# Samanid Mausoleum, Bukhara

> The Samanid Mausoleum is the family tomb of Ismail Samani, built in the late 9th or early 10th century — a small cube of fired brick under a dome in Samani Park, a 10–15-minute walk west of the Ark. Entry inside costs **about 20,000 UZS** (unofficial), and it is open daily, roughly 8:00–18:00; the park around it never closes. Allow 30 minutes.

Web page: https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/bukhara/samanid-mausoleum

- City: [Bukhara](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/bukhara), Uzbekistan
- YesGo score: 38/100 (Yes, if nearby)
- Time on site: 30 min
- With kids: Fine with kids
- Entry: ≈ 20,000 UZS; older sources give 10,000–15,000 UZS
- Children: Free under 7
- Hours: Daily ≈ 8:00–18:00; some guides list 9:00–17:00
- Outside: The park is open 24 hours — the façades are free to see
- Payment: Cash in som; small ticket desks often don’t take cards
- Time needed: 20–30 minutes; about an hour with the park and Chashma Ayub
- Where: Samani Park, west edge of Bukhara’s old town, behind the Ark
- Coordinates: 39.77701, 64.40058
- Facts checked: 30.10.2026

## Key facts

- **Late 9th – early 10th c.** — built under Ismail Samani (892–907) or his grandson Nasr II (914–943) — scholars disagree (source: English and Russian Wikipedia: Samanid Mausoleum)
- **1.8 m** — thickness of the walls at the base — a big reason it has stood for over a thousand years (source: English and Russian Wikipedia: Samanid Mausoleum)
- **Fired brick only** — the same bricks form the structure and every bit of decoration — no tiles, no paint (source: English and Russian Wikipedia: Samanid Mausoleum; Orexca)
- **9.4–10.8 m** — length of each side: English Wikipedia gives 9.4 m, Russian Wikipedia 10.8 m (source: English and Russian Wikipedia: Samanid Mausoleum)
- **4 + 4** — four identical entrances facing the four directions, and four small domes at the roof corners (source: Russian Wikipedia: Samanid Mausoleum; English Wikipedia for the corner domes)
- **1220** — the Mongols sacked Bukhara but spared the tomb, apparently because it lay half-buried in silt and sand (source: English Wikipedia: Samanid Mausoleum)
- **Nasr II** — the name carved on the wooden lintel over the entrance (source: English and Russian Wikipedia: Samanid Mausoleum)
- **1924** — first scientific survey and measured plan, by Moisei Ginzburg’s expedition (source: English and Russian Wikipedia: Samanid Mausoleum)
- **1926–1928** — Vasily Vyatkin’s excavations found several burials inside (source: English and Russian Wikipedia: Samanid Mausoleum)
- **1937–1939** — major restoration led by Boris Zasypkin (source: English and Russian Wikipedia: Samanid Mausoleum)
- **‘Jewel Box’** — a nickname for the building, earned by its intricate brickwork (source: English Wikipedia: Samanid Mausoleum)

## Samanid Mausoleum entrance fee and how to pay

Going inside costs **about 20,000 UZS** (Uzbek som) — the 2025 figure given by Sputnik8, which also says children under 7 go free. Older guides quote 10,000 or 15,000 UZS. The Bukhara State Museum-Reserve doesn’t publish its prices online, so treat this as unofficial. The ticket desk is at the mausoleum itself.

Bring **cash in som**. Visa and Mastercard are widely taken in Bukhara’s hotels and better restaurants, but a small desk like this one may well be cash only. Bank ATMs in the old town dispense som, and Yandex Go taxis can be paid by card in the app.

You don’t need a ticket to see the outside. The park is open around the clock, and the façades — the real reason to come — are free.

## Samanid Mausoleum opening hours

It is open daily with no day off, roughly 8:00–18:00. Some guides give 9:00–17:00 instead, and none of the hours come from an official source, so they are marked unofficial. If you arrive late, the interior may be locked, but the building is just as good from the park.

For photos, time it by the sun rather than the clock: early morning and the last hour before sunset throw shadows across the brickwork and make the patterns stand out. At midday the walls look flat.

> **It’s small — the show is on the outside** Inside there’s a single bare chamber under the dome: no inscribed tombstones, no tiles, no painting. What makes the mausoleum famous is the brickwork on its walls, laid flat, on edge and in circles so it looks woven, and the way the light changes it through the day. Plan 20–30 minutes, walk all the way round, and don’t worry if the desk is closed.

## What is the Samanid Mausoleum?

It is the dynastic tomb of the **Samanids**, the family that made Bukhara the capital of a large state in the 9th–10th centuries. Tradition says Ismail Samani built it over his father Ahmad ibn Asad’s grave and was buried here himself. Some scholars date it a little later, to his grandson **Nasr II**, whose name is carved over the door.

Uzbekistan’s national tourism portal calls it one of the first tombs in the history of Central Asian architecture. For a visitor, the point is simpler: it is the oldest building in Bukhara you can still see close to its original form, more than a thousand years on.

