Uzbekistan has been one of my dream destination for years but the complicated and expensive visa procedure stopped me from going there earlier. As soon as it became easier to travel to Uzbekistan I planned my own trip there and in October 2017 I spent one week in Uzbekistan. This amazing country has definitely lived up to my expectations!

Places to visit in Uzbekistan

The country is known for its stunning architecture at the Silk Road route and that’s already a good reason to visit Uzbekistan. Most of the tourists (including me) focus on three main Uzbekistan highlights: Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva. Each of them is different and each of them is worth the time and effort to travel there.

Samarkand has the grandest monuments, the big four: Registan complex, Bibi-Khanym Mosque, Gur-e-Amir mausoleum and Shah-i-Zinda cemetery but other than that it’s just a regular city, second largest in Uzbekistan. Khiva is like a living museum, all the monuments can be found inside the city walls and it feels like the time has stopped there. Bukhara is in between these two. All three made it to the UNESCO World Heritage List and the first look at those stunning places will make you understand why.

But don’t focus only on Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva, spend some time in the capital city – Tashkent too. This city was my biggest surprise of the travel to Uzbekistan, it happened to be so interesting. The biggest attraction being of course Tashkent metro that can compete with Moscow metro stations when it comes to ornaments and beauty.

More reasons to travel to Uzbekistan

But for me the country was more than just beautiful architecture. Uzbekistan was the place with some of the most friendly and hospitable people I’ve ever met. Every encounter, even a small one, led to a conversation. I can’t count how many times I had to answer where I’m from but it was at least dozen each day.

As the tourism isn’t still very present in Uzbekistan locals were curious of foreigners but, unlike in other countries, it wasn’t intrusive but genuine. Before you travel to Uzbekistan be sure to learn at least a bit of Russian. While it’s possible to get around with English only knowing Russian helps a lot, especially in these random conversations. And speaking to locals is the best way to get to know the country!

Another reason why it’s worth to travel to Uzbekistan is the food, also if you are a vegetarian. I am and I was very skeptical prior the trip, I was afraid I will spend a week eating only bread and salads. Oh how wrong I was!

The independent tourism might be just slowly developing in Uzbekistan but there are numerous organized tours from Western Europe or the US hence many restaurants are prepared to serve foreign guest with all the dietary requirements. Even if the cuisine of Central Asia is very heavy connected with meat almost everywhere I could find the vegetarian version of popular dishes: manti, lagman or plov and these were very delicious too.

The best food, however, was served in the local cafeteria next to Registan in Samarkand, where there was no menu and mostly locals eating. As soon as I came in I was taken care of, the waitress took me to the cook who then asked me what I want to eat and prepared vegetarian lagman for me. While I expected the food in Uzbekistan to be nothing special it turned out to be yet another highlight of the trip.

Uzbekistan – a perfect alternative to Iran

If I have to compare Uzbekistan to any other place it would be Iran: the same style of incredible architecture, the same kind of hospitable people and the same oriental vibe. While I loved Iran I think I might have liked Uzbekistan a little bit more but I can’t really explain why.

If for some reason you can’t visit Iran you should plan a trip to Uzbekistan instead – you will love it too! But the sooner you go the better as I’m sure it’s a matter of time the world will learn about this amazing country too!

Pictures that will inspire you to travel to Uzbekistan

Below you can see a small collection of my pictures that will hopefully inspire you to plan your own Uzbekistan trip!

Tashkent metro – Alisher Navoi station

Tashkent – Chorsu Bazaar

Tashkent – Chorsu Bazaar

Tashkent – Chorsu Bazaar

Tashkent – Hazrati Imam complex

Tashkent – Hazrati Imam complex

Tashkent – details of Hotel Uzbekistan

Tashkent – Monument to Amir Temur and Hotel Uzbekistan

Tashkent loves you

Tashkent metro – Mustakillik maydoni station

Khiva – Itchan Kala

Khiva – Itchan Kala

Khiva – Itchan Kala

Khiva – Itchan Kala

Khiva – Itchan Kala

Khiva – Itchan Kala

Khiva – Itchan Kala

Khiva – Itchan Kala

Khiva – Itchan Kala

Khiva – Itchan Kala

Khiva – Itchan Kala

Khiva – Itchan Kala

Khiva – Itchan Kala

Khiva – Itchan Kala

Bukhara – Abdulaziz Khan Madrassah

Bukhara – Ulugbek Medressa

Bukhara – Kalon Mosque

Bukhara – Kalon Mosque

Bukhara – Kalon Mosque

Details of Bukhara

Bukhara – Qo’sh madrasa

Ark of Bukhara

Bukhara – Chor Minor

Bukhara – Chor-Bakr

Bukhara – Emir’s Summer Palace

Bukhara – Emir’s Summer Palace

Bukhara – Emir’s Summer Palace

Bukhara – Baha-ud-Din Naqshband Bukhari Complex

Bukhara – Baha-ud-Din Naqshband Bukhari Complex

Samarkand – Registan

Samarkand – Registan

Samarkand – Registan

Samarkand – Registan

Samarkand – Registan

Samarkand – Registan

Samarkand – Gur-e-Amir mausoleum

Samarkand – Gur-e-Amir mausoleum

Samarkand – Bibi-Khanym Mosque

Samarkand – the best Uzbek food

Samarkand – Shah-i-Zinda cemetery

---

LIKED IT? PIN THIS POST FOR LATER!

---