Top 12 Things to do in Samarkand, Uzbekistan

In this travel guide, you will get acquainted with the top 12 things to do in Samarkand that are worth experiencing for every kind of traveler.

Samarqand, often spelled as Samarkand, is a city that beckons travelers with its rich history, stunning architecture, and the allure of the Silk Road.

Nestled in the heart of modern-day Uzbekistan, Samarkand has been a cultural and trading hub for centuries.

This ancient city boasts a mesmerizing blend of Persian, Islamic, and Central Asian influences, making it a must-visit destination for those seeking to immerse themselves in the wonders of the past.

In this article, I’ll explore the best things to do in Samarkand, ensuring you make the most of your visit to this historical gem.

Before diving deeper, let’s have a quick look at the top 12 things to do in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

Things of Interest	Location
Registan	Registan Ko’chasi, Samarkand
Bibi-Khanym Mosque	Bibikhonim Str, Samarkand
Siab Bazaar	Bibikhonim St, Samarkand
Shah-I-Zinda Necropolis Complex	M-37, Samarkand
Afrasiab Museum of Samarkand	Toshkent yo’li, Samarkand
Hazrat Khizr Mosque	MX7M+97H, Samarkand
Gur-e-Amir Complex	Universitetskiy Boulevard Bustonsaroy St, Samarkand
Ulugh Beg Observatory	Toshkent yo’li, Samarkand
Khodja Abdi Darun Shrine	Sadriddin Ayniy Street, Samarkand
Imam Bukhari Mausoleum	Hartang Village, 25km from Samarkand
Uzbek Plov	–
Night Show at the Registan	Registan, Samarkand

Interesting Facts about Samarkand

Table of Contents

The name of the city, Samarkand, evokes exotic ideas of caravans, turbaned traders, bazaars, veiled women, and harems.
The capital of the enormous empire, which included the territory of 27 modern nations, was Samarkand.
Samarkand is the second-largest city in Uzbekistan. Tajiks make up a large portion of the population in and around the city, which is not far from Tajikistan.
Among some of the major Timurid tourist attractions are also older communities with typical Uzbek courtyard homes.
The city can occasionally be hit by violent sandstorms in the spring and fall. Samarkand and Bukhara are both crossed by the Zarafshan River.

Best Things to do in Samarkand, Uzbekistan

Now, we are going to discuss the top 12 things to do in Samarkand, Uzbekistan to make your trip memorable.

1. Go to Registan

Registan is one of the most visited places in Samarkand. It was the heart of the old city. Its beautiful architecture has made it famous all over the world, and no trip to Samarkand is complete without at least a few hours spent here. There are three madrassas, which in Arabic means “schools.” They all face the central square.

Each madrassa has its own door, beautiful tile work, and two large entrances. The three madrasas are Islamic schools with very different styles of buildings. Ulugh Beg Madrasah, Tilya-Kori Madrasah, and Sher-Dor Madrasah are from left to right.

Location: Registan Ko’chasi, Samarkand
Entry fee: 40,000 UZS per person
Opening Hours: 8 am to 7 pm.

2. Bibi-Khanym Mosque

After you’ve seen Registan, you should go to the Bibi-Khanym Mosque, which is one of the most important and best places to see in Samarkand. The beautiful mosque is said to have been built by Tamerlane’s wife between 1399 and 1405, after his successful campaign through India.

The inside is really beautiful, and the courtyard is great. This is something that should be on any list of things to do in Samarkand. If you go to Uzbekistan, then don’t forget to visit Bibi-Khanym Mosque in Samarkand.

Location: Bibikhonim Str, Samarkand
Entry fee: 25.000 UZS for Adults
Opening Hours: 8 am to 7 pm.

3. Shop at Siab Bazaar

Siab Bazaar, which is also called Siyob Bazaar, is the oldest and biggest market in Samarkand. It is right next to the Bibi-Khanym Mosque. The bazaar has become more modern over time, but it still has its own unique and interesting appeal.

After you’re done seeing the Bibi-Khanym Mosque, walk through the huge arches next door to get to the bazaar. You’ll smell different things and see so many brightly colored fruits and vegetables that you won’t know where to look first.

Location: Bibikhonim St, Samarkand
Entry fee: Free
Opening Hours: Open till late night.

4. Shah-I-Zinda Necropolis Complex

Shah-I-Zinda Necropolis Complexe is one of the best places to see and take pictures in Samarkand. The Shah-I-Zinda is also called “The Living King.” Necropolis is a huge complex that grew up over the course of 800 years (from the 11th to the 19th).