The tomb stood in a cemetery for centuries; graves covered almost a third of its height. In the 20th century the cemetery was cleared and replaced by what is now **Samani Park**, with trees, a pond and an old-fashioned funfair.

## A short history: from burial to excavation

The Samanid dynasty fell in 999, but the tomb outlived it. When Genghis Khan’s army sacked Bukhara in 1220, the mausoleum survived — most likely because it was already half-buried in silt and sand. Local legend says the townspeople covered it on purpose to hide it from the invaders.

Scholars rediscovered it in the 1920s. Moisei Ginzburg’s expedition surveyed it in 1924, Vasily Vyatkin excavated the burials in 1926–1928, and Boris Zasypkin led a major restoration in 1937–1939. Today it is part of the Historic Centre of Bukhara World Heritage Site.

One old belief held that Ismail Samani still ruled after death: people dropped written requests through an opening on one side of the tomb and expected an answer to appear on the other.

## What to see at the Samanid Mausoleum

- **The four façades** — identical on every side, with no main entrance. Walk the full circle; each wall catches the light differently.
- **The brick patterns** — basket-weave panels, circles and diamonds, and squares and rhombuses framing the arches, all made from plain fired brick.
- **The gallery under the roof** — a row of small arched openings that lightens the heavy cube and lets soft light into the chamber.
- **The interior dome** — look up at the corners, where small arches (squinches) turn the square room into the circle of the dome. That transition was the building’s big engineering idea.
- **The lintel** — the wooden beam over the entrance with Nasr II’s name.
- **Chashma Ayub** — the neighbouring mausoleum of ‘Job’s Well’, now a museum of Bukhara’s water supply, about 300 m away across the park.

## Is the Samanid Mausoleum worth it?

Yes, especially if you like architecture. It is tiny, but the craftsmanship in plain brick is more striking than many tile-covered madrasas, and it is the oldest intact building in town. Twenty to thirty minutes is enough; with Samani Park and Chashma Ayub, budget an hour.

If you have only one day and have already seen Samarkand’s mausoleums, skip the interior — it’s empty — and just walk round the outside for free. The easy way to fit it in is straight after the [Ark](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/bukhara/ark-of-bukhara), 10–15 minutes away on foot. A guide helps: without the Samanid story it can look like a very handsome box.

## How to get to the Samanid Mausoleum

1. From Po-i-Kalyan square by the [Kalyan Minaret](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/bukhara/kalyan-minaret), walk north-west along the pedestrian street to Registan Square and the Ark gate — about 5 minutes.
2. Continue west past the [Bolo-Hauz Mosque](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/bukhara/bolo-hauz-mosque), cross the road into Samani Park and follow the main path to the mausoleum — another 10–15 minutes. The whole walk from Po-i-Kalyan takes about 20 minutes.
3. From [Lyabi-Hauz](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/bukhara/lyabi-hauz) it’s about 25–30 minutes on foot, through the trading domes, Po-i-Kalyan and Registan Square.
4. By taxi, use the Yandex Go app and ask for ‘Ismail Samani Mausoleum’: about 15 minutes from Bukhara airport (BHK), about 25 minutes from the railway station in Kagan, 12 km away.

## Before you go: checklist

- [ ] Som in cash for the ticket
- [ ] Timed for morning or the last hour before sunset
- [ ] Combined with the Ark and Chashma Ayub nearby
- [ ] Modest clothes and a quiet voice — it’s a tomb
- [ ] Water and a hat in summer

## Samanid Mausoleum vs Kalyan Minaret vs Chor-Bakr

|  | Samanid Mausoleum | Kalyan Minaret | Chor-Bakr Necropolis |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| What it is | The Samanid dynasty’s tomb | Minaret and Po-i-Kalyan ensemble | Memorial complex with mosque and courtyards |
| Best for | Brickwork, the oldest building | Bukhara’s signature view | A quiet necropolis outside town |
| Time needed | 20–30 min | 30–45 min | About 1 h |
| Getting there | 10–15-min walk from the Ark | Walk, heart of the old town | Taxi, out of town |

With one day, pair the mausoleum with the Ark and the Po-i-Kalyan ensemble. The minaret is a good place to compare later decorative brickwork with the Samanid original. [Chor-Bakr](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/bukhara/chor-bakr) suits a second day if you enjoy quiet burial grounds.

## Bukhara’s historic sights compared

Every historic site in Bukhara rated by YesGo.

- [Lyabi-Hauz](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/bukhara/lyabi-hauz) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Free
- [Mir-i-Arab Madrasa](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/bukhara/mir-i-arab-madrasa) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · Free; usually no entry past the foyer
- [Chor Minor](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/bukhara/chor-minor) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · Free from outside
- [Bolo-Hauz Mosque](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/bukhara/bolo-hauz-mosque) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · Free
- [Trading Domes](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/bukhara/bukhara-trading-domes) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free
- [Ark of Bukhara](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/bukhara/ark-of-bukhara) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · ≈ 60,000 UZS for foreigners
- [Kalyan Minaret](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/bukhara/kalyan-minaret) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Square free, mosque ≈ 15,000 UZS
- [Samanid Mausoleum](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/bukhara/samanid-mausoleum) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · ≈ 20,000 UZS, under 7s free
- [Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa Palace](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/bukhara/sitorai-mokhi-khosa) — YesGo score 32/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · ≈ 60,000 UZS for foreign visitors
- [Chor-Bakr Necropolis](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/bukhara/chor-bakr) — YesGo score 30/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · ≈ 10,000–15,000 UZS

## West side of old Bukhara in half a day

Start at the Samanid Mausoleum while the light is soft, then the Bolo-Hauz Mosque and the Ark, walk on to the Kalyan Minaret and finish with lunch at Lyabi-Hauz. YesGo fits in the timing and walks.

