Grand Uzbekistan 7-Day — Tashkent, Samarkand & Bukhara

Activities

1. 09:30 Khast Imam complex 1h30

   Tashkent's spiritual heart — a restored 16th-century complex of madrasahs and mosques said to hold the 7th-century Quran of Uthman, one of the world's oldest surviving Qurans. Around 30,000 som.

   Cost: UZS 30,000 ($2.50) TIP: The ancient Quran is the highlight; photography inside is limited. Cover shoulders and knees. The wide plaza and blue-tiled buildings are striking. A calm start to the capital before the busy bazaar.
2. 11:30 Chorsu Bazaar 2h

   The huge domed Chorsu Bazaar, one of Central Asia's great markets — spices, dried fruit, meat, non bread, and household goods under and around its iconic blue dome. Lunch on plov, manti, or lagman at the upper-floor food stalls.

   Cost: Free (lunch UZS 40,000-80,000) TIP: Eat at the bustling food court above the market — plov, manti, and lagman at local prices. Buy dried fruit, nuts, and spices. Bargain good-naturedly. Watch your bag in the crowds. Cash, small notes.
3. 14:30 Tashkent metro art tour 1h30

   Ride the Tashkent metro — Central Asia's first, with stations decorated as Soviet-era art galleries (Kosmonavtlar's space theme, Alisher Navoi's poetry murals, and more). A flat, almost-free fare per ride; photography has been allowed since 2018.

   Cost: UZS 1,700 ($0.15) per ride TIP: Hop between the most decorated stations — Kosmonavtlar (cosmonauts), Alisher Navoi, Pakhtakor. Each is unique. The metro is clean, cheap, and a sight in itself. A fun, air-conditioned break from the heat.
4. 17:00 Amir Timur Square + new Tashkent 1h30

   Stroll Amir Timur Square and the surrounding modern boulevards, with the statue of Timur, leafy parks, and the contrast of Soviet and contemporary Tashkent before dinner.

   Cost: Free TIP: A pleasant late-afternoon walk in the modern capital. Plenty of cafes and restaurants nearby for dinner. An easy, low-key end to the Tashkent day before the train tomorrow.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 08:00 Afrosiyob high-speed train to Samarkand 2h30

   Take the high-speed Afrosiyob from Tashkent to Samarkand (about 2 hours, roughly $12-25). Pre-book a few days ahead in peak season. Drop your bag at a guesthouse near the old town.

   Cost: Train UZS 150,000-310,000 ($12-25) TIP: The Afrosiyob is modern and comfortable; book ahead as seats sell out in spring and autumn. Stay near the Registan for walkable sightseeing. An easy morning transfer between the two cities.
2. 11:30 The Registan — three madrasahs 2h

   Samarkand's icon: the grand square framed by the Ulugh Beg, Sher-Dor, and gold-domed Tilya-Kori madrasahs. Entry covers all three (around 50,000-70,000 som).

   Cost: UZS 50,000-70,000 ($4-6) TIP: Step into each courtyard and look up at the Tilya-Kori's gold-leaf interior. Climbing a minaret (small unofficial fee, when allowed) gives the classic overhead view. Dress modestly. Midday light is harsh — you'll return for the softer evening glow.
3. 13:45 Lunch + Bibi-Khanym Mosque 2h

   Lunch at the Bibikhanum Teahouse beside the mosque, then Timur's colossal Bibi-Khanym Mosque (around 30,000 som), once among the largest in the Islamic world.

   Cost: Lunch UZS 50,000-150,000 + mosque UZS 30,000 TIP: The teahouse terrace under the great dome is the spot for plov and tea. Stand under the mosque's main portal to feel the scale. Cover shoulders and knees. A natural old-town flow from the Registan.
4. 16:00 Siyob Bazaar 1h30

   Next door, Samarkand's largest market — spices, dried fruit and nuts, sweets, seasonal melons and pomegranates, and the city's famous stamped round non bread, with tandoor samsa baked on the spot.

