Uzbekistan Travel FAQ

To enter Uzbekistan, visitors should have a visa (except the 76 countries for which there is a visa-free regime). In order to receive a visa, you should apply for visa support (letter of invitation) from a tour agency that has a license from Uzbektourism. There are 51 countries with a simplified visa application procedure, meaning that they do not need visa support in order to apply for a visa. For more information about applying for an Uzbek visa, click here.

It is possible to obtain a visa at the international arrivals lounge of Tashkent International Airport, if both of the following conditions are met: There is no Uzbekistan Embassy or Consulate in the country, where you are originating your flight to Uzbekistan. Connecting flight to Uzbekistan, in the country where Uzbekistan Embassy or Consulate exists, does not provide enough time to obtain a visa.

A Letter of Invitation (LOI or Visa Support Letter) is a written document in support of a person seeking a visa to enter a foreign country. LOI for tourists visas are issued by travel agencies and approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Tour agency submits a visa application to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Ministry reviews the application, reserving the right to deny any application without providing explanations. Approved visa support is telexed directly to the Embassy or Consulate in the country where you intend to obtain your visa. However, this cannot guarantee visa issuance at the Embassy.

Consular fee – money charged by consulate or embassy to issue a visa.

Group visa is a visa issued for a group. A group is defined as five or more applicants traveling to the same location for the same purpose.

Spring (April to June) and autumn (September to October) are generally the most pleasant time to travel. The weather at this time is clear, in April you will enjoy colorful yet short spring in deserts. Autumn is harvest time, and the markets are full of fresh fruit. For those who enjoy hiking, June and August is the best time, because of dry summer.
In winter temperature usually varies between -5 and +5 (all temperatures are in Celsius), snow is usual for Uzbekistan, but there are more sunny than cloudy days. Coats, hats, gloves, sweaters are recommended. In spring the weather is mild, day temperature fluctuates between +15 and +25, reaching +30 - +35 close to summer. Casual, lightweight clothing for daytime and light jacket, cardigan for the evening are suggested. If you are planning to visit Uzbekistan in summer, expect +36 - + 42. T-shirts and shorts will work the best. It is highly recommended to wear a hat, a cap or to use parasol.
Early autumn is like spring, T-shirts for daytime and light jacket might be need occasionally for evening time. Mid-October and November are rather cool, you will need light jackets during the daytime and raincoat sometimes. From early till late autumn weather temperature decreases from 35 till 15 degrees.

Generally, there are no strict limitations on clothing, especially in Tashkent and other major cities, where particularly young people enjoy full liberty with clothing. You can frequently encounter young ladies wearing traditional Islamic covers, but this is a personal preference rather than a must.
In some provinces, however, such as Ferghana Valley, it would be better to avoid wearing shorts. Same rule is applied when visiting religious places, mosques, mausoleums, etc. Also, ladies should cover their shoulders and chest and preferably wear a hat or a headscarf.
In summer time it would be advisable to follow the above recommendation to protect yourself from the sun. Also, sun protection lotions can be used.

No, there are no any prerequisites for vaccination for travelers.

Yes, however there is a row of limitations. Some pain relieving, sedative and sleeping drugs are forbidden or their import is limited. There are medications that can be imported with the prescription; for medications that do not require the prescription limitations on quantity apply. More information on importing medication to Uzbekistan is available here.

Importing, selling, or using unmanned airborne vehicles by private persons has been prohibited in Uzbekistan since January, 2015.
There are exceptions for importing and using unmanned airborne vehicles (such as drones) for creative groups that will be using them to take photos and videos about the touristic potential of the country. Operators should submit applications to the State Tourism Committee, the Ministry of Culture, and the Uzbek Film Committee, as well as the Ministry of Defense and the State Inspection Service for Pilot Safety about the people who will be operating drones and the places they will be flying. See the official regulation on usage of drones in Uzbekistan https://www.uzcaa.uz/en/drones.

Entering Uzbekistan, you can bring alcoholic beverages up to two liters per person.
Important: For citizens flying from Uzbekistan to the EU, there is a limitation on the number of exported liquids in hand luggage: the volume of containers that contain liquids (alcohol, lotions, perfumes, etc.) should not exceed 100 ml, and the total liquid volume should not be over one liter.

We believe that offering a tour without the flight gives you several advantages. You are able to look around for the best deals on offer, probably saving yourself a lot of money. Also you have far greater flexibility in deciding which airline you might prefer to book with, where you want to come from, or where you might want to stop off en-route. As well as these, many people join our tours when they are already in the country, removing the need for a flight altogether.

If you have a group that is interested in adventure travel, which is associated with the activities or places with which we work, please contact us we will try to provide you exactly what 're looking for. We will gladly help you with this issue, as many tours that we made for customers has given us new ideas for tours to run permanently.