1. [Samanid Mausoleum](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/bukhara/samanid-mausoleum) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · ≈ 20,000 UZS, under 7s free
2. [Bolo-Hauz Mosque](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/bukhara/bolo-hauz-mosque) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · Free
3. [Ark of Bukhara](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/bukhara/ark-of-bukhara) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · ≈ 60,000 UZS for foreigners
4. [Kalyan Minaret](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/bukhara/kalyan-minaret) — YesGo score 39/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Square free, mosque ≈ 15,000 UZS
5. [Lyabi-Hauz](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/bukhara/lyabi-hauz) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Free

## Good to know

The Ismail Samani monument with the golden crown is in Dushanbe, Tajikistan — a different place. Chashma Ayub, next door in the park, is a separate and much later mausoleum with its own ticket.

## Tips

- Go at opening time or late afternoon: tour groups arrive one after another through the middle of the day.
- Shoot from a corner: you get two façades, a corner column and the small roof domes in one frame.
- Walk all the way round — the light falls differently on each side.
- Short on time? Skip the interior. The outside is the highlight, and the park is free.
- Add Chashma Ayub, 300 m away: the well and water museum round off the story of old Bukhara.
- In summer the shady paths of Samani Park are a good place to sit out the heat between the Ark and lunch.

## Questions

### How much is the Samanid Mausoleum entrance fee?

About 20,000 UZS — an unofficial 2025 figure; older sources give 10,000–15,000 UZS. Children under 7 go free. Bring cash in som.

### What are the Samanid Mausoleum opening hours?

Daily, roughly 8:00–18:00; some guides list 9:00–17:00. No official schedule is published. The park is open 24 hours, so you can see the outside any time.

### Is the Samanid Mausoleum worth visiting?

Yes, for the brickwork — it’s Bukhara’s oldest intact building. The interior is a single empty chamber, so if you’re short on time, the outside alone is worth the walk.

### How long do you need at the Samanid Mausoleum?

20–30 minutes for the building; about an hour with Samani Park and Chashma Ayub.

### Who is buried in the Samanid Mausoleum?

Tradition names Ismail Samani’s father, Ahmad ibn Asad, and Ismail himself. Excavations in 1926–1928 found several burials; Nasr II’s name is carved on the lintel.

### How do I get to the Samanid Mausoleum from the Ark?

Walk west past the Bolo-Hauz Mosque and into Samani Park — 10–15 minutes. From Po-i-Kalyan it’s about 20 minutes on foot.

### Can I pay by card?

Don’t count on it at the ticket desk. Cards work in many Bukhara hotels and restaurants, but carry som for small entry fees.

### When is the best time to photograph it?

Early morning or the last hour before sunset, when low light brings out the brick patterns. Midday light makes the walls look flat.

### Is it good for kids?

Yes. Entry is free under 7 (unofficial), and Samani Park has rides and space to run around.

## How we checked

We found no official price list or schedule from the Bukhara State Museum-Reserve, so the price and hours are marked unofficial. Prices differ: Sputnik8 gives 20,000 UZS for 2025 with free entry under 7, while another of its listings says 10,000–15,000 UZS; we show the newer figure and mention the older ones. Hours differ too: Tonkosti.ru gives 8:00–17:00 with the park open 24 hours, Airial Travel 8:00–18:00, and Sputnik8 both 8:00–18:00 and 9:00–17:00 on different pages; no source names a closing day. The side length differs between English Wikipedia (9.4 m) and Russian Wikipedia (10.8 m), so we show both. The date the cemetery was cleared also differs (1937–1939 in Russian Wikipedia, after the Second World War in English), so the text gives no exact year. The distance to Chashma Ayub was worked out from both buildings’ Wikipedia coordinates. Card acceptance at the desk is not confirmed by any source, hence the cash advice.

## Sources

- English Wikipedia: Samanid Mausoleum
- Russian Wikipedia: Samanid Mausoleum
- Wikidata: Q1268850
- Uzbekistan.travel, national tourism portal: Samanid Mausoleum
- Orexca: Mausoleum of the Samanids, Bukhara — brickwork and gallery
- Sputnik8: Samanid Mausoleum and Ismail Samani Mausoleum listings — 2025 price and hours
- Tonkosti.ru: Samanid Mausoleum in Bukhara — hours and park
- Airial Travel: Ismail Samani Mausoleum — hours
- English Wikipedia: Chashma-Ayub Mausoleum
- Kursiv Media: tourist guide to paying in Uzbekistan, July 2025 — cards and cash

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