Amir Timur Monument
Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Gur-e-Amir, Samarkand
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Photo: Adam Harangozó, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia CommonsFit in nearby today
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- ≈ UZS 75,000 — unofficial; no official fare published
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Hours
- Daily, morning to evening; closing time shifts with the season
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Time on site
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A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes. - 45 min
- With kids
- Fine with kids
- Photography
- A separate camera fee may be posted at the ticket desk — ask
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Closed
- No closing day
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Payment
- Bring som in cash — foreign cards don’t always work at the desk
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Dress
- Shoulders and knees covered; a scarf for women is a good idea
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Address
- 1 Oqsaroy (Aksaray) Street
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - From Registan
- ≈ 1 km, 15 minutes on foot
- Time needed
- 40–60 minutes
Key facts
Timurthe main burial: Tamerlane was laid here in 1405 instead of his home town of Shahrisabz
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English and Russian WikipediaWelcome.kzTurkestan Travel1403–1404built, first as the tomb of Timur’s grandson Muhammad Sultan
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Russian and English WikipediaLeiden University, Iran–Turan projectJadethe dark-green stone over Timur’s grave was laid under Ulugh Beg
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Russian and English WikipediaAdvantour6 cenotaphsin the hall: Timur, Shah Rukh, Miran Shah, Muhammad Sultan, Ulugh Beg and Timur’s teacher Mir Sayyid Baraka
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English WikipediaLeiden UniversityAdvantourCryptthe real graves are in a closed crypt below; upstairs are cenotaphs only
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Leiden UniversityRussian WikipediaAdvantour15 mdome diameter; the shell itself is 12.5 m high
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Russian and English WikipediaTurkestan Travel≈ 30 mtotal height including the drum
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Welcome.kzRussian WikipediaMuhammad ibn Mahmud Isfahanithe architect named in the building’s inscription
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Russian and English Wikipedia1740Nadir Shah carried off the jade, it cracked in two, and he sent it back
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English WikipediaTurkestan TravelRussian Wikipedia19 June 1941Soviet scientists opened Timur’s tomb; three days later Germany invaded the USSR
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Russian and English Wikipedia1996the lost minarets were rebuilt
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Russian WikipediaLeiden UniversityPrototypefor Mughal tombs such as Humayun’s Tomb and the Taj Mahal
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English WikipediaEurasia.travelGur-e-Amir tickets and opening hours
There is no official published fare. Unofficially, foreign visitors paid UZS 75,000 in 2026, with a lower rate for Uzbek citizens; older guides quoting UZS 30,000–40,000 are out of date. A separate photography fee is sometimes posted at the ticket desk, so ask before you get your camera out.
The mausoleum is open every day — there is no closing day. It opens around 8:00–9:00; closing time varies, earlier in winter and around 22:00 or later in the warm season. Check with your hotel or at the desk if you plan an evening visit.
Payment: bring Uzbek som in cash. Small ticket desks don’t always take foreign Visa or Mastercard, so withdraw som in town before you come.
Is Gur-e-Amir worth visiting?
Yes — it is one of the shortest and most rewarding stops in Samarkand. In under an hour you see the dome that defines the skyline, the gilded hall and the tomb of the man who built the city you walk through at Registan.
It is smaller than Registan and calmer than Shah-i-Zinda, so it fits easily at the start or end of a day. Short on time? See it lit up from the outside after dark — the dome is floodlit and it is on the way to dinner from University Boulevard.
What to see at Gur-e-Amir
- The dome — ribbed and clad in turquoise mosaic on a tall drum. It looks best from the courtyard and from the Timur statue.
- The gilded hall — a dado of hexagonal onyx tiles, with painted and gilded papier-mâché relief in gold and blue above.
- Timur’s jade cenotaph — a near-black, dark-green stone in the centre, cracked in two, surrounded by the marble cenotaphs of his family behind a carved marble screen.
- The tiled entrance portal — the classic photo. Behind it lies the courtyard where Muhammad Sultan’s madrasa and khanqah once stood; only foundations remain.
