Uzbekistan Ultimate Travel Guide
Uzbekistan travel experience
Planning a perfect vacation can be an exciting and rewarding experience. Uzbekistan is a beautiful travel destination, but you need to be prepared in order to fully enjoy this country. In this guide, you will find all the things to know and all the information about Uzbekistan.
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👉 Where I stayed during my trip:
- Khiva: Khiva Karim Sulton🔗
- Bukhara: Hotel Mironshox🔗
- Samarkand: Hotel Mohina🔗
- Tashkent: Anvar's Guests🔗
Uzbekistan travel visa
As European Citizens, we are not required to have a visa for traveling in Uzbekistan (up to 30 days).
SIM Card
I highly suggest getting a local SIM card once you arrive at the airport, as wifi will be available only in the hotels and some tourist restaurants. I purchased Ucell's card, paying 50,000 Sum. It worked well, and the service was always working.
⚠️ Several internet plans are offered, but not all of them will allow you to use social media apps. Alternatively, if your smartphone is enabled, eSIM is an option, which tends to be more expensive, but saves you time in the airport.
👉 You can purchase it on Airalo🔗.
Transportation and Logistics
✨ Transportation in Uzbekistan is very cheap and efficient; therefore, it's not necessary to rent a car. Trains are best for long-distance travel between the major cities, and taxis and shared taxis are for shorter distances.
🚆 By Train: Trains run very often, except for the Khiva - Bukhara route, which runs Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. This route is also the only one that has very old trains; it will take around 6 hours to move across the two cities. The other major cities are equipped with high-speed trains (the Chinese ones).
⚠️ Tickets sold out quite easily, so it's best to book them in advance on their Official website🔗. You can purchase the tickets only 40 days ahead; before then, you simply see the timetables.
🚖 Taxis & Shared Cars: I mainly used taxis to get between the train stations and the city center, since the stations are usually located a bit outside the city (around 6 km or more). Another option is to take shared minibuses with 7 seats, but keep in mind they only depart once all seats are filled, which can sometimes mean waiting.
⚠️ Always negotiate the price before getting in a taxi. For a 6 km ride, drivers may ask as much as 120,000 UZS, but in the end I paid only 33,000 UZS. To really save money, the best option is to use the Yandex Go app. I read that it works with a local SIM card, but in my case it didn’t. Whenever possible, I recommend asking your hotel to book a Yandex taxi for you—it’s easier, cheaper, and avoids haggling.
Accommodation
I chose to stay in family-run guesthouses, where the hosts were always warm and eager to help. They assisted us with exchanging money and arranging taxis, making our stay much easier. The accommodations were usually simple and no-frills, but very affordable—around €30 for a double room—and the personal touch made the experience truly special.
👉 I booked all of them on Booking🔗.
Language
Besides speaking Uzbek, the second main language is Russian. Nobody speaks English (even in guest houses), but with Google Translate, I managed to understand the bare minimum. In tourist places is easier, as English is more spoken.
Money of Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan is very affordable, especially if you bring euros or dollars. A short taxi ride costs around €3, while a meal for two is about €6 (though tourist restaurants are more expensive). The local currency is the Uzbek sum, and you’ll need to exchange money, as credit cards are accepted only in a limited number of tourist-oriented places.
⚠️ Before my trip, I wasn’t sure how common ATMs would be, so I brought enough euros in cash to cover my expenses and hotel stays. In reality, ATMs are available in all city centers, though fees can be quite high. Exchanging euros or dollars is straightforward, and I often did it directly at my hotel for convenience.
Uzbekistan culture and tradition
Uzbekistan is a Muslim country, so both men and women are expected to dress modestly. Women are not required to wear a hijab—most local women don’t—but it’s a good idea to carry a scarf with you, as you’ll need it to cover your head when entering many mosques.
Uzbekistan is safe to travel to
How safe is Uzbekistan? I never felt in danger whatsoever during my time here. This country is an authoritarian state, but it has a stable government, and safety is ensured. Practically, it means that policemen are everywhere, and small crimes don't happen. Train stations are controlled (there are metal detectors at the entrance), and overall safety is ensured. I read that policemen could bother tourists, but Uzbekistan has drastically changed its approach to tourism in recent years. It's clear that now they see it as an opportunity, and try to treat tourists very well. Also, you can walk at night without any problem (keeping in mind that the streets are poorly lit).
Best time to travel to Uzbekistan
In Uzbekistan, the winter season is very cold, and the summer is very hot. Temperatures in December average 8°C (18°F) in the north and 0°C (32°F) in the south. However, extreme fluctuations can take temperatures as low as -35°C (-31°F). During the summer, temperatures can reach 45°C (113°F) and above.
✨ The best seasons to visit this country are therefore spring and autumn. I went at the end of October, and the weather was perfect, in the daytime it was 25°C (77°F), in the evening around 15°C (59°F).
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