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Amir Timur Monument, Samarkand

Seated statue of Amir Timur on a tall plinth under plane trees, with visitors posing at its foot
Photo: Adam Harangozó, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

The essentials in 10 seconds

Entry
Free, outdoor monument
Hours
Open 24/7 — it is an outdoor monument
Time on site
A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes.
15 min
With kids
Fine with kids
When to visit
Any time, no closing days
Where
Head of University Boulevard (Universitet xiyoboni), at Registan and Bo‘stonsaroy streets
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Status
Listed cultural heritage object of Uzbekistan, UZ-SA-0437
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Time needed
10–15 minutes
From Gur-e-Amir
≈ 400 m as the crow flies, 5–7 min on foot
From the Registan
≈ 1 km as the crow flies, 12–15 min on foot
City bus
UZS 2,000 by card, UZS 4,000 cash; cash is being phased out
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
With kids
Easy: short stop, park and traffic-free boulevard next to it
Coordinates
39.65048, 66.96496YesGo MapGoogleApple

Key facts

Seated on a thronehands on his sword — he rides a horse in Tashkent and stands in Shahrisabz
2 sourcesRussian Wikipedia: TamerlanVisit Silk Road
Freeoutdoor monument you can walk up to at any hour
2 sourcesWikidata Q122885306Wikimedia Commons
≈ 400 min a straight line to Gur-e-Amir, where Timur is buried
SourceYesGo calculation from Wikidata coordinates
UZ-SA-0437its number on Uzbekistan's cultural heritage list
2 sourcesWikidata Q122885306Wikimedia Commons
1370Timur made Samarkand the capital of his empire
SourceEnglish and Russian Wikipedia
1405Timur died on campaign and was buried in Samarkand, at Gur-e-Amir
SourceEnglish and Russian Wikipedia
1336 or 1320sbirth year: Timurid chronicles say 1336, contemporary sources point to the late 1320s
SourceEnglish and Russian Wikipedia
“Iron”is what Timur means; Tamerlane comes from Persian Timur-i Lang, “Timur the Lame”
2 sourcesRussian Wikipedia: TamerlanEnglish Wikipedia: Timur
Sahib QiranTimur's best-known title, “Lord of the auspicious conjunction”
SourceEnglish and Russian Wikipedia
9 Aprilofficials lay wreaths here on Timur's birthday after a memorial at Gur-e-Amir
2 sourcesSamarkand State Medical UniversitySamarkand State University
1871University Boulevard was laid out, dividing the old city from the Russian new town
SourceRussian Wikipedia: University Boulevard (Samarkand)

Is the Amir Timur statue worth visiting?

Yes, if you are already near Gur-e-Amir or staying in the new town — it costs nothing and takes a few minutes. The statue sets the scene for everything else in Samarkand: this is the man who made the city his capital and filled it with turquoise domes.

If your time is tight, skip it without regret. The Registan, Gur-e-Amir and Shah-i-Zinda are the essentials; the statue is a bonus on the walk between the old city and the boulevard.

What the monument looks like

Timur sits on a throne, both hands resting on the hilt of a sword planted in front of him. This is the ruler and lawgiver rather than the horseman on campaign. The figure is larger than life and raised on a tall plinth, so you look up at it — very much the intended effect.

Plane trees and flower beds surround it, and the broad, shady University Boulevard runs off behind. In Uzbekistan Timur is called Sohibqiron Amir Temur, and the heritage register lists the monument as “Sohibqiron Amir Temur haykali” — the statue of Amir Temur, Lord of the Conjunction.

Searching for photos? Many results show the equestrian statue in Tashkent. The Samarkand one is easy to tell apart: here Timur is sitting, not riding.

Who was Amir Timur?

Timur — Tamerlane in Europe, from the Persian nickname Timur-i Lang, “Timur the Lame” — was a Turco-Mongol conqueror born near Kesh, today's Shahrisabz. Old wounds left him lame in one leg and missing fingers on his right hand.

From 1370 he ruled from Samarkand, building an empire that at its height stretched from Anatolia to northern India. He brought craftsmen here from conquered cities, which is why the skyline looks the way it does. He died in 1405 while marching on China and lies in Gur-e-Amir. After independence, Uzbekistan made him its national hero — which explains the statues in all three of his key cities.

