Uzbekistan's government has made a massive tourism push over the last few years. By all accounts, it seems to be working. The World Economic Forum's Travel and Tourism Development Index now ranks Uzbekistan at 78th of 119 countries listed, up 16 places from just five years ago. While Kazakhstan should be on your travel radar, Uzbekistan is just as deserving of a visit.
With the most former Silk Road cities of any country in Central Asia, incredible blue-domed mosques, seven UNESCO World Heritage sites, excellent cuisine and affordable prices, it is a destination definitely worth considering.
Fast Facts
Uzbekistan is the most populous country in Central Asia, with over 35.6 million people. Tashkent, Uzbekistan's capital, is also the most populous city in Central Asia as well as being the most accessible Central Asian city from the US. There are direct flights to Tashkent from New York's JFK airport on Uzbekistan Airways.
The majority language in the country is Uzbek, which is the second-most widely spoken Turkic language in the world, behind Turkish. There are also significant portions of Uzbekistan's population that speak Russian and Tajijk, a variety of Persian. Samarkand and Bukhara, two of the most popular cities to visit, are predominantly Persian speaking.
Under 10 percent of the population can speak English so it's worth learning some Uzbek phrases before you travel to Uzbekistan.
Tashkent
Tashkent is a natural first stop in Uzbekistan, especially if you're traveling from outside of Central Asia. There are direct flights to Tashkent International Airport from a bunch of European and Asian cities, along with NYC. Usually metro stations aren't the first place a tourist would go. However, Tashkent's metro system is the first in Central Asia and the stations are full of unique art and architecture.
The most beautiful Islamic sites are located further west in the country but the Hazrati Imam Complex is still impressive. Tashkent is also known for museums like the Museum of the Temurids, Ming Urik Archaeological site and Museum of Applied Arts. Other places worth visiting include the blue-domed Chorsu Bazaar, Amir Temur Square, Tashkent City Park and the Sacred Heart of Jesus Polish Catholic Cathedral.
Tashkent is a great place to indulge in Uzbekistan's excellent cuisine. Plov (rice pilaf) is the national dish and two of the best places to try it are Besh Qozon and Do'mbrobod Osh. Don't miss out on Uzbek non (naan) bread, manty (dumplings), shashlik (meat skewers), and halva, a popular dessert.
There are hiking opportunities not terribly far from the city in the Chatkal Biosphere Reserve, part of the Western Tien-Shan mountains, which are a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Charvak Reservoir is just an hour and a half away from Tashkent and is a popular tourist spot. Then, you can head to the town of Chimgan for skiing or hiking. There are also plenty of beautiful waterfalls in the area.
Samarkand
The train is the quickest way to get from Tashkent to Samarkand, one of the most famous former Silk Road cities. While it would take you five hours to drive between the two cities, the train only takes two and a half hours. Samarkand is a crossroads of cultures and a UNESCO World Heritage city.
It is also around the same age as Athens and Rome, making it one of the oldest cities in the world. This 2700-year old city was most significantly developed during the Timurid Empire in the 14th and 15th centuries, though. Most of its famous monuments come from that period, like Registan Square and Bibi-Khanym Mosque.
It is hard not to be awestruck by the architecture, blue domes and mosaics in Samarkand. You could spend days exploring all of the historic mosques and buildings in the city. Shah-i-Zinda, the Gur-i-Amir Complex, Ulughbek Observatory, and Ancient Afrasiyab are some other key sites in Samarkand.
Plus, don't miss the Siyob Bazaar, where you can pick up some homemade halva, dried fruits and nuts. There is also some unique food in Samarkand. Try un oshi, which is a regional noodle soup, and xalisa, a mix of meat and wheat. Mutton is also used in a lot of dishes in Samarkand.
Also consider taking a trip to Shahrisabz, which is two hours and 15 minutes away by train. It has a famous historical center with monuments like the Ak-Saray Palace, Kok Gumbaz Mosque and Dor Us-Siyodat Mausoleum.
Along the Route from Samarkand to Bukhara
Samarkand and Bukhara are the two most iconic Silk Road cities in Uzbekistan. That doesn't mean you should skip over the places in between, especially if you're traveling by car. There are ancient petroglyphs in the Nurata Mountains not far from Aydar Lake. You can stay overnight at a yurt camp near the lake and ride a camel in the desert.
After checking out Aydar, head to the ancient town of Nurota. It is famous for its Nur Fortress, which was founded by Alexander the Great 2300 years ago. The ruins are worth visiting along with Nurota's chashma, or holy spring. The Chashma complex has become a pilgrimage site for thousands and also features a blue-domed mosque and mausoleum.
South of Nurota there are more petroglyphs at Saramysh Gorge. Also make sure to stop at the Rabati Malik Caravanserai Cistern on the road to Bukhara, just west of Navoiy.
Bukhara
If you decide to skipping everything between Samarkand and Bukhara, the train takes from the former to the latter takes around three hours.
