Uzbekistan · 2026 itinerary
Samarkand 3-Day Itinerary
A day-by-day plan for Samarkand: the best attractions in order, where to eat, how to get around — with free hotel briefings for your stay.
Arrive & Explore the Highlights
A covered market selling dried fruits, spices, bread, and cheap souvenir scarves. No entry fee, but bring small change for a bag of almonds or a fresh naan.
🕐 Daily 7am-6pm
Free entry💡 Best in the morning (8-10am) when produce is fresh. Haggle gently on crafts, but prices on food are fixed.
Hotels near Siab Bazaar →A white marble mosque with a single minaret, built on a hill near the Siab Bazaar. You can look inside the prayer hall and see views of the old city.
🕐 Daily 9am-8pm (closed 12-1pm for prayers)
Free entry💡 Wear a headscarf if you're female, and shoes off at the entrance. The small garden behind is quiet for a sit-down.
Hotels near Hazrat Khizr Mosque →Sharq Shirinliklari · ££
Art Cafe · ££
Deeper Into Samarkand
A large green space with plane trees, benches, a small lake, and a café. Locals come here for evening walks and picnics.
🕐 Daily 24 hours (café closes 11pm)
💡 Bring a book or a picnic. The park is busiest after 5pm in summer, but quieter at 10am.
A narrow alley of mausoleums from the 11th-15th centuries, with particularly good tilework on the blue and turquoise domes.
🕐 Daily 9am-7pm
💡 Entry costs 40,000 som (about £3), but is free on the first Monday of each month. Go early (9am) to avoid tour buses.
Абдулла ака ошхонаси
Кишлак
Final Favourites & Departure
Three madrasas with blue-tiled facades and courtyards, lit up at night. The entry fee covers all three, but you can wander the outer plaza for free.
💡 Visit half an hour before sunset: the change in light on the tiles is stunning, and the crowds thin out after 6pm.
Magistr
Sharshara
Getting Around Samarkand
Always check the car plate and driver photo in app. Cash is more common than card with drivers.
Ignore drivers inside the terminal. Walk to the official taxi rank outside the arrivals gate for fixed fare, or use Yandex Go app to avoid haggling.
Buy a local SIM (Uzbektelecom or Ucell) and use 2GIS app for real-time bus tracking — Google Maps is unreliable for Samarkand buses.
Have coins ready; card payments aren't accepted. Ask the driver to shout 'Registon' or follow locals getting off at the big square.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 3 days enough for Samarkand?
Three days covers the main highlights well. You can see the key attractions like Siab Bazaar and get a genuine feel for the city. For a more leisurely pace or to explore neighbourhoods in depth, a 5-day trip is better.
What is the best time to visit Samarkand?
See our full best time to visit Samarkand guide — it covers weather month by month, peak vs. shoulder seasons and how to avoid the crowds.
Where should I stay for this itinerary?
A central location saves transit time between sites. Top options include Antika 2, Furkat hotel, Chorrakha Hotel - Caravan Seraile. See the full ranked list with free briefings for each.