Language: Uzbek, Russian
Currency: Uzbek Sum
Visa: Americans absolutely need a tourist visa to visit Uzbekistan. The online e-visa is frustrating, but it is not too difficult and costs $20 for a single entry. Be warned: the website says the visa takes just three business days, but the reality can be much longer. Apply for a visa well in advance of your planned visit. Here is my visa guide.
Payment: Be aware that many places in Uzbekistan do not yet accept card. Even restaurants and bars will request payment in cash. Additionally, many establishments that do accept card do not accept Apple Pay. It is a good idea to carry cash at all times.
Safety: Uzbekistan feels like one of the safest countries I have visited in a long time. I do not know the crime numbers, but I cannot imagine any safety concerns. Be smart with taxi scams and use common sense, but no need to worry here.
Overview:
Located in the heart of Central Asia, Uzbekistan is one of the most unique countries in the region—and the world. Sure to be on everyone’s “to-visit” list in the next twenty years, the country still has a semblance of an undiscovered quality to it. Notable for its striking architecture, varied cuisine, and Silk Road history, Uzbekistan is one of a kind.
The capital of Uzbekistan, Tashkent, is the country’s most easily accessible city and a good place to start a tour of the country. It is also the most populous city in Central Asia. Though interesting in its own right, what makes the city notable is very different than the country’s smaller cities like Samarkand and Bukhara. It is not particularly historical, but the Soviet-era architecture and breathtaking metro system are themselves attractions. It is worth a night or two, but the real destinations lie bus rides away. Uzbekistan is well connected with train and bus routes, making journey from city-to-city very easy. Check out my guide for travel from Tashkent to Samarkand by bus here.
Samarkand is the crown jewel of Uzbekistan. With world-renowned historical sites and a maze-like layout, the city feels like a different planet even compared to other Central Asian destinations. Bukhara offers a similar atmosphere to Samarkand, though it is smaller and has a much more condensed old town. Though I have not experienced Khiva or Nukus, these cities are said to be equally historical though with fewer attractions.
If beautiful, centuries old architecture is not your thing, then Uzbek food is reason enough to visit the country. Though not too dissimilar from what you might find in Kazakhstan or Kyrgyzstan, dishes like lagman, manti, and plov originated in Uzbekistan. It is only natural, then, that the best variations of these dishes could be found in their motherland.
What to eat in Uzbekistan:
Shasklik – meat on skewers
Kurt – small, very salty preserved cheese balls
Tandyr nan – round, intricately designed bread
Samsa – layered, flakey bread with various savory fillings
Plov – Uzbek rice (pilaf) dish with meat
Manti – beef (sometimes pumpkin) dumplings
Lagman – hearty noodle dish
Wide Open Road 