It has many temples, mausoleums, and buildings used for ceremonies. There are 11 mausoleums there, and they are all lined up along a medieval street. They were built one after the other in the 14th and 15th centuries. Old royals and other important people are buried there.

Location: M-37, Samarkand
Entry fee: 15,000 UZS per person
Opening Hours: 8 am to 7 pm.

5. Go to Afrasiab Ancient Site and the Afrasiab Museum of Samarkand

One of the biggest archaeological sites in the world is the Afrasiab Ancient Site. As you search for the greatest things to do in Samarkand, have a peek at what used to be a historic city that is now just a collection of dirt hills.

From 500 BC to 1220 AD, people lived in the old city. In the 13th century, the Mongols destroyed the city. Afrasiyab is the oldest part of Samarkand’s old city. It is 220 hectares big. On the site, you can find a museum. We didn’t go in, but it has 5 rooms for the different times when people lived in the Afrasyab fort.

Location: Toshkent yo’li, Samarkand
Entry fee: 25,000 UZS per person
Opening Hours: 8 am to 7 pm.

6. Hazrat Khizr Mosque

The Hazrat Khizr Mosque is on top of a hill on the edge of Afrasyab. Because of where it is, you can see a great view of Samarkand from there. From the minaret, you can see the Bibi-Khanym Mosque, Shah-i-Zinda, and Afrosiab.

In the same place, there used to be a mosque from the 8th century, but Genghis Khan burned it down in the 13th century. It was built again in 1854, and in the 1990s, it was fixed up. It is one of Samarkand’s newest and most beautiful mosques. It is a very important as well as worth visiting place to visit in Samarkand.

Location: MX7M+97H, Samarkand
Entry fee: Free
Opening Hours: All day.

7. Go to Gur-e-Amir Complex

If I had to pick my three favorite places in Samarkand, they would be the Registan, the Shah-I-Zinda Complex, and the Gur-e-Amir Complex. Gur-e-Amir, which means “Tomb of the King” in Persian, is where Timur, his two sons, two grandsons, and his personal teacher are all buried.

Muhammad Sultan, who was Tamerlane’s grandson, died suddenly and needed a place to be buried. This is why the Gur-e-Amir complex was built in the 1400s. It is one of the best places to visit in Samarkand, which is in Uzbekistan. If you go to Samarkand then don’t forget to go to Gur-e-Amir Complex.

Location: 1/4, Universitetskiy Boulevard Bustonsaroy St, Samarkand
Entry fee: 25,000 UZS per person
Opening Hours: 8 am to 7 pm.

8. Go to Ulugh Beg Observatory

This monument’s location on top of a hill on the edge of Samarkand is very important. It was built in 1420 by Ulugh Beg, who was the grandson of Amir Timur and an astronomer. It is a small, simple place, but Ulugh Beg needed it to make his astronomical observations and calculations.

Ulugh Beg began building the observatory in 1424 so that he could study astronomy at the madrasah. Scholars thought it was one of the best observatories in the Islamic World when it was finished in 1429.

Location: Toshkent yo’li, Samarkand
Entry fee: 25,000 UZS per person
Opening Hours: 9 am to 7 pm.

9. Khodja Abdi Darun Shrine

Khodja Abdi Darun Shrine is not as popular as some of the other best places in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, but it is still worth a visit. This mausoleum has beautifully decorated pillars, nice iwans, and a pool in the middle of the courtyard. It was built in the 12th century and has been in use as a madrassah for more than 400 years.

It was fixed up in the 15th and 19th centuries. From Registan, it takes about 30 minutes to walk here, so if you want to get away from the crowds in Samarkand, this is the place to go.

Location: Sadriddin Ayniy Street, Samarkand
Entry fee: Free
Opening Hours: All day.

10. To see Imam Bukhari Mausoleum

Visiting the Mausoleum of Imam Bukhari is another one of the best things to do in Samarkand. It is 25 km from the city. This complex is where one of Islam’s most important scholars, Imam Bukhari, is buried.

If you go to Samarkand then don’t forget to go to this place. It also has mosques, a library, and even a hotel for religious tourists. Muslims often visit the mausoleum of Imam Bukhari as part of a small one-day “Hajj” that also includes the mausoleums of Rukhabad and Shakhi-Zinda. This is because it is one of the most important Islamic sites in Samarkand.

Location: Hartang Village, 25km from Samarkand
Entry fee: Free
Opening Hours: All Day.

11. Eat Plov in Samarkand

Plov is a trademark of Uzbek food, and no journey in the country would be complete without at least one meal of it. This hearty rice meal is prepared in a saucepan made of cast iron and topped with chunks of lamb and a variety of vegetables. It is one of the best dishes in Samarkand.