   Cost: Free (snacks UZS 10,000-30,000) TIP: Buy a warm samsa and a round of Samarkand non. Sample dried fruit and nuts before buying, and bargain good-naturedly. Cash only, small notes; watch your bag.
5. 19:30 Dinner + the lit Registan 2h

   Dinner near the square (Shokhrukh Nur or Old City), then the floodlit Registan — in warmer months often with a free sound-and-light show on the facades.

   Cost: UZS 60,000-200,000 ($5-16) dinner TIP: The lit Registan is the city's best free experience. Light-show timing varies by season — ask your hotel. Shokhrukh Nur is good value near the square. A strong first Samarkand evening.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 09:00 Shah-i-Zinda necropolis 1h15

   An open, stepped avenue of mausoleums (around 30,000-40,000 som) built up over the 11th-19th centuries, famous for some of the most intense blue-and-turquoise tilework in the Islamic world. Many visitors rate it the most beautiful spot in the city.

   Cost: UZS 30,000-40,000 ($2.50-3.50) TIP: Go early to beat both heat and crowds; the tiles glow again in the late-afternoon sun if you'd rather return then. It remains a pilgrimage site, so dress modestly and be respectful. The tight lane of facades is the photographer's highlight of Samarkand.
2. 10:45 Afrasiyab Museum (ancient Samarkand) 45min

   A short walk away, the Afrasiyab Museum sits on the mound of the ancient city, displaying the famous 7th-century Sogdian wall paintings and finds from pre-Mongol Samarkand. A good primer on the deep history beneath the Timurid monuments.

   Cost: UZS 30,000 ($2.50) TIP: The Sogdian murals are the highlight and put the city's age in context. It's a quick, worthwhile stop between Shah-i-Zinda and the observatory. The surrounding Afrasiyab mound is the site of the original city destroyed by Genghis Khan.
3. 12:00 Ulugh Beg Observatory 45min

   The remains of the astronomer-ruler Ulugh Beg's 15th-century observatory (around 30,000 som) — the surviving lower arc of a huge curved sextant cut into the bedrock, plus a small museum explaining his remarkably accurate star tables.

   Cost: UZS 30,000 ($2.50) TIP: Modest in scale next to the great mosques, but historically extraordinary — the museum explains why it mattered. Pairs well with the Afrasiyab museum next door. A short taxi or Yandex Go ride from Shah-i-Zinda.
4. 13:00 Lunch — Labi G'or or a local osh house 1h15

   Lunch on the eastern side near the necropolis at a traditional restaurant such as Labi G'or, or hunt down fresh layered plov at a local osh house while it's still being served.

   Cost: UZS 60,000-160,000 ($5-13) per person TIP: If you want the freshest plov, the osh houses serve it at midday and sell out by early afternoon — go now rather than later. Labi G'or is a calm sit-down alternative near the eastern monuments. Carry som cash.
5. 15:30 Gur-e-Amir — Timur's mausoleum 45min

   Timur's mausoleum (around 30,000-40,000 som), with its fluted turquoise dome and a richly gilded interior chamber around the famous dark-jade tombstone over his grave. Architecturally a forerunner of later Timurid and Mughal tombs.

   Cost: UZS 30,000-40,000 ($2.50-3.50) TIP: Late-afternoon light catches the ribbed dome well. The gilded interior is small but dazzling — Timur, his sons, and Ulugh Beg lie here. It's near the southern end of the tourist boulevard, an easy walk or short ride from the Registan. Dress modestly.
6. 19:30 Dinner — Platan or Karimbek 2h

   A relaxed dinner at Platan (leafy courtyard, Uzbek classics and a European menu) or Karimbek (lively, great shashlik, evening live music) in the city center.

   Cost: UZS 100,000-250,000 ($8-20) per person TIP: Karimbek is the choice for a sociable evening with live music and a spread of shashlik; Platan for a calmer courtyard meal. Both are popular with groups, so go a little early or reserve. Cards usually accepted with som as backup.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 08:30 Drive to Shahrisabz over the mountain pass 2h

   Hire a car and driver for the day and head south to Shahrisabz (about 1.5-2 hours), Timur's birthplace, crossing a scenic mountain pass. The town's Timurid monuments are a UNESCO World Heritage Site in their own right.

