If you have time, see all three — together they tell the story of the Silk Road. But many travellers have only a few days and ask us which city to choose. Here is how they compare.
Samarkand — the grand monuments
Samarkand is about scale and colour: the Registan, Gur-e-Amir, Bibi-Khanym and the tiled avenue of Shah-i-Zinda. The monuments are spread across a modern city, so you move between them by car or on longer walks. - Best for: the famous images of Uzbekistan, Timurid architecture, a first visit. - Time needed: 1–2 days.
Bukhara — the living old town
Bukhara feels lived-in. Its old centre is a web of lanes, trading domes, madrasas and courtyards around Lyabi-Hauz and the Kalon minaret. It is easy to explore on foot and lovely in the evening. - Best for: atmosphere, crafts, walking, slow travel. - Time needed: 2 days is ideal; 1 day shows the highlights.
Khiva — the walled museum city
Inside the walls of Itchan Kala, Khiva is compact and complete — minarets, palaces and mosques in a small walled town. It is the most remote of the three, and the desert fortresses of Khorezm are nearby. - Best for: a fairy-tale walled town, sunsets from the walls, desert fortresses. - Time needed: 1–2 days (see how many days in Khiva).
If you only have…
- One day: Samarkand — it is reachable on a day trip by fast train from Tashkent.
- Two or three days: Samarkand and Bukhara, linked by fast train.
- Four days or more: add Khiva — fly to Urgench or travel by train or car through the desert.
Getting between them
Fast trains link Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara; Khiva is further west. Our guide to getting around Uzbekistan explains the options.
How we can help
Our guides work in all three cities and can meet you at the station in each. For a full multi-day trip with hotels and trains, our sister company Tour to Uzbekistan plans the whole route.
