Uzbekistan in April

April in Uzbekistan is one of the best months of the year: warm, green, flowering and comfortable for sightseeing. The country has a dry, continental climate, with big differences between seasons and between day and night, so the month you choose shapes your trip: what you wear, which regions are comfortable, and how busy the monuments are. Below you will find what to expect, what to do and how to plan. For a year-round overview, see when to go.

April is warm and pleasant across the country, with mostly sunny days and cool nights. Rain showers are possible early in the month. The desert briefly turns green, and the hills near Tashkent are covered with wild flowers, including tulips. In Khiva and Bukhara, days are warm without the summer heat; in Termez, it already feels like early summer.

Approximate long-term averages for April:

Individual years vary. For month-by-month detail, see the weather pages for Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva.

In even years, Khiva hosts the Lazgi International Dance Festival, usually in late April, celebrating the energetic Khorezm dance. Spring is also a time of weddings, and you will often see wedding parties at the monuments. Check whether Ramadan or Eid falls in April in your year.

See our calendar of festivals in Central Asia for dates.

• See all the great cities in perfect sightseeing weather.
• Spend a night in a yurt camp near Lake Aydarkul or below Ayaz Kala.
• Explore the desert fortresses before the heat.
• Walk among wild flowers in Ugam-Chatkal National Park.
• Visit the Fergana Valley, green and blossoming.

Everywhere is good in April. It is an excellent month for the Aral Sea and Karakalpakstan later in the month, for the south and for the classic Silk Road route. High mountain passes may still be snowy.

April markets fill with fresh herbs, radishes, spring onions and the first strawberries. It is the season of ko‘k somsa and herb dumplings, and of plov cooked outdoors for family celebrations and weddings. Cherries begin to ripen in the south at the end of the month. In Khiva, try shivit oshi, green dill noodles, a speciality of Khorezm, and in Bukhara the local plov with chickpeas and raisins. Evenings are warm enough for dinner on a terrace. See our guides to Samarkand food, Bukhara food and Khiva food.

Light clothes for the day, a sweater or light jacket for evenings, sun protection, comfortable walking shoes and a light rain jacket. Whatever the season, bring a scarf or shawl for visiting mosques and shrines, and comfortable shoes for cobbled old towns. See our packing list.

April is high season. The Afrosiyob trains, flights to Urgench and the best hotels sell out; book as early as possible. Start sightseeing early to avoid tour groups at the most famous sites.

The fast Afrosiyob train links Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara; see Tashkent to Samarkand and Uzbekistan by train. For a route, see our 7-day and 10-day itineraries.

Compare with Uzbekistan in March and Uzbekistan in May, or see the full year on our when to go page. We can help plan a trip in any season, from winter city breaks to spring and autumn tours with desert camps. Remember that Ramadan and the two Eid holidays follow the lunar calendar and move about eleven days earlier each year, so check their dates for your year: they can affect opening hours, transport and hotel availability.