Uzbekistan is a vibrant mix of history, gastronomy, culture and incredible architecture.
Uzbekistan has the most stunning mosques and madrassas in the world. We have never seen such beautiful and large-scale ensembles anywhere. Wow!
Uzbekistan is also famous for its national cuisine. Surely everyone has heard of the legendary Uzbek pilaf. Each city prepares it in its own way, be sure to try as many as possible.
In recent years, Uzbekistan has been actively competing for tourists. About a hundred countries have received the opportunity to enter the country without a visa. And we are attracted here not only by history and beautiful mosques, but also by modern spaces, restaurants and hotels.
In general, Uzbekistan is the place where the history of ancient Central Asia was born, and we advise tourists from all over the world to try to get to know it.
The capital Tashkent is the largest and most modern city in Uzbekistan. It is actively urbanizing, especially after the earthquake in 1966.
Unfortunately, there is almost no ancient architecture preserved here, for which tourists go to Uzbekistan, but Tashkent attracts with something else - the rhythm of a big city, comfortable public spaces and fashionable restaurants and hotels.
Tashkent is an ideal starting point for getting to know the country, but to feel the full depth of history, it is worth visiting other iconic cities of Uzbekistan.
They say that trade has been conducted at this place since the time of the Great Silk Road, so you can call it a historical place. The huge azure dome of the pavilion is fascinating, which you will definitely notice from afar.
You can buy literally anything you want here. Most importantly, do not forget to bargain!
Uzbek cuisine is probably not for everyone, the dishes are mostly fatty and high in calories. But we definitely recommend visiting the Pilaf Center in Tashkent!
The restaurant has an open kitchen, and guests can follow all the stages of cooking pilaf in huge cauldrons from start to finish. And try 4 types of pilaf to choose from. We also recommend ordering local ayran with pilaf.
They say that recently there was a vacant lot and several low-rise apartment buildings, and now there is a huge public space that has become a center of attraction not only for tourists, but also for locals.
It's funny that Uzbekistan is madly in love with the idea of musical fountains, and only in Tashkent you can see them in as many as four points of the city. Against the background of glowing skyscrapers in Tashkent City is a special pleasure.
Samarkand is one of the most ancient cities in the world and is widely famous for its architectural scale. A key role in the city's history was played by the world-famous conqueror Tamerlane, who created a vast empire in the 14th century that stretched from India to Turkey. Thanks to him, Samarkand became an important cultural and scientific center of its time.
However cliché it may sound, we advise you to google a bit about Tamerlane and his contribution to the history of Central Asia before traveling to Uzbekistan. Because all the architectural monuments that we see today in Samarkand are inextricably linked to the life of the legendary conqueror.
Samarkand is now being promoted as the main tourist destination in Uzbekistan, and tourists come here from all over the world. It is rare to encounter such a quantity of foreign speech in one place.
Choose any options, but do not rent a car in Uzbekistan. Because cameras are literally everywhere here, but unfortunately there are problems with road signs and markings, especially on highways. In addition, Uzbekistan has huge traffic fines, which start at $30 and grow exponentially.
We recommend that you definitely try the new high-speed trains - "Afrosiyob". They run through the key tourist centers of Uzbekistan (Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Karshi). Traveling on them will be many times faster, and you will not lose on fines. The main thing is to have time to buy tickets several months in advance.
Registan is a must-see for all tourists! Consider your trip was in vain if you didn't come to Samarkand and see Registan Square.
Inside the walls of each Registan building there are small and cozy courtyards, where you can take very beautiful photos. And in the evenings they play Uzbek music and hold a light show on the walls of the ensemble.
All this is mesmerizingly beautiful and very atmospheric!
Tamerlane was famous throughout the world and ruled the most prosperous empire of his time. During his reign, the territory of Uzbekistan was actively built up with majestic architectural structures. And the corresponding work of art was erected as a mausoleum for the Central Asian conqueror.
This place spreads a special charm in the evening - all the arches of the facade are beautifully illuminated, the dome shines with azure paint, attracting attention from the other end of the city, and inside everything is neatly decorated with mosaics and wood carvings.
The elegant turquoise facades of the tombs line the narrow street. Wander a bit between the small buildings to find the perfect spots for some colourful photos.
