Uzbekistan Travel Tips: What to Know Before Your First Trip

Before your first trip to Uzbekistan, check four things: whether you need a visa (many nationalities can stay up to 30 days without one), that your passport is valid well beyond your trip, that you will have both cash in Uzbek so'm and a bank card, and that your train tickets are booked early in spring and autumn. Once you arrive, get a local SIM or eSIM, keep your hotel registration records, and dress modestly for mosques and holy sites. This guide covers these Uzbekistan travel tips one by one, with links to our detailed guides.

Key facts

• Visa: citizens of the EU, the UK, the USA, Canada, Australia, Japan and many other countries can stay up to 30 days visa-free; others apply for an e-visa at e-visa.gov.uz.
• Passport: must be valid beyond the end of your trip; at least six months is the safe choice.
• Registration: every foreign visitor must be registered at their place of stay within 3 days of arrival; hotels do it at check-in.
• Currency: the Uzbek so'm (UZS). Cards work in larger hotels and city restaurants; bazaars and small shops are mostly cash.
• Getting around: the Afrosiyob high-speed train links Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara; tickets usually go on sale 60 days ahead.
• Best time: April–May and September–October.
• How long: 7 to 10 days is ideal for a first trip covering Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva.

Visas and entry: check your nationality first

Uzbekistan has opened up a lot for visitors. Citizens of all EU countries, the UK, Switzerland, Norway, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and many more can stay up to 30 days without a visa, counted from the day you cross the border. Since 1 January 2026 this also includes US citizens — see our note on visa-free travel for Americans.

If your country is not on the visa-free list, apply for an electronic visa on the official portal, e-visa.gov.uz. Processing takes about two working days, and the official advice is to apply at least three working days before you travel. Be careful with look-alike websites that charge extra. Our Uzbekistan visa guide explains the details, including what to check if you plan a side trip to Tajikistan and back.

• Make sure your passport is stamped on entry; border guards check the stamp when you leave.
• Do not overstay your permitted 30 days, even by one day — overstays can lead to a fine and deportation.
• Declare significant amounts of foreign currency and valuables on arrival, and do not plan to leave with more foreign currency than you brought in.
• If you take prescription medicines, carry the doctor's prescription and declare them on the customs form. Some common medicines, such as those containing codeine, can cause problems if undeclared.
• Drones are largely prohibited without licences and permits arranged before arrival, so it is usually easier to leave yours at home.

Registration of stay: keep your hotel records

Every foreign visitor must be registered at their place of stay within 3 days of arrival, visa-free or not, and you need to re-register if you move to another city and stay there for more than 3 days. In practice this is simple: hotels register you at check-in, and private hosts register guests online through the E-Mehmon system.

What matters for you is the record. The authorities expect a complete picture of where you stayed, and gaps can lead to fines. Keep any registration records your hotels give you until you have left the country. If you plan to camp or travel in a camper van, you must register yourself online.

Money: bring cash and a card

The national currency is the Uzbek so'm (UZS). Visa and Mastercard are increasingly accepted in larger hotels, restaurants and shops in the main cities, but bazaars, small cafés, guesthouses and street taxis mostly take cash. ATMs are common in the main cities and many accept international cards, but they usually dispense only so'm, and outside the big cities few ATMs take foreign cards.

• Withdraw or change money in the main cities before you head to the countryside, the desert or the mountains.
• Change money only at banks and official exchange booths. US dollars are the easiest foreign currency to exchange.
• Carry small notes for taxis, bazaars and small purchases.
• Tell your bank you are travelling, so your card is not blocked at the first payment.

SIM cards and internet

A local SIM or eSIM makes everything easier: maps, taxi apps, messaging and translation all work from day one. The mobile operators are Beeline, Ucell, Mobiuz, Uzmobile and Perfectum. Tourist SIM cards are sold at counters in the arrivals halls of Tashkent and Bukhara international airports. You need your passport to buy one, and the operator may also ask for proof of where you are staying, such as your hotel check-in.

