Money and payments
Cards and cash
ATMs will generally give 50,000 and 100,000 so‘m notes.
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Asia · Central AsiaOutline guideCountry in Central Asia
Photo: Euyasik, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Uzbekistan (Uzbek: Ўзбекистон Oʻzbekiston) is the most populous country in Central Asia and is rich in history, culture, and diversity. It has been a part of numerous empires and was once a key part of the Silk Road, making it an excellent destination for the history buff. Although Uzbekistan is often overlooked as a tourist destination, there is plenty to see and do in this beautiful country, and Uzbeks are warm and hospitable.
Answers to what travellers most often look up about Uzbekistan.
Cards and cash
ATMs will generally give 50,000 and 100,000 so‘m notes.
Russian, Uzbek
The official state language of Uzbekistan is Uzbek, a Turkic language.
Visitors should consider tap water to be unsafe to drink outside of Tashkent.
Uzbekistan's health care is not up to Western standards. There is often a shortage of medicines and medical supplies.
In Uzbekistan, and in Central Asia in general, elderly people are greatly respected. Always treat the elderly with great respect and be deferent to them in all situations.
Attractions, food, stays and travel essentials, with ratings, reviews, opening hours and directions.
Tashkent (Uzbek: Toshkent or Тошкент; Russian: Ташкент) is the capital and largest city of Uzbekistan, with a population of just over 3 million in 2024. It was an ancient city on the Silk Road, the network of trading routes between China and Europe, but what you see now is mostly modern - it was wrecked by an earthquake in 1966 and rebuilt in Soviet style, with humdrum medium-raise lining interminable boulevards.
Andijan is a city in the Ferghana Valley, Uzbekistan.
Bukhara (in Uzbek Buxoro) is a city historically astride the Silk Road in the Samarkand through Bukhara region of Uzbekistan. It has a wealth of architecture and culture and is a must-see destination on any tour of this region.
site of the Itchan Kala, a magnificent old town.
Namangan is the second-largest city in Uzbekistan (2014 pop. 475,700) on the northern edge of the Ferghana Valley.
Nukus is a city in Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan. It is the capital of the region However, even by Uzbek standards the town is fairly decrepit and most travellers only stay one night in order to see the Savitsky gallery.
Samarkand (Uzbek: Samarqand) is the city that is the bejewelled crown of the Silk Road, a rhapsody of ornate Islamic architecture with turquoise domes and soaring tiled minarets. It's one of the twin pillars of the Samarkand through Bukhara region of Uzbekistan, and a must-see destination.
Shakhrisabz (Uzbek and Tajik: Шаҳрисабз; Persian: شهر سبز; Russian: Шахрисабз) is a city of 100,000 people (2014) in Qashkadarya, Uzbekistan. The Historic Centre of Shahrisabz was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2000.
Places in Uzbekistan on the World Heritage List.
Shahrisabz
Listed 2000
Itchan Kala
Listed 1990
Silk Roads: Zarafshan-Karakum Corridor
Listed 2023
Cold Winter Deserts of Turan
Listed 2023
Western Tian Shan
Listed 2016
Historic Centre of Bukhara
Listed 1993
Tashkent Modernist Architecture. Modernity and Tradition in Central Asia
Listed 2026
Samarkand – Crossroad of Cultures
Listed 2001
List from Wikidata (CC0). Photos from Wikimedia Commons.
The most fertile and populous part of the country. Lots of Kyrgyz people live there.
Home to Khiva, an ancient Silk Road city in the Khwarazm region, and the rapidly shrinking Aral Sea. The area is dominated by endless deserts and the Karakalpaks make up a sizeable minority of the population there. The Karakalpaks have their own autonomous region (Republic of Karakalpakstan) in far north of the country.
The heart of the Silk Road, a huge oasis along the Zarafshon river, and home to two of Central Asia's most important cities: Samarkand and Bukhara. Tajiks make up a sizeable minority in these cities.
The mountainous part of the country. One can see a small slice of the Pamir mountains there, and many of the country's Tajiks live there. Overlaps with ancient Bactria, and home to the impressive Buddhist sites of Termez.
The political and economic center of the country, and the traveller's main entry point.
Public transport and paid services in Uzbekistan.
By train
The most comfortable way to travel between the major tourist cities in Uzbekistan is by train.5 hours for Tashkent to Samarkand and it even meets most definitions of high speed rail at top speed.
