Samarkand is one of the most fascinating cities on the Silk Road and the jewel of Uzbekistan. Unsurprisingly, it is the highlight of any trip to the country.
Samarkand’s name has gained a magical ring to it. Some people say that visiting it reminds them of One Thousand and One Nights. Interestingly, the city is mentioned in these tales a number of times. Brother of Shehrezedeh’s husband, Zaman is a sultan of Samarkand. Besides, many of the tales are set in Samarkand.
This fame is well deserved. The city is gorgeous and very impressive. Plus, it is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the name “Samarkand – Crossroad of Cultures.”
This post offers a Samarkand travel guide with practical tips on where to stay, how to get around, and suggested itineraries for 1-3 days. If you are looking for the detailed information for traveling around Uzbekistan, including money, climate, clothes and more, see my post here.
Short History of Samarkand
There is no scientific evidence showing, when exactly was Samarkand founded. Some theories suggest the city dates back as early as the 8th-7th centuries BC. The town of Afrasiyab was located here. It later came under the Persian Achaemenid Dynasty, followed by Alexander the Great, Persian Sassanid Dynasty, Turks, Mongols, etc. The most significant period in Samarkand’s history was the era of Amir Timur.
Amir Timur and his legacy
We can’t talk about Samarkand without understanding the history of Amir Timur (Tamerlane, Timur Lang or Timur the Lame, as most people know him). He is the greatest figure in Uzbek history. He was actually born in Shahrisabz, which is located about 80 km from Samarkand. You can visit it as a day trip, if you have the time.
He was of Turko-Mongol descent. He founded the Timurid Empire from 1370. For about a century, the Timurid dynasty ruled over most of Central Asia, Afghanistan, Iran and South Caucasus. Samarkand was its capital, until the death of Timur, after which the capital was moved to Herat. The Timurid dynasty slowly lost its territories and the Empire split into several emirates after the 15th century.
Timur envisaged himself, as the descendant of Genghis Khan and was known, as particularly cruel conqueror. The number of deaths caused by his conquests is estimated at around 17 million.
The Timurid empire had strong influences from Persia, which can be seen in the architecture of Samarkand and other cities. Most of the stunning buildings in Samarkand we love today, were built during Timur’s or his descendants’ reign.
After this period, Samarkand was part of khanates, until the Tsarist Russia and then Soviet Union took over the whole Uzbekistan.
With this rich history and being on the Silk Road, Samarkand definitely offers amazing cultural sights for tourists.
How Many Days Do You Need in Samarkand
I recommend spending at least 2 days in the city. However, some travellers still manage to fit in several major sites in just one day. More days allow you to explore surrounding areas, such as Shahrisabz.
Below are itinerary suggestions depending on how much time you have in the city.
How to Get to Samarkand
You will most probably travel to Samarkand by train or by car. The fast train from Tashkent takes about 2 hours, while from Bukhara, somewhat less, about 1.5 hours.
If you arrive by train, the station is not too close to the historical center, so you will need transportation to reach your hotel. Tram #2 is the most convenient public transport option and goes toward the Registan area. There are also buses, such as M1 and M5, that head in the direction of the city center, although you may still need a short taxi ride from the final stop.
Public transport generally stops running around 10 PM, so if you arrive late in the evening, you will likely need to use a ride-hailing app or a taxi. You can try apps, like MyTaxi or Yandex. The latter is more popular, but I personally rely more on the former.
Another convenient option is to arrange a hotel pickup, which is what we did when we arrived in Samarkand late at night.
If you want to learn more about traveling around Uzbekistan, including trains, shared taxis, and dealing with taxi drivers, check my detailed guide on public transport in Uzbekistan.
How to Get Around Samarkand
Many of the main sights in Samarkand are within walking distance of each other, so it is possible to explore most parts of the city on foot. However, some attractions are more spread out, and you will occasionally need transportation.
Samarkand does have buses and minibuses, but they are not the most convenient option for visitors. We personally found it difficult to understand the schedules and routes, as there’s barely any information about them anywhere. Plus, waiting times can be unpredictable. Still, if you have a lot of time, you can try hopping on them.
This resource on Wikiroutes can help identify which bus or mini bus you need.
The most common way to get around the city is by taxi. You can use the ride-hailing apps, such as Yandex Go or MyTaxi, which helps avoid negotiating with drivers. We used MyTaxi on several occasions.
The yellow taxis you see around Samarkand often operate as shared taxis. If you want to save money, try stopping a car that already has passengers inside, which usually indicates that it is running as a shared ride. As with most places in Uzbekistan, it’s important to agree on the price before starting the trip. One difficulty is that many drivers speak only Uzbek or Russian.
Where to Stay in Samarkand
When choosing accommodation in Samarkand, it’s best to stay in the central area, ideally somewhere close to Registan or the historic center. Many of the main sights are located within walking distance from each other, so staying nearby will make it much easier to explore the city without relying too much on transport.
If you prefer something a bit more upscale while still staying in a central location, there are several other good options nearby. Both are well located for exploring the main sights of Samarkand.
- Hotel Samaria Terrace offers comfortable rooms and good amenities.
- East Star Hotel is a more modern option with an interesting design.
Best Cafes and Restaurants in Samarkand
If you are looking for good coffee in Samarkand, don’t expect too much. Your best bet of getting strong coffee would be to order Turkish coffee. Quite often your options will be either this or a Nescafe. Whenever I came by and tried to order Cappuccino or even Americano, they were invariably bad.
- Sogdiana Cafe is located not too far from Gur-e-Amir complex and the Central Park. They offer coffee and sweet options, as well as some Western food.
- Magistr Cafe is also near the Central Park. You could order coffee or get more Westernized food here.
In Samarkand you will find some good local dishes, especially if you go a bit farther from the historical center.
- Platan is farther from the city center, therefore, we didn’t check it out. However, it’s one of the most popular restaurants for trying local dishes. Hence, I had to include it on the list.
- Emirhan Restaurant is located just behind Registan. Because of this it’s quite expensive with small portions. However, if you are looking for food near Registan, this is a good option.
Samarkand Itinerary Overview
Here are suggested Samarkand itineraries depending on how many days you plan to spend in the city.
1-Day Itinerary Highlights
- Visit Gur-e-Amir complex and Rukhobod Mausoleum.
- Spend time at Registan, check out all three madrasas and climb up the Ulug Beg Madrasa’s minaret.
- Visit Bibi-Khanym mosque and Mausoleum.
- Take in the wonderful views from Hazrat Khizr.
- In the evening, there are night light shows at the square some of the days, so don’t forget to check with the ticket office, when is the next one planned, it’s something not to be missed.
You will likely not have much time left on this day, but if you rush, you may manage to see Shah-i-Zinda as well.
See my detailed 1-day itinerary here.
2-Day Itinerary Highlights
- Take a taxi to the mausoleum of Imam al-Bukhari.
- Then take a taxi back to the city to Ulug Beg Observatory.
- Walk to St Daniel’s Mausoleum, then to Afrasiyab settlement and museum.
- Walk to Hazrat Khizr, if you didn’t manage the previous day.
- Then walk to Shah-i-Zinda.
See my detailed 2-day itinerary here.
3-Day Itinerary Highlights
If you have more than 2 days in Samarkand, make sure to visit Shahrisabz, which is about 2 hours away. This will not be possible with public transport, so hire a private driver for the day to take you there. You can also hire a guide along with the driver.
If you still have time and the weather is good, you can explore Central Park.
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