Last Updated on: 3rd July 2026, 02:19 am
It’s one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Central Asia, and it’s probably the one place in Uzbekistan that nobody skips. Though largely destroyed by the Mongols in the 13th century, the city is now defined by its Timurid architecture – buildings known equally for their colossal size and ornate tilework.
In the following Samarkand guide, we’ll be covering the top sites that no visitor should miss. With so much to see, you’ll want at least two to three full days in town, while you can add more if you plan on taking some day trips.
For more information on reaching Samarkand and the best places to stay, be sure to check the end of the article.
Gur-e-Amir
While Samarkand’s history goes back thousands of years, the oldest structures we see today largely date from the time of Timur (1336-1405). As such, we’ll be starting this guide to Samarkand at his mausoleum, Gur-e-Amir.
At the time of writing, entrance tickets cost 75,000 som. While a sign at the ticket counter mentions a whopping 100,000 som photography fee, nobody ever bothered me as I walked around with my camera.
The mausoleum is recognizable for its iconic ribbed turquoise dome. It’s a masterpiece of Timurid architecture and is said to have inspired later Mughal tombs, including those of Babur, Humayun, and Shah Jahan (though personally I don’t see a big resemblance).
Originally, however, this building wasn’t meant for Timur at all. The complex was commissioned in 1403 for Muhammad Sultan, Timur’s grandson and chosen heir, who died suddenly that year.
But when Timur himself died two years later during a winter campaign, heavy snow made access to his intended tomb in his hometown of Shahrisabz inaccessible. So he was interred here instead.
Inside, beneath the famous jade cenotaph of Timur, you’ll find the tombs of his spiritual mentor Mir Said Baraka, his son Shah Rukh, his grandson Ulugh Beg, and several other family members (the actual bodies lie in a crypt below).
Various additions were made to Gur-e-Amir during the reign of Ulugh Beg, including a courtyard, a madrasa, and a khanaka, of which only traces remain.
Notably, when Soviet archaeologists opened Timur’s tomb on 20 June 1941, they found an inscription warning that whoever disturbed his rest would unleash an even more terrible invader. Just two days later, Germany invaded the Soviet Union!
Upon Stalin’s insistence, Timur’s remains were reburied with full Islamic rites in 1942.
Timur had been born into the Barlas tribe, a Turkified Mongol group that had settled in Transoxiana after the disintegration of the Mongol Empire.
In his youth, Timur was a minor noble. And before he became a prominent warrior, he was a cattle rustler. But during one of these attempts, he was shot with an arrow which took off a few of his fingers and gave him a permanent limp.
He then came to be nicknamed ‘Timur-i-lang,’ which in Persian means ‘Timur the Lame.’ And the nickname evolved into ‘Tamerlane,’ which he was often referred to as in Europe.
Despite his injuries, Timur proved to be a fierce warrior and a brilliant military strategist. He gradually took power away from the Chagatai Khans, eventually becoming their official commander in Balkh. He then tried to solidify his power and influence further by controlling both the Mongol and Islamic worlds.
But because he was not a direct descendant of Genghis Khan, he could never claim the title ‘Khan’ himself. So he instead called himself ‘Amir’ (general) and had a figurehead rule as Khan instead.
Furthermore, lacking a relation to the Prophet Muhammad, he also couldn’t become Caliph, but instead styled himself as the ‘Sword of Islam.’
What followed were three decades of relentless expansion. Timur’s campaigns reached east to the Delhi Sultanate (sacking the city in 1398). And to the west, he conquered cities like Herat, Isfahan, Shiraz, Baghdad, and Tbilisi.
He even clashed with both the Mamluks of Egypt and the rising Ottoman Empire. One of his greatest victories came in 1402 at the Battle of Ankara, where he captured the Ottoman sultan Bayezid I.
From there, he pushed to the Aegean, taking Smyrna (Izmir) from the Christian Knights Hospitaller.
Looking east, he even attempted to lead an invasion against the Ming dynasty, but died en route to China in 1405.
The ruthless Timur’s death toll is impossible to count, but it surely ranges in the millions. But despite his massacre of civilians in any city that refused to surrender, a city’s artisans were usually safe. They would then be kidnapped and brought back to Samarkand to start working for Timur.
