Where to stay in Samarkand

Samarkand is a city of about half a million people, but the parts that matter to visitors are compact. The old city spreads east of the Registan, with Bibi-Khanym, Siab Bazaar and Shah-i-Zinda along Tashkent Street, and Gur-Emir just to the south-west. The New Town, built after 1868, lies west of the old city, with shady boulevards, the university and most offices and restaurants. On the eastern edge, the new Silk Road Samarkand district has modern hotels by a canal. The railway station and airport are to the north-west and north.

Where you stay depends on what you value most: walking to monuments, atmosphere, restaurants and nightlife, or the comfort of a large hotel.

Best for: first-time visitors, walkers, photographers.

The quarter between the Registan and Gur-Emir and the lanes behind them are full of family guesthouses and small boutique hotels, many in traditional houses with courtyards, painted ceilings and breakfasts served under a vine. From here you can walk to the Registan at sunrise, return for a rest at midday and go out again to see the illuminated monuments at night.

Pros: walking distance to the main sights, traditional atmosphere, often warm family hospitality. Cons: some lanes are not accessible by car, rooms in old houses can be small, and the area is busy with tourists in high season.

Best for: market lovers, early risers, travellers who want local life.

Along and behind Tashkent Street, near Bibi-Khanym and Siab Bazaar, there are guesthouses and small hotels in the residential mahallas (neighbourhoods). You are steps from the bazaar in the morning and from Shah-i-Zinda, and the Registan is 15 minutes on foot along the pedestrian street.

Pros: authentic neighbourhoods, close to the bazaar and northern monuments. Cons: fewer restaurants for dinner nearby; the area is quieter in the evening.

Best for: travellers who want restaurants, cafés and a city feel; longer stays; business trips.

The 19th-century New Town, around University Boulevard and the neighbouring streets, has many mid-range and larger hotels, banks, shops and most of the city’s restaurants and cafés. The shady avenues are pleasant for evening walks, and Gur-Emir is a short walk away; the Registan is 15–20 minutes on foot.

Pros: choice of hotels and restaurants, wide streets, easy taxi access. Cons: less traditional atmosphere; further from the northern monuments.

Best for: families, conference visitors, travellers who prefer large modern hotels with pools and spas.

The new tourist district on the eastern edge of the city has several large international-standard hotels, the Eternal City entertainment ensemble, restaurants and promenades along a canal. It is well planned, quiet at night and comfortable.

Pros: modern facilities, space, pools, evening entertainment on site. Cons: about 15 minutes by taxi from the Registan; you will depend on taxis for sightseeing; less local character.

There are hotels near the railway station and on the road to the airport. They make sense only for a very early departure; otherwise the old city or New Town is far better, as the station is 15–20 minutes and the airport about the same by taxi from the centre.

• Book early for spring and autumn. April–May and September–October are busy, and the best guesthouses fill weeks ahead. Around Navruz and major festivals, demand is very high.
• Check registration. Foreign visitors must be registered for their stay; hotels and licensed guesthouses do this automatically. Keep the registration slips or confirm online registration. See registration in Uzbekistan for the rules.
• Ask about heating and air-conditioning. Summer is hot and winter cold; older houses vary.
• Read the location carefully. Some guesthouses in the old lanes cannot be reached by car; your driver may need to walk you the last few metres.
• Breakfast is usually included in guesthouses and often generous, with fresh bread, eggs, fruit and sweets.

If you are travelling with us, we choose accommodation in the area that suits your plans and handle registration.