# Things to do in Samarkand: top sights and where to go

> Samarkand puts the Registan and its three madrasas, Timur's tomb at Gur-e-Amir, the Bibi-Khanym Mosque and the Shah-i-Zinda avenue of tombs within a 10–20 minute walk of each other, with the Siab Bazaar in between. Walk the centre on the first day; take a taxi on the second to the Ulugh Beg Observatory, Afrasiab and the Tomb of Daniel.

Web page: https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/samarkand

## Ready itineraries

- [One day in Samarkand: an itinerary in the best order](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/samarkand/in-1-day.md): Shah-i-Zinda's tiled tombs, Siab Bazaar, the vast Bibi-Khanym mosque, the three madrasas of Registan and Tamerlane's Gur-e-Amir — all on foot, with lunch.
- [2 days in Samarkand: a day-by-day itinerary](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/samarkand/in-2-days.md): Registan, Gur-e-Amir and Shah-i-Zinda first, then Ulugh Beg's sextant, the 18-metre tomb of Saint Daniel, the Sogdian Ambassadors' painting and Hazrat Khizr.

## All 10 places with the YesGo score

- [Gur-e-Amir](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/samarkand/gur-e-amir.md): YesGo score 59/100 (Yes, go) · 45 min · ≈ UZS 75,000, unofficial. Gur-e-Amir is the mausoleum of Timur (Tamerlane) in Samarkand, where the conqueror lies with his sons, grandsons and teacher under a…
- [Registan](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/samarkand/registan.md): YesGo score 57/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 30 min · 100,000 UZS for foreign visitors. The Registan is Samarkand’s great square, framed on three sides by the Ulugh Beg, Sher-Dor and Tilya-Kori madrasas, built between 1417 and…
- [Bibi-Khanym Mosque](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/samarkand/bibi-khanym-mosque.md): YesGo score 49/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 40 min · ≈ UZS 75,000, unofficial. Bibi-Khanym is the colossal Friday mosque Timur built in 1399–1404, with a 35 m portal and a main dome about 40 m high. Entry is about…
- [Shah-i-Zinda](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/samarkand/shah-i-zinda.md): YesGo score 46/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · ≈ 50,000 som for foreigners. Shah-i-Zinda is a steep lane of some twenty mausoleums built from the 11th to the 19th century around the shrine of Kusam ibn Abbas, on…
- [Amir Timur Monument](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/samarkand/samarkand-amir-timur-monument.md): YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 15 min · Free. The Amir Timur statue in Samarkand shows the conqueror **seated on a throne**, both hands resting on his sword. It stands in the open…
- [Siab Bazaar](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/samarkand/siab-bazaar.md): YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free entry. Siab (Siyob) Bazaar is Samarkand's oldest and biggest market, right behind the Bibi-Khanym Mosque: round Samarkand bread, dried fruit…
- [Tomb of Saint Daniel](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/samarkand/tomb-of-saint-daniel.md): YesGo score 41/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 40 min · ≈ UZS 30,000–40,000, unofficial. The Tomb of Saint Daniel (Khoja Doniyor Mausoleum) is a shrine on the edge of ancient Afrasiab where, by tradition, relics of the prophet…
- [Ulugh Beg Observatory](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/samarkand/ulugh-beg-observatory.md): YesGo score 40/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · UZS 40,000–75,000 (unofficial). The Ulugh Beg Observatory is what remains of a 15th-century star tower on Kohak hill, 4 km north-east of the Registan: a deep underground…
- [Hazrat Khizr Mosque](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/samarkand/hazrat-khizr-mosque.md): YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free, donations welcome. Hazrat Khizr is a small working mosque from the 1850s on the southern edge of Afrasiab hill, above the Siab Bazaar. Come for the painted…
- [Afrasiab Museum](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/samarkand/afrasiab-museum.md): YesGo score 35/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · ≈ UZS 40,000–80,000 (unofficial). The Afrasiab Museum stands at the edge of the mound of ancient Samarkand and holds the 7th-century Sogdian Ambassadors’ Painting. Foreign…

## Samarkand travel guide

Before you go: Registan, Gur-e-Amir and Shah-i-Zinda, getting there from Tashkent, weather by month.

## Trip essentials

- How many days: 2 days: Registan, the necropolis, the observatory
- When to go: April–May and September–October
- From Tashkent: Afrosiyob train ≈ 2–2.5 h
- Visa: Visa-free for many passports, often 30 days
- Time zone: UTC+5

## Key facts

- **2001** — Samarkand — Crossroad of Cultures joined the UNESCO World Heritage List (source: UNESCO World Heritage List, No. 603)
- **≈ 2,750 years** — Samarkand is one of the oldest cities in the world (source: Wikipedia, “Samarkand”)
- **1404** — Gur-e-Amir, the mausoleum of Timur, was built (source: Wikipedia, “Gur-e-Amir”)
- **1420s** — Ulugh Beg built his observatory, one of the largest of the medieval world (source: Wikipedia, “Ulugh Beg Observatory”)

## Things to do in Samarkand

Samarkand’s highlights are Registan Square with its three madrasas, Timur’s mausoleum Gur-e-Amir, the Shah-i-Zinda necropolis and the Bibi-Khanym Mosque. Nearby are Siab Bazaar, Ulugh Beg’s observatory and the ancient site of Afrasiab. Every place with its YesGo score is in the list above; the “Map” button shows them on a map.

