Not 10, even 11 the most interesting places to visit in Samarkand!
- Mausoleum of Timurids "Gur-Emir"
Like all other experienced guides, I suggest starting the tour in Samarkand, with a visit to Gur-Emir Mausoleum. I explain why - firstly, it is more convenient to start the excursion from this place and continue on foot or by car, to Registan, Bibi-Khanum, etc. Secondly, if you start the excursion early in the morning, there will be few more local visitors in Gur Emir, they will visit Shahi Zinda at this time. Thirdly, there are two more interesting places near Gur Emir - Rukhabad and Ak-Saray Mausoleums, which you can visit on the way to the next site- Registan Square.
More information about Gur Emir Mausoleum you can find here.
Visit Gur Emir usually takes 20 to 40 minutes. Of course, it depends on your guide, how much information he will tell you, and how interesting the site and its history will be for you.
Tip! When leaving Gur-Emir towards the Ak-Saray Mausoleum, you may be urged to visit the "Secret Entrance to the Mausoleum" or to see the first portrait of the great commander Amir Timur (Tamerlane). If you do not want to buy extra purchases, you can refuse the invitation, because in this secret entrance you will see only the souvenir shop.
- Registan Square
You can get from Gur Emir to Registan Square on foot (for about 20 minutes). To do this, you should walk towards the Zoological Store. If you are traveling by car, I recommend you to leave the car in the parking, which is at the backside of Registan square.
For more information about Registan Square and the three Madrasahs - Ulugbek Madrasah, Sher-Dor Madrasah and Tilla-Kori, click here.
It usually takes an hour or two to visit Registan Square.
First, you should visit Ulugbek Madrassah. Since this is the first one, by the date of establishment among all three Madrassahs on Registan Square.
Tips for visiting Ulugbek Madrassah!
-If you want to see a panoramic aerial view of the square, you can do that from the top of the minaret of Ulugbek Madrasah, of course for an extra cost. A guide will help you in this matter. Since the building was built in the 15th century, the stairs are not very comfortable to climb in, and the minaret itself is very narrow. We recommend that children do not go up! The observation deck is not very big - only one person can take photos or videos.
- Ulugbek Madrasah has two interesting and unusual places to visit: a workshop of decorative mosaics and majolica, and another workshop of Arabic calligraphy. If you want to buy unusual gifts and souvenirs, these shops are the most suitable ones.
When leaving Ulugbek Madrassah, you can take unique shots of the Sher-Dor Madrassah, especially its unusual design with two tigers on the arches of the portal.
Tips for visiting the Sher-Dor Madrassah!
-If you want to see more places besides the main one, you can take a look at Imam Jafarr's Mausoleum, which was built before Sher-Dor Madrassah appeared there. It is located on the left-wing of the entrance portal.
-Would you like to buy a handmade silk carpet or are you fascinated by Samarkand silk scarves? To the right of the entrance portal, there is a store of Samarkand carpet factory "Khudjum".
The last visited one on Registan Square is a Madrassah and Mosque Tilla-Kori.
On the way from Sher-Dor Madrassah to Tilla-Kori Madrassah, you can see several burials – Sheibanid’s Dahma and the dome of Chorsu Art Gallery.
In Tilla-Kori Madrassah, the most interesting thing to discover is the interior dome of the Mosque, or rather the dome decor! It is definitely one of the to-dos in Samarkand to visit this place and take a few shots, you will not see such a decoration of the building anywhere else!
- Bibi-Hanum Mosque
You can walk to Bibi-Khanum Mosque in just 10 minutes from Registan Square. We advise you to walk along Tashkent street. On this street, there are a number of shops where you can buy suzane, magnets, souvenirs, national clothes, national dishes and much more.
Tip! If you want to save money, and do not want to spend extra 3-4 dollars, I advise you to admire the beauty of the mosque outside. In the courtyard of the mosque, you will see approximately the same facade of the main mosque as the entrance portal.
Detailed information about Bibi-Khanum Mosque is here.
- Siyab Bazaar
Next to Bibi-Khanum Mosque there is the biggest market in the city - Siyab Bazaar. This place is worth visiting at least for a few minutes! All detailed information about the market, my tips for better shopping you can read here.
- Shahi Zinda Ensemble
If after visiting Siyab Bazaar you are still full of energy, you can continue walking to the Shahi Zinda complex. It will take about 20 minutes if you walk straight from the bazaar to the complex. You can also visit the Hazrat Khizr Mosque and Mausoleum of the first President Islam Karimov on the way.
