Uzbekistan in May

May in Uzbekistan is an excellent month, warm to hot, with long days, festivals and everything open. 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.

May is warm and mostly dry, with plenty of sunshine. Early May is near perfect; by the end of the month, afternoons in Bukhara and Khiva can exceed 30 °C. Evenings are warm enough to sit outside. In the mountains, snow retreats and trails open. Termez is already hot.

Approximate long-term averages for May:

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

The Silk and Spices Festival in Bukhara, usually in late May or early June, fills the old town with artisans, music, dancing and food stalls. In some years, the Boysun Bahori folklore festival celebrates the traditions of the mountain region of Boysun in early May. 9 May, Remembrance Day, is a public holiday. Check whether Eid falls in May in your year.

See our calendar of festivals in Central Asia for dates.

• Experience the Silk and Spices Festival in Bukhara.
• Walk the walls of Khiva at sunset.
• Spend a night in a desert yurt camp.
• Travel to the Aral Sea and the Ustyurt Plateau, in the best season.
• See the Fergana Valley crafts, with silkworm season in Margilan.

All regions are open. Sightsee in the morning and late afternoon in Bukhara, Khiva and Termez. The mountains near Tashkent are ideal for hiking from late May.

May brings the first cherries, strawberries and mulberries, and fresh salads of tomatoes, cucumbers and herbs appear on every table. It is a good month for shashlik grilled outdoors in the long evenings and for plov at weddings and celebrations. In the Fergana Valley, try the local kuksi and fresh fruit; in Samarkand, the famous round bread. At the Silk and Spices festival in Bukhara, food stalls offer regional specialities, sweets and spices to taste. See our guides to Samarkand food, Bukhara food and Khiva food.

Light, breathable clothes covering shoulders and knees, a sun hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, a light layer for evenings 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.

May is high season; book trains, domestic flights and hotels well ahead, especially around the Bukhara festival. Drink plenty of water and plan rest in the afternoon at the end of the month.

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 April and Uzbekistan in June, 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.