What to see around the statue

  • The statue from the side, where you can see how Timur grips the sword.
  • University Boulevard behind it — laid out in 1871 as the line between the old city and the Russian new town.
  • Late-19th-century buildings along the boulevard: the governor's house, the former Russo-Chinese Bank and the girls' gymnasium.
  • Navoi Central Park on the same boulevard — shade, benches and room for kids to run.
  • The ribbed turquoise dome of Gur-e-Amir, visible through the trees.

How to get to the Amir Timur statue

Tap a route to highlight it on the map.

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on footdestinationStreet view

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

  • Gur-e-Amir is about 7 min away on foot.
  • Registan is about 18 min away on foot.

More tips

  1. From the Registan, walk west along Registan Street — about 1 km in a straight line, 12–15 minutes at an easy pace.
  2. The street ends at the junction with University Boulevard (Universitet xiyoboni) and Bo‘stonsaroy Street. The statue stands in the small square right on the junction.
  3. From Gur-e-Amir, walk out to the street and head north-west — about 400 m, 5–7 minutes.
  4. City buses and marshrutkas run along Registan Street with a stop by University Boulevard. Fares are UZS 2,000 by card and UZS 4,000 cash, and cash is being phased out; foreign Visa and Mastercard are not reliably accepted on board, so check the route in your map app and ask your hotel about a transport card.
  5. From the railway station or Samarkand airport, take a taxi through Yandex Go — 15–20 minutes. Paying the driver in cash som always works; linking a foreign card to the app does not always succeed.

Best time to visit and how long to stay

There is no fence and no ticket office, so you can come at any hour. Ten to fifteen minutes is enough to walk around the statue, take photos and stroll a little way down the boulevard; give it half an hour if you want to sit in Navoi Park.

In summer the open square gets hot at midday, while the plane trees keep the boulevard bearable. Mornings and late afternoons are quieter for photos. On 9 April, Timur's birthday, city officials hold a wreath-laying ceremony here: you will see the ceremony, but not a quiet moment by the statue.

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Statue, Gur-e-Amir or Registan: what matters most

Amir Timur statueyou are hereTimur seated on a throneFree24/710–15 minNo
Gur-e-AmirTimur's mausoleumPaidDay and evening40–60 minYes
RegistanSquare of three madrasasPaidDay and evening1.5–2 hYes

Short on time? Do the Registan and Gur-e-Amir first. The statue is a bonus on the way to the new town.

Historic Samarkand: compare and choose

Every historic sight in Samarkand rated by YesGo. Tap a column header to sort.

Gur-e-Amir5945 min≈ UZS 75,000, unofficial7 min walk
Registan571 h 30 min100,000 UZS for foreign visitors18 min walk
Bibi-Khanym Mosque4940 min≈ UZS 75,000, unofficial29 min walk
Shah-i-Zinda461 h 15 min≈ 50,000 som for foreigners41 min walk
Amir Timur Monumentyou are here4415 minFree—
Tomb of Saint Daniel4140 min≈ UZS 30,000–40,000, unofficial3.6 km
Ulugh Beg Observatory4045 minUZS 40,000–75,000 (unofficial)4.4 km
Hazrat Khizr Mosque3830 minFree37 min walk
Afrasiab Museum351 h 15 min≈ UZS 40,000–80,000 (unofficial)3.2 km

Timur's Samarkand in half a day

The statue, his tomb, the great square, the mosque he built after his Indian campaign and the bazaar beside it. YesGo works out the timing and walks.

  1. Amir Timur Monumentyou are here15 min · Free
  2. 7 min walk from the previous stopGur-e-Amir45 min · ≈ UZS 75,000, unofficial
  3. 16 min walk from the previous stopRegistan1 h 30 min · 100,000 UZS for foreign visitors
  4. 13 min walk from the previous stopBibi-Khanym Mosque40 min · ≈ UZS 75,000, unofficial
  5. 3 min walk from the previous stopSiab Bazaar1 h · Free entry