More information about the Shahi-Zinda complex you will find here.
- Ulugbek Observatory
Usually, we put all mentioned above sites in our excursion programs for 1 whole day. If the guests plan to stay in the city for two days or more, then we offer to continue the excursion in the city, and the first thing to do is to visit the Ulugbek Observatory.
When and by whom the Observatory was built, detailed information in this article.
A visit to the Observatory and Museum usually takes 30-40 minutes.
7.St. Daniel or Khodja Daniar Memorial Complex
Khodja Daniyar Mausoleum is located about two kilometers from Ulugbek Observatory. The mausoleum is located in a very picturesque place, on the slopes of Afrasiab hills.
Detailed information about the mausoleum can be found here.
Tip! If you believe in a miracle and in the power of healing water, take an empty bottle in the morning before leaving the hotel. Next to the Khodja Daniyar Mausoleum, there is a source of very tasty water. You will see how locals love this water and stand in a queue to taste it or pick it up in bottles.
- The Afrasiab Museum
The museum is located near the Mausoleum of Khodja Daniyar. It can be reached on foot in 15 minutes maximum. Before visiting the museum, I recommend watching a short film about Afrasiab. A cashier or museum staff will show you the entrance to the mini-cinema.
Follow this link to learn about the city of Afrasiab.
- El-Merosi Theatre
I strongly recommend visiting the El-Merosi Theatre, even if you plan to spend only one day in the city! The theatre is located in the city center. The performance starts on weekdays (sometimes on Sundays) at 7 pm and lasts approximately 40 minutes. Tickets should be purchased in advance, as the theatre is full of visitors every day during the high tourist season.
You can find more information about the theatre here.
- Koniguil-Meros Paper Mill
This is my favorite place! But, unfortunately, the factory is located far from the city and to get to this place is possible only by car. It is better to visit the paper factory after visiting Shahi-Zinda complex or Ulugbek Observatory, as from there you can easily catch a taxi, who will agree to drive to Konigil for a small payment.
Would you like to know more about the mill? Read my article.
- Museum of Winemaking of Khovrenko. Wine Museum and the degustation of Samarkand wines
The Museum of the winemaking and degustation room is located in the city center, next to the famous restaurant Samarkand. If you are a big fan of wine and fun, I recommend visiting the Museum at about 6 pm, go to tasting of Samarkand wines and then have dinner and dance at the restaurant Samarkand. Believe me, this evening will be really unforgettable!
Unfortunately, the degustation room is not always open, so I recommend you to book it in advance.
More information about Khovrenko Museum can be found here.
Bonus! If you are an experienced traveler and not just a tourist and always look for adventures, I'm afraid, visiting historical and architectural monuments, theatres, museums or shopping in bazaars, still may be insufficient to explore real Uzbek life...
After all, real Uzbek life, culture, customs, and traditions are quite far from the city. Real Uzbek life can be seen only in small villages, where women and men dressed in traditional costumes, children play national games in the streets, where you can see donkeys and horses as a means of transportation, and in every house, there are either chickens, cows or sheep.
In real Uzbek life, the pilaf and bread are also different! As pilaf is cooked not in modern gas stoves, but in a cauldron, on firewood! A flatbread on a tandoor, which makes an excellent taste and flavor!
In real Uzbek life, the concept of beauty is also different. Women don’t have any powder and lipsticks from expensive brands, they have only usma, surma, and golden teeth!
Well, is it interesting to see this real Uzbek life? I know one place, the village of Mitan. By the way, this village, unlike others, is the object of the Socially Responsible Tourism project, the winner of the nomination "TO-DO!" of the international competition of tourism. And most importantly, your visit to this village can be useful not only for you but also for the development of local life! Detailed information about it you can read here.
I hope this article will help you independently organize your trip to Samarkand! But if you need more information, or wish to book entrance tickets in advance, or hire a professional guide or driver, I will be glad to help you! Just send me a request to [email protected] and I will get in touch! Don’t forget to mention your phone number and the best time to reach you!
See you in Samarkand? ?
Samarkand, the same age as Rome, has preserved many historical monuments and heritage included in the UNESCO list of tangible cultural heritage. We have collected just a part of a large list, let's find out what the ancient capital of the great empires attracts you.
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