Samarkand · Planning
Things to do in Samarkand
The best things to do in Samarkand, from the Registan at sunset to paper-making, bazaars, wine tasting and day trips, with how much time each needs.
The essential things to do in Samarkand are the Registan, Shah-i-Zinda, Gur-Emir (also at night), Bibi-Khanym with Siab Bazaar, and the Afrasiyab museum. With more time add Ulugbek’s observatory, the Konigil paper workshop, a wine tasting and day trips to Shakhrisabz or the Imam al-Bukhari complex. Two full days cover the highlights; three are better.
The great monuments
1. Stand in the Registan at different times of day. The Registan is the image of Samarkand: three madrasahs facing a square. Visit once in the morning to explore the courtyards and the gilded mosque of Tilya-Kori, then return after sunset when the facades are lit. Allow 2–3 hours in total.
2. Walk the avenue of tombs at Shah-i-Zinda. Shah-i-Zinda is a lane of turquoise mausoleums climbing the slope of Afrasiyab. Go early in the morning, when the light falls on the tilework and pilgrims outnumber tourists.
3. See Timur’s tomb by day and by night. Gur-Emir holds the dark jade tombstone of Timur. Its gold interior is best seen in daylight; its ribbed dome is magical when illuminated.
4. Feel the scale of Bibi-Khanym. Timur’s colossal Friday mosque was one of the largest in the Islamic world. Stand under the main portal, then walk around the outside to see original fragments.
5. Compare the three madrasahs. Spend time at the Ulugbek Madrasah and its mirror image, Sher-Dor, with its famous lions and suns. Their dialogue across the square tells two centuries of history.
History and science
6. Meet the Sogdians at Afrasiyab. The Afrasiyab museum shows the 7th-century Ambassadors’ Painting and finds from the city that stood here for two thousand years before the Mongols.
7. Look into Ulugbek’s observatory. The underground arc of Ulugbek’s observatory and its museum tell the story of the astronomer-prince who measured the year to within a minute.
8. Visit the Tomb of Daniel. The shrine of Khoja Doniyor, with its 18-metre sarcophagus and holy spring, is revered by Muslims, Christians and Jews.
9. Find the quiet Timurid sites. The painted interior of Ak-Saray, the ruined Ishratkhona and the pool and plane trees of Abdi Darun show a side of Samarkand most visitors miss.
10. Walk the 19th-century New Town. The shady boulevards, churches and colonial buildings of the New Town are a pleasant contrast to the medieval city, especially in the evening.
Markets, crafts and food
11. Shop and taste at Siab Bazaar. Siab Bazaar is the place for Samarkand bread, halva, dried fruit and nuts. Go in the morning, when it is busiest.
12. Watch paper being made at Konigil. At the Konigil workshop a water mill pounds mulberry bark into pulp for Samarkand paper, a craft revived after a century.
13. Eat Samarkand plov. Samarkand’s plov is cooked in layers, with the meat placed on top of the rice. It is a lunchtime dish; ask for a teahouse where it is cooked in a big cauldron.
14. Taste local wine. The historic Khovrenko winery offers tastings of sweet and fortified Samarkand wines and brandies.
15. Spend an evening at the Eternal City. The new Eternal City in the Silk Road Samarkand complex has craft workshops, restaurants and evening shows by a canal.
Pilgrimage and day trips
16. Visit the tomb of Imam al-Bukhari. The Imam al-Bukhari complex, 25 km north, is one of the holiest places in Central Asia.
17. Follow Samarkand’s scholars. Combine the Imam al-Maturidi mausoleum and the Khoja Akhrar complex for a half-day of Islamic history.
18. Drive over the mountains to Shakhrisabz. Timur’s birthplace, with the ruins of his Ak-Saray palace, is about two hours away over the Takhtakaracha pass.
19. Visit the Sunday market at Urgut. The town of Urgut, about an hour away, holds one of the region’s biggest markets, known for suzani embroidery.
20. Cross into Tajikistan for Penjikent. The ruins of ancient Penjikent, a Sogdian town, lie just over the border, about an hour from Samarkand. Check the current border rules first.
How much time you need
- One day: Registan, Gur-Emir, Bibi-Khanym, Siab Bazaar and Shah-i-Zinda. It is a full day, but possible.
- Two days: add Afrasiyab, the observatory, the Tomb of Daniel, the New Town and an evening at the Registan or Gur-Emir.
- Three days or more: add Konigil, a wine tasting, the quiet Timurid sites and one or two day trips.
Most sights are within walking distance of each other in the old city; taxis are cheap for the rest. In summer, plan monuments for the morning and late afternoon, and spend the hot middle of the day in museums or a shady teahouse.
Frequently asked questions
What is the number one thing to do in Samarkand?
Visit the Registan, ideally twice, once by day to explore the madrasahs and once after dark when the facades are illuminated.
How many days do you need in Samarkand?
Two full days cover the main monuments and museums. Three days let you add crafts, wine tasting and a day trip.
Is Samarkand walkable?
Yes. The main monuments are within 15–20 minutes’ walk of each other. Taxis are cheap for the observatory, Afrasiyab and outlying sites.
Rules, timetables and prices change. We check this page regularly, but always confirm entry requirements with official sources before you travel.
