When I was determining where I wanted to go for my 100th country, I was torn between two destinations: Rwanda and Uzbekistan. That’s largely in part due to Country 100 being the “wedding of solo travelers,” in my humble opinion, and these were the two destinations at the tip-top of my bucket list. I decided Rwanda because gorilla trekking is about as epic as it gets, but shortly after that mission was completed, I started planning a trip to Uzbekistan, which I would visit less than two months later.
The twist is I would be on a slight time crunch. Everyone told me I would need at least two weeks to properly enjoy Uzbekistan — an admittedly large, spread out country — but what could I see in five short days? Turns out, a whole lot.
If you’re planning a trip to Uzbekistan, whether solo or with friends, here are some top tips to know before you go.
Getting There
Calling flights to Uzbekistan “limited” would be a stretch, but it’s not as well-connected as Italy or Thailand. The two major airports in the country are Samarkand and Tashkent. I personally flew into Samarkand and then out of Tashkent, and I’d recommend taking a look at where else in the country you’d like to go, plus the available options depending on where you’d be flying in and out of (Tashkent is a larger city and generally has more flights).
I flew Turkish Airlines and paid $525 from Chisinau, Moldova with a layover in Istanbul for a last-minute one-way ticket. However, when I had looked a month prior to booking, it was closer to $350, so book as far in advance as you can to score a better deal. A handful of airlines fly direct to Uzbekistan, including Malaysia Airlines, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, and a few budget airlines. There’s also Uzbekistan Airlines, which has direct flights from New York’s JFK a few times a week, as well as connections to several cities around the globe and many in Central Asia.
Getting Around
Once you’re actually in Uzbekistan, getting around is pretty easy. I recommend downloading Yandex Go prior to your trip, the “Uber” of Uzbekistan. I was able to secure rides right from the airport in Samarkand and throughout the entire duration of when I was there. Rides are extremely affordable and you can connect your credit card to the app so you never have to worry about payment. That being said, there were were a few times I got in cars that were quite small with no proper backseat or trunk. This always ended up being fine, but it would not have been fine had I had my luggage and was headed to the airport or the train station.
As far as getting from city to city within the country, Uzbekistan has one of the best train systems I’ve personally experienced outside of Italy, Japan, and France. There are both high-speed and regional trains connecting cities such as Samarkand, Tashkent, Bukhara, and Khiva, but pro-tip: you must book your ticket far in advance. Unlike Italian trains where you can buy your ticket at the latest minute possible, trains in Uzbekistan sell out. I did not know this and ended up needing to spend an extra night in Samarkand because I could not get a ticket to Tashkent when I tried two days prior to my travel date. Some trains are labeled as “overnight” trains between Samarkand and Tashkent because they leave in the middle of the night, but the journey is only 3-4 hours so don’t expect a full night of sleep.
At the train stations, there are options for coffee, snacks, and tea at basically all hours of the day.
How many days do you need to enjoy Uzbekistan?
How much time you spend in Uzbekistan largely depends on what you want to see.
I spent five days in Uzbekistan, visiting Tashkent and Samarkand. Since the country is quite far from the U.S., I would say this is not worth it if you’re flying to and from the States in only five days. However, since I was coming from Eastern Europe and making my way over to Asia, for me, this made sense since in my brain, it was “on the way.”
If you want to see the main four cities — Samarkand, Tashkent, Khiva, and Bukhara — I would recommend a minimum of 10 days. At least two of those will get entirely eaten up by travel, meaning you’re only averaging about two days per city when all is said and done. Ideally, you’d probably want to do something closer to 14 days, but 10 is the absolute minimum I’d recommend to get a feel.
What are the top things to do in Uzbekistan?
The number one tourist sight in Uzbekistan is Registan Square in Samarkand. Registan served as one of the largest trading points during the Silk Road Era. There are three madrasas, or Islamic schools, at Registan Square. You can easily see it without paying admission to go in, but it’s absolutely worth it to pay the 100,000 UZS (roughly $8.50) to get up close and personal. You can go into the madrasas, and in the back, there are a few shops. Don’t underestimate its size, either; I spent three hours here that felt like they flew by, and I easily could have spent up to five. You can even book a flying dress photoshoot here, which I saw many people doing.
In Tashkent, you’ll want to get a feel for Soviet history. Chorsu Bazaar, located in a dome-shaped building, is a must to see prepared salads, raw horse meat, and the hustle and bustle of everyday vendors. Hotel Uzbekistan is another top sight in Tashkent.
In Bukhara, some top sights to behold are The Po-I-Kalyan complex and the Ark of Bukhara. Khiva is home to Itchan Kala, a walled city full of Islamic architecture, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Uzbekistan is often combined with a trip to some other neighboring countries, most typically the “five stans.” The five include Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. If you don’t have time to visit all five, but you’re curious, a day trip to Tajikistan is easy from Samarkand. I did this and would highly recommend doing the same!
How much does a trip to Uzbekistan cost?
Uzbekistan is one of the most affordable destinations I’ve personally traveled to. It almost felt like a challenge to spend money there, even when I went to tourist restaurants in busy city squares. Average accommodations are around $25-$30/night, though you can definitely find spots much cheaper and some much more expensive. For example, I saw a Hilton hotel in Tashkent that was over $300/night. Tashkent was the most expensive destination in the county I visited, but the costs there still don’t hold a candle to cities like Tokyo or London.
Taxis around the country are also low-cost. I realized how affordable Uzbekistan was going to be when I took a taxi from Samarkand airport to my accommodation, a 20- or so minute drive, and the total cost was $1.98. Just about every meal will cost you no more than $5-$10, with the exception of touristy spots that might cost you something like $12-$15.