So while primarily influenced by Persian art and architecture, what we now call ‘Timurid architecture’ also saw influences from various parts of Central, West, and South Asia.
Following Timur’s death, a bitter war of succession followed, with his youngest son Shah Rukh emerging as victor. The Timurid dynasty continued to rule in Central Asia until 1507. But the Mughal Empire, which was founded by Timur’s descendant Babur, lasted in India until 1857.
Bibi Khanum Mosque
Another major Samarkand monument associated with Timur is the Bibi Khanum Mosque, constructed between 1399 and 1404. At the time of writing, entry costs 75,000 som (a bit over $6 USD).
Timur was a devout Sunni Muslim (and likely a follower of the Naqshbandi Order), and he aspired to create a grand Friday mosque that would serve as one of the most prominent places of worship in the Islamic world. The project was largely funded with the spoils of his conquest of Delhi.
Past the impressive entrance gate, you’ll find yourself looking up at Bibi Khanum Mosque’s centerpiece: its 41 m-high cupola.
In accordance with the massive size of his empire, Timur – not to mention Samarkand’s later rulers – aspired to monuments that were gigantic in scale.
The cupola was so ambitious, in fact, that bricks already started falling out of it before it was complete. But it did manage to stand for centuries until it was finally brought down by an earthquake in 1897.
And then, like many monuments in Samarkand, it was heavily rebuilt and restored during the Soviet era.
In the center of the courtyard stands a large stone Quran stand which in turn hosts a giant Quran. According to legend, a woman who crawls under it will go on to bear many children, but this currently can’t be tested due to the surrounding protective glass.
Disappointingly, the surviving buildings are all empty, with one now simply being used as a gift shop. As impressive as the cupola is, the price tag is a bit excessive given how little there is to see overall.
As for the mosque’s title, it was named after Saray Mulk Khanum, Timur’s chief consort who was also a Genghisid princess, or a direct descendant of Genghis Khan.
And she was the one who largely oversaw construction while her husband was away on military campaigns.
According to legend, the head architect fell in love with her, and refused to continue the project unless she let him give her a kiss. Enraged by hearing this upon his return, Timur then had the architect executed.
Other stories, however, simply state that Timur executed the architect due to the shoddy construction work of its initial iteration.
Across the street is the rather humble and unassuming mausoleum of Bibi Khanum herself. And also just nearby is the Siyob Bazaar, a popular place to buy local souvenirs or to just have a snack.
While I don’t normally enjoy crowded and chaotic markets, Siyob is clean, well-organized, and a pleasure to wander through.
The Ulugh Beg Observatory
Following Timur’s death, his son Shah Rukh shifted the Timurid capital to Herat in present-day Afghanistan. He then appointed his son Ulugh Beg as governor of Samarkand, a position he held for decades.
While Ulugh Beg would only serve as emperor from 1447-1449, he nevertheless left a lasting legacy on Samarkand given his long stint as governor.
But he’s remembered for much more than just being an official and royal heir. Timur’s grandson, in fact, was one of the era’s most important scientists and astronomers.
Built in the 1420s on a hill north of the city, Ulugh Beg’s observatory was one of the most advanced astronomical institutions of the medieval world. But it was only rediscovered in the early 20th century.
It was originally three stories high, though only parts of the curved track of the quadrant remain today.
And today, though the site costs 75,000 to enter, you’ll find nothing more than the quadrant track and a small museum dedicated to Ulugh Beg’s life and work.
This stone arc, an enormous fixed meridian instrument, was used to measure the altitude of celestial bodies as they crossed the meridian. The surviving section stretches roughly 30 metres, though the quadrant’s full radius was originally around 40 m.
Aside from the quadrant, Ulugh Beg’s observatory also contained instruments like an armillary sphere (a model of the celestial globe) and a triquetrum, though they haven’t survived.
As for the museum, it’s a modern building covered in beautiful tilework reminiscent of the Timurid era. The information inside is bilingual, while you’ll also find a few original artifacts on display.
But given the 75,000 som price tag, there’s no real reason to visit the Ulugh Beg Observatory considering how you’ll find a similar museum at Registan Square – Samarkand’s most famous monument.
