Uzbekistan in November

November in Uzbekistan is a cool, quieter month with crisp days and the last of the autumn colours, good for city 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.

Early November can still be pleasant, with sunny days; by the end of the month, the weather becomes colder and greyer, with occasional rain and the first frosts. Khiva and the north-west are the coldest. Termez in the south remains mild. Snow falls in the mountains.

Approximate long-term averages for November:

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

November is quiet. Families prepare for winter, and the bazaars are full of dried fruit, nuts and pickles. The season of weddings continues into early November.

See our calendar of festivals in Central Asia for dates.

• Enjoy the Registan, Gur-Emir and Bukhara’s old town with few tourists.
• Visit Termez and its Buddhist sites in mild weather.
• Explore museums and the metro in Tashkent.
• Shop for suzani, ceramics and silk with time to talk to artisans.
• Warm up with plov and tea in traditional teahouses.

Focus on the cities and the south. Khiva is cold but quiet and atmospheric. Yurt camps, the Aral Sea and high mountains are out of season.

November brings comfort food: shurpa, mastava rice soup, manti with pumpkin, dimlama stews and, of course, plov. Bazaars are full of pomegranates, persimmons, quinces, walnuts and dried fruit, and families finish their pickles and preserves for winter. It is a good month to try norin in Tashkent and halim on cold mornings. Teahouses are warm and welcoming, and green tea with dried fruit and nuts is the perfect break from sightseeing. See our guides to Samarkand food, Bukhara food and Khiva food.

A warm jacket, sweaters, a hat and gloves for the evenings, warm shoes and a light umbrella. Whatever the season, bring a scarf or shawl for visiting mosques and shrines, and comfortable shoes for cobbled old towns. See our packing list.

November is low season: good availability, lower prices and quieter monuments. Days are shorter, so plan the main sights in the morning. Check that your hotel has heating.

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 October and Uzbekistan in December, 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.