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Samarkand Travel Guide: Where to Stay and What to Do

Pace: balanced Historic Majestic Cultural Serene
Ideal trip length
2–4 days
Busiest
Apr-May, Sep-Oct

Updated September 2026

Samarkand

About Samarkand

Blue-tiled domes and carved portals frame Samarkand, a historic Silk Road city whose identity rests on architecture and ceremony. It stands in Uzbekistan’s Samarqand Region.

Registan Square, Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis, Bibi-Khanym Mosque and Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum give the city’s old quarters a sequence of courtyards, tilework and monumental façades, with a gentle rhythm suited to couples.

Two to four days covers the principal sights, while the Registan Area places them within easy reach. North Samarkand adds Ulugbek Observatory, and local tables bring plov, shashlik, samsa and lagman to the itinerary.

Where to stay

Hotels in Samarkand

Book direct on our own Samarkand hotel pages — no booking fee.

Stay like a local in Samarkand

Places to stay in Samarkand

Best for

Ranked by verified guest score, then stars. Based on 752 of 873 hotels with verified data.

Best for families

Family rooms listed · 46 hotels qualify

  1. MUSAVVIR9.7/10 · 146 reviews · 3-star
  2. Registan Palace9.6/10 · 85 reviews
  3. Munis9.6/10 · 62 reviews
  4. OLD STATION HOTEL9.5/10 · 140 reviews · 3-star
  5. The Loft Guest House9.5/10 · 79 reviews · 3-star

Best for drivers

Free parking · 73 hotels qualify

  1. Nursultan Grand Guest House9.8/10 · 233 reviews · 3-star
  2. AMIRSHOX GUEST HOUSE9.7/10 · 116 reviews · 3-star
  3. Hotel Dilnura9.6/10 · 103 reviews · 3-star
  4. Sabrina Hotel9.5/10 · 165 reviews
  5. Vasiev's9.5/10 · 106 reviews

Best for a pool

Swimming pool listed · 21 hotels qualify

  1. Hilton Samarkand Regency9.3/10 · 191 reviews · 4-star
  2. Sayyod Yurt Camp - Uzbek Yurt Experience9.3/10 · 70 reviews
  3. WELLFORT HOTEL9.2/10 · 97 reviews · 5-star
  4. Khan Hotel Samarkand9.1/10 · 111 reviews · 3-star
  5. Hotel Samaria Terrace9.1/10 · 189 reviews

Samarkand at a glance

Check-in / check-out
2:00 PM / 12:00 PM
Free parking
554 of 581 hotels (95%)
Pool
82 of 752 hotels
Climate
Arid
Languages
Uzbek, Russian and Tajik
Local currency
UZS (UZS)
Local time
(GMT+5)
Ideal trip length
2–4 days
Cost level
2 of 5 · our research
Suggested area to stay
Registan Area
Tap water
Bottled water recommended
Tipping
Optional, small amounts

History, culture and food in Samarkand

History

95 · Outstanding

Culture

90 · Outstanding

Food

90 · Outstanding

Family 70 · Good

Our own 0–100 ratings for this one destination. They describe a city; they are not a league table of cities.

Food to try

Plov Shashlik Samsa Lagman

Hotel facts in Samarkand

Based on 752 of 873 hotels with verified data.

Hotels that listHotelsShare
Free parkingof hotels with verified parking554 of 58195%
Swimming pool82 of 75211%
24-hour front desk316 of 75242%
Facilities for disabled guests55 of 7527%
Family rooms153 of 75220%
Breakfast availablefree or paid depends on the rate38 of 7525%
Kitchen or kitchenette179 of 75224%
Airport shuttle23 free285 of 75238%

Pools and room sizes by star rating

StarsPoolStandard room
1-star–25 m²usually 18 m²–32 m² · 4 hotels
2-star2 of 3320 m²usually 16 m²–25 m² · 11 hotels
3-star16 of 21922 m²usually 16 m²–28 m² · 141 hotels
4-star22 of 5525 m²usually 24 m²–34 m² · 41 hotels
5-star3 of 2425 m²usually 20 m²–32 m² · 19 hotels

When to visit Samarkand

How good each month is here, on this destination's own scale. It compares months within this city, never one city against another.

