Ultimate Travel Guide: Uzbekistan
Visit uzbekistan
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 information abouth 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
Uzbek Visa requirements
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 touristic restaurants. I purchased Ucell's card, paying it 50000 Sum. It worked well and the service was always working. Please note: there are several internet plans that are offered, but not all of them will allow to use social media apps. Alternately, if your smartphone is abilited, 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, taxis and shared taxis are for shorter distances. Travel advice Uzbekistan:
Train: they sold out quite easily, so it's best to book them in advance (they accept VISA and Mastercard credit cards): Official train website. You can purchase the tickets only 40 days ahead, before then you simply see the timetables. The trains run very often, except for the Khiva - Bukhara route, which runs Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. This route is also the only one which has very old trains, in fact it takes 6 hours to move across the two cities. The other major cities are equipped with high-speed trains (the Chinese ones).
Taxis and shared taxis: I used them mainly to go from train stations to the city center and vice versa (train stations are located a bit far from the city, usually around 6 km or more). There is also the choice to take small buses, which have 7 seats, however they don't leave until they are full. Important to know: lower the price they ask. For 6 km route they can ask for up to 120000 Sum, at the end the cost was 33000 Sum. In order to truly save money the best way is to use the Yandex App (I read that it can be used with a local SIM card, however it still doesn't work). When possible I suggest asking the hotel where you are staying to call Yandex and arrange a taxi for you.
Accommodation
I decided to stay in home-run guest houses, where the owners were very welcoming and available to help. They helped us to exchange money and arrange taxis. Usually, these places are very simple and essential, and indeed very cheap, around 30€ for a double room. 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 cheap if you own Dollars or Euros. A short cab ride costs around 3€, a meal for two costs around 6€ (tourist places have higher prices). The Uzbek currency is called Sum. You need to exchange money as soon as possible since credit cards are accepted only in tourist places (which aren't many). Before arriving I wasn't sure if ATMs were common, therefore I arrived with Euro cash, enough to cover all expenses and hotels. ATMs are present in all city centers, with the usual commissions which tend to be pretty high. If you have Euro/Dollar currency it won't be a problem to exchange money (I usually exchange them in the hotel).
Uzbekistan culture and tradtion
Uzbekistan is a Muslim country, therefore both women and men should dress modestly. Women don't have to wear the hijab (all the locals don't wear it). You'll only need a scarf for entering most of the Muslim mosques.
Safety
How safe is Uzbekistan? I never felt in danger whatsoever during my time here. This country is an authoritarian state, but 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).
Climate in Uzbekistan
In Uzbekistan, the winter season is very cold, and during 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 day time there was 25°C (77°F), in the evening around 15°C (59°F).
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