Along with Samarkand, Bukhara is an absolute must-visit city in Uzbekistan and was on the New York Times' list of 52 places to go in 2025. The historical center of Bukhara is another one of Uzbekistan's impressive UNESCO World Heritage sites. In the center, don't miss out on the incredible Kalan Mosque, which features a whopping 288 domes. The medieval Kalan Tower is on the same premises and survived Genghis Khan's invasion.
The massive Ark of Bukhara fortress dates back to the fifth century and is now a museum. Be sure to check out the nearby Bolo Hauz Mosque and its distinctive wooden columns. The Chor Minor Madrasah also has four massive minarets and you can climb up to the roof for a nice view.
Other key historic buildings to check out in and around Bukhara's center are the Ismail Samani Mausoleum, Lyabi Khause, Ulug'bek Madrasasi and Abdulaziz Khan Madrassah.
There are also bazaars like Central Bazaar and the historic Toqi Telpakfurushon. Plus, you can head to the Bukhara Photo Gallery which is located in a former caravanserai, a roadside inn found along ancient trade routes.
Further outside of city there are other impressive tourist sites like the Sitori-i-Mokhi, which was the former Summer palace of the Bukhara Emirs. Plus, there's the memorial complexes of Chor Bakr and Şahı Nakşıbend Behaeddin-i Buhari Hazretleri. The latter is a popular pilgrimage site for Central Asian Muslims.
Khiva
Heading to Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara is a solid introduction to Uzbekistan. However, there is much more to see in this incredible Central Asian country and Khiva is the logical next stop after Bukhara. Khiva, in Western Uzbekistan, is six hours and change away from Bukhara by train. The drive takes around the same amount of time.
Surprise, surprise, Khiva is home to another UNESCO World Heritage site, Itchan Kala. Khiva, which is over 2500 years old, is surrounded by outer and inner defensive walls and Itchan Kala is the walled inner city. The mud walls in Khiva are iconic and you can walk along them for free in the Northwestern section of Itchan Kala.
In Itchan Kala, climb up the Islam Khoja minaret, which is the tallest in Khiva, for excellent panoramic views. Head to the nearby Juma Mosque and admire the carved wooden pillars, some of which are over 1,000 years old. The wonderfully intricate Pahlavan Mahmoud Mausoleum is right next to the mosque.
The Kalta Minor minaret is an iconic symbol of Khiva because it is unfinished but still beautiful. You can get a good view of the minaret from the Kuhna Ark, which used to be the fortress where Khiva's rulers lived. Another must-visit place in Itchan Kala is the Toshhovli Palace, which features plenty of striking blue tiles.
Khiva is known for Shivit Oshi, which are green noodles with dill. Terrassa Cafe is a good place to try them, as it has a nice ambience and view of the old city.
Karakalpakstan
Khiva is also a great base to visit the famous desert castles of ancient Khorezm. The ruins of these desert fortresses are in the nearby Karakalpakstan region and well worth checking out if you have the time.
These kalas (fortresses) are off the beaten path and are all completely free to explore. They were built with clay bricks and almost look like sand castles rising above the desert landscape. The three most famous fortress complexes to visit are within two hours from Khiva by car. You can drive yourself or book a tour to Kizil Kala, Topraq Kala and Ayaz Kala.
Ayaz Kala is a group of three fortresses that is deep into the desert and is the best preserved of the three famous complexes. Also consider visiting Guldursun Kala and Janbas Kala. After visiting a bunch of the kalas, consider heading west to the capital of Karakalpakstan, Nukus.
Nukus does not match Khiva, Bukhara or Samarkand from a historical perspective. It is a more modern-feeling city, as it developed significantly during the Soviet era. Still, its Savitsky Museum houses avant-garde Uzbek and Russian art and is becoming a popular tourist attraction. Also consider visiting the Mizdakhan Necropolis, which is 30 minutes outside of town. Mizdakhan was once the second-largest city in Khorezm and the complex was built in the 4th century BC.
Nukus is also considered the gateway to the Aral Sea, which was once the fourth-largest lake in the world. This manmade disaster is now fragmented into two main bodies of water but is mostly desert. You can have a surreal experience in the middle of the desert, three and a half hours away from Nukus. There are around 15 ships in the "Moynaq Ship Cemetery" which is a popular spot for photos.
Fergana Valley
Uzbekistan's Fergana Valley is one of Central Asia's most densely populated regions and borders Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. If you're heading to either of these nations, consider taking the train from Tashkent four hours southeast to Kokand.
The Fergana Valley is known for delicious fruit and Uzbek food, traditional cities and artisans. The colorful palace of Khudayar Khan, is well worth a visit in Kokand. The biggest city in the region, Andijon, was mostly destroyed in a 1902 earthquake and has a fraught recent past. However, their bazaars are full of knifemakers and blacksmiths.
Other places of interest in the Fergana Valley include Rishtan, known for its Usmanov Ceramic workshop, Margilon, which is home to the Yodgorlik Silk Factory and its Sunday silk market. Also consider a trip to the Aksikent Archaeological Zone.