5 places · about 4 h 49 min with walks · 39 min on foot in total

Go · my route

Nearby and on your route

Gur-e-Amir

Samarkand, Uzbekistan

45 min · ≈ UZS 75,000, unofficial · 7 min walk

Registan

Samarkand, Uzbekistan

1 h 30 min · 100,000 UZS for foreign visitors · 18 min walk

Bibi-Khanym Mosque

Samarkand, Uzbekistan

40 min · ≈ UZS 75,000, unofficial · 29 min walk

Siab Bazaar

Samarkand, Uzbekistan

1 h · Free entry · 31 min walk

How to do it right

  • Pair it with Gur-e-Amir — the tomb and the statue are five minutes apart.
  • Come early for photos without tour groups in the frame.
  • To fit the whole figure in, step back a few metres along the boulevard: the plinth is tall.
  • Don't climb the plinth or sit on the flower-bed railings — for Uzbeks this is a monument to their national hero.
  • Afterwards, walk down University Boulevard — the shadiest street in the new town.
  • Carry cash in som: foreign cards are hit-and-miss on buses and in taxis.

Questions

Where is the Amir Timur statue in Samarkand?

At the head of University Boulevard, where it meets Registan and Bo‘stonsaroy streets — about 400 m from Gur-e-Amir and 1 km from the Registan.

Is there an entrance fee?

No. It is an outdoor monument, free to visit at any time.

How long do you need there?

10–15 minutes; around half an hour if you add a stroll down the boulevard and Navoi Park.

How do I walk from the Registan to the statue?

Head west along Registan Street to University Boulevard — 12–15 minutes on foot. Gur-e-Amir is an easy stop on the way.

Is the Amir Timur statue worth visiting?

Yes as a quick stop near Gur-e-Amir; no as a separate trip. The Registan, Gur-e-Amir and Shah-i-Zinda come first.

What is the difference between the Samarkand and Tashkent statues?

In Tashkent Timur rides a horse; in Samarkand he sits on a throne with his sword. In Shahrisabz he stands.

Are Timur and Tamerlane the same person?

Yes. Timur is his name; Tamerlane is the European form of the Persian nickname “Timur the Lame”; Uzbeks call him Amir Temur.

Where is Tamerlane buried?

In the Gur-e-Amir mausoleum in Samarkand, a few minutes' walk from the statue.

Can I pay for Samarkand buses with a foreign card?

Not reliably. Fares are UZS 2,000 by local or transport card and UZS 4,000 cash; for visitors a Yandex Go taxi paid in cash is simpler.

Have you been? Was it worth your time?

1 — no, 5 — absolutely

Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.

Sources and fact-check

  • Wikidata: Q122885306 Amir Timur statue — coordinates, street, heritage number UZ-SA-0437
  • Wikimedia Commons: category Statue of Amir Temur (Samarkand)
  • Russian Wikipedia: Tamerlan (Memory section); University Boulevard (Samarkand)
  • English Wikipedia: Timur
  • Afisha.uz, 2017: interview with sculptor Ilkhom Jabbarov
  • Samarkand State Medical University and Samarkand State University — news on the 9 April ceremonies
  • Kun.uz, May 2026: Samarkand public transport fares
  • Visit Silk Road: Samarkand Statue of Amir Timur
YesGo editorial team · facts checked 30.10.2026 ·
How we checkedThe monument is free and outdoors, so there are no prices or hours to verify. The pose is checked against Russian Wikipedia and Visit Silk Road; the address and heritage status against Wikidata and Wikimedia Commons. Distances to Gur-e-Amir and the Registan are our own straight-line calculation from coordinates. Reliable sources don't name the year or the sculptor of the Samarkand statue: some sites mention 1996 and Ilkhom Jabbarov, but we could not confirm this in two independent sources, so we don't state it. Bus fares come from Kun.uz (May 2026) and are marked unofficial — the city has said it will scrap cash entirely. Timur's birth date differs between sources (1336 in Timurid chronicles, late 1320s in contemporary ones), so we show both.

Top YesGo picks: Samarkand

Shah-i-Zinda

Samarkand, Uzbekistan

1 h 15 min · ≈ 50,000 som for foreigners

Tomb of Saint Daniel

Samarkand, Uzbekistan

40 min · ≈ UZS 30,000–40,000, unofficial

Ulugh Beg Observatory

Samarkand, Uzbekistan

45 min · UZS 40,000–75,000 (unofficial)

Hazrat Khizr Mosque

Samarkand, Uzbekistan

30 min · Free, donations welcome

Afrasiab Museum

Samarkand, Uzbekistan

1 h 15 min · ≈ UZS 40,000–80,000 (unofficial)

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