By rail
Bukhara, high-speed trains from Tashkent and Samarkand
East Asia · Uzbekistan
Bukhara, Uzbekistan
An old Silk Road city of minarets and trading domes
Getting there
By air
Bukhara International Airport (BHK), ~5 km by road
Best time to visit
April to May or September to October — warm and pleasant
Don't miss
Po-i-Kalyan
The Ark of Bukhara
Lyab-i Hauz
Samanid Mausoleum
Things to do
Walking the old town
Shopping in trading domes
Visiting madrasas
Evenings by the pool at Lyab-i Hauz
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Euyasik · CC BY-SA 3.0
What to pack
Sun hat, comfortable shoes, modest clothing for mosques
A quieter corner
Chor Minor, a small gatehouse with four turquoise-domed towers
Questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Bukhara?
April to May or September to October — warm and pleasant. What to pack: Sun hat, comfortable shoes, modest clothing for mosques.
How do I get to Bukhara?
Fly into Bukhara International Airport (BHK), ~5 km by road.
What is there to do in Bukhara?
Walking the old town, shopping in trading domes, visiting madrasas, evenings by the pool at Lyab-i Hauz. A quieter find: Chor Minor, a small gatehouse with four turquoise-domed towers.
What should I eat in Bukhara?
Plov, samsa baked in tandyr ovens, shashlik, green tea in teahouses.
About Bukhara
- Desert
- Inland
Where it is
Bukhara lies in south-central Uzbekistan, on the edge of the Kyzylkum Desert, and was one of the great trading cities of the Silk Road.
History
Bukhara flourished under the Samanid dynasty in the 9th and 10th centuries, when it was a leading centre of Islamic learning. It later became the seat of the Emirate of Bukhara. The Kalyan Minaret, built in the 12th century, still rises over the old town, which was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1993.
People
Uzbek and Tajik are both spoken in Bukhara, a city of craftspeople known for embroidery, carpets and metalwork, with a historic Jewish community as well.
Known for
- The Kalyan Minaret
- Covered trading domes
- Madrasas and mosques
- The Lyab-i Hauz pool
Did you know?
The Kalyan Minaret in Bukhara has stood since the 12th century and is said to have impressed Genghis Khan so much that he spared it.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.