One could argue that this museum features some additional technical and historical information for those with a special interest in astronomy. But most visitors should save their money and enjoy the Ulugh Beg Madrasa instead.
Registan Square
Registan Square is not only the most iconic attraction in Samarkand, but in Central Asia as a whole. But considering how we’ve already dedicated a special guide to it, we’ll only be including a brief summary here.
Tickets currently cost 100,000 som for foreigners, and the square is open daily from 8:00-19:00 in summer and from 9:00-17:00 in winter.
During summer months, the square will be illuminated from around 20:00, while a 20-minute sound and light show commences each night from around 20:30.
In Samarkand’s heyday, people would gather here to listen to royal proclamations, while it was also once home to a bustling bazaar.
Its origins date back to the 15th century, when the governor Ulugh Beg established the first madrasa here as part of a larger institutional complex.
But by the 17th century, most of these buildings had fallen into ruin, prompting the powerful governor Yalangtush Bakhodur to undertake a massive revitalization project and the construction of two new grand madrasas.
AN INTERESTING WALK: For those who enjoy walking, the next several locations in this guide can be visited in succession, starting from the Bibi Khanum Mosque. From there, it’s about ten minutes on foot to the Hazrat Khizr Mosque, after which it’s another 5-10 minutes to Shah-i-Zinda.
When finished, you can take a long but interesting walk through the cemetery behind the memorial complex. Crossing the road, you’ll eventually find yourself at the Afrosiyab Museum. And behind it, the extensive ruins of the ancient city.
And continuing north all the way through the ruins, you can then make your way to the Prophet Daniel Mausoleum. You can then use the Yandex Go app to head to another landmark or back to your hotel.
Hazrat Khizr Mosque
Hazrat Khizr Mosque is one of Samarkand’s most charming. And if you get here early enough, you can largely have it to yourself.
On top of that, this is one of the only locations in this Samarkand guide that’s free to enter at the time of writing.
A mosque was originally built here in the 8th century on what was an earlier ancient Sogdian Zoroastrian temple.
But like much of Samarkand, it was ravaged by Genghis Khan in the 13th century. It then wouldn’t be rebuilt until 1854. It saw further restoration as recently as the 1990s.
Be sure to walk out onto the terrace, from which you can catch excellent views of Bibi Khanum Mosque in the distance.
Shah-i-Zinda
Aside from Registan Square, Shah-i-Zinda is arguably Samarkand’s most photographed site. But the two are vastly different in atmosphere – not to mention scale. If you’re more impressed by exquisite tilework than gargantuan constructions, Shah-i-Zinda is the place for you.
Shah-i-Zinda is a memorial complex with tombs ranging from the 11th to 19th centuries. But most of the tilework dates to the Timurid era.
And speaking of Timur, on either side of the central alleyway are tombs belonging to his wife, relatives and even a commander.
But in some cases – especially with some tombs from the 11th century – the person entombed within is unknown.
Shah-i-Zinda translates to ‘Tomb of the Living King.’ Though the earliest datable tombs are from the 11th century, the complex was originally developed around a well.
According to legend, Qusam ibn-Abbas, a cousin of the Prophet Muhammad who came here to spread Islam in the 7th century, was martyred in the area. And upon his death, he picked up his own head and descended into a well!
Accordingly, one section of the necropolis is known as the Qusam ibn-Abbas Complex, and it’s also where you’ll find some of Shah-i-Zinda’s most stunning tilework and architecture.
In the Islamic world, it’s been common for cemeteries to gradually form around tombs of particularly important saints or historical figures. And that’s why so many mausoleums sprang up around that of Qusam ibn-Abbas, even centuries later.
As the alleyways and mausoleums themselves are narrow, it’s best to get here early in the morning to beat the crowds. And then, once the tour groups start showing up, you can leave the main complex and walk north through the adjacent cemetery.
To do so, you’ll have to leave the way you came, head east along the road and then find a dirt path running parallel to the paid portion of the necropolis.
Afrosiyab
As mentioned above, if you continue walking through the cemetery beside Shah-i-Zinda, cross Taskhent Road and then walk further northeast, you should find yourself at the Afrosiyab Museum.
