Bukhara region · 3h40 by train from Tashkent
Bukhara
The best-preserved medieval town in Central Asia: trading domes, the Poi-Kalon ensemble and the Ark Fortress, all walkable.
Where Samarkand is monumental, Bukhara is intimate. The whole historic centre is a living old town you can cross on foot in twenty minutes, with caravanserais, madrasahs and covered bazaars still in daily use.
What to see
Poi-Kalon ensemble
The 47-metre Kalon minaret, the Friday mosque and the Mir-i-Arab madrasah — extraordinary at sunset.
Ark Fortress
The residence of the emirs of Bukhara, in use from the 5th century until 1920.
Trading domes
Toqi Zargaron, Toqi Sarrofon and Toqi Telpak Furushon — the medieval jewellers', money-changers' and hatters' bazaars.
Lyabi-Hauz
The old town's shaded pool square, the place to end the day with tea.
Practical notes
- Best time to visit
- March–May and September–November. Desert climate: hot summers, cold nights in winter.
- Getting there
- High-speed train from Tashkent (about 3h40) or from Samarkand (about 1h40).
- How long to stay
- Two days is right. One night in the old town makes the difference.
