What to See in Samarkand: A Complete Guide to Attractions

How many days to allocate for Samarkand?

• 1 day minimum for an independent acquaintance with the city. In one day, it is realistic to visit all the main historical monuments on foot: Shah-i-Zinda, Bibi-Khanym, Registan, and Gur-Eamir. Plus the paper factory and the Ulugbek Observatory if you take a taxi.
• 2 days is optimal. The second day is dedicated to the "other" Samarkand: European quarters, wine tasting, and cultural shows.
• 3 days is full immersion. The third day is for out-of-town sites: the Imam al-Bukhari complex and the new Silk Road Samarkand tourist center with the "Eternal City" ethnographic park.

Day One: Historical Samarkand

A classic itinerary covering the city's main monuments. Almost entirely on foot, from Shah-i-Zinda to Gur-Emir. Takes about 7 hours including stops.

Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis

Start your day here, not at Gur-Emir — most tourists do the opposite, and by nine in the morning, there are already queues at Gur-Emir. In Shah-i-Zinda, it is quiet in the morning, and the complex looks especially spectacular in the morning light.

Shah-i-Zinda is a street of mausoleums that grew around the tomb of Kusam ibn Abbas, a cousin of the Prophet Muhammad. The name translates as "The Living King": according to legend, Kusam hid in a well after an attack by pagans and gained eternal life. For nine centuries — from the 11th to the 19th — tombs were built here for members of Tamerlane's family, courtiers, and noble citizens. The complex is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The walls literally glow: mosaic, majolica, painting. The blue of the glazed domes, turquoise ornaments — in the morning light this makes a strong impression. Allocate 40-90 minutes. Entry is paid, clothes should be modest: shoulders and knees covered.

Hazrat Khizr Mosque and Mausoleum of Islam Karimov

Leaving Shah-i-Zinda, walk up the Afrasiab hill — the ruins of ancient Samarkand, where excavations are still ongoing. On the edge of the hill stands the 19th-century Hazrat Khizr Mosque with beautiful wood carvings and an arched niche. Higher up is the mausoleum of the first President of Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov (2017). This spot offers one of the best views of the Bibi-Khanym Mosque. Both sites are free to visit.

Siab Bazaar

Coming down from the hill, you will find yourself at the Siab Bazaar — the oldest market in Samarkand. Grab the world-famous Samarkand flatbreads, dried fruits, try nisholda, kurt, baklava, and look at souvenirs. Currency exchange offices are also located here.

Bibi-Khanym Mosque

The bazaar and the mosque stand right next to each other. Bibi-Khanym is the largest mosque in Samarkand, built by Tamerlane in 1399-1404 after his victorious campaign to India. By design, it was supposed to eclipse everything that existed then in the Islamic world: the courtyard accommodated ten thousand worshippers, 95 elephants from the Indian campaign delivered materials, and hundreds of masters from all over Asia worked for five years. The main portal is called the "Milky Way". In the courtyard stands a huge marble lyaukh — a stand for the Quran, installed under Ulugbek. Entry is paid.

Right across the street is the mausoleum of Saray Mulk Khanum, Tamerlane's favorite wife, after whom both monuments are named. Entry is paid.

Islam Karimov Street (Tashkentskaya)

From the mosque, walk southwest along Islam Karimov Street. A former route of the Great Silk Road, today it is a pedestrian boulevard lined with shops and cafes. Silk, ceramics, souvenirs — a good place for shopping. Along the way, you will see the Chorsu trading dome (a former bazaar, now an artisans' exhibition hall) and the Shaybanids' Dakhma — a 16th-century burial structure of rulers by the road. You can also stop on this street for tea or lunch.

Registan Square

Registan is the main square of Samarkand and the most photographed place in Central Asia. Three madrasahs form an ensemble that has no analogues in the world.

Ulugbek Madrasah (1420) is one of the oldest universities in Central Asia, where astronomy, mathematics, and theology were taught. Sher-Dor Madrasah (17th century) is recognizable by the tigers with sun discs on its portal. Tilya-Kori Madrasah ("Gilded") — the domed hall is so thickly painted with gold that it seems to glow from within.

Allocate at least an hour, preferably an hour and a half. Registan is open daily: in summer (from February 20 to November 20) from 07:00 to 00:00, in winter from 08:00 to 20:00. A ticket for all three madrasahs can be bought online at registon.uz or at the ticket office.

Tip: if you stay overnight, return to the square after sunset. Around 21:00, a light show with projections on the facades of the madrasahs begins here. You can watch it for free from the steps at the entrance.

