarkand fits into a tour with Bukhara and Khiva: see our Uzbekistan travel guide, the best time to visit Uzbekistan calendar and the map of Uzbekistan.
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Samarkand: the essentials
- UNESCO: « Samarkand – Crossroad of Cultures », inscribed in 2001 — checked on 24 October 2026 on whc.unesco.org
- Visa: UK citizens visa-free for up to 30 days; US citizens e-visa for tourism up to 30 days (visa-free over 55) — see entry requirements
- Registration: compulsory within 3 days of arrival; hotels do it for you (GOV.UK; travel.state.gov)
- Time zone: UTC+5, no daylight saving: 5 hours ahead of London and 10 hours ahead of New York in winter
- Best periods: April-May and September-October (WMO 1991-2020 normals)
What to see in Samarkand: the highlights
According to UNESCO, the city was founded in the 7th century BC as Afrasiab and had its most significant development in the Timurid period, from the 14th to the 15th century. Its main monuments include the Registan mosque and madrasas, the Bibi-Khanum Mosque, the Shah-i-Zinda compound and the Gur-Emir ensemble, as well as Ulugh-Beg’s Observatory (checked on 24 October 2026 on whc.unesco.org).
Registan Square
The heart of the Timurid empire and later the commercial, educational and ceremonial centre of the city, the Registan is framed by three madrasas: the Ulugh Beg Madrasa, from the Timurid period, then the Sher-Dor and the Tilya-Kori, built later under the Janid dynasty (Wikipedia). The courtyards house craft shops. The low light of late afternoon shows off the ceramics of the façades.
The Bibi-Khanym Mosque and Siyob Bazaar
The great Bibi-Khanym Mosque, built under Tamerlane, faces Siyob Bazaar, the largest in Samarkand: covered halls, dried fruit, spices, round breads, over more than 7 hectares (Wikipedia). This is the place to taste local produce and watch daily life.
The Shah-i-Zinda necropolis
A lane of blue-tiled mausoleums, built over the centuries along a slope north-east of the old town. It is a place of pilgrimage: modest dress and discretion are expected. The light is at its best in the morning.
The Gur-e-Amir mausoleum
Under its ribbed turquoise dome lie Tamerlane and members of his dynasty, including Ulugh Beg. The mausoleum is west of the Registan, within walking distance.
Ulugh Beg Observatory and Afrasiab
In the 15th century, Tamerlane’s grandson Ulugh Beg built an observatory, of which the underground part of a huge sextant survives. Close by, the Afrasiab hill, site of the ancient city, and its museum tell the story of Samarkand before the Mongols.
Konigil and silk paper
On the edge of the city, the village of Konigil has revived the traditional making of Samarkand silk paper from mulberry bark. A visit to combine with a break by the water.
Booking tours and tickets
The monuments have their own ticket offices, on site. Guides and organised tours can be booked on site or online: check the guide’s language, the entry fees included and the meeting point. For trains between Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara, buy on the official Uzbek Railways website or at the station, and book early in spring and autumn.
Itinerary: Samarkand in 2 or 3 days, the ideal order
Destination de Voyage calculation (NOAA algorithm): on 15 April, the sun rises at 5:55 am and sets at 7:09 pm; on 15 September, at 6:12 am and 6:41 pm. Keep the mornings for Shah-i-Zinda and the open-air sites, before the heat, and the Registan for late afternoon.
- Day 1: Shah-i-Zinda in the morning, Bibi-Khanym and Siyob Bazaar at midday, the Registan in the late afternoon.
- Day 2: Gur-e-Amir at opening time, Ulugh Beg Observatory and Afrasiab, then Konigil.
- Day 3 (optional): Shakhrisabz, Tamerlane’s birthplace, or a craft workshop and a cooking class.
| If you… | Then… |
|---|---|
| Come in July-August | Sightsee from 7 am to 11 am, then in the evening: an average maximum of 34.5 °C (94 °F) in July, 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain in the month |
| Want the best light | April-May or late September-October; the Registan in late afternoon |
| Have only one day | The Registan, Bibi-Khanym, Shah-i-Zinda, Gur-e-Amir |
| Stay in a private home | Make sure your host registers you within 3 days (GOV.UK) |
| Travel in winter | Few visitors, but freezing nights and the wettest months begin |
When to go to Samarkand
WMO 1991-2020 normals for the Samarkand station (725 m / 2,379 ft), Uzbekistan’s hydrometeorological service, with sunshine and our sunrise and sunset calculations.