Each of our tours is graded, allowing you to define prior to booking a place whether is suitable for you. You should be fairly confident that you match our criteria for taking part in that particular activity.

Thanks to changes in the law, you’re now allowed to carry in an unlimited amount of cash without declaring it at the border, and may exit the country without declaration unless you’re carrying more than 100 million sum or its equivalent (approximately 7,8 thousand USD as of April 2024). This means that most visitors no longer need to bother with the old customs declaration forms upon entry or exit.

We'll be there for you. Our travel consultants team is available 24/7 by phone or email in case you need anything during the tour. You will also have the contact information of a local representative in your destination city who is on call in case anything comes up and can be there to help you.

Laundromats are not usual practice in Uzbekistan. Hotels usually offer such services for extra charge.

Drinking tap water is not recommended but you can use boiled water. Bottled water can be bought throughout the country.
A more sustainable choice is a reusable metal water bottle. Refilling it with boiled or filtered tap water reduces reliance on single-use plastics. Durable and long-lasting, stainless steel or aluminum bottles keep water cool for hours, helping cut plastic waste and lower your carbon footprint.

Both alcohol and tobacco products are legal in Uzbekistan and are sold openly. By law, alcohol and tobacco products must usually be paid for by card, although hotels and public catering establishments are allowed to accept cash payments for these products.
Please note that they may only be consumed in appropriate settings. Drinking alcohol is prohibited in streets, parks, squares, stadiums, public transport, workplaces, and other public places, except for venues where alcohol may legally be served, such as licensed restaurants, cafés, bars, and places hosting weddings, anniversaries, and other celebrations. Smoking, using e-cigarettes, and other nicotine-consumption devices are prohibited in a wide range of public places, including restaurants and cafés, public transport, museums, stations, airports, hotels, parks, beaches, and within five metres of entrances to railway stations, bus stations, airports, and metro stations.

In Uzbekistan cities there are a lot of private restaurants to suit every taste. Almost every street has a chaykhana (cafe) or a bakery. Average lunch costs from $4 and upwards, depending on what you order and where. Below there is a list of restaurants, food quality and service level of which, according to our experience, are most suited to tastes of tourists.
In Tashkent we can offer your such restaurants as Afsona, City Grill, Caravan, Jumanji, L’Opera, Gruzinskiy Dvorik, Navvat, Manas, Khan Chapan, Plov.
In Samarkand: Platan, Samarkand, Noviy Arbat, Istiqlol, Sirius, Oriental Sweets, Sogdiana cafe
In Bukhara: Doston House, Bella Italia, Zaytoon, Old Bukhara, Saffron, Andara.
In Khiva: Khorezm Art cafe in the Alakulikhan Madrassah, Asia Khiva Hotel’s restaurant, cafe of Zarafshan-opa, Terrassa cafe.

There are a number of restaurants in Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva that offer vegetarian options on their menus. However, vegetarianism is not widely embraced in Uzbekistan, so in many instances, you may need to request specially prepared meals. On the bright side, local markets abound with a wide array of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Unlike tea, coffee is not a popular drink among the Uzbeks. In some areas it is very difficult to get coffee. Rare hotels offer French coffee, instead instant coffee offered.

In some places, it is possible to pay by credit cards. Master Card and Visa are accepted.

Currency exchange offices of the country provide exchange operations of sums to dollars before departuring from Uzbekistan, on conditions that tourist preserve a document, given by bank, which indicated primary currency exchange of dollars to sums (or any other currency). However, it is worth considering that exchange offices may not have the currency you need.

Regular start time is 09.00. Upon your request a tour can be started earlier or later.

Local SIM card can be bought at Uzbekistan International airports, in official service centers or in trading centers, markets. Tourist SIM cards can be purchased at International airports, the price of a SIM card starts from $4.
You can also buy an e-sim in advance to use it across Uzbekistan. If it is your first visit to Uzbekistan, you do not need to register your phone’s IMEI in the system if you stay for up to 60 days. However, if this is a repeat visit or your total stay exceeds 60 days, you must register your device to avoid being blacklisted.

In Uzbekistan there are following mobile operators:

Ucell (trade mark of JV LLC “Coscom”)
Beeline-Uzbekistan (VimpelCom Ltd. Group)
Perfectum Mobile
UzMobile
Universal Mobile Systems

International visitors have the option to subscribe to any of the mobile network providers operating in Uzbekistan. These companies offer specific tariff plans tailored to the needs of tourists. Moreover, SIM cards can conveniently be purchased upon arrival at Tashkent airport.

There are no fees to pay when you enter or depart Uzbekistan. But you might have taxi expenses while crossing Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan borders (Dashoguz and Farap on Turkmenistan side, Shavat and Alat on Uzbekistan side) where transport is available most of the times. You are advised to bring clean, unmarked, untorn small USD bills printed in 2006 or later as cards and Euros are not accepted at the land borders.

