Samarkand
Historic Cities & Districts · Uzbekistan · Asia
Samarkand is one of the 100 world miracles — a historic cities & districts highlight in Uzbekistan, Asia. Below: what makes it special, what to expect on site and everything you need to plan a visit.
About Samarkand
Samarkand is **one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Central Asia**, settled since at least the 7th century BC and destroyed and rebuilt by a succession of conquerors including **Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, and Timur**. It sits in the Zerafshan River valley at an altitude of 700 metres in what is now eastern Uzbekistan, precisely at the **intersection of the trade routes that for a thousand years connected China, India, Persia, and the Mediterranean**. On the Silk Road, Samarkand was not merely a waypoint but a destination: a city renowned across the known world for its paper (introduced from China), its skilled craftsmen, its astronomers, its mathematicians, and the dazzling blue-tiled monuments that rose above its skyline. The city that visitors see today is largely the creation of **Timur — known in the West as Tamerlane** — the Turco-Mongol conqueror who made Samarkand the capital of his vast empire in 1370 and spent the rest of his life transforming it into the most beautiful city in the Islamic world. **The Registan — a central square flanked by three elaborately tiled madrasas dating from the 15th to the 17th centuries — is the centrepiece**: the Ulugh Beg Madrasa, built by Timur's astronomer grandson; the Sher-Dor Madrasa, with its unusual figurative tilework showing tigers beneath a rising sun; and the Tilla-Kori Madrasa, whose interior is covered in gold leaf. The **Gur-e-Amir mausoleum contains the tomb of Timur himself, marked by a slab of dark green jade, the largest in the world**. The Shah-i-Zinda necropolis — a covered street of mausolea stretching up a hillside, their tilework in shades of cobalt, turquoise, and white — is considered among the most beautiful funerary monuments in Islamic architecture. The best time to visit Samarkand is **spring (April to June) or autumn (September to October)**, when temperatures are comfortable. Summers can be extremely hot. Fly into Samarkand directly from Istanbul, Moscow, or Dubai, or via Tashkent from most international hubs. **The Registan is spectacular in daylight but truly extraordinary in the evening light show**. Allow two full days for Samarkand itself; nearby **Bukhara and Shakhrisabz (Timur's birthplace)** are excellent additions to any Silk Road itinerary.
Highlights
- ✦ Jewel of the Silk Road, crossroads of cultures for 2,500 years
- ✦ Registan Square with three magnificent madrasas
- ✦ Turquoise-domed mosques and mausoleums from the Timurid era
Practical info
Frequently asked questions
How do you get from Tashkent to Samarkand?
The Afrosiyob high-speed train is the standard choice, covering the roughly 300 km in about 2 hours with several daily departures; a slower Sharq train takes around 3.5 to 4 hours and costs less, while shared taxis take roughly 4 hours by road.
How much does it cost to visit the Registan in Samarkand?
Entry to the Registan ensemble costs around 50,000 UZS for foreign visitors, with separate smaller tickets for other major sites like the Gur-e-Amir mausoleum and Bibi-Khanym Mosque.
Can you walk between Samarkand's main historic sites?
Yes, the Registan, Gur-e-Amir mausoleum, Bibi-Khanym Mosque and the Siyob Bazaar all sit within a compact area of the old town, comfortably covered on foot in a day, though the Shah-i-Zinda necropolis and Ulugh Beg Observatory are a short taxi ride further out.
How many days should you spend in Samarkand?
Two full days allow a relaxed pace through the Registan, mausoleums, bazaar and observatory, while a rushed single day covers only the very top highlights.
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