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Traveling to Uzbekistan is crossing the threshold into one of the most golden and legendary eras of humanity. Located at the strategic crossroads of Central Asia, this country saw spice and silk merchants, camel caravans, famous astronomers and mythical conquerors such as Alexander the Great and Tamburlaine parade along its roads. Today, its oasis cities dazzle with monumental architecture of heavenly domes, minarets sculpted with enamelled tiles, and cobblestone plazas where time seems to have stood still. Beyond its architectural jewels, Uzbekistan captivates with the genuine kindness of its people, the aromas of cumin and freshly baked bread that float in its bazaars, and the serenity of its traditional tea houses. An unforgettable adventure in the living heart of the Silk Road.
Capital
Tashkent
Population
33.469.203
Langue
UZ, Ruso
Sites du patrimoine de l'UNESCO
0
Scores basés sur des données réelles de 0 à 100
The Registan is one of the most dazzling architectural complexes in the world. Flanked by the monumental madrassas of Ulugh Beg, Sher-Dor and Tilya-Kori, its gigantic 'iwans' (portals) covered in geometric tiles and gold leaf will leave you speechless. Visiting it both in the golden light of sunset and under nighttime illumination is an almost mystical experience.
Jiva is a true time capsule. Its inner citadel, surrounded by high walls of adobe and mud, is a perfectly preserved open-air museum. Walking through its alleys at dusk, climbing the Islam Khodja Minaret to contemplate the clay roofs and admiring the unfinished and polychrome Kalta Minor Minaret will transport you directly to the time of the great caravans.
Bukhara was the religious and commercial capital of Central Asia. The heart of social life revolves around Lyabi-Hauz, a tranquil pond surrounded by century-old mulberry trees, madrassas and 'chaajanas' (tea houses). Sitting on a traditional divan ('tapchan') to drink green tea and eat nuts is the greatest pleasure to disconnect from the hustle and bustle.
This sacred necropolis in Samarkand is a stepped avenue of mausoleums built between the 11th and 15th centuries. Each façade and dome is covered with the most perfect and rich majolica tiles, glazed mosaics and glazed terracotta in shades of cobalt blue, turquoise and lapis lazuli in all of Central Asia.
Built in Soviet times and decorated with marble, granite, crystal chandeliers and historical reliefs, the capital's metro is an underground art gallery. Stations like Alisher Navoiy (with domes reminiscent of a mosque) or Kosmonavtlar (dedicated to the Soviet space race) are essential stops.
In Moynaq, in the autonomous republic of Karakalpakistan, the rusty hulls of old fishing boats lie on the sand where there was once one of the four largest lakes in the world. It is a moving visit that bears direct testimony to the great ecological drama of the 20th century and offers a desert landscape of melancholic beauty.
Uzbek cuisine is the beating heart of its culture. With roots in the nomadic Turkic traditions and the refined customs of the oasis agricultural settlements, its cuisine is forceful, aromatic and very social, where lamb, rice, spices such as cumin and coriander, and bread baked in a clay oven are sacred.
The 'kazan' (large cast iron cauldron) is the king utensil of any Uzbek home or restaurant. Here the national dish is cooked over a live wood fire, always designed to be shared among large groups of friends and family.
The bread ('non') is never cut with a knife or placed face down out of religious and cultural respect; it is broken with the hands. Likewise, every meal is opened and closed with tea served in ceramic bowls ('piala') after the ritual of oxygenating it three times.
The undisputed king of Uzbek cuisine, declared Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. It is made with special grain rice slowly cooked in a broth ('zirvak') of tender lamb or beef, yellow and orange carrots, onion, cumin, chickpeas, raisins and often whole heads of garlic and quail eggs.
Skewers of marinated meat (lamb, beef, chicken or spiced minced meat called 'lula') skewered on large metal skewers and grilled over charcoal. They are always served on a bed of raw onion marinated in vinegar and herbs.
Triangular or rounded empanadas made of crispy puff pastry, stuck to the interior walls of clay ovens ('tandir') and baked until golden brown. They are filled with knife-minced lamb with onion and cumin, or with pumpkin and potato.
Dish of long hand-stretched noodles of Uyghur and Chinese influence, served in an aromatic and spicy soup with pieces of meat, peppers, tomato, garlic, radish and fresh herbs, or in its stir-fried version in a wok ('Goshnan' or 'Qovurma Lagman').
Large thin dough dumplings steamed in special tiered steamers ('kaskans'). They are stuffed with minced meat seasoned with plenty of onion and lamb tail fat, served with sour cream ('smetana') or tomato sauce.
Round, flat bread with thick edges and a thin center decorated with traditional stamps ('chekich') and sesame or nigella seeds. Dense, shiny Samarkand bread and flaky Tashkent bread are legendary for their fresh-from-the-tandir taste.