High-speed trains between cities are usually $15 or less, though prices can vary.
One major tip I learned from my time in Uzbekistan is cash is key. Many places outside of Tashkent did not accept cards, including my accommodation in Tashkent. I highly recommend hitting an ATM at the airport and getting out enough to cover you for your trip.
Dress code expectations
Uzbekistan is, overall, more of a conservative society. What does this mean for solo female travelers?
I never walked around in short shorts in Uzbekistan — though I could have, because it was hot! — but I also never covered my hair like I did in Saudi Arabia. I would lean modest here; most local women are quite covered up, and though I did see my fair share of western tourists in shorts and crop tops, it’s a sign of respect to dress appropriately based on where you’re visiting. At religious sights, it’s essential to at least cover your knees and shoulders. Wearing short dresses won’t get you in trouble, per se, but it will definitely cause some extra attention since it’s not quite the norm here.
Is Uzbekistan safe for solo female travelers?
Now, for the key question us women have to constantly worry about… “but is it safe?”
I will say what I always say when discussing safety, that it’s an entirely subjective question and no experience will be identical to the next. That being said, Uzbekistan felt very peaceful and calm, and never once did I feel unsafe. I saw plenty of other solo female travelers, whether they were dining alone, on day tours, or walking around Registan by themselves. It actually was noticeable how many other solo female travelers there were, so I imagine we’ve all gotten the memo that Uzbekistan is a “safe” country. I felt so safe here that I’d even be comfortable leaving my phone unattended while I used the restroom. In retrospect, I would never actually do this, but that’s the type of feeling that was emitted in the air in Uzbekistan; Samarkand, specifically.
As always, use your gut and your brain; if something feels off, just assume it is and pivot your plans. But, if the only thing stopping you from going to Uzbekistan is a safety concern, I would try to find a way to work past that because, in my experience, Uzbekistan is a perfectly safe country to visit alone.
What is there to eat and drink in Uzbekistan?
No one travels to Central Asia for the food, and my question to that is… why?! Uzbek food is awesome! Here are just some of the dishes you’ll want to try on your trip:
Don’t feel like planning on your own? Book a food tour of Tashkent here.
- Manti: the Uzbek dumpling. It’s shaped like khinkali and is filled with broth and meat (usually beef or lamb), served with a tangy yogurt sauce.
- Plov: widely recognized as the national dish of Uzbekistan, plov is a rice dish with veggies and meat
- Lagman: hand-pulled, chewy noodles that are swimming in a meat stock (lamb or beef is the most common) with tons of herbs and veggies. It gives me Sunday roast vibes!
- Korean carrot salad: Thinly shaved carrots, almost like strands of spaghetti, are tossed in a light, tangy dressing with raisins and dill. I am quite obsessed with this as it’s extremely refreshing.
- Fresh juices: There are tons of fresh juice stands all around Samarkand and Tashkent. I went for some fresh orange juice, celery with mint and ginger, and also pomegranate. Uzbekistan is a great place if you love juice!
- Lepeshka: Uzbek bread is shaped sort of like a giant hole-less bagel. It’s chewy yet still light, and is cooked in piping hot clay ovens.
- Korean food: There’s a large Korean diaspora in Uzbekistan that roots back to when Japan colonized Korea. When that happened, many Koreans were displaced to Russia, but in 1937, Stalin placed an “exile” order on Koreans, where many of them ended up in Uzbekistan. Because of that, you’ll see tons of Korean restaurants (especially in Tashkent), and there are subtle differences in the food. For example, Uzbek kimchi is made with white cabbage.
- Watermelon and squash: Watermelon and squash are abundant in Uzbekistan and absolutely delicious. If they’re on a menu, order some and see for yourself.
- Eggplant salad: There are various versions of eggplant salad in Uzbekistan; some with simply baked eggplant, others with fried eggplant. Some are served with tomatoes and cheese and some are just eggplant. I had a fried eggplant salad that was coated in honey and had little dollops of tangy cream cheese and fresh tomatoes throughout; it’s one of those dishes I’m thinking of weeks later.
What’s accommodation like in Uzbekistan?
Chain hotels are limited, but they do exist. Instead, I’d go for some local boutique hotels, B&Bs, or guesthouses.
Options in Samarkand:
- Guesthouse Anora (less than $30/night)
- Daniyar Guesthouse (less than $30/night)
- L’Argamak Hotel (roughly $65/night)
Options in Tashkent:
- Nova Boutique Hotel (less than $30/night)
- Milan Hotel (Less than $50/night)
- Grand Afrosiyab Hotel (less than $75/night)
If you want a chain hotel, I always go for Hilton properties since I have status. The Hilton Samarkand Regency goes for less than $100/night, and Hilton Tashkent City is a 5-star property that is more expensive than most accommodations in the city, but comes with all of the sweet perks and amenities that can’t be found at most.
Pro-tip: A lot of flights land at weird hours in Uzbekistan (for example, mine was at 4:20am). Both Tashkent and Samarkand have capsule hotels in the airports if you land at a time you can’t check into your actual hotel! I rented one for four hours and paid $30.
When is the best time to visit Uzbekistan?
I went in mid-September, which was high season. The weather was hot, roughly 80 degrees Fahrenheit/27 degrees Celsius most days. Despite being high season, it never felt overly crowded, however, I did deal with trains and hotels being nearly (or entirely) sold out. You can technically travel anytime of year, but note that December-March are quite cold, with December often being the coldest month.
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