Best months: April, May, September and October Busiest: Apr-May, Sep-Oct
  1. Jan
    14

    Cold, snow possible

  2. Feb
    14

    Cold, warming slightly

  3. Mar
    44

    Navruz

  4. Apr
    66

    Pleasant weather (avg high 21°C)

  5. May
    63

    Pleasant weather (avg high 27°C)

  6. Jun
    36

    Hot, dry

  7. Jul
    16

    Often avoided: extreme heat

  8. Aug
    21

    Often avoided: extreme heat

  9. Sep
    63

    Pleasant weather (avg high 29°C)

  10. Oct
    63

    Pleasant weather (avg high 21°C)

  11. Nov
    43

    Samarkand Marathon

  12. Dec
    14

    Cold, winter

Things to do in Samarkand

7 places worth your time, grouped by when they are at their best.

Best in the morning

3 places

Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis

Old City 2 hours

Outdoors Good for children

Siyob Bazaar

Old City 2 hours

Indoors Good for children

Best in the afternoon

2 places

Ulugbek Observatory

North Samarkand 1.5 hours

Outdoors Good for children

Taste Samarkand Plov

Various 1 hour

Indoors Good for children

Any time of day

2 places

Bibi-Khanym Mosque

Old City 1.5 hours

Outdoors Good for children

Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum

City Center 1 hour

Indoors Good for children

Samarkand itineraries, day by day

View all itineraries
3 Days in Samarkand — First-Timer Highlights
First-timer highlights

3 Days in Samarkand — First-Timer Highlights

3 days14 stops

Unveiling the azure domes and ancient wonders of the Silk Road's jewel.

Things to book

Tours and activities in Samarkand

Guided tours, day trips and tickets to book alongside your stay.

Before you go to Samarkand

Our own ratings and notes on eating out, signature experiences, who the city suits and planning ahead.

Eating out

Plov 95 · Outstanding
Shashlik 87 · Outstanding
Samsa 78 · Very good
Lagman 70 · Good

Signature experiences

Registan Square 95 · Outstanding
Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis 91 · Outstanding
Bibi-Khanym Mosque 87 · Outstanding
Siyob Bazaar 83 · Very good
Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum 78 · Very good
Ulugbek Observatory 74 · Good
Taste Samarkand Plov 70 · Good

Who it suits

Couples 95 · Outstanding
Families 90 · Outstanding
Friends 85 · Outstanding
Budget 80 · Very good
History 75 · Very good
Culture 70 · Good

Planning tips

Dress modestly, especially when visiting religious sites. 95 · Outstanding
Bargain respectfully at local bazaars for the best prices. 83 · Very good
Carry small denominations of local currency for convenience. 70 · Good

Ratings and recommendations are curated from local travel data.

Near Samarkand

Straight-line distance from the centre of Samarkand.

Getaways from Samarkand

Places people from Samarkand travel to, from our own travel research.

Frequently asked questions about Samarkand

How many places to stay are there in Samarkand?

There are 900+ hotels, apartments and other places to stay in Samarkand. They include 250+ hotels and 330+ apartments.

When is the peak season in Samarkand?

The peak season in Samarkand is Apr-May, Sep-Oct.

Which area is a good base in Samarkand?

The travel guide suggests staying in Registan Area when visiting Samarkand.

Are there tours and activities in Samarkand?

Yes, 45 tours and activities are listed in Samarkand.

How many hotels in Samarkand have free parking?

554 of the 581 hotels in Samarkand with verified parking details list free parking (95%). 12 charge for parking.

What is the usual check-in time at hotels in Samarkand?

2:00 PM at 342 of the 644 hotels with a verified check-in time. The next most common time is 3:00 PM (106 hotels).

What time is check-out at hotels in Samarkand?

12:00 PM at 365 of 671 hotels with a verified check-out time; 11:00 AM at 193.

How many hotels in Samarkand have a pool?

82 of 752 hotels with verified data list a swimming pool.