Uzbekistan in March

March in Uzbekistan is the start of spring, with Navruz celebrations, blossom and mild days, though the weather can be changeable. 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.

March is a month of transition. Early March can still feel like winter, with cold nights and occasional sleet; by the end of the month, days are often mild and sunny. Rain is more frequent than later in spring, usually in short showers. Fruit trees blossom across the oases, and the steppe begins to turn green. Khiva remains cooler than Bukhara and Samarkand, and the wind can be strong.

Approximate long-term averages for March:

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

Navruz, the Persian New Year, on 21 March, is the highlight. Families cook sumalak, a sweet paste of sprouted wheat, stirred all night by women in huge cauldrons; there are concerts, fairs, games and dancing in parks and squares, and in some places traditional horseback games. It is a public holiday, and the atmosphere is welcoming and festive. Check the year’s dates for Ramadan, which may fall in spring.

See our calendar of festivals in Central Asia for dates.

• Join Navruz celebrations and taste sumalak and halim.
• Photograph the monuments framed by blossom.
• Visit Shah-i-Zinda and the Registan before the high-season crowds.
• See the Fergana Valley turning green.
• Walk in the foothills near Tashkent, as snow retreats.

All the main cities are pleasant. Termez and the south are warm and green. Khiva can be chilly and windy, but is beautiful. Yurt camps near Aydarkul usually open from late March or April; check first. High mountain trails are still snowy.

Spring brings fresh herbs and greens to every table. Around Navruz, try sumalak, made from sprouted wheat, halim, and ko‘k somsa pastries filled with green herbs. Herb-filled dumplings, salads of radishes and spring onions, and the first fresh cheeses appear in the bazaars. Families prepare large meals to share with neighbours, and visitors are often invited to taste. Dried fruit is still everywhere, and the first strawberries arrive from the south at the end of the month. See our guides to Samarkand food, Bukhara food and Khiva food.

Layers for changeable weather: a warm jacket for mornings and evenings, light sweaters, a waterproof layer and comfortable shoes. Whatever the season, bring a scarf or shawl for visiting mosques and shrines, and comfortable shoes for cobbled old towns. See our packing list.

Around Navruz, Uzbeks travel to visit family, so trains and hotels can be busier; book ahead. Otherwise March is still shoulder season, with good availability and pleasant crowds-free sightseeing.

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 February and Uzbekistan in April, 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.