By shared taxi
The second best option, and an experience. Don't be put off as these are pretty safe as far as the people go, although the roads may be a different story.
By bus
If you travel any distance on a bus in Uzbekistan, take toilet paper with you and be careful what you eat at stops along the way.
By car
Drive on the right. International driving permit required. Minimum age: 17. Speed limit: 60 to 80 km/h in urban areas, 90 km/h on highways.
Apps for booking a taxi or a ride in Uzbekistan.
Finding apps for Uzbekistan…
Other ways to travel:OthersUrban transport
Operators checked against their official websites in October 2026; services that have stopped running are not listed. Logos and Wikipedia links: Wikidata (CC0)
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Tashkent · International · TAS
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Calculated from climate averages: mild daytime highs and lower rainfall. It does not account for festivals, crowds or prices.
Average conditions in Tashkent
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg. high | 4° | 7° | 14° | 20° | 27° | 34° | 36° | 35° | 28° | 20° | 11° | 5° |
| Avg. low | -3° | -2° | 3° | 8° | 14° | 19° | 22° | 20° | 15° | 8° | 2° | -3° |
| Rainfall (mm) | 46 | 59 | 62 | 56 | 31 | 13 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 26 | 53 | 56 |
| Humidity | 70% | 70% | 67% | 64% | 50% | 32% | 23% | 21% | 23% | 40% | 59% | 68% |
Choose your passport and destination to see whether you need a visa.
Budget
$30
Per person, per day
Mid-range
$90
Per person, per day
Luxury
$240
Per person, per day
| Budget | Mid-range | Luxury | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | $15 | $50 | $140 |
| Food and drink | $5 | $15 | $40 |
| Local transport | $5 | $10 | $20 |
| Activities | $5 | $15 | $40 |
Estimate from World Bank price levels (2025). Actual costs vary by city and season. World Bank
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We do not label countries as safe or unsafe. Below is the official advice from two governments, with the date it was last updated. Always read the full advice before you travel.
US Department of State
Level 1 of 4Exercise normal precautions
Exercise normal precautionin Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan is generally a safe destination for U.S. travelers.
UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
No advice against travel. Read the full advice before you go.
Global travel impacts due to escalation in the Middle East Escalation in the Middle East has caused widespread travel disruption, including airspace closures, delayed and cancelled flights. Your travel plans may be affected, even if your destination is not in the Middle East. Before you travel: check travel advice for any countries or territories you are transiting through check for the latest updates from your airline or tour operator review your travel insurance policy for coverage monitor local and international media for the latest information and sign up for travel advice email alerts Before you travel No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide as well as support for British nationals abroad which includes: advice on preparing for travel abroad and reducing risks information for women, LGBT+ and disabled travellers Travel insurance If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency. About FCDO travel advice FCDO provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice. Get travel advice updates Sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated. Follow FCDO: travel advice on X travel advice on Facebook Travel Aware on Instagram
Stories, itineraries and practical advice for travelling in Uzbekistan.
ItinerariesPlan your journey with our uzbekistan silk road guide. Discover high-speed trains, Registan Square, Bukhara trading domes, Khiva citadel, and entry rules.
8 min read
ItinerariesFor modern-day trade in China, see Shopping in China The Silk Road (丝绸之路 sī chóu zhī lù), also known as the Silk Route, is not a single road, but a network of historical trade routes across Asia from China to Europe.
Wikivoyage
Travel tipsThe Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) (Russian: Союз Советских Социалистических Республик (СССР)), or Soviet Union, emerged as the successor state to the Russian Empire in 1917, and was dissolved in 1991.
Wikivoyage
ItinerariesThe Pamir Highway leads through the Pamir Mountains in Central Asia. The bulk of the Highway runs through the Tajik portion of the Pamir Mountains, and extends into Kyrgyzstan to the north and Uzbekistan and, briefly,…
Wikivoyage
Culture & historyThe ancient Persian Empire included areas far beyond modern Persia, now called Iran. At times the Persians controlled much of the Middle East — they were a main antagonist of Ancient Greece a few centuries BCE, and…
Wikivoyage
Nature & adventureThe Cold Winter Deserts of Turan is a UNESCO World Heritage Site made up of 14 deserts in Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
Wikivoyage
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