Registan, Samarkand, UzbekistanPhoto: Kraftabbas, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Find your Bliss in Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan, made simple: blue domes, bazaars and the heart of the Silk Road
Uzbekistan is where the Silk Road still looks the part: the tiled squares of Samarkand, the living old town of Bukhara, the walled city of Khiva and the wide avenues of Tashkent, all linked by fast trains. This guide clears up visas, registration, cash and getting around so you can travel calmly and enjoy one of the warmest welcomes in Asia.
Your trip, step by step
- Before you flyEntry rules, seasons, cash and train tickets, answered
- LandingTashkent airport, SIM cards, money and your first night, explained
- Your days in UzbekistanSamarkand, Bukhara, Khiva and beyond, at a pace that works
- Home againRegistration slips, customs and departure tips for a calm last day
Where to go, eat and stay
- Plain answersClear, honest guidance on the questions first-time visitors actually ask.
- Official sourcesEntry, health and safety facts point you to the official pages to confirm.
- No price surprisesWe explain cash, cards and bargaining so nothing catches you out.
- Free to useEvery guide and the trip planner are free.
Our promise
Uzbekistan should feel like a dream trip, not a puzzle. We answer the worries before they start, so you arrive confident and ready to find your Bliss.
Visiting family in Tashkent, the Fergana Valley or Samarkand after years away, or seeing the Silk Road for the first time? This guide was written with you in mind.
How to use this guide
Four steps from first idea to a trip that feels easy.
- Choose your routeTashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva make the classic loop: start with the destinations that fit your time.
- Sort the essentialsEntry rules, registration, cash and current travel advice, checked against official sources.
- Pick your placesUse our places to visit list for plov centres, teahouses, bazaars, madrasas and stays.
- Plan your daysUse the free trip planner to fit trains, sights and rest into a realistic route.
Everything your Uzbekistan trip needs
Free tools and guides for every stage of the journey.
Destinations
Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva and the Fergana Valley, each explained in depth.
Explore destinationsPlaces to visit
More than a hundred restaurants, teahouses, bazaars, monuments and stays, from classics to hidden corners.
See places to visitFlights and stays
Search flights into Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara and stays across the country.
Plan travelPlaces finder
Restaurants, sights and stays mapped around each base.
Find placesFree trip planner
Tell us your dates and interests and build a route that fits.
Plan your trip
The classic Uzbekistan trip
Tashkent to Khiva by train
Most first trips follow one line west: a day or two in Tashkent, the high speed Afrosiyob train to Samarkand, on to Bukhara, then a train or short flight to Khiva. Ten days covers it comfortably.
- The Registan and Shah-i-Zinda in Samarkand
- Bukhara's living old town and trading domes
- Khiva's walled Itchan Kala at sunset
- Tashkent's metro, bazaars and food
Start with the destinations
See how the four great cities fit together on one route.
Uzbekistan destinationsPlan with confidence
Your route, without the worry
Trains sell out in spring and autumn, summer heat shapes your days, and cash still matters. Our free planner helps you choose a realistic route and pace.
- Realistic train and travel times
- The right season for the heat
- Where to base yourself
Where to go in Uzbekistan
From the capital's avenues to the blue domes of Samarkand, the old towns of Bukhara and Khiva and the crafts of the Fergana Valley.
Tashkent, north east Uzbekistan
Tashkent
Central Asia's biggest city, with a palace of a metro, a giant bazaar and the country's best food.
Read the guidePhoto: Bgag, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Samarkand Region, central Uzbekistan
Samarkand
The Registan, Shah-i-Zinda and Timur's tomb: the most famous city on the Silk Road.
Read the guidePhoto: Bgag, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Bukhara Region, south west Uzbekistan
Bukhara
The most atmospheric old town in Central Asia, with trading domes, madrasas and teahouses by a pool.
Read the guidePhoto: Bernard Gagnon, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Khorezm Region, north west Uzbekistan
Khiva
A complete walled city of minarets and palaces on the edge of the desert.
Read the guidePhoto: Adam Harangozó, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Fergana, Andijan and Namangan regions, eastern Uzbekistan
Fergana Valley
Uzbekistan's green heartland of silk weavers, master potters and busy bazaars.
Read the guidePhoto: Arina Pan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A note from our founder
A note from our founder
My first time visiting Kenya, I was genuinely surprised with how fast it began feeling like home. The people are so friendly, the food is delicious and familiar, and the accommodations are modern and upscale.
During my travels throughout the continent, I commonly hear tourists share stories about being scammed or taken advantage of, which is both frustrating and disheartening.
Living in Kenya for the last 2 years, I have had the great fortune to meet a network of wonderful Kenyans who have continuously help guide my family's journey. Their shared knowledge has not only greatly enhanced our overall experience here, but it has also saved us tons of time, energy, and resources.
With BlissPoint Travel, my hope is to build a global community that is willing to share useful, uncommon knowledge so that we can all blissfully enjoy the wonders our world has to offer.
Questions we hear most
Is Uzbekistan safe to visit?
Yes, for most visitors. Uzbekistan has low levels of crime against tourists, and the main cities are calm and well policed. Watch for petty theft in bazaars, use registered taxis or ride hailing apps, and read your government's current advice, which may flag the border areas with Afghanistan and Tajikistan.
Do I need a visa for Uzbekistan?
Many nationalities can visit without a visa for a set number of days, others can use the official e-visa, and some still need an embassy visa. The rules depend on your passport, so confirm on the official e-visa site e-visa.gov.uz or your nearest Uzbek embassy before you book.
What is registration and do I need to worry about it?
Foreign visitors must be registered where they stay. Licensed hotels and guesthouses do this for you, so keep the slips or confirmations they give you. If you stay with family or in a private flat, check the official rules for registering online.
Can I use cards in Uzbekistan?
More than ever in hotels, big restaurants and supermarkets in Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara, but cash in Uzbek som is still needed for bazaars, taxis, small cafés and Khiva. ATMs in the main cities take international cards.
How many days do I need?
Seven to ten days covers Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva at a comfortable pace. Add three or four days for the Fergana Valley, the mountains or the Aral Sea region.
When is the best time to visit Uzbekistan?
April to early June and September to October bring warm days and cool evenings. July and August are very hot in the desert cities, and winter is cold but quiet.
Ready to plan your Uzbekistan trip?
Use the free trip planner to build a route through the Silk Road cities that fits your time and pace.