Uzbekistan in January

January in Uzbekistan is a quiet, cold month for travellers who do not mind frost and want the monuments almost to themselves. 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.

January days are short and cold. Skies are often clear and bright, but grey spells with fog or light snow also occur. Snow rarely lasts long in the cities, but when it falls on the domes of Samarkand or the walls of Khiva, the scenery is magical. Khiva and the north-west are the coldest, with nights well below freezing; Termez in the south is the mildest. The mountains around Tashkent have reliable snow.

Approximate long-term averages for January:

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

The New Year holidays at the start of the month are celebrated with fireworks, family gatherings and decorated trees, a Soviet-era tradition that remains very popular. Ski resorts near Tashkent are busy during these holidays. Otherwise January is calm, with no major festivals. If Ramadan or an Eid falls in winter in a given year, check the dates, as they move each year.

See our calendar of festivals in Central Asia for dates.

• See the Registan and Shah-i-Zinda without crowds, in crisp winter light.
• Warm up in a traditional chaikhana with green tea and hot plov, or a bowl of shurpa soup.
• Visit museums in Tashkent, such as the State Museum of Applied Arts, and the decorated metro.
• Go skiing at Amirsoy near Tashkent.
• Try a hammam in Bukhara.

Focus on Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara, linked by the comfortable Afrosiyob train. Khiva is beautiful under snow but very cold and quiet; many guesthouses close or have few guests, so check that your hotel has good heating. Avoid desert camps, the Aral Sea and high mountain treks, which are not practical in winter. The south around Termez is milder.

Winter food is hearty. Try shurpa, a rich meat and vegetable soup, manti steamed dumplings, norin (cold noodles with horse meat or beef) in Tashkent, and halim, a slow-cooked wheat and meat porridge often served on winter mornings. Bazaars sell dried apricots, raisins, walnuts and almonds, and pickled vegetables prepared in autumn. Pomegranates and persimmons from the autumn harvest are still available. Green tea flows endlessly, and in the evenings many families gather around a sandal, a low table heated from below, covered with a quilt. See our guides to Samarkand food, Bukhara food and Khiva food.

A warm winter coat, hat, gloves and scarf, thermal layers, warm waterproof shoes, and lip balm and moisturiser for the dry air. Indoors, buildings are usually well heated. Whatever the season, bring a scarf or shawl for visiting mosques and shrines, and comfortable shoes for cobbled old towns. See our packing list.

January is low season: hotels are cheaper and trains easier to book, except around New Year. Days are short, with sunset around 17:30, so start early. Some guesthouses in Khiva and Bukhara close for a few weeks; check in advance.

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 December and Uzbekistan in February, 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.