Tourists may wish to express their appreciation, a reward for extra service to the porters, waiters, drivers and guides. The degree of appreciation may vary, and our policy is to leave this to your discretion. This is usually given individually at the end of the tour/service.
In Uzbekistan tipping is not compulsory or expected, however, tips can be given optionally if service is particularly good.
Restaurants/ Cafes/ Bars: most of them automatically apply 10-15% service surcharge to the customer's bill. No additional tipping is needed, however it is appreciated. There are few tourist orientated restaurants that do not charge for the service. There 15-20% tipping would be expected. If the restaurant/café doesn’t have an extra service charge, it usually will be shown on a menu, as charge the service is rather by default.
Hotels: service charge is always included, but bell-boys may expect a small gratuity.
Drivers and guides: tips for drivers and guides services express your appreciation or a reward for extra service and always at your discretion. It is usually given at the end of the tour/service.

We provide Uzbekistan map with detailed city maps of Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva. However, we advise to download to your mobile phone offline map of cities you plan to visit. The following offline applications can be useful: maps.google, maps.me

Yes, in 2019 a direct railroad from Bukhara to Khiva opened. The trip takes 8 hours. More details about the directions and schedules can be found here.

Uzbekistan overnight trains have three classes: Lux class coupe for 2 persons, 1st class coupe for 4 persons, and platscart class, but we do not recommend this class to travel by. Generally, coupe-classes have additional amenities and better service level.

Yes, it's possible to purchase electronic train tickets in Uzbekistan. On your travel day, simply present the QR code of your ticket at the train station. Train tickets typically become available for purchase between 30 to 45 days prior to the journey, with the exact timing dependent on the specific destination.

In Uzbekistan’s cities, visitors can get around by bus or taxi. Tashkent also has a metro system, while Samarkand has trams.
Public transport systems and fares vary from city to city. In the main tourist destinations, a single journey usually costs around 1,700–2,000 soum (approximately $0.14–0.17). Fares can be paid with an ATTO transport card or a contactless bank card, including Visa and Mastercard. In Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara and Andijan, cash payments are not accepted on board public transport. Passengers who wish to pay in cash can buy a single QR ticket in advance, for example from a ticket kiosk; these tickets usually cost slightly more than electronic fares. Payment methods may differ in other cities.
Taxis in Uzbekistan are relatively inexpensive. Short rides generally cost around $2–5, while a longer ride across the city may cost up to about $10. Prices vary depending on the distance, time of day, demand and vehicle class.
Yandex Go is one of the most convenient options for international travellers. The app is available in English and operates in many cities across Uzbekistan, including Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva and Nukus. Uklon and MyTaxi, both of which also offer an English-language interface, are available in Tashkent. When booking through an app, the route and fare are shown in advance.

Yes, there are car rental services available in Uzbekistan. If you want to rent a car, you can book through our trusted partner, Hertz, for top-notch local car rental services.

Local guide provides historical, cultural and contemporary information, heritage interpretation to individual travelers and organized tour groups. Usually tour guides work in their home town and do not travel with the clients throughout the country. They typically work on a daily basis. Local guides have a recognized certificate.
Tour leader: A person who accompanies a tour group or individual travelers throughout the country or region, usually with a particular knowledge of the region. Their job entails providing commentary, routing the tour, timing the tour and looking after logistics like hotel check-ins, local flight check ins, reservations for attractions, making arrangements for meals. In some cases tour leaders also act as a tour guide and provide sightseeing tours in some places. Tour leaders have a recognized certificate.

Below we give distances between the main tourist cities.

Cities	Distance, km
Tashkent-Samarkand	315
Tashkent-Shakhrisabz	390
Tashkent-Fergana	315
Tashkent-Bukhara	575
Tashkent-Khiva	1015
Samarkand-Shakhrisabz	90
Samarkand-Bukhara	265
Samarkand-Fergana	560
Samarkand-Khiva	710
Bukhara-Khiva	445
Bukhara-Fergana	825

The voltage is 220 V. In order to use 110/120-Voltage devices in places where there is only a 220/240V power you need to use step-down voltage converter or a combination converter. Buying a converter, you need to proceed from your appliance's wattage and circuitry.

The official language is Uzbek (Turkic origin), but the main part of population can speak Russian (Slavonic origin). In some areas (Samarkand, Bukhara) people also speak Tadjik (Persian origin). English is getting popular among young people. Excellent multilingual speaking guides and escorts are easily available throughout the country.

The official currency of Uzbekistan is the sum. Banknotes in circulation range in value from 1,000 to 200,000 sum. Notes with a denomination less than 1,000 sum have been phased out of circulation. While coins do exist, they are seldom used.