Landlocked in central Asia, Uzbekistan is a country were you can expect the unexpected. A land that mixes Iranian, Mongol, Turkic and, most recently, Russian influences and seems to have retained the best from each culture. Uzbekistan is famous for its numerous monuments dating back to years of the Silk Road, including magnificent palaces, mosques and madrasas, as well as ruins from ancient civilizations. Be prepared to be welcomed by their people and come back full of their lovely handicrafts.
octopuzz, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
The best time of the year to visit Uzbekistan is from mid-April to mid-June, and from September to early November. During spring and autumn seasons the weather is typically warm and dry during, with day temperatures sitting around 21°C-30°C during spring and 14°C-30°C during autumn. The summer in Uzbekistan can be really hot. Winter, from end-November until March, can be very cold, with day temperatures which may remain below 4°C, although the skies typically remain clear.
Historical sites: April to mid-June and September to October, are the best time to visit, as it avoid the cold and hot temperatures of winter and summer, but still offer warm temperatures with limited rainfall. This is also harvest time, during these seasons, so the markets are full of fruits and wine is flowing.
Hiking: In general, for hiking either on the deserts or in the mountains spring and autumn are the best time to discover Uzbekistan’s nature. For the mountains in the eastern part of the country avoid late November until mid-April.
Winter activities: Uzbekistan ski season is approximately end-November until mid-April. If you are on a tailor-made trip, and want to fit in a bit of skiing in Tien Shan Mountains, just under 100km from Tashkent, December to March are your best months.
The Uzbek Som is the official currency. Since 2018 typically ranging from 10,000 to 13,000 Uzbek Som per Euro and 8,000 to 10,500 Uzbek Som per US Dollar.
Uzbek is the only official state language in Uzbekistan, although the Tajik language is widespread within Bukhara and Samarkand due to the large population of ethnic Tajiks. Russian is the main language for 14% of the population and also common in the cities since it allows communication between ethnies. English is seldom spoken, excluding on the main tourist spots of Bukhara, Khiva and Samarkand and the younger generations.
In July 2018, the Government of Uzbekistan introduced an e-Visa for travellers from 101 nationalities. E-Visas are issued for stays of up to 30 days with a Single Entry, Double Entry or Multiple Entry. They are valid for 90 days after issued. Simply fill out the online application and pay the visa fee, you do not have to send any documents by mail or visit an uzbek embassy in person. Once your visa application is approved, you will receive an approved visa copy by email.
ATMs in Uzbekistan dispense Uzbek Som with some also giving out US dollars. It used to be a huge issue, but since 2018, ATMs started appearing everywhere in major cities, and they are well stocked with money. Most will dispense with your Mastercard or Visa card. In any case, it is useful to bring some cash in US dollars since these are typically accepted, specially if making big payments.
Shops are open every day from 8h00 to 21h00. Cafes are open from early morning until 10 pm and restaurants open for lunch (noon) and are typically open until late. The weekly days off are Saturday and Sunday.
Time: GMT + 5 hours.
Tashkent International Airport (the country’s main and almost only entrance for foreign tourists. The distance to the city centre by car is approximately 7 km)
Samarkand international airport (it takes only 6km to the city centre)
Bukhara International airport (the distance with the city centre by car is approximately 5,5 km)
Urgench International airport (is situated in 33 kilometres from Khiva. The distance from Urgench city to airport is almost 10 km)
Traveling by train through Uzbekistan is the safest and most comfortable mode of transport. Since a few years high-speed trains operate between the cities of Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara. Try to avoid the prigorodny trains, as they are slower than hopping in a shared taxi. Book in advance online to avoid missing a seat on the better trains or ask your or hotel or tour operator to make the booking for you.
Bus travel is only for the truly adventurous and not for anyone in a hurry in Uzbekistan, but is also an option connecting the main cities. Buses and minibuses are quite cheap means of transportation. Still, public transport is mostly overcrowded and with no air conditioning. If you do travel any distance on a bus in Uzbekistan, take toilet paper with you and be careful what you eat at stops along the way. Metro is available only in Tashkent but it works quite well and serves an extensive area of the city. There are three lines in Tashkent subway; Chilanzar (12 stations), Uzbekistan (11 stations) and Unis-Abad (6 stations). The cost of a token (single trip) is 1200UZS ($ 0.14).
By car, please note that it is not advisable to drive yourself in Uzbekistan or to drive at night even with a driver. Although main roads in central Tashkent are relatively well maintained, many secondary roads inside and outside Tashkent, and particularly those in the Tien Shan and Fan Mountains, are in poor condition and may be passable only by four-wheel-drive vehicles.
By taxi, a key piece of information is that, as in most Central Asian countries, most taxis are not licensed. Thus, raising your hand next to a busy street will surely get several regular cars to a halt. Remember to negotiate a fare before getting in and have your destination noted in Uzbek or Russian, to make sure you get to your destination.
If you want to eat pilaf in the evening, you will not find it, pilaf is cooked for lunch. Walking in front of people during their prayers. Wearing revealing clothes. Finger-pointing is demeaning. Forgeting to take off your shoes when entering a house or visiting a holy site. Drinking tap water
Breads and noodles are the main staples and dried fruits and nuts are common snacks. Mutton is a popular meat due to the abundance of sheep in the country.
The country’s signature dish is “Plov” (pilaf), made with rice, pieces of meat, grated carrots and onions, and usually cooked in a kazan over an open fire; chickpeas, raisins, or fruit may be added for variation. Other typical dishes include, “Manty” (a dumpling stuffed with minced meat, fat and onions and cooked over steam and served with ketchup, vinegar or sour cream), “Shashlyk” (made from mutton or beef; alternating pieces of meat and fat are well spiced and marinated; served with pickled onions), “Lagman” (handmade pulled noodles in a meat or vegetable sauce served with meat, usually beef, bell peppers, garlic, onion and fresh herbs).
In Uzbekistan the power plugs and sockets are of type C and F (European, two round pins). The standard voltage is 220 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz.
Ensure you are fully insured for medical emergencies including repatriation since standard medical services in Uzbekistan are basic at best and good service are expensive even by western standards. There are no mandatory immunisations for travellers to Uzbekistan though you should be up-to-date with Typhoid, Tetanus, Polio and Hepatitis A. If you are uncertain or travelling to less visited areas, seek advice from your local doctor or travel centre as to the correct immunisations and preventative treatments.
In Uzbekistan tipping is not compulsory or expected, however, tips can be given optionally if service is particularly good. Restaurants/ Cafes/ Bars: most of them automatically apply 10-15% service surcharge to the customer’s bill. No additional tipping is needed; however, it is appreciated.