Despite having read online that the entrance fee was 40,000 som, it had apparently doubled shortly before my arrival. It now costs 80,000 som, with likely photography charges added on top for those with a camera.
All of these entrance fees around Samarkand really start to add up. And having found the Ulugh Beg Observatory and some other attractions to be overpriced, I decided to move on.
The ruins behind the museum, at least, are totally free.
If you do decide to enter the museum, the top highlight is said to be a mural of Sogdian King Varkhuman (r. 650-670) welcoming Tang dynasty emperor Gaozong.
Samarkand’s history long predates Timur. The city was settled since at least the 6th century BC and was occupied for centuries. And the original heart of ancient Samarkand – originally part of the region of Sogdia – is now known as Afrosiyab (or one of its numerous spelling variants).
Interestingly, the city was named in retrospect after the mythical king of Afrosiyab who plays a major role in the Shahnameh, or the Persian national epic. And the first reference to this location as ‘Afrosiyab’ only comes from the 17th century.
In the epic, Afrosiyab was a prominent king of the Turan, a powerful kingdom inhabited by ethnic Turks. The Shahnameh, of course, was written from the perspective of Iran, and the story described repeated fierce and bloody battles between the two sides.
King Afrosiyab is depicted as a king who can’t accept peace for very long, repeatedly going on to invade – and often deceive – Iran until his eventual death.
Interestingly, Ferdowsi, the Shahnameh’s author, lived at the tail end of the Samanid Empire (and then the early days of the Ghaznavids). And archaeologists have discovered a Samanid palace right here in Afrosiyab. The Samanid capital, however, was Bukhara.
Much imagination is required here. While it does make for a nice walk, there are fewer distinguishable ruins than Uzbekistan’s other unrestored archaeological sites, such as Termez, the fortresses of Khorezm, or Paykend.
Even the ruins of Panjakent on the other side of the border have more to see, while the local museums there are much more reasonably priced.
If you continue northeast across the archaeological site, it won’t be long before you find yourself at the next destination of this guide, the Tomb of Daniel.
The Tomb of Daniel
The prophet Daniel is recognised by Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. In the Old Testament, he’s described as a wise advisor to the Babylonian and Persian courts and a famous interpreter of dreams.
And through prayer, he even manages to survive being thrown into a lion’s den.
Along with Job and David, this is one of a few Old Testament prophets whom Uzbeks believe visited their land. But in this case, Daniel’s corpse was allegedly transported here by Timur from his mausoleum in Susa, Iran.
After paying an entrance fee of 30,000 som and walking to the top of a hill, you’ll find an elongated structure topped with five domes. Much like a similar mausoleum in the Mizdakhan Necropolis, inside is an incredibly elongated sarcophagus.
This one stretches out to a staggering 18 m. According to legend, Daniel’s body continues to grow by roughly half an inch each year, requiring a tomb of ever‑expanding length.
While the atmosphere is calming and the scenery gorgeous, you probably won’t spend more than 30 seconds peeking inside the tomb. As such, 30,000 som (about $2.50 USD) feels excessive.
The spring at the base of the hill, meanwhile, is believed to have curative properties. It was a scorching hot day and I’d just finished my water when I arrived. So I filled up my bottle here and relaxed in the nearby gazebo.
I don’t know if I was healed, but I at least felt fine afterward.
Khoja Akhrori Vali
If you’ve already seen the sites listed above, Khoja Akhrori Vali isn’t quite essential. Furthermore, it’s located about a 15-20 minute drive outside the city center.
But for those with some extra time in town, this is a nice place to appreciate beautiful tilework that’s completely off the tourist trail. At the time of writing, entrance costs a reasonable 30,000 som.
The main highlight of the complex is the Nadir Divan-Begi Madrasa, which dates to 1631. Constructed by the same dynasty as Registan Square’s post-Ulugh Beg madrasas, the artwork will look familiar.
It’s also much smaller in scale, but you can walk around the courtyard in total peace while taking in the details.
As for Nadir Divan‑Begi, he was a powerful vizier under the Ashtarkhanid dynasty.
The wider complex, meanwhile, is named after Khoja Ahrar, a 15th‑century Naqshbandi Sufi master. As mentioned above, Timur himself was believed to have been a follower of the Naqshbandi order.
