Travel Guide
Uzbekistan
From Tashkent to Khiva: open-air museums, Uzbek plov, cheap buses and the calmest cities of Central Asia.
In short
I visited four cities in Uzbekistan: Tashkent, Bukhara, Samarkand and Khiva. First impression: calm and warmth. People are friendly and helpful; food is cheap, the air is clean. Among the last countries I visited, I found the most peace here.
Bukhara and Khiva feel like open-air museums: madrasas, minarets, walls, canals. Registan in Samarkand is on the UNESCO list, but the buildings look so similar that after a while it feels repetitive; it was the only city that did not fully meet expectations. Khiva feels like a fairy tale, a desert city, and for many people more impressive than Samarkand.
Transport is cheap: city buses cost a few thousand som, intercity buses are also reasonable. The Yandex app is essential. SIM packages range from 4–15 $. Main meals (plov, lagman, shurpa) fall in the 2.5–5 $ range.
Route
From Tashkent to Khiva, summary of the videos.
Arrival, SIM, first day
SIM at the airport: 150 GB packages cost 8.5–15 $, cheaper 45 GB options around ~5 $ exist. Exchange dollars for som. Bus stops are opposite the airport; bus number 94 goes near the hotel, the fare is very low (card is tapped). Be sure to install the Yandex app — it shows bus and taxi routes. You can stay at places like Palm Hotel. Uzbek plov with salad, bread and tea is about ~2.5 $. People are friendly, the city is calm.
Open-air museum, 6.5-hour bus
The Tashkent–Bukhara bus takes about 6.5 hours. Hotels (e.g. Al Buhare boutique) are in authentic streets with shared rooms available. The city recalls the streets of Isfahan: very clean, canals, bridges, madrasas. Kalyan (Kolon) Mosque and minaret stand out; mosque entry is paid (~1 $). Historic buildings everywhere. A peaceful stop.
Registan ve beklenti
About 4 hours from Bukhara. The terminal is not proper; you may be dropped inside the bazaar. Registan Square (Ulugh Beg, Sherdor, Tilla Kari madrasas) is UNESCO heritage and Central Asia’s most famous square. The buildings are grand but look so similar that it feels repetitive; among the four cities it was the only one that did not meet expectations. Gur-e-Amir (Timur’s mausoleum) is also worth a visit. Lagman + shurpa set ~5 $.
Fairy-tale fortress city
Ichan-Kala (inside the walls) is fully ancient: mud-and-straw walls, madrasas, palaces, minarets. It has a desert-city feel like Yazd. It surprises at every step, like a film set. Many find it more impressive than Samarkand. Minibus/bus fares are low (~1 $). Inside the fortress is the old city, outside is modern.
Transport and accommodation
Uzbekistani Som and approximate USD. Basic amounts only.
🚌 Transport
| City bus | A few thousand som (very cheap) |
| Tashkent → Bukhara | ~6.5 hour bus |
| Bukhara → Samarkand | ~4 hour bus |
| Khiva connection minibus | ~1 $ approx. |
| SIM 45–150 GB | ~4–15 $ |
🛏️ Accommodation & ana yemek
| Shared room (6–8 beds) | Hostel / boutique hotel |
| Uzbek plov + salad + tea | ~2,5–3 $ |
| Lagman + shurpa set | ~5 $ |
| Dolma (example) | ~1,5 $ |
| Kalyan Mosque entrance | ~1 $ approx. |
The Yandex app is essential for buses and taxis. Avoid airport taxi drivers; use the bus.
Places to see
Highlights from the four cities.
Registan Square
Samarkand. Ulugh Beg, Sherdor and Tilla Kari madrasas. UNESCO.
Kalyan Mosque & Minaret
Bukhara. 16th century. Symbol of the city.
Ichan-Kala
Khiva inside the walls. Open-air museum, fairy-tale like.
Gur-e-Amir
Samarkand. Timur’s mausoleum.
Bukhara canals
Bridges, clean streets, Isfahan feel.
Madrasas
Similar courtyard buildings in every city. Free ones are more enjoyable.
Tashkent centre
Modern capital, cheap food, calm pace.
Khiva walls
Desert-city silhouette, evening lights.
Photos
Videos
7 videos from the Uzbekistan journey. Click the card to play the video here (480 px).
Good to know
Practical notes from the videos.
Install Yandex
Essential for bus routes and taxis. Avoid airport taxi drivers.
Cheap SIM
45 GB ~5 $, 150 GB 8.5–15 $. Buy at the airport and ask for cheaper options.
Intercity bus
Tashkent–Bukhara 6.5 hours, Bukhara–Samarkand 4 hours. Samarkand may not have a proper terminal.
Main meals are cheap
Uzbek plov 2.5–3 $, lagman + shurpa ~5 $. Portions are filling.
Bukhara and Khiva stand out
Open-air museum feel. Samarkand is grand but the buildings can feel repetitive.
Shared rooms
6–8 bed hostel/boutique hotel rooms are common. Book ahead.
Cash som
Exchange dollars and use som. Cards may not work everywhere.
People are friendly
Smiling and helpful. Ideal for those seeking calm.
Calm, history, fair prices
Uzbekistan stands out with cheap food, a calm pace and open-air museum cities. Bukhara and Khiva are the most recommended; Samarkand is grand but may not meet everyone’s expectations.
One of the calmest stops in Central Asia; plan ahead and don’t forget Yandex.
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