| Where | What to see | Time |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Registan** | [Registan](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/samarkand/registan), [Timur monument](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/samarkand/samarkand-amir-timur-monument) | 2 h |
| **Timur** | [Gur-e-Amir](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/samarkand/gur-e-amir) | 1 h |
| **North** | [Bibi-Khanym](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/samarkand/bibi-khanym-mosque), [Siab](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/samarkand/siab-bazaar), [Shah-i-Zinda](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/samarkand/shah-i-zinda) | ½ day |
| **Afrasiab** | [Museum](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/samarkand/afrasiab-museum), [Hazrat Khizr](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/samarkand/hazrat-khizr-mosque), [St Daniel](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/samarkand/tomb-of-saint-daniel) | ½ day |
| **Science** | [Ulugh Beg Observatory](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/samarkand/ulugh-beg-observatory) | 1 h |

Rather not plan it yourself? The list above has ready itineraries, with places in a sensible order.

## Getting to Samarkand

From Tashkent the easiest way is the Afrosiyob high-speed train — about 2–2.5 hours. Samarkand also has its own airport. Bukhara is about 1.5 hours further by train.

| From | How | Time |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **[Tashkent](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/tashkent)** | Afrosiyob train | ≈ 2–2.5 h |
| **[Bukhara](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/bukhara)** | Afrosiyob train | ≈ 1.5 h |
| **SKD airport** | Taxi to the centre | ≈ 15 min |

## Samarkand weather by month

The best time to visit Samarkand is April–May and September–October — warm and dry. Summer reaches 34 °C; winter is about 7 °C by day with frosty nights.

- **January in Samarkand**: day ≈ 7°C, night ≈ -2°C, rainy days: 11. Cool, sometimes snow.
- **February in Samarkand**: day ≈ 9°C, night ≈ -1°C, rainy days: 11. Cool.
- **March in Samarkand**: day ≈ 14°C, night ≈ 4°C, rainy days: 13. Navruz, spring.
- **April in Samarkand** (best time): day ≈ 21°C, night ≈ 9°C, rainy days: 11. Warm, orchards in bloom.
- **May in Samarkand** (best time): day ≈ 26°C, night ≈ 13°C, rainy days: 9. Warm — one of the best months.
- **June in Samarkand**: day ≈ 32°C, night ≈ 17°C, rainy days: 3. Hot.
- **July in Samarkand**: day ≈ 34°C, night ≈ 19°C, rainy days: 1. Peak heat.
- **August in Samarkand**: day ≈ 33°C, night ≈ 17°C, rainy days: 1. Hot and dry.
- **September in Samarkand** (best time): day ≈ 28°C, night ≈ 12°C, rainy days: 1. Warm, fruit harvest.
- **October in Samarkand** (best time): day ≈ 21°C, night ≈ 7°C, rainy days: 5. About 21° — the best month.
- **November in Samarkand**: day ≈ 14°C, night ≈ 2°C, rainy days: 8. Cool.
- **December in Samarkand**: day ≈ 9°C, night ≈ -1°C, rainy days: 10. Cool.

Registan is most beautiful at sunset and lit up at night.

## Samarkand ticket prices

Registan Square from outside and the bazaar are free. You pay to enter the Registan madrasas, Gur-e-Amir, Shah-i-Zinda and the observatory.

- [Gur-e-Amir](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/samarkand/gur-e-amir) — ≈ UZS 75,000, unofficial
- [Registan](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/samarkand/registan) — 100,000 UZS for foreign visitors
- [Bibi-Khanym Mosque](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/samarkand/bibi-khanym-mosque) — ≈ UZS 75,000, unofficial
- [Shah-i-Zinda](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/samarkand/shah-i-zinda) — ≈ 50,000 som for foreigners
- [Amir Timur Monument](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/samarkand/samarkand-amir-timur-monument) — Free
- [Siab Bazaar](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/samarkand/siab-bazaar) — Free entry
- [Tomb of Saint Daniel](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/samarkand/tomb-of-saint-daniel) — ≈ UZS 30,000–40,000, unofficial
- [Ulugh Beg Observatory](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/samarkand/ulugh-beg-observatory) — UZS 40,000–75,000 (unofficial)
- [Hazrat Khizr Mosque](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/samarkand/hazrat-khizr-mosque) — Free, donations welcome
- [Afrasiab Museum](https://yesgo.io/uzbekistan/samarkand/afrasiab-museum) — ≈ UZS 40,000–80,000 (unofficial)

## Tips

- Return to Registan in the evening for the lights.
- See Shah-i-Zinda in the morning, when the light on the tiles is soft.

## Questions

### Is Samarkand worth visiting?

Absolutely — Registan, Gur-e-Amir and Shah-i-Zinda are among the finest Islamic architecture anywhere, and the fast train makes it easy from Tashkent.

### What to do in Samarkand in one day?

Registan, Gur-e-Amir, Bibi-Khanym Mosque, Siab Bazaar and Shah-i-Zinda.

### How do I get from Tashkent to Samarkand?

By Afrosiyob train in about 2–2.5 hours.

## Sources

- UNESCO World Heritage List, No. 603
- Wikipedia, “Samarkand”; “Gur-e-Amir”; “Ulugh Beg Observatory”

Facts checked: 09.11.2026

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