   Cost: Car & driver UZS 400,000-800,000 ($32-65) for the day TIP: A car with a driver is the comfortable way; agree the price in advance and ask your guesthouse to arrange a reliable one. The pass scenery is part of the trip. Bring water and snacks. Start early to be back by evening.
2. 10:30 Ak-Saray Palace ruins 1h

   Shahrisabz's centerpiece — the towering ruined gateway of Timur's 'White Palace' (Ak-Saray), once vast, now two colossal tiled pylons rising dramatically from the square. The scale of what survives hints at the original ambition.

   Cost: Small entry fee TIP: The sheer height of the surviving portal is the photo. An inscription is said to read 'if you doubt our power, look at our buildings.' A short climb (when open) gives a view. The surrounding park is pleasant for a stroll.
3. 12:00 Timurid monuments + lunch in Shahrisabz 2h30

   See the Kok-Gumbaz Mosque, the Dorut Tilovat and Dorus Saodat complexes (with Timurid tombs), then lunch on local plov and shashlik in town before the drive back.

   Cost: UZS 60,000-150,000 ($5-12) lunch TIP: The monuments are spread along a green axis through the town — easy to walk between with your driver shuttling as needed. Lunch on freshly made plov while it's at its best. A quieter, less touristed contrast to Samarkand.
4. 15:00 Return drive + Konigil paper village (optional) 2h30

   Drive back toward Samarkand (about 1.5-2 hours). If time and energy allow, stop at the Konigil village just outside the city, where artisans make paper from mulberry bark by hand — a revived Silk Road craft.

   Cost: Included in car hire; Konigil small fee TIP: Konigil's water-powered paper mill demo is a charming short stop and a good souvenir source. Skip it if you're tired after the pass. Back in Samarkand, the evening is free for a final dinner and a last look at the lit Registan.
5. 19:30 Farewell dinner + last look at the Registan 2h

   A final Samarkand dinner near the old town, then a last evening walk to see the Registan floodlit against the night sky.

   Cost: UZS 60,000-200,000 ($5-16) per person TIP: End where the trip began — the lit Registan is the city's signature image. Order plov and shashlik one more time, or try a European grill at Platan for a change. A relaxed close to the Silk Road core.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 08:30 Afrosiyob high-speed train to Bukhara 2h30

   Take the modern high-speed train from Samarkand to Bukhara (about 1.5-2 hours, roughly $10-20). Pre-book a few days ahead in peak season. Drop your bag at a guesthouse in Bukhara's compact old town.

   Cost: Train UZS 130,000-250,000 ($10-20) TIP: The Afrosiyob is comfortable and reliable; book ahead in spring and autumn as seats sell out. Bukhara's old town is walkable end to end, so stay inside it. This is an overnight — pack light and consider leaving heavier luggage at your Samarkand hotel if returning there.
2. 12:00 Lyabi-Hauz + lunch by the pool 1h30

   Lunch beside the Lyabi-Hauz, a shaded 17th-century stone pool ringed by mulberry trees and teahouses at the heart of Bukhara's old town — the city's social living room.

   Cost: UZS 60,000-150,000 ($5-12) per person TIP: The pool-side teahouses are the classic spot for plov and tea in the shade. It's the natural center of Bukhara to orient yourself from. A relaxed start after the train.
3. 14:00 Trading domes + Bukhara old town 2h30

   Wander the covered bazaars (the surviving trading domes — Toki Zargaron, Toki Sarrafon, Toki Telpak Furushon), the Magoki-Attori mosque, and the lived-in lanes of medieval Bukhara, browsing silk, suzani, and metalwork.