- The minarets — rebuilt in 1996 on the surviving bases.
- Rukhabad and Aksaray — two small neighbouring mausoleums: Rukhabad on the way from the Timur statue, Aksaray on a quiet street behind Gur-e-Amir.
How to get to Gur-e-Amir from Registan
Tap a route to highlight it on the map.
Where are you starting from?
We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.
On foot
- Amir Timur Monument is about 7 min away on foot.
- Registan is about 18 min away on foot.
More tips
- Stand facing Registan and turn left — walk west along Registan Street towards University Boulevard (Universitet xiyoboni), about 600 m or 8–10 minutes.
- At the boulevard you reach the seated Amir Timur Monument; the turquoise dome is already in view.
- Walk south-west behind the statue, past the small Rukhabad Mausoleum, to Oqsaroy Street — another 300–400 m, about 5 minutes.
- Buy your ticket at the desk by the entrance and ask about the photo fee there.
- From the railway station or Samarkand airport, a Yandex Go taxi takes 15–20 minutes. City buses cost UZS 2,000 by card and UZS 4,000 in cash, and Samarkand is phasing out cash fares.
Who is buried in Gur-e-Amir?
Gur-e-Amir — Persian for “tomb of the emir” — began as a grief project. In 1403 Timur’s grandson and heir, Muhammad Sultan, died suddenly, and a mausoleum was added to the madrasa and khanqah he had founded. Timur meant to be buried in Shahrisabz, but he died on campaign towards China in February 1405; the passes were snowed in, so he was laid to rest here.
His sons Shah Rukh and Miran Shah followed, then his grandson Ulugh Beg, the astronomer-ruler who finished the complex. Timur’s spiritual teacher, Mir Sayyid Baraka, lies beside them. The marble and jade stones you see are cenotaphs; the actual graves are in the crypt below, closed to visitors.
A short history, and Timur’s curse
The building was finished in 1404 by Muhammad ibn Mahmud Isfahani, whose name appears in an inscription. Ulugh Beg added the gallery that now serves as the entrance and placed the jade over his grandfather’s grave. In 1740 the Persian ruler Nadir Shah carried the stone off; it cracked, and his advisers talked him into returning it.
The famous chapter is June 1941. A Soviet expedition including the anthropologist Mikhail Gerasimov opened Timur’s tomb on 19 June; on 22 June Germany invaded the Soviet Union. That coincidence created the legend of Timur’s curse — treat it as a legend. The remains were later reburied with Islamic rites.
Restorers worked on the dome and portal in the Soviet years, and the minarets were rebuilt for Timur’s jubilee in 1996. The tall drum and ribbed dome went on to shape Mughal tombs, from Humayun’s Tomb in Delhi to the Taj Mahal.
Before you go: checklist
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Gur-e-Amir vs Registan vs Shah-i-Zinda
| Gur-e-Amiryou are here | Tomb of Timur and his family | ≈ UZS 75,000 | 40–60 min | Gilded hall and jade | Covered |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registan | Square with three madrasas | ≈ UZS 100,000 | 1–1.5 h | Scale and evening lights | Casual |
| Shah-i-Zinda | Street of tombs on a hill | ≈ UZS 50,000–80,000 | ≈ 1 h | Tilework on every façade | Covered |
Fares are unofficial 2026 figures. With one day, do all three — they sit on one line across the centre. Gur-e-Amir is the quickest of the three.
