Sights of Uzbekistan + photos

What are the most famous sights in Uzbekistan? Are you looking for the most beautiful sights in Uzbekistan? In this comprehensive guide, we have covered both the brilliant tourist spots of Uzbekistan and the lesser-known tourist destinations in the country. We’ll also take a look at the top tips for each location and how to get there from Tashkent.

Briefly about Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan has preserved its original identity with remarkable elegance and beauty; The magical charm of this destination in the heart of Central Asia is where you can combine living history with adventure in the heart of nature and experience a different journey.

This country is full of ancient sites that can be easily discovered while traveling from one city to another. The sights of Uzbekistan are not only limited to historical buildings; Its eye-catching mountain ranges, peaceful plains, and pristine nature provide endless opportunities for hiking, climbing, and horseback riding for nature lovers.

On the combined tour of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan by Star Vank Airlines, discover the cities of the Silk Road and take an unforgettable trip along the ancient caravan routes in the mountains and deserts of Uzbekistan.

What are the must-see places in Uzbekistan?

In order to have a more enjoyable trip, we will have an overview of the sights and entertainment in Uzbekistan. You can find the most famous tourist places in Uzbekistan as unspoiled destinations in the country.

Shah Zinda, Samarkand / SHAH-I-ZINDA

As one of the most famous sights in Uzbekistan, Shah Zinda is the burial place of many members of the royal family and nobility, including a number of relatives of Amir Timur. This place has a stunning street of blue tombs and various tombs in the ancient city in its heart.

Legends say that Qassam bin Abbas, the cousin of the Prophet of Islam, is buried here. Qassam bin Abbas preached Islam in this area and this made this complex very sacred for Muslims. If you are interested in destinations such as Arbakistan, which have a common culture with Iran, we suggest you read the travel guide to Dushanbe.

Tips for visiting Shah Zinda

• If you want to have a more secluded space during your visit, visit Shah Zind at sunrise or sunset.
• We suggest you arrive a few hours before sunset, visit the cemetery and continue to the main cemetery. Then go to Hazrat Khizr Mosque on the street and return to Shah Zinda for sunset.
• Taking pictures next to the gravestones or sitting on them is strictly prohibited. Do not put any money on the graves.
• Shah Zinda is a holy place. Many Muslims travel thousands of miles to come here specifically. Respect the mausoleum during your visit.

Shah Zinda working hours

• It is open every day from 7:00 to 19:00.

How to go from Tashkent to Shah Zinda

• The easiest and fastest way to reach Samarkand from Tashkent is by train. Afrosub is a high-speed service that takes about two hours to reach Shah Zinda and departs every morning and evening.
• There is also the Eastern service, which is much cheaper and takes just over three hours. This service departs every morning.

Ulogbek School, Bukhara / ULUGBEK MADRASA

Ulogbek School can be considered as one of the most special sights in Uzbekistan, which has a story to listen to. The man who ruled this region at that time was named Mirza Al-Agh Bey. He was an intellectual man and used his skills to strengthen cities with educational facilities.

Elagh Bey became concerned about the lack of progress in scientific research in Uzbekistan. So he turned his attention to Bukhara, which at that time was extremely strict and conservative in the field of science. It was with this way of thinking that Ulogbek School was built under the dream of Elagh Bey to make the city flourish as a center of science and education.

On the order of Al-Agh Bey, an inscription was engraved on the entrance door that says: “The search for knowledge is the responsibility of every Muslim man and woman.” The center could accommodate up to 80 students studying subjects including astronomy, mathematics and Arabic.

Tips for visiting Ulugbek School

• Admission to this school is free, so be sure to check it out. It may not have the stunning architectural beauty you’ve seen elsewhere, but that doesn’t make it any less unique!
• Do not confuse this school with Ulogbek school in Samarkand!

How to get to Ulogbek school from Tashkent

• By train: It is very easy to reach Bukhara from the capital. Two trains, one high-speed and the other standard, connect these two cities. From Kagan train station (the new part of Bukhara where you get off), you can take a 20-minute taxi to al-Ghabeik school for around 20,000 soms.

Important note: To order a taxi online and easily get the rate in advance, the application Yandex Taxi or Yoko Taxi install the

You can take a bus from Tashkent to Bukhara, but it takes more than 12 hours and the price difference is not as much as the train. You can buy tickets from the bus station near Olmazur metro station. Bus prices change frequently, but usually cost around 66,000 soms.

Small Chimgan Peak, Chimgan National Park / SMALL CHIMGAN PEAK

Ugam-Chatkal National Park is located about 80 kilometers east of the capital, and with endless hiking trails that wind between valleys, it contains the most attractive recreation in Uzbekistan.

One of the attractions of this park as a sightseeing place in Uzbekistan is Chimgan Mountain, which is the largest peak in Uzbekistan with a height of 3309 meters.

