Day trips · Samarkand · Uzbekistan
4 best day trips from Samarkand
Where to go when you want a day away from Samarkand, and how long it really takes.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain
Quick answer
The classic day trip from Samarkand is Shahrisabz (About 1 hour 30 minutes–2 hours by car). The closest option is Imam al-Bukhari Memorial Complex, about 25 km away.
Key facts
- Day trips in this guide
- 4
- Closest
- Imam al-Bukhari Memorial Complex (25 km)
- Most popular
- Shahrisabz
Day trips compared
| Destination | Distance | Travel time | How | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shahrisabz | 90 km | About 1 hour 30 minutes–2 hours by car | Car with driver or shared taxi over the Takhtakaracha pass | Culture, First-timers |
| Bukhara | 270 km | About 1 hour 30 minutes by high-speed train | Afrosiyob high-speed train | Culture, First-timers |
| Imam al-Bukhari Memorial Complex | 25 km | About 35 minutes by car | Taxi or car with driver | Culture, Quiet stays |
| Urgut bazaar | 40 km | About 45 minutes by car | Taxi or shared minibus | Shopping, Culture |
The day trips
90 km · About 1 hour 30 minutes–2 hours by car
1.Shahrisabz
Timur's birthplace keeps the colossal ruined portal of his Ak-Saray palace, the Kok Gumbaz Friday mosque built by Ulugh Beg and the Dorut Tilovat memorial complex. The mountain road over the Takhtakaracha pass has wide views, and shared taxis leave from Samarkand for the town.
- Getting there
- Car with driver or shared taxi over the Takhtakaracha pass
- Best for
- Culture, First-timers
270 km · About 1 hour 30 minutes by high-speed train
2.Bukhara
Bukhara's old centre of brick madrasas, covered trading domes, the Kalyan Minaret and the Ark fortress is compact and walkable. A long day trip is possible by early train, but most visitors stay at least one night.
- Getting there
- Afrosiyob high-speed train
- Best for
- Culture, First-timers
25 km · About 35 minutes by car
3.Imam al-Bukhari Memorial Complex
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. It is an important pilgrimage site; dress modestly.
- Getting there
- Taxi or car with driver
- Best for
- Culture, Quiet stays
40 km · About 45 minutes by car
4.Urgut bazaar
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. Nearby is the Chor-Chinor garden of ancient plane trees.
- Getting there
- Taxi or shared minibus
- Best for
- Shopping, Culture
Day-trip tips
- Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
- City buses and shared minibuses run along the main roads for a very small fare, but routes are signed mainly in Uzbek and are hard for first-time visitors to use.
- High-speed trains fill up in spring and autumn; buy tickets in advance through Uzbekistan Railways.
- For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best day trip from Samarkand?
Shahrisabz. Timur's birthplace keeps the colossal ruined portal of his Ak-Saray palace, the Kok Gumbaz Friday mosque built by Ulugh Beg and the Dorut Tilovat memorial complex.
+How long does it take to get from Samarkand to Shahrisabz?
About 1 hour 30 minutes–2 hours by car — Car with driver or shared taxi over the Takhtakaracha pass, about 90 km.
+How long does it take to get from Samarkand to Bukhara?
About 1 hour 30 minutes by high-speed train — Afrosiyob high-speed train, about 270 km.