The Osh Markazi Filial 1 restaurant in Samarkand is widely regarded as the city’s best spot for plov. It is a little bit outside of town, yet it is situated in a very handy location just a few blocks away from the Ulugh Beg Observatory.

12. See the Night Show at the Registan

If you listen to our advice and stay in the Registan courtyard until the sun goes down, you’ll see something else that’s worth seeing. Every night at 7 pm, there is a traditional music and dance show in the courtyard of the Sherdor Madrasa, except when they don’t feel like it.

night show at the registan samarkand — **Night Show at the Registan**

Five men play instruments in a small group while others sing and dance. The show lasts 50 minutes, and you’ll be entertained the whole time. The colorfully lit interior walls of the courtyard are a beautiful backdrop for the performance.

Location: Registan, Samarkand
Entry fee: 60,000 UZS per person to see the 50-minute show
Opening Hours: The 50-minute show begins at 7 pm.

Where to Stay in Samarkand, Uzbekistan

The spectacular Islamic architecture of Samarkand, Uzbekistan’s mosques and mausoleums is one of the main attractions. The city was referred to as “The Jewel of the Eastern Muslim World” by poets and historians.

The best hotels are listed below for you to consider while you are in this lovely city.

1. Overall Best Hotel in Samarkand – Medina Hotel Samarkand

Al Madina Hotel Samarkand is a hotel with a restaurant in Samarkand. The lodging has a front desk that is open around the clock, airport shuttle service, room service, and free WiFi access throughout the building.

Location: 53 Dubitskaya, Samarkand
Amenities: 1 Swimming Pool, Free Parking, Free WiFi and Non-Smoking Rooms
Food Information: Coffee House On-Site, Fruits and Restaurant

2. Best Luxury Hotel in Samarkand – Hotel DilMah Premium Luxury

Dilmah Premium Luxury Hotel provides a complimentary shuttle to the airport (available 24 hours). Sports massages are available to visitors, and Sophia, an on-site restaurant offers lunch and dinner. This upmarket hotel also features a spa tub, a bar/lounge, and an indoor pool.

Location: Ulugbek 79A, Samarkand 140103 Uzbekistan
Amenities: 2 Swimming Pools, Free Parking, Airport Shuttle, and Free WiFi
Food Information: Coffee House On-Site, Bar and Restaurant

3. Best Cheap Hotel in Samarkand – Hotel Billuri Sitora

The hotel BILLURI SITORA is located in the Havasi neighborhood in the city’s historical section. Tourists are welcome to visit the tourist attractions, including the famed Siyab Bazaar, the mosque “Bibi Xanum,” and the Necropolis Shahi-Zinda. You can enjoy the oriental and contemporary Uzbek interior design in this hotel.

Location: Khavasi Street 5, Samarkand
Amenities: Free Parking, Airport Shuttle, Free WiFi, and Non-Smoking Rooms
Food Information: Coffee House On-Site, Breakfast in the Room, and Bar

Where to Eat in Samarkand, Uzbekistan

1. Restaurant “KARIMBEK”

The restaurant “Karim Beck” is a favorite vacation spot for both local residents and visitors. Both European and Uzbek cuisine is traditional. The shish kebab and pilaf are the most well-liked meals here.

Location: 194 Gagarin St, Samarkand, Uzbekistan

2. Old City Restaurant

The restaurant serves a variety of foods, including kebabs, goat meat with honey and walnuts, chicken with cashews, and more. Another feature of this restaurant is its exquisite décor.

Location: JXX5+433, Abdurahman street, Samarkand, Uzbekistan

3. Samarkand Restaurant

The restaurant has a beautiful interior with comfortable seating for the guests. The restaurant serves vegan-friendly and contemporary cuisine. You can enjoy their popular dishes which include Fried meat dumplings, Wedding Kebab of Beef, Obstbau, and Lentil Soup.

Location: MX32+R97, Samarkand, Uzbekistan

Conclusion – Things to Do in Samarkand, Uzbekistan

That brings an end to our conversation on the various activities available in Samarkand. Uzbekistan’s capital city, Samarkand, is one of the country’s most important cities. Founded in the seventh century BC, Samarkand, a city in Uzbekistan, features some of the world’s most stunning and detailed architecture, making it a popular tourist destination.

You can visit Imam Bukhari Mausoleum, Khodja Abdi Darun Shrine, Registan, and Bibi-Khanym Mosque. Plov is a dish that should not be missed if you find yourself in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

So, my guide on the best things to do in Samarkand has come to an end. Now, pack your bag and start exploring.