The national drink par excellence. It is served piping hot in porcelain teapots accompanied by bowls ('pialas') without handles. In summer it helps regulate body temperature and accompanies every moment of conversation of the day.
Refreshing drink made from fermented yogurt diluted with cold water, salt and often flavored with fresh herbs such as dill, coriander or mint, ideal to accompany fatty meats.
Traditional sweet drinks made by cooking fresh or dried local fruits (apricots, cherries, apples, quinces) with a light touch of sugar, served cold on hot days.
Inherited from the Soviet period, vodka is still very popular in toasts and celebrations. Additionally, regions such as Samarkand produce red and sweet wines from vines grown in their sunny valleys.
Traditional sweet made from flour, milk, butter and sugar, enriched with pistachios, almonds or sesame seeds. Samarkand and Kokand halva are famous throughout the region.
Traditional crystallized sugar in the form of large amber stones obtained from boiled pure grape syrup. It is usually taken slowly dissolved in hot tea as a natural sweetener with digestive properties.
The most coveted natural dessert. Uzbek melons (especially the 'Mirzachul' variety) have been famous since ancient times for their incomparable sweetness, juicy texture and intense aroma.
Traditional sweet consisting of delicate skeins of caramel spun with toasted flour that resemble cotton candy but with a denser and crunchier texture that melts on the palate.
Uzbekistan concentrates the most impressive monumental heritage in Central Asia, combining mythical cities of the Silk Road, legendary deserts and extraordinary artisan wealth.
Samarkand dazzles with the Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum (Tomb of Tamerlane) and the Bibi Janum Mosque. Bukhara preserves a unique medieval atmosphere with its Ark Fortress and the Po-i-Kalyan complex. Khiva captivates as an untouched jewel of the desert with its harem palaces like Tosh Hovli and its labyrinthine madrassas.
Timurid Islamic art reached unsurpassed heights in Uzbekistan. The façades with muqarnas ('muqarnas'), intense turquoise gallon domes and Kufic calligraphy carved in lapis lazuli and gold turn each madrasah and mosque into a masterpiece of sacred geometry.
Across the red sands of the Kyzylkum Desert you can explore the ruins of the more than 50 ancient mud fortresses of Chorasmia (Elliq Qala), such as Toprak Kala and Ayaz Kala, which defended the oases more than 2,000 years ago, as well as sleep in traditional yurt camps next to Lake Aydarkul.
The bazaars continue to be the nerve center of the country. In Tashkent, the gigantic dome of the Chorsu Bazaar bustles with stalls selling spices, dried fruits, dried cheeses ('qurt') and butcher shops. In Bukhara, the famous 16th-century vaulted trading domes (Taqi Sarrofon, Taqi Telpak Furushon) continue to house copper craftsmen, tapestry makers and jewelers.
The fertile Fergana Valley is the cradle of great master craftsmen. In Margilan is the Yodgorlik factory, where the famous 'Ikat' (Khan-Atlas) silk is woven using ancient methods. In Rishtan, pottery families create unique ceramics glazed with the mineral blue color 'ishkor'.
The Uzbek capital mixes cosmopolitan modernity with monumental Soviet and Islamic architecture. Highlights include the Hazrati Imam Complex (which guards the famous Quran of Uthman from the 7th century, one of the oldest in the world), the Television Tower and wide tree-lined avenues with monumental fountains.
In Uzbekistan it is mandatory for hotels and hostels to register your stay with the authorities. When you check out, you will be given a paper receipt or digital code (stay record). It is essential to keep all the receipts until leaving the country, since the customs police may request them at the airport border control.
The official currency is the Uzbek Som (UZS). Although international credit cards (Visa and Mastercard) are increasingly accepted in high-end hotels and restaurants in Tashkent and Samarkand, in bazaars, taxis, local stalls and monuments, cash payment is essential. ATMs abound in tourist cities.
The fastest, most comfortable and modern way to travel between Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara is the 'Afrosiyob' high-speed train (made by Talgo). Tickets go on sale 45 days in advance and sell out very quickly, so it is vital to reserve them online well in advance through the official website of Uzbek Railways.
Uzbekistan is a secular and very safe country with a moderate and very tolerant Muslim majority population. On the streets of the cities people dress normally, but entering active mosques, mausoleums and sacred places requires covering shoulders and knees, and in many cases women must cover their heads with a scarf.
This guide is just the gateway to one of the most fascinating cultural trips you can take in the world. The cities of Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva will dazzle you with their architectural grandeur, but it will be the warmth of its people and the aroma of its tea that will last forever in your memory. We encourage you to delve deeper into each of its historic regions and get lost without haste through the alleys of the Silk Road. Oq yo'l (Happy trip)!
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