Holiday in Samarkand
City in Usbekistan — tips, highlights & best time to visit
Country
Usbekistan
Type
City
Best time to travel
April to June and September to October for pleasant temperatures (20-28°C). Summer over 40°C, winter cold.
Budget/day
Getting there from Germany
Flight via Istanbul or Moscow to Samarkand. Alternatively, flight to Tashkent + Afrosiyob high-speed train (2h).
Deals for Samarkand:
What makes Samarkand special as a destination?
Samarkand — the name alone sounds like the echo of a caravan on the Silk Road. This legendary city in Uzbekistan has been a crossroads of civilizations for centuries, a place where East meets West, and the capital of an empire that stretched from Turkey to India. Today, Samarkand is one of the best-preserved examples of Islamic architecture and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Registan Square is the heart of Samarkand and one of the most breathtaking architectural ensembles in the world. Three monumental madrasahs — the Ulugh Beg Madrasah (1420), the Sher-Dor Madrasah (1636), and the Tillya-Kori Madrasah (1660) — frame the square, creating a symphony of turquoise tiles, golden mosaics, and majestic portals. At night, the Registan shines in a light show that highlights the scale and beauty of the buildings even more impressively. The Bibi-Khanym Mosque, once the largest mosque in the Islamic world, was built on the orders of Timur (Tamerlane) to immortalize his glory. The colossal ruins and the partially restored domes still convey an impression of the overwhelming dimensions of this structure. The Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum, Timur's final resting place, impresses with its ribbed turquoise dome and an interior of onyx, jasper, and gold. Legend has it that a curse befalls anyone who opens Timur's grave — when Soviet archaeologists did so in 1941, the next day saw the German invasion of the Soviet Union. The Siab Bazaar, right next to the Bibi-Khanym Mosque, is a sensory fireworks display: mountains of spices, fresh non-bread from the tandoor oven, dried fruits in all colors, and the intoxicating scent of saffron and cumin. The non (flatbread) from Samarkand is considered the best in all of Central Asia. The Ulugh Beg Observatory, an astronomical wonder of the 15th century, housed a giant sextant with a radius of 40 meters, with which Ulugh Beg — Timur's grandson and passionate scientist — mapped the positions of over 1,000 stars, more accurately than any European of his time.
What are the top highlights in Samarkand?
The top highlights in Samarkand include Registan Square, Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum, Bibi-Khanym Mosque, Siab Bazaar, Ulugh Beg Observatory.
The places you absolutely must not miss.
Registan Square
Three monumental madrasahs with turquoise tiles — one of the most impressive ensembles of Islamic architecture
Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum
Timur's burial site with ribbed turquoise dome and interior decoration of onyx and gold
Bibi-Khanym Mosque
Ruins of the once largest mosque in the Islamic world — a monument of imperial grandeur
Siab Bazaar
Most colorful market in Uzbekistan with spices, non-bread, and dried fruits
Ulugh Beg Observatory
Astronomical wonder of the 15th century — star mapping more accurate than anything in Europe
Hotels in Samarkand
Compare thousands of hotels, apartments and resorts on Expedia – with price guarantee, free cancellation and reward points.
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Reise-SIM für Samarkand
Günstig surfen im Urlaub mit travSIM
Pauschalreisen & Rundreisen
Berge & Meer – 170 Tage Cookie
When is the best time to visit Samarkand?
The best time to visit Samarkand is April to June and September to October for pleasant temperatures (20-28°C). Summer over 40°C, winter cold.. 30-42°C, dry and hot In winter: -3 to 8°C, occasional snow
Recommended travel time
April to June and September to October for pleasant temperatures (20-28°C). Summer over 40°C, winter cold.
Summer
30-42°C, dry and hot
Winter
-3 to 8°C, occasional snow
How much does a holiday in Samarkand cost?
Budget travellers: 20-35 €/day, mid-range: /day, luxury: 100-200 €/day.
Average costs per person per day
Budget
20-35 €
Hostel, Street food, Public transport
Mid-range
Hotel, Restaurant, Excursions
Luxury
100-200 €
Boutique hotel, Fine dining
How do I get from Germany to Samarkand?
Flight via Istanbul or Moscow to Samarkand. Alternatively, flight to Tashkent + Afrosiyob high-speed train (2h).
Book a package holiday to Samarkand
Compare thousands of package holidays to Samarkand and find the best deals with flight & hotel.
Compare package holidays nowWhat travel tips are there for Samarkand?
Insider knowledge that makes your holiday better.
Visit the Registan at night: The evening light show makes the square even more impressive — after 8 PM, the atmosphere is particularly magical
Take the Afrosiyob train: The Tashkent-Samarkand high-speed train is comfortable and fast (2h) — tickets can be booked online at UzRailway
Non-bread from Siab market: The famous non-bread straight from the tandoor oven is a must — it lasts for days and tastes good even cold
Visit the silk paper workshop: The Konigil workshop produces silk paper using an 800-year-old method — a fascinating demonstration
What should you eat in Samarkand?
Typical specialities in Samarkand: Plov — Uzbekistan's national dish: rice with lamb, carrots, chickpeas, and spices in a large kazan — each city has its own variant, Non (flatbread) — Bread baked in a tandoor oven — Samarkand's non is considered the best in Central Asia, Shashlik — Marinated meat skewers grilled over charcoal — best with lamb and pickled onions, Samsa — Puff pastry pockets filled with meat from the tandoor — the perfect snack at the market, Halva — Sweet confection made from sesame, nuts, and sugar — available in countless variations in Samarkand.
These specialties you must try!
Ready for Samarkand?
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