Season guide · Samarkand · Uzbekistan
Samarkand in autumn
September–November: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Registan_-_Gusjer.jpg : Gustavo Jeronimo from Aranjuez, Spain derivative work: MrPanyGoff, CC BY 2.0
Quick answer
The most popular season, with warm days, harvest produce and golden light, cooling quickly in November. Expect highs up to 28°C (82°F) and lows around 3°C (37°F), with about 12 rainy days across September–November. September–October are among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- September–November
- Temperatures
- 3°C (37°F) to 28°C (82°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 12
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in autumn
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September | 28°C (82°F) | 13°C (55°F) | 1 | 12.4 h | 5/5 |
| October | 21°C (70°F) | 7°C (45°F) | 4 | 11.1 h | 5/5 |
| November | 14°C (57°F) | 3°C (37°F) | 7 | 9.9 h | 2/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 21°C (70°F) against a yearly 21°C (70°F), and 12 of the year's roughly 71 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 4/5 and hotel prices 4/5 on average.
What's on in autumn
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- September: Independence Day — national holiday with concerts and decorations (1 September)
Make the most of the weather
Religious site · Afrasiyab
Mausoleum of Daniel (Khoja Doniyor)
On the slope above the Siab stream, a long, low mausoleum with five domes holds an 18-metre sarcophagus said to contain relics of the prophet Daniel, venerated by Muslims, Christians and Jews.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Nature
- Off the beaten path
Religious site · Siab Bazaar and Bibi-Khanym
Hazrat Khizr Mosque
Climb up in the late afternoon for the best light over Bibi-Khanym's domes.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Architecture
- Photo spot
Experience · Konigil
Konigil silk paper workshop
In Konigil village about 10 km east of the centre, a craft workshop has revived Samarkand's medieval paper-making from mulberry bark, using a mill wheel turned by a stream.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Off the beaten path
- Outdoors
- Shopping
Street · Russian New Town
University Boulevard and Amir Timur statue
Walk it in the early evening, then continue to Gur-e-Amir to see the dome floodlit.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Architecture
Day trips in autumn
- Imam al-Bukhari Memorial Complex (About 35 minutes by car) — In the village of Hartang north of the city, a large modern memorial complex with carved wooden columns and courtyards surrounds the tomb of Imam al-Bukhari, the 9th-century compiler of the most respected collection of hadith.
- Urgut bazaar (About 45 minutes by car) — The foothill town of Urgut holds one of the region's biggest markets, best known for its stalls of old and new suzani embroidery, textiles and household goods, busiest at weekends and especially on Sunday.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is autumn a good time to visit Samarkand?
Yes: September–October are among the best months. The most popular season, with warm days, harvest produce and golden light, cooling quickly in November.
+What is the weather like in Samarkand in autumn?
Highs of up to 28°C (82°F) and lows around 3°C (37°F), with about 12 rainy days over the season.