The valley’s base camp · Uzbekistan
Fergana travel guide
A green 19th-century town of tree-lined avenues, and the most convenient base for exploring the Fergana Valley.
Fergana is the administrative capital of the Fergana region, founded by the Russian Empire in 1876 as New Margilan. It has few monuments of its own but is the most convenient base in the valley: Margilan is about 15 km away, Rishtan about 50 km and Kokand about 90 km. Plan to stay two nights.
Unlike Kokand or Margilan, Fergana is not an ancient city. It was laid out in 1876, after the Russian conquest of the Kokand Khanate, as a garrison town called New Margilan. Later it was renamed Skobelev, after the general who conquered the khanate, and in 1924 it took the name of the valley. The plan is still visible: a grid of wide streets shaded by plane trees and poplars radiating from the site of the old fortress, with low brick buildings from the colonial period.
Fergana is green, relaxed and well supplied with hotels and restaurants, which is why most tours of the valley stay here. From the city you can reach the silk workshops of Margilan in twenty minutes, the potters of Rishtan in under an hour and Kokand in about an hour and a half.
- Time needed
- Two nights as a base
- Best time
- April–June and September–October
- Getting there
- Domestic flights from Tashkent; train to Margilan station via the Kamchik pass (about 4–5 hours); about 5 hours by road from Tashkent.
Don’t miss
What to see in Fergana
- 01
Colonial-era centre
Shaded avenues, a central park and brick buildings from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
- 02
Regional museum
Archaeology, natural history and crafts of the Fergana Valley.
- 03
Al-Fergani park
A large park named after the 9th-century astronomer Ahmad al-Farghani, who was born in the valley.
- 04
Day trips
Margilan silk, Rishtan ceramics, Kokand’s palace and the Shakhimardan enclave road (rules permitting).
Why stay in Fergana
The Fergana Valley is densely populated and its sights are spread across several towns. Fergana sits near the middle of them and has the widest choice of accommodation, so you can unpack once and make day trips: Margilan and Rishtan on one day, Kokand on another, and Andijan or Namangan on a third if you have time.
The city is also pleasant in its own right in the evening. Its parks fill with families, and restaurants serve Fergana-style plov and grilled meat on outdoor terraces in the warm months.
Ahmad al-Farghani
The city’s most famous namesake is Ahmad al-Farghani (Alfraganus in Latin), a 9th-century astronomer who worked in Baghdad under the Abbasid caliphs. His Elements of Astronomy was translated into Latin in the 12th century and read in Europe for centuries; Columbus used his estimate of the size of the Earth. A monument and the city’s largest park carry his name.
Practical tips
Fergana is spread out but taxis are cheap and plentiful; ride-hailing apps work here as in Tashkent. The main bazaar is the best place for fruit, nuts and bread. In summer the valley is hot and humid compared with the desert cities, so plan visits for the morning and late afternoon. If you are continuing to Kyrgyzstan, Andijan and the Dustlik border are about an hour and a half away.
Fergana: frequently asked questions
Is Fergana the same as the Fergana Valley?
No. Fergana is one city in the valley, founded in 1876. The Fergana Valley is the whole basin shared by Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, with towns such as Kokand, Margilan, Andijan and Namangan.
How many days do you need in Fergana?
Two nights let you see Margilan and Rishtan on one day and Kokand on another. Add a night for Andijan or Namangan.
How far is Margilan from Fergana?
About 15 km, or 20–30 minutes by car.
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