A huge territory along the canal, which includes several hectares of garden, hotel complexes, restaurants and the newly built 'Eternal City' - artificially recreated traditional Uzbek streets, shops, mosques.
In the westernmost part of the canal - musical fountains (clearly do not reach the level of Tashkent ones, unfortunately).
A two-story space with lots of tables. Downstairs, they have an oriental dance atmosphere - loud music plays, elegant girls of all ages dance in the center of the hall, their husbands watch them from behind the tables (it looks like a family outing). To be honest, it's interesting to take a peek at their lives.
And on the second floor is a 'Russian' hall. It's quiet there, and the room is decorated with samovars, bear skins, balalaikas, etc.
If you have already visited all the main attractions in Samarkand, you can also visit the observatory. Here, in the 15th century, the world-famous astronomer and mathematician Ulugh Beg worked. The huge underground part of the instrument designed to observe the Sun and Moon has been preserved.
Ulugh Beg was the first in history to create a detailed map of the starry sky and calculated the length of the astronomical year: 365 days, 6 hours, and 8 seconds.
Shakhrisabz is a small homeland of Tamerlane. All over Uzbekistan, streets, squares and architectural monuments are named in his honor. But unfortunately, Shakhrisabz is not supported very actively and the legacy of the empire is not restored, so the city has not received due popularity among tourists. Despite this, Shakhrisabz has preserved monuments that have become UNESCO World Heritage Sites. We went to see them!
They say that it was the most grandiose structure in Central Asia. Now, unfortunately, only the ruins of two walls of the palace remain. If you look closely, you can admire the remains of colorful paintings and mosaics.
A gorgeous blooming park was founded around the ruins of Ak-Saray. Do not spare the time to walk along it. By the way, we were there early in the morning, because of this we did not have to pay for entry anywhere.
We saw cotton growing for the first time in our lives! These white boxes are, of course, very cute. But just 5-10 years ago, cotton harvesting was a huge problem for the people of Uzbekistan.
Earlier, even schoolchildren were forced to pick it. And those who do it for money are paid only about $0.25 per kg.
The worst thing is that the fields are treated with chemicals before harvesting to keep the bobbleheads snow-white. As a result, the entire nation developed respiratory diseases on a large scale.
Bukhara is a place that has preserved the unique atmosphere of a medieval Eastern city. We liked that, unlike other cities in Uzbekistan, Bukhara has a clearly concentrated historical center in a small area. It feels like you've moved back several hundred years. Here, you are immediately surrounded by the market, traditional architecture, and the narrow streets of the old city.
Unfortunately, we only had the opportunity to visit Bukhara for a few hours. But we got the impression that the city is so beautiful and we desperately want to explore it more thoroughly.
The patterned brickwork of the minaret delighted us! Along the entire height of the building's facade, you can count 14 horizontal bands with different ornaments.
It is interesting that the entire old city of Bukhara is restrained in terms of color schemes. Mosaics are less common in decor here and the entire city is painted in a calm sand color.
If you stand facing the Kalyan Minaret, on the left hand side there will be the functioning Miri Arab Madrasah. You can't go inside, but if you're lucky, you can peek through the bars at the students who will simply be playing table tennis.
The building is part of the following architectural ensemble. Many details were preserved on the facades of the buildings during restoration. But in general, it is worth noting that the architectural monuments in Bukhara look more tired of time, in comparison with Samarkand.
In fact, it is not just a dome, but a whole composition of sand domes of different sizes.
Inside there is an atmospheric market with souvenir shops, local jewelry and carpets. You will definitely be able to buy something as a souvenir from your trip to Uzbekistan!
The madrasah was part of a large religious complex, which, unfortunately, was not preserved.
Inside there is a steep spiral staircase to the roof. You can literally climb around the architectural monument, see the colored roofs of the minarets up close and admire the city, albeit from a small height (the cost of the climb is less than $1).
During our trip, we focused on the largest cities of Uzbekistan, but we left the country with a strong feeling that we need to come back and continue exploring its smaller towns. We definitely plan to stay in Bukhara and visit Khiva and Fergana. So, a guide update is coming!
Share your recommendations in the comments — where else should we go?
