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Uzbekistan
The region’s cradle of culture for more than two millennia, Uzbekistan is the proud home to a spellbinding arsenal of architecture and ancient cities, all deeply infused with the bloody, fascinating history of the Silk Road. In terms of sights alone, Uzbekistan is Central Asia's biggest draw and most impressive showstopper.
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Attractions
Must-see attractions for your itinerary
Registan
Samarkand
This ensemble of majestic, tilting medressas – a near-overload of majolica, azure mosaics and vast, well-proportioned spaces – is the centrepiece of the…
Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum
Samarkand
The beautiful portal and trademark fluted azure dome of the Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum marks the final resting place of Timur (Tamerlane), along with two sons…
Shah-i-Zinda
Samarkand
Samarkand’s most moving and beloved site is this stunning avenue of mausoleums, which contains some of the richest tilework in the Muslim world. The name,…
Ark
Bukhara
The spectacular-looking Ark, a royal town-within-a-town, is Bukhara’s oldest structure, occupied from the 5th century right up until 1920, when it was…
Savitsky Museum
Nukus
The Savitsky Museum houses one of the most remarkable art collections in the former Soviet Union. About half of the paintings were brought here in Soviet…
Kalon Minaret
Bukhara
When it was built by the Karakhanid ruler Arslan Khan in 1127, the Kalon Minaret was probably the tallest building in Central Asia – kalon means…
Tosh-Hovli Palace
Khiva
This palace, which means ‘Stone House’, contains Khiva’s most sumptuous interior decoration, dense with blue ceramic tiles, carved wooden pillars and…
Kumtepa Bazaar
Fergana Valley
The fantastic Kumtepa Bazaar, 5km west of Margilon centre, is a time capsule full of weathered Uzbek men in traditional clothing exchanging solemn…
Planning Tools
Expert guidance to help you plan your trip
Traveling with Kids
Experience the Silk Road as a family with this guide to exploring Uzbekistan with kids.
Read articleBest Road Trips
Uzbekistan has been the setting for some of Asia’s most important road trips. Follow the network of Silk Roads with these driving routes.
Read articleArticles
Latest stories from Uzbekistan
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Historic Site
A Total Trip: What I spent on an ambitious six-day group tour across UzbekistanSep 14, 2023 • 9 min read
- Destination PracticalitiesGetting around Uzbekistan is easy with these insider tips
Aug 21, 2023 • 7 min read
- Sustainable TravelMaking a Silk Road journey through Uzbekistan entirely by train
Jul 18, 2023 • 5 min read
SportsCould Uzbekistan become Central Asia’s first Shangri-La for skiers and snowboarders?Mar 6, 2020 • 4 min read
- ItineraryThe best cities, countries and regions to visit in 2020, according to Lonely Planet
Oct 21, 2019 • 3 min read
Guidebooks
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Get to the heart of Uzbekistan with one of our in-depth, award-winning guidebooks, covering maps, itineraries, and expert guidance.