   Cost: Free (small entries) TIP: Bukhara feels more intimate and medieval than monumental Samarkand. The trading domes are great for souvenirs — silk scarves, miniatures, knives. Bargain good-naturedly. Easy walking on the flat old-town lanes.
4. 18:00 Poi-Kalon ensemble at dusk 1h30

   End at the Poi-Kalon — the great Kalon Minaret (so striking that Genghis Khan reportedly spared it), the Kalon Mosque, and the Mir-i-Arab Madrasah, glowing at dusk and lit after dark.

   Cost: Mosque small entry TIP: Dusk and the floodlit hour are the best times here. The minaret is Bukhara's icon. Dinner afterward at a courtyard restaurant in the old town. A memorable first evening in Bukhara.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 09:00 The Ark of Bukhara + Bolo-Hauz Mosque 2h

   Bukhara's massive royal fortress, the Ark (small entry), seat of the emirs for centuries, with museums inside, and opposite it the elegant Bolo-Hauz Mosque with its slender painted wooden columns.

   Cost: Ark UZS 40,000 ($3.50) TIP: The Ark's ramparts give a sense of old Bukhara's power; the museums vary in interest. The Bolo-Hauz's reflected columns are a classic photo. Go in the morning before the heat. A short walk from the old-town center.
2. 11:30 Chor Minor + a last old-town wander 2h

   Walk to the quirky Chor Minor, a small gatehouse with four distinct turquoise-capped towers tucked in the back lanes, then a final browse of the old town and a relaxed lunch.

   Cost: Small entry + lunch UZS 60,000-150,000 TIP: Chor Minor is small but charming and a fun photo. The surrounding residential lanes show everyday Bukhara away from the monuments. Pick up any last souvenirs from the trading domes before lunch.
3. 15:00 Afrosiyob train back to Samarkand 2h30

   Return to Samarkand by high-speed train (about 1.5-2 hours), arriving in the evening for a final night in the city.

   Cost: Train UZS 130,000-250,000 ($10-20) TIP: Book the return ahead too. Confirm the timetable, as departures are limited. Back in Samarkand, the evening is perfect for a last look at the lit Registan and a farewell dinner.
4. 19:30 Farewell Samarkand dinner + lit Registan 2h

   A final dinner — Platan's courtyard or Karimbek's live music — and a last evening walk to the floodlit Registan to close the Silk Road core.

   Cost: UZS 100,000-250,000 ($8-20) per person TIP: End at the lit Registan, the trip's signature image. A relaxed, sociable last night after the two-city loop. Cards usually accepted with som as backup.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 09:30 A final sight or a slow morning 2h

   Catch anything missed — a return to a favorite monument in the morning light, the Afrasiyab museum if skipped, or simply a relaxed guesthouse breakfast and a last wander of the old town.

   Cost: UZS 30,000 (sight) or breakfast TIP: Keep it light on a departure day. The Registan or Shah-i-Zinda in soft morning light is a fitting last image. Or just enjoy a slow coffee on University Boulevard in the new town.
2. 12:00 Siyob Bazaar — souvenirs + last lunch 1h30

   A final visit to the Siyob Bazaar for souvenirs — dried fruit, nuts, halva, spices, suzani embroidery, and ceramics — and a last lunch of samsa and plov nearby.

   Cost: Shopping + lunch UZS 40,000-100,000 TIP: Dried apricots, raisins, nuts, and halva travel well and make good gifts. Suzani textiles and Uzbek ceramics are characterful souvenirs. Bargain good-naturedly. Cash, small notes. A fitting, atmospheric last stop.
3. 14:30 Depart — SKD airport or train to Tashkent Travel

   Head to Samarkand International Airport (SKD) for an onward or international flight, or take the Afrosiyob train back to Tashkent (about 2 hours) for a flight home from the main hub.

   Cost: Taxi to SKD ~UZS 100,000 ($8) / train UZS 150,000-310,000 TIP: Allow time for the airport or station. Many travelers fly out of Tashkent (TAS), so the 2-hour train back is common — book it ahead. Keep your hotel registration slips handy until you've left the country. A smooth end to the Silk Road loop.

Meal Recommendations