Samarkand’s historic sights compared
Every historic sight in Samarkand rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.
| Gur-e-Amiryou are here | 59 | 45 min | ≈ UZS 75,000, unofficial | — |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registan | 57 | 1 h 30 min | 100,000 UZS for foreign visitors | 16 min walk |
| Bibi-Khanym Mosque | 49 | 40 min | ≈ UZS 75,000, unofficial | 29 min walk |
| Shah-i-Zinda | 46 | 1 h 15 min | ≈ 50,000 som for foreigners | 39 min walk |
| Amir Timur Monument | 44 | 15 min | Free | 7 min walk |
| Tomb of Saint Daniel | 41 | 40 min | ≈ UZS 30,000–40,000, unofficial | 3.5 km |
| Ulugh Beg Observatory | 40 | 45 min | UZS 40,000–75,000 (unofficial) | 4.3 km |
| Hazrat Khizr Mosque | 38 | 30 min | Free | 36 min walk |
| Afrasiab Museum | 35 | 1 h 15 min | ≈ UZS 40,000–80,000 (unofficial) | 3.1 km |
Timur’s Samarkand in half a day
The Timur statue, his mausoleum, Registan, Bibi-Khanym Mosque and Shah-i-Zinda — all on foot along one line. YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.
- Amir Timur Monument15 min · Free
- 7 min walk from the previous stopGur-e-Amiryou are here45 min · ≈ UZS 75,000, unofficial
- 16 min walk from the previous stopRegistan1 h 30 min · 100,000 UZS for foreign visitors
- 13 min walk from the previous stopBibi-Khanym Mosque40 min · ≈ UZS 75,000, unofficial
- 13 min walk from the previous stopShah-i-Zinda1 h 15 min · ≈ 50,000 som for foreigners
5 places · about 5 h 14 min with walks · 49 min on foot in total
Nearby — add to your day
Registan
Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Bibi-Khanym Mosque
Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Siab Bazaar
Samarkand, Uzbekistan
How to do it right
- Start at the Amir Timur Monument — five minutes away, and it sets the scene.
- Go inside by day and come back after sunset for the floodlit dome; it is a short detour from University Boulevard.
- Small som notes cover the ticket, the photo fee and the bus in one go.
- Inside, look up before you look at the jade — the painted dome is best seen from the centre of the hall.
- Don’t photograph people praying at the cenotaphs close up without asking.
Questions
How much is the entrance fee to Gur-e-Amir?
There is no official published fare. Unofficially, foreign visitors paid about UZS 75,000 in 2026; a camera fee may be extra.
What are Gur-e-Amir opening hours?
Daily from about 8:00–9:00. It closes late in the evening in season and earlier in winter, so check on the day.
Is Gur-e-Amir open at night?
In the warm season it stays open into the evening, and the dome is floodlit after dark. Confirm the closing time before you go.
Who is buried in Gur-e-Amir?
Timur (Tamerlane), his sons Shah Rukh and Miran Shah, his grandsons Muhammad Sultan and Ulugh Beg, and his teacher Mir Sayyid Baraka.
How long do you need at Gur-e-Amir?
40–60 minutes for the hall and courtyard, plus 10–15 minutes if you return for the lights.
Is there a dress code?
Yes. Cover shoulders and knees; women may want a scarf. A wrap may be handed out at the entrance.
Can I pay by card?
Don’t count on it. Bring som in cash; foreign Visa and Mastercard don’t always go through at small ticket desks.
How far is Gur-e-Amir from Registan?
About 1 km — a 15-minute walk west along Registan Street to the Timur statue, then south-west to Oqsaroy Street.
What is Timur’s curse?
A legend: the tomb was opened on 19 June 1941 and Germany invaded the USSR three days later. Historians see it as coincidence.
Have you been? Was it worth your time?
1 — no, 5 — absolutely
Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.
Sources and fact-check
- English and Russian Wikipedia: Gur-e-Amir; Wikidata Q1256223
- Leiden University, Iran–Turan project: The Gur-i Amir Mausoleum
- Advantour: Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum
- Welcome.kz: Gur-Emir, 2026
- Turkestan Travel: Gur Emir Mausoleum
- Eurasia.travel: mausoleum page and traveller forum on Samarkand entry fees, 2025–2026
- Sailing Stone Travel: Samarkand guide, 2026
- Sputnik8: Gur-Emir Mausoleum; Trip.com listing
- Kun.uz, 1 May 2026 — Samarkand public transport fares
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