The climb to the peak of Little Chimgan takes about 4 hours and offers stunning views of Lake Charvak, the lush meadows of Chimgan and the snow-capped peaks of the Tien Shan mountains in neighboring Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.

Tips for visiting the small peak of Chimgan

• It is recommended to spend at least two days in the park. You can pitch a tent or stay in mountain huts.
• Some park locations require a permit, which you can get from a tourist agency or a mountain guide group.

Charsu Bazaar, Tashkent / CHORSU BAZAAR

This labyrinth market is actually the largest market in Uzbekistan! Spices, scarves, jewelry, trinkets, fruits and vegetables, cosmetics, meat, balloons, cakes… whatever you can think of is here. It is not without reason that the name of the market is among the most popular sights in Uzbekistan.

The main part of the market is protected by a magnificent azure dome structure, and the stalls are still scattered in the surrounding streets and alleys.

Here you can buy some street food, find a place to sit and enjoy the view. This is the perfect place to immerse yourself in the culture of Central Asia. The article introducing the traditional dishes of Tajikistan will introduce you to the food culture of Central Asia.

How to go to Churroso market

Apart from walking, the easiest way to get to the market is to use the metro and go to the Chorso metro station. When you arrive at the station, you will encounter a multitude of bakeries and stalls selling Chinese trinkets.

Rigistan, Samarkand / THE REGISTER

This public square, which is currently considered one of the most famous sights in Uzbekistan, was used in the old days for celebrations, buying and selling in the market, and issuing royal proclamations.

This space used to be full of sand, which is why it is named Rigistan in Farsi, which means “sandy place” or “desert”. Three magnificent schools surround the square, each renowned for its educational performance.

The Tilia-Kuri School (Middle Building), once used as student accommodation, is now home to souvenir shops for tourists. This school has a courtyard and a mosque in the western part of the courtyard.

Tilia Cori means ‘gilded’ and that’s exactly what will make you fall in love with this place. The inner walls of the mosque shine with gold and are very spectacular.

Tips for visiting the desert

• It is recommended to go to the desert at sunrise or sunset. During these hours, you can bypass the long queues of tourists. (People flock to this place from 10:00 to 11:00) and you will have enough space for sightseeing and photography. At sunrise, the sun’s rays shine over this complex and create a very stunning sight.
• If you decide to visit the desert at night, the lights come on after sunset and illuminate all three buildings.
• During the tourist season from late spring to early autumn, various events are held in the evening. At 19:00, you can watch a traditional dance and music performance inside Shir-Dor school.

Working hours of the desert

• The desert is open daily from April to October from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm and from November to March from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
• If you arrive 15 minutes before closing time, they will let you stay at least an hour longer. If you are into photography, this is the perfect time to take beautiful pictures of the lights that illuminate the schools.

How to reach the desert from Tashkent

• Taking a train is the easiest and fastest way to reach Samarkand from Tashkent.

Orungach Lake, Chimgan National Park / URUNGACH LAKE

This lake has many recreational activities in Uzbekistan and is suitable for swimmers and nature lovers. The turquoise waters of Urungach Lake are known as Jade Lakes to the people of Uzbekistan. This lake is a very peaceful place to visit and is considered a real gem in Uzbekistan.

You can hike through the mountain pastures or have fun on top of a nearby peak. This lake is located in the heights of the park, near the border of Kazakhstan.

Important note: Due to its proximity to the Kazakh border, you must obtain a permit from the local tourism office or a travel agency. It won’t cost much, but you should arrange it before your trip.

How to go from Tashkent to Lake Urungach

Unlike the Chimgan mountain range, which is only 80 km away from Tashkent, Urungach Lake is 150 km away and about a five-hour drive from the capital.

Most of the route is on a dirt road, so you will need a 4×4 driver. Unless you plan to hike for several days from Chimgan, you must arrange a driver to go to the mountains.

Mizdkhan Necropolis, Qara-ul-Pakistan / NECROPOLIS OF MIZDAKHAN

The people of Uzbekistan consider the Mazdkhan cemetery to be one of the most sacred places in Central Asia, and this cemetery attracts pilgrims from all over the world. Therefore, it is included in the list of the most famous sights of Uzbekistan

This place is a collection of tomb ruins, cemeteries and citadel walls. Its foundations date back to the early 4th century BC, so stepping in the footsteps of the people who lived here centuries ago is both exciting and dreamy.

This ancient site is located in the hills about 20 km from Nukus in Qaraqal, Pakistan. Pakistan’s Nagorno-Karabakh is an autonomous province, meaning it can politically “separate” from Uzbekistan. Nukus is its capital.

Legend has it that a “doomsday clock” is built on the wall that counts down to the end of the world. Every year, a brick falls from the wall and when the last brick falls, the ground catches fire. As one of the most famous places in Uzbekistan, Mazdkhan Cemetery attracts many pilgrims from all over the world every year.