Rukhabad Mausoleum

From Registan, walk west along Registan Street. In about fifteen minutes, you will reach the Rukhabad Mausoleum (1380) — the tomb of Tamerlane's mentor, the Sufi Sheikh Burhaneddin Sagarji. No bright mosaics here: burnt brick, a cube with a dome, ascetic decoration — everything is intentional, reflecting the philosophy of Sufism. According to legend, a casket containing the hair of the Prophet Muhammad is immured in the dome. It is said that Tamerlane always dismounted from his horse when passing by. Entry is free.

Gur-Emir Mausoleum

Just 150 meters from Rukhabad is the final point of the route. Gur-Emir ("Tomb of the Emir") is the burial vault of Tamerlane, his sons, his grandson Ulugbek, and other descendants. Construction of the mausoleum began in 1404 for Timur's favorite grandson, who died in a campaign, and in 1405 Tamerlane himself was brought here. The ribbed sky-blue dome, 15 meters in diameter, is visible from many points in the city.

Above Tamerlane's burial place is a dark green jade slab installed under Ulugbek. On June 21, 1941, Soviet scientists opened the tomb, and the very next morning Germany attacked the USSR. Coincidence? Uzbeks doubt it. Opens from 08:00. Entry is paid.

Ulugbek Observatory

(A separate trip by taxi)

You need to drive to the observatory — it is located on the northern outskirts of the city, outside the walking route. But it is worth a visit, especially if you are interested in more than just architecture.

The observatory was built in the 1420s by Ulugbek — Tamerlane's grandson, a scientist who was far more interested in stars than in wars. The main instrument was a giant sextant built into the building and extending deep underground: the radius of its arc reached 40 meters — the history of astronomy knows no other such instrument. Using the marble scale, astronomers measured the height of the Sun, Moon, and planets, and that is how Ulugbek calculated the length of a year with accuracy down to minutes. They also compiled a table of coordinates for over a thousand stars, which European scientists studied for two centuries afterward. In the remaining lower part of the sextant, you can go down and see the marble tracks. Nearby is a museum with manuscripts. Entry is paid.

"Konigil Meros" Samarkand Paper Factory

13 km from Samarkand, in the Konigil village on the banks of the Siab River, is the only workshop in Uzbekistan where paper is handmade using 8th-9th century technology from mulberry bark. The bark is boiled, beaten in mortars, pressed into sheets, dried, and polished with marble. No chemicals are used, which is why the paper is slightly yellowish and lasts for 300-400 years (regular paper lasts 40-50 years). This exact paper is used for the restoration of ancient manuscripts worldwide. You can see the whole process and make a sheet yourself. The factory has a shop selling notebooks, postcards, and even clothing made from Samarkand paper.

Silk Factory with Carpet Workshop

Near Samarkand, there is a factory where handmade carpets are woven right in front of you. Masters will show the entire process from winding threads to the finished product. Here you can buy a carpet or silk products directly from the manufacturer.

Day Two: European Samarkand and Wines

If the first day represents the Orient in all its glory, the second day reveals a completely different city: quiet, shady, and unexpected.

University Boulevard and the Russian Quarter

From Gur-Emir, walk west and in a few minutes, University Boulevard will begin. The Russians built this area in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and it looks nothing like the rest of Samarkand. A unique "Turkestan Art Nouveau" developed here: merchant houses with European facades, the Orthodox Church of St. Alexis, a Catholic church, and an Armenian church — all within a few blocks. This contrast makes Samarkand a truly special city.

Samarkand Wine Tasting

Few people know that Samarkand is one of the oldest wine-producing regions in the world. Winemaking has existed here for millennia, and in the 19th century, with the arrival of the Russians, the production of European wines began. The Khovrenko Winery (formerly the Filatov Winery) is one of the oldest enterprises continuing this tradition. They make dessert wines from local grape varieties, including the famous "Samarkand" Muscat. Tasting is an excellent way to get to know another side of the city.

"El Merosi" Costume Theater

The theater is located in a beautiful building in the city center. Here, the history of Uzbek national costume is shown through theatrical performances and live shows. Events take place in the evening — check the schedule on the website elmerosi.uz.

Grand Hall Samarkand

A large-scale concert and cultural center for getting acquainted with Uzbek music, dance, and theater. Check the program schedule in advance — performances change.