Next to the madrasa is an elegant mosque, trees planted centuries ago, and a tranquil pond. Historically, the complex is a reminder that Samarkand didn’t vanish after the Timurids, and it persisted as an important cultural center under the Shaybanids and Ashtarkhanids.
More Around Samarkand
If you’ve ticked off the main attractions and still have time, Samarkand has a handful of lesser-visited spots and a few rewarding day trips.
Within the city center is the Abu Mansur Mausoleum. Tucked away in a residential neighborhood, this small mausoleum is the resting place of the 10th-century Islamic theologian Abu Mansur al‑Maturidi.
A bit outside the center, meanwhile, is the Khoja Abdu-Darun Mausoleum, a 12th-century complex. Unfortunately, it was undergoing restorations at the time of my trip.
As for day trips, one of the most popular options is Shahrisabz, the birthplace of Timur and about 80 km south of Samarkand. No reliable public transport seems to go there, but you should be able to find private drivers outside Registan Square heading there for roughly $40 roundtrip. (Or book online for a slightly higher fee.)
Hazrat Davud Cave is a pilgrimage site high in the hills that’s associated with the biblical King David. It’s reachable via the Yandex Go app, and you can learn more details in our dedicated guide.
A lot of visitors to Samarkand also make a day trip to neighboring Tajikistan just to see the gorgeous Haft Kul (Seven Lakes). You can book a private tour from Samarkand, or cross the border yourself and access the lake area from Panjakent. Learn more in our detailed hiking guide.
Additional Info
Though it only has a fraction of Tashkent’s population with around 600,000 inhabitants, Samarkand is still a large and sprawling city. And given how spread out many of its landmarks are, you’re going to be somewhat reliant on ride hailing apps like Yandex Go regardless of where you stay.
With that said, the closer you stay to Registan Square, the better. Not only is it Samarkand’s top highlight, but staying nearby will put you in walking distance of several other (but not all) of the city’s prominent landmarks.
In contrast with Bukhara and Khiva, I struggled a bit with finding well-located and reasonably priced accommodation in Samarkand. Ultimately, I stayed at a place called Hostel Muborak, which was just 15 minutes on foot from Registan Square, and even closer to the Bibi Khanum Mosque.
Though it was actually well under my typical budget, there didn’t seem to be any other good options in the area for even double or triple the price at the time of my visit.
Unfortunately, despite its high rating on Booking, the location was the only thing I liked about Hostel Muborak. The walls were paper-thin, and on many nights people would be coming and going in the middle of the night while slamming doors. The staff completely ignored some basic questions sent via WhatsApp, and no laundry was available at the guest house. The nearest laundromat, they told me, was a ten-minute drive away.
Checking again, there do seem to be numerous other options within close distance to Registan Square that either didn’t exist, or perhaps just weren’t available at the time of my visit.
Registan Palace, Gulsara Hostel, Century Registan, and Hotel Muqaddas all have high ratings and are situated in excellent locations.
Note that when visiting Uzbekistan, you’re supposed to collect little slips of paper from each accommodation proving where you stayed and for how many nights. You may then be asked to show them when leaving the country.
A lot of hotel owners will tell you that the system is digitized now and therefore it shouldn’t matter anymore. There are also many cases where the officers won’t ask anything at all.
But the reality on the ground is that immigration officers are indeed still sometimes asking for the paper slips. And I’ve met some travelers who got themselves into trouble when they couldn’t provide them.
I entered and exited the country twice, and though I wasn’t asked anything during my first exit, I was asked during my second. Fortunately, I had them on me.
Generally speaking, Uzbekistan is one of the easier countries to travel through in Central Asia thanks to its rail network. You can easily book tickets online or via the official Uzbek Railways app.
Coming from Bukhara, you have the choice between either a regular speed train (2.5-3.5 hours) or an express ‘Afrosiyob’ train (about 1.5 hours). Numerous trains leave throughout the day.
From Tashkent, the regular train lasts around 4.5 hours, while the express train takes 2-3.
It’s also possible to travel between Samarkand and Khiva by train, with the journey lasting around 9.5 hours. I arrived in Samarkand this way via an overnight train.
It’s also possible to take a direct train from Termez, with the ride lasting 9-10 hours.