Tips for visiting Mazdkhan Cemetery

• Visiting this cemetery is free.
• If you are planning to travel to Mazdkhan, there are other attractive castles in this area that you can visit. The Gyawar Fort is right next door and offers a wealth of information about its pivotal links to the history of the Silk Road.
• To visit this site, just like any holy place in Central Asia, you must wear appropriate clothing.

How to go from Tashkent to Mazdkhan cemetery

• To get to the cemetery, you must first travel to Nukus. No public transport service goes directly to this place, however, it is a 30-minute drive from Nukus, so the best option is to take a shared taxi from the central shopping complex.
• By plane: If you are short on time, you can book a domestic flight between Tashkent and Nukus. It takes 1 hour and 40 minutes.
• By Train: Taking the night train is more cost-effective and a fun way to chat with Uzbek people and see the sights. You can book a private bed for 2 people (Lux / CB), a private bed for 4 people (Coupe) or a shared bed (Platzkarten).

Tesh Khavali Palace, Khiva / TASH KHAULI PALACE

If you are looking for the most beautiful places on the Silk Road, Khiva should definitely be on your list as one of the places to visit in Uzbekistan.

Given Uzbekistan’s tumultuous history and numerous invasions, it is surprising that many of its sacred monuments still stand. Especially in Khiva, you really feel like you have traveled back hundreds of years. Khiva’s battlemented walls were its first line of defense and now form a large part of its features.

According to Uzbek aesthetics, every detail of Tash Khavali Palace has been carefully considered. The complex, which translates as “Stone House”, was once the Khan’s summer home in Khiva.

Tips for visiting Tash Khavali Palace

This place really is a maze! So visiting it will take 2-3 hours.

The palace is open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. We suggest going there at 9:00 a.m. to avoid the long ticket line.

How to go from Tashkent to Tashkhali Palace

You can book an overnight train (approx. 14 hours) from Tashkent to Khiva. From Khiva railway station, you can reach the palace in 8 minutes by taxi or by walking for 30 minutes.

Ak-Serai Palace, Shahr-Sabz / AK-SARAY PALACE

Aksaray Palace in Shahr Sabz is one of the most amazing sights in Uzbekistan. Amir Timur, the then ruler, immediately after winning a battle in 1380, ordered the construction of this complex. The builders of that time did an extraordinary job considering the age of this building!

50,000 people who participated in the construction of this building were slaves who were captured by Timur. Ghazaa Timur is not a good name among Iranians, but he is known as one of the national heroes of Uzbekistan. Timur’s legacy resonates in Uzbekistan’s ancient cities, and you can tell by the architecture built during his reign.

Aksaray Palace entrance fee

• The entrance to the green city is 30,000 thirds of Uzbekistan and this ticket allows you to visit the Aksaray Palace.
• The entrance fee of Durot Tilovat Complex or Duros Siadat Complex is 30,000 Uzbekistan Soms per person.

How to go from Tashkent to Aksaray Palace

• If you want to go directly from Tashkent to Shahr-Sabz, you need to book a ticket for Kitub station which is in Shahr-Sabz. The train journey takes about 4 hours and 30 minutes. From there, take a shared taxi to the palace. This trip is 15 minutes.
• Also, you can plan to go to Samarkand, stop there and spend some time and arrange a driver to take you there.
• Getting to Samarkand from Tashkent is very easy as there are daily trains. Take the Afrasiab high-speed train and you will reach your destination in 2 hours.

Sightseeing places of Uzbekistan at a glance

final word

The sights of Uzbekistan are not only a collection of historical monuments and ancient cities; This country is a living narrative of culture, nature and legendary routes of the Silk Road, which surprises every traveler. From the magnificent squares of Samarkand and Bukhara to the peaceful mountain landscapes and mysterious deserts, a trip to Uzbekistan will be a profound and different experience. If you want to discover this historical route in a more complete and exciting way, the combined tour of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan by Setare Vanak Airlines is an ideal opportunity to get to know the two original destinations of Central Asia and touch their common but unique culture at the same time.

Frequently asked questions

• What season is the best travel time to visit the sights of Uzbekistan?

Spring and autumn are the best time to travel; The weather is mild and it is easier to visit the attractions.

• Do we need a visa to travel to Uzbekistan?

Yes, but the visa process is relatively simple and usually takes a short time.

• What cities does the combined tour of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan include?

This tour usually covers major cities in Uzbekistan such as Samarkand and Bukhara and in Tajikistan cities such as Dushanbe and surrounding natural areas.

• Is a trip to Uzbekistan suitable for nature lovers?

completely; In addition to historical monuments, diverse nature, mountains and hiking trails are considered important attractions of this country.