Mobile coverage is generally good in the larger cities, but slower and patchier in small towns and less populated areas. Most hotels offer free Wi-Fi, though quality varies, so download offline maps before you head out of town.

Getting around: trains, taxis and transfers

The fastest way between the main Silk Road cities is the Afrosiyob high-speed train. Tashkent to Samarkand takes about 2 to 2.5 hours, and Samarkand to Bukhara about 1.5 to 2 hours. Tickets usually go on sale 60 days before the travel date on the official site, eticket.railway.uz, and popular dates in spring and autumn sell out fast. The passenger name and passport number must match the passport exactly, and you need the passport at the station. Our Afrosiyob high-speed train guide explains how to book.

In the cities, the Yandex Go app works in Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Urgench and Khiva and shows the fare before you confirm. Tashkent is the only city with a metro. The old towns of Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva are compact and best seen on foot. See our guide to getting around Uzbek cities for the details.

For night arrivals, early flights or heavy luggage, a pre-booked airport transfer saves a lot of stress. If you want to travel between cities at your own pace with stops along the way, a private driver is the flexible alternative to the train.

Dress code and mosque etiquette

Uzbekistan is a Muslim-majority country. Tashkent feels relaxed and modern, but conservative norms still matter in traditional towns and at religious sites. Light, loose clothing that covers the shoulders and knees works everywhere and also protects you from the sun.

• At mosques and holy sites: remove your shoes at the entrance where asked, keep your voice low, and cover your arms and legs. Women should cover their hair with a scarf; some mosques provide one, but it is better to carry your own.
• Men: avoid shorts and sleeveless tops at religious sites.
• Photographing people: ask first. Many vendors at bazaars are happy to pose.
• Sensitive places: check before photographing airports, border posts, military sites, police stations, bridges and government buildings.
• Affection in public: keep it discreet.

Ramadan and public holidays

Ramadan changes the rhythm of daily life. Some people fast during daylight hours, restaurants can be quieter at lunchtime and busy after sunset, and areas near mosques are crowded at prayer times. Be considerate: dress modestly and avoid eating or smoking in public during fasting hours where you can. Ramadan 2027 is expected to start around 8 February, with Eid al-Fitr around 9 or 10 March; exact dates depend on the moon sighting and are confirmed only shortly before.

The biggest festival of the year is Navruz, the spring new year, on 21 March. Spring is also peak season, so trains and hotels around it fill up — book early.

Safety

Normal city precautions apply. Pickpocketing and bag-snatching happen in crowded places such as bazaars and on public transport, so keep your phone and wallet secure. Carry your passport with you, as police often check documents. Use licensed taxis or app-booked cars rather than unmarked cars, and note that many cars have no rear seatbelts. Road surfaces and lighting outside the cities can be poor, which is one reason many travellers prefer the train or an experienced driver for long distances. Official travel advice from your own government, such as the UK's FCDO, is worth reading before you go.

Best time to visit and how many days you need

The most comfortable seasons are spring (April–May) and autumn (September–October). Summer is hot and dry, and the hottest days in Samarkand can pass 40 °C, while winter is cold, quiet and much less crowded. Our guide to the best time to visit Uzbekistan compares the seasons in detail.

For a first trip, 7 to 10 days is the sweet spot: enough for Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva at a comfortable pace. With only 3 days, focus on Tashkent and Samarkand; with 4 to 5 days, add Bukhara. Khiva is far from the other cities, so allow at least an extra day and a half for it. Our Uzbekistan itinerary guide shows sample routes for different trip lengths.

Planning your first trip

A first trip to Uzbekistan is easy to organise once the basics are in place: the right entry documents, a mix of cash and card, a working SIM, and train tickets booked early. Rules on entry, registration and customs can change, so check official sources shortly before you travel. If you would rather not handle the logistics yourself, TravelBliss is a licensed tour operator based in Samarkand. We plan private routes, transfers, drivers and guides across Uzbekistan — tell us your dates and interests, and we will suggest a route that fits.