Travel Tips for Uzbekistan: 13 Useful Things to Know

The land of Ancient Silk Road cities, and the tastiest melon you have ever tried!

Our two months of independent travel through Central Asia started here, and what an introduction. Flying from Baku to Tashkent to Khiva, we made friends with locals on the flight and in the airport.

And before we had even set foot on Uzbek soil, we had two meet-ups scheduled!

If you’re ready to explore ancient Silk Road cities with buildings covered in sparkling mosaic tiles, sip on Uzbek tea in traditional teahouses, and make friends with all the friendly locals, this guide will help you out with all the practical travel tips for Uzbekistan and actually useful things to know before you go!

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1. Public Transport Between Major Cities is REALLY Good

Uzbekistan’s major cities are well-connected by pretty regular trains, all the way from the desert around Khiva to Tashkent to Fergana City.

Tickets are easy to buy online in advance or at the stations directly, and they’re affordable!

There are fancy high-speed trains with air con and TVs, but there are also slow, rickety Soviet trains which don’t even have fans, so make sure you double check which type of train you’re booking!

2. Uzbekistan is a Conservative Country

Uzbek women wear beautiful matching sets of flowy trousers and tops, form-fitting and revealing clothing is not the norm.

Uzbekistan is a Muslim country so mosques and mausoleums will require you to wear loose clothing that at least covers knees, shoulders and chest.

3. Yandex Go is the Taxi App to Get Around

Yandex Go is pretty reliable and the easiest way to take shorter journeys in Uzbekistan.

4. Cash vs Card: 50/50

Bigger establishments like hotels and supermarkets etc. usually accept card payments, but local transport, smaller guesthouses and shops will need cash.

5. Local Currency

The currency is Uzbekistani Som (UZS).

6. Fee-Free ATMs

The best ATMs for foreign cards with Xalq Bank.

7. Vegetarian Food is REALLY Tough to Find

We really struggled to find local vegetarian dishes in Uzbekistan overall. Tashkent had more non-Uzbek restaurants which meant more veg options were available, and some more touristy restaurants may have some vegetarianised version local dishes.

We gave Uzbekistan a 3/10 on the vegetarian-friendliness scale.

8. Many Nationalities Do Not Need a Visa

EU, UK, and Canadian citizens are amongst the many that can stay in Uzbekistan visa-free for up to 30 days. As always, double-check your personal situation and entry requirements.

9. Police Registration is Required

You are required to be registered with the police to show proof of where you have stayed each night on your visit to Uzbekistan. Accommodation hosts will often be able to do this for you. Full blog post on tips on its way!

10. Uzbek and Russian are the Spoken Languages

Uzbek is a Turkic language which is similar to the Turkish spoken in modern-day Turkey.

English is not well-understood in Uzbekistan, particularly outside of Tashkent. Russian is also spoken by many as a second language.

Try to learn some of these basics before your trip:

11. Tipping Culture

Tipping isn’t necessarily expected, but restaurants often have a non-negotiable 10% service charge.

12. Prepaid Tourist SIM Provider

Beeline has great coverage all over the country.

13. Highlights of a Trip to Uzbekistan

Definitely try to incorporate these into your Uzbekistan itinerary:

In a Nutshell

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