| Month | Max | Min | Precipitation | Sunshine (h/day) | Sunrise / sunset on the 15th | Day length | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7.4 °C (45 °F) | -1.3 °C (30 °F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 3.8 | 7:51 am / 5:31 pm | 9 h 40 | ❌ Cold, frosty nights |
| February | 9.6 °C (49 °F) | -0.1 °C (32 °F) | 52 mm (2.0 in) | 4.7 | 7:25 am / 6:07 pm | 10 h 43 | ❌ Cold and damp |
| March | 15.3 °C (60 °F) | 4.7 °C (40 °F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 5.6 | 6:44 am / 6:38 pm | 11 h 54 | ⚠️ Mild by day, wettest month |
| April | 21.5 °C (71 °F) | 9.8 °C (50 °F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 7.6 | 5:55 am / 7:09 pm | 13 h 14 | ✅ Spring |
| May | 27.1 °C (81 °F) | 14.2 °C (58 °F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 9.6 | 5:18 am / 7:39 pm | 14 h 21 | ✅ Warm and pleasant |
| June | 32.5 °C (90 °F) | 18.1 °C (65 °F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) | 11.5 | 5:03 am / 8:01 pm | 14 h 58 | ⚠️ Hot |
| July | 34.5 °C (94 °F) | 19.6 °C (67 °F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 12.0 | 5:16 am / 7:59 pm | 14 h 43 | ⚠️ Very hot, sightsee early |
| August | 33.3 °C (92 °F) | 18.0 °C (64 °F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 11.6 | 5:43 am / 7:28 pm | 13 h 45 | ⚠️ Very hot and dry |
| September | 28.7 °C (84 °F) | 13.5 °C (56 °F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 10.2 | 6:12 am / 6:41 pm | 12 h 29 | ✅ Dry, heat easing |
| October | 22.0 °C (72 °F) | 7.8 °C (46 °F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) | 7.8 | 6:41 am / 5:53 pm | 11 h 12 | ✅ Mild and bright |
| November | 14.5 °C (58 °F) | 3.3 °C (38 °F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 5.0 | 7:15 am / 5:17 pm | 10 h 01 | ⚠️ Cool, rain returns |
| December | 9.2 °C (49 °F) | -0.1 °C (32 °F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 3.9 | 7:45 am / 5:08 pm | 9 h 23 | ❌ Cold, short days |
How to read it: summer is scorching and dry: 34.5 °C (94 °F) maximum in July, 1.6 mm (0.1 in) of rain and more than 12 hours of sunshine a day (calculation based on WMO sunshine data). Spring is mild but it is the rainy season: March is the wettest month (73 mm (2.9 in), 15 rainy days). May and September offer the best compromise: maximums of 27.1 °C (81 °F) and 28.7 °C (84 °F). The day-night gap exceeds 14 °C (25 °F) from June to September: bring a layer for the evening. In winter, nights freeze (−1.3 °C (30 °F) minimum in January).
For Tashkent, Bukhara or Khiva, see the best time to visit Uzbekistan.
Getting to Samarkand and getting around
Airport and transfers
Samarkand has an international airport; many travellers also arrive via Tashkent and continue by train. On arrival, take an official airport taxi, a hotel shuttle or a transfer booked in advance. GOV.UK advises using licensed taxis, including taxis booked through apps such as Yandex or MyTaxi, as unlicensed taxis are still common.
In the city
The main monuments, from the Registan to Bibi-Khanym and Shah-i-Zinda, are within walking distance of each other. For Gur-e-Amir, the observatory, Afrasiab or Konigil, a taxi is convenient.
Where to stay in Samarkand
Guesthouses and small hotels in the old town, near the Registan, let you do everything on foot. The more spacious Russian quarter has larger hotels. In a hotel, the compulsory registration is done by the hotel; in a private home, your host should register you with the local OVIR or on the Emehmon electronic system, and tourist tax is usually included (GOV.UK).
Entry requirements and safety
- US citizens: US citizens traveling for tourism for 30 days or less can apply for an e-visa on the government of Uzbekistan’s e-visa portal; wait for the approval email, print it and carry it with you. US citizens over 55 traveling for tourism for up to 30 days, and under-16s traveling with their guardians, do not need a visa (U.S. Department of State, travel.state.gov, last updated January 29, 2026).
- UK citizens: British citizens can visit without a visa for tourism or business for up to 30 days. Your passport must be valid at least 3 months after the date you arrive; make sure it is stamped on entry. You must be registered with the local authorities within 3 days of arrival (hotels do it for you) (UK FCDO, GOV.UK, updated 19 March 2026).
- Registration: both sources state that you must register within 3 days of arrival; keep your registration slips until you leave, as the authorities may ask for a full record of your stays on departure (GOV.UK).
- Safety: GOV.UK reports that rockets were fired from Afghanistan into southern Uzbekistan in 2022; Samarkand is far from that border. Quality of medical care is generally poor (GOV.UK): take out insurance covering medical costs and evacuation.
- Currency: Uzbek som; see our currency converter.
- Internet: an eSIM saves a trip to a phone shop; see our travel eSIM guide. Local offers are detailed on our page on eSIMs for Uzbekistan.
- Dress: shoulders and knees covered in mosques and at Shah-i-Zinda.
- Heat: water, a hat and sunscreen from May to September.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need to visit Samarkand?
Two days for the major monuments, three with Konigil or a trip to Shakhrisabz.
Do you need a visa for Samarkand?
UK citizens can visit without a visa for up to 30 days (GOV.UK, updated 19 March 2026). US citizens can apply for an e-visa for tourism of 30 days or less; those over 55 traveling for tourism for up to 30 days do not need a visa (travel.state.gov, last updated January 29, 2026). Registration within 3 days is compulsory.
What is the best time to visit Samarkand?
April-May and September-October. July reaches an average maximum of 34.5 °C (94 °F) (WMO 1991-2020 normals).
What to see in Samarkand in one day?
The Registan, the Bibi-Khanym Mosque and Siyob Bazaar, Shah-i-Zinda and Gur-e-Amir.
Is Samarkand safe?
Check the latest UK and US travel advice before you go. GOV.UK mentions rockets fired from Afghanistan into southern Uzbekistan in 2022, far from Samarkand, and advises using licensed taxis.
When should you see the Registan?
In late afternoon for the light; early in the morning in summer to avoid the heat.
Our sources
- Entry requirements, health and safety checked on 26 October 2026: U.S. Department of State, Uzbekistan country information (last updated January 29, 2026) and UK FCDO, GOV.UK foreign travel advice for Uzbekistan (updated 19 March 2026)
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre: « Samarkand – Crossroad of Cultures » (inscribed 2001), checked on 24 October 2026
- World Meteorological Organization: 1991-2020 normals, Samarkand station, Uzhydromet (NOAA NCEI archive)
- Wikipedia (English): Registan, Siyob Bazaar
- Astronomical calculations: NOAA solar algorithm applied by Destination de Voyage (15th of each month, year 2027)
- Our methodology
Updated October 2026.