Day Three: Modern Samarkand and Out-of-Town Monuments

Imam al-Bukhari Complex

25 km from Samarkand, in the Hartang village, lies one of the main holy sites of Islam — the memorial complex of Imam al-Bukhari. Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Ismail al-Bukhari (810-870) is buried here. He was one of the greatest Islamic scholars and the compiler of "Jami as-Sahih": the second most important book in Islam after the Quran. He dedicated 16 years to collecting and systematizing hadiths, developed strict criteria for verification, and founded the science of hadith studies.

A pilgrimage to his grave is considered by Muslims to be equivalent to a small Hajj — believers come here from Indonesia, Malaysia, Turkey, Pakistan, and the entire Islamic world. It is not for nothing they say: "If Mecca is the heart of the Muslim world, Samarkand is its head."

In 2026, the President of Uzbekistan opened the completely rebuilt complex — a true architectural gem. The area spans 45 hectares. The territory features a grandiose mosque for 10,000 people, an ayvan with 154 columns in the national style, 14 blue domes, and four 75-meter minarets. The museum presents the life story of the Imam, the stories of 25 prophets of the Quran, manuscripts, and ancient editions. Even if you are not a Muslim, the scale and beauty of the complex will leave a deep impression. Getting there: taxi from Samarkand takes ~25 minutes.

Silk Road Samarkand and the "Eternal City"

A 20-minute drive from the historical center, near the Soviet-era Rowing Canal, stands Central Asia's first international-class resort, Silk Road Samarkand. The complex opened in 2022 and has already hosted UNESCO sessions and other international forums.

The heart of the complex is the historical and ethnographic park "Eternal City" spanning 17 hectares. It is Uzbekistan in miniature: the architecture of Samarkand, Bukhara, Fergana, Tashkent, and Khiva — all in one place. There are more than 50 workshops with live artisans: ceramics, wood carving, embroidery, jewelry, and Samarkand paper making. Master classes are offered in cooking plov, embossing Bukharian knives, and pottery. There are restaurants serving cuisines from different regions of Uzbekistan, tandoor flatbreads, and street performances. Boat trips are available along the Rowing Canal. The canal is unique: there are only two historical analogues in the world — in Moscow ("Krylatskoye") and in Munich. The national rowing team of Uzbekistan still trains here.

Opening hours of the "Eternal City": 08:00-20:00.

Sights of Samarkand: Complete List

Must-visit:

• Registan Square — three madrasahs of the 15th-17th centuries, the main square of Central Asia
• Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis — a street of mausoleums with the best mosaics in town
• Bibi-Khanym Mosque — the largest mosque in Samarkand, built by Tamerlane
• Gur-Emir Mausoleum — the burial vault of Tamerlane and the Timurids
• Ulugbek Observatory — a medieval scientific center with a 40-meter sextant
• Imam al-Bukhari Complex — the main Islamic shrine of Uzbekistan

Interesting if you have time:

• Hazrat Khizr Mosque — view of Bibi-Khanym, free admission
• Rukhabad Mausoleum — ascetic burial vault of Tamerlane's mentor
• Siab Bazaar — the oldest market in the city, flatbreads and sweets
• Afrasiab Hill — ruins of ancient Samarkand
• "Konigil Meros" Paper Factory — handmade paper using medieval technology
• Silk factory with a carpet workshop
• University Boulevard — Russian quarter, churches, Turkestan Art Nouveau
• Khovrenko Winery — tasting of Samarkand wines
• Silk Road Samarkand — new tourist complex, "Eternal City"
• "El Merosi" Theater and Grand Hall Samarkand

Audio Guide to Samarkand — City Insider

It's easy to get lost in Samarkand: there are many monuments, little information, and hiring a live guide is expensive and difficult during peak season. City Insider is an audio guide to Samarkand that works like a live guide for a fraction of the price.

What it is: A complete one-day sightseeing tour: a route from Shah-i-Zinda to Gur-Emir with detailed stories about each monument. The real voice of a licensed guide — not a dry encyclopedia, but a true narrative with stories, legends, and details that cannot be found in guidebooks.

Two formats to choose from:

• Telegram bot — opens instantly, without downloading an application. Press it, and the guide is already on your phone.
• Mobile application — with offline mode, works even without internet. Convenient during travel.

You can ask questions: If something is unclear or you want to know more, ask a question right in the chat. This is not a bot with template answers, but live communication.

Languages: Russian, English, German, French, Chinese.

Price: Significantly cheaper than a live guide — and many times more convenient: you walk at your own pace, stop when you want, and return to any place.