Season guide · Samarkand · Uzbekistan
Samarkand in summer
June–August: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Visola Tangirova, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Hot, dry and bright with little shade at the monuments; fruit season in the bazaar and long, warm evenings. Expect highs up to 34°C (93°F) and lows around 18°C (64°F), with about 3 rainy days across June–August.
Key facts
- Months
- June–August
- Temperatures
- 18°C (64°F) to 34°C (93°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 3
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in summer
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June | 32°C (90°F) | 18°C (64°F) | 2 | 15 h | 3/5 |
| July | 34°C (93°F) | 20°C (68°F) | 1 | 14.7 h | 2/5 |
| August | 33°C (91°F) | 18°C (64°F) | 0 | 13.7 h | 3/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 33°C (91°F) against a yearly 21°C (70°F), and 3 of the year's roughly 71 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in summer
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- August: Sharq Taronalari — international music festival on the Registan (held in some years, usually late August)
Make the most of the weather
Experience · Konigil
Konigil silk paper workshop
Combine it with the Silk Road Samarkand complex nearby; the workshop is easiest to reach by taxi.
- 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
The main avenue of the Russian new town is a long shaded promenade under old plane trees, lined with 19th- and early 20th-century buildings and the university.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Architecture
Religious site · Afrasiyab
Mausoleum of Daniel (Khoja Doniyor)
Drink from the spring at the foot of the steps as pilgrims do, and dress modestly.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Nature
- Off the beaten path
Religious site · Siab Bazaar and Bibi-Khanym
Hazrat Khizr Mosque
This small mosque on a hill opposite Bibi-Khanym was rebuilt in the 19th century on a much older site, with a painted wooden ceiling and carved columns on its open veranda.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Architecture
- Photo spot
Day trips in summer
- Bukhara (About 1 hour 30 minutes by high-speed train) — Bukhara's old centre of brick madrasas, covered trading domes, the Kalyan Minaret and the Ark fortress is compact and walkable.
- 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.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is summer a good time to visit Samarkand?
It is a trade-off: Hot, dry and bright with little shade at the monuments; fruit season in the bazaar and long, warm evenings. The best months overall are April–May and September–October.
+What is the weather like in Samarkand in summer?
Highs of up to 34°C (93°F) and lows around 18°C (64°F), with about 3 rainy days over the season.