Month guide · Samarkand · Uzbekistan
Samarkand in May
What May is really like in Samarkand: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Victoria, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
May is one of the best months to visit Samarkand. Expect average highs of 27°C (81°F), lows of 14°C (57°F), about 7 rainy days and roughly 14.3 hours of daylight. Warm, mostly dry and comfortable for long walking days; early cherries and strawberries reach the bazaar.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 27°C (81°F) / 14°C (57°F)
- Rainy days
- About 7
- Daylight
- About 14.3 hours
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in May
May is the 5th-warmest month in Samarkand: days average 27°C (81°F) against a yearly average high of 21°C (70°F), and nights fall to about 14°C (57°F). Rain falls on roughly 7 of its 31 days. Compared with April (21°C (70°F)), May is warmer; by June highs climb to around 32°C (90°F).
- Sunrise (15 May)
- About 05:17
- Sunset (15 May)
- About 19:39
- Daylight
- About 14.3 hours
Spring (March–May). Blossom, green hills and mild days, with Navruz celebrations in March and the most rain of the year in March and April.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, May rates 4 for crowds (the peak is September at 5) and 4 for hotel prices (highest in September). Book accommodation early: May is one of the pricier months.
Events in May
May has no major recurring festival in Samarkand, which usually means easier bookings.
What to do in May
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Historic site · Gur-e-Amir quarter
Gur-e-Amir
Return after sunset, when the dome and portal are floodlit and the courtyard is far quieter.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- After dark
.jpg){kind=link}
Historic site · Afrasiyab
Shah-i-Zinda
A stepped lane climbs past about twenty mausoleums built mainly in the 14th and 15th centuries for Timur's relatives and nobles, ending at the shrine of Kusam ibn Abbas, a cousin of the Prophet Muhammad.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Architecture
- History
- Photo spot
Religious site · Siab Bazaar and Bibi-Khanym
Bibi-Khanym Mosque
Combine it with the Siab Bazaar across the square and Hazrat Khizr Mosque on the hill opposite.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Architecture
- History
Market · Siab Bazaar and Bibi-Khanym
Siab Bazaar
The city's main bazaar sits beside Bibi-Khanym and is where locals buy Samarkand bread, dried apricots, raisins, almonds, spices, halva and crystallised sugar (navat).
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- Free
- Photo spot
- Kids
What to pack
For highs near 27°C, lows near 14°C and 7 wet days: light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is May a good time to visit Samarkand?
One of the best months to visit Samarkand. The other best months are April and September–October. Compare every month.
Samarkand in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is May a good time to visit Samarkand?
It is one of the best months to visit Samarkand. Warm, mostly dry and comfortable for long walking days; early cherries and strawberries reach the bazaar.
+How warm is Samarkand in May?
Average highs are around 27°C (81°F) and lows around 14°C (57°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Samarkand in May?
Expect rain on about 7 days of the month.