Where to Stay in Uzbekistan
A regional guide to accommodation across the country
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Regions of Uzbekistan
Each region offers a distinct character and accommodation scene. Find the one that matches your travel plans.
Tashkent and its surroundings offer Uzbekistan's most diverse accommodation options, from international five-star chains to Soviet-era hotels and modern business hotels. The capital serves as the primary entry point for most visitors and provides the country's highest concentration of Western-standard amenities. Nearby Chimgan mountains offer seasonal resort accommodations.
The heart of Silk Road tourism features abundant accommodation clustered around the historic center, from atmospheric guesthouses in traditional homes to upscale hotels with views of Registan Square. This region has seen the most rapid accommodation development, with new boutique properties opening regularly. The area offers excellent value for heritage-focused travelers.
Bukhara's old city contains some of Uzbekistan's most atmospheric accommodations, with many guesthouses occupying centuries-old buildings featuring traditional courtyards and carved wooden details. The concentration of heritage properties within walking distance of major sites makes this region ideal for immersive stays. Options range from simple family guesthouses to carefully restored boutique hotels.
The walled city of Khiva offers unique opportunities to stay within a living museum, with guesthouses and small hotels occupying traditional homes inside Ichan-Qala. Accommodation here tends toward smaller, family-run properties with distinctive character. The surrounding Khorezm region has limited options outside the main city.
This fertile valley region offers more authentic, less touristy accommodation experiences with numerous family-run guesthouses and modest hotels. The area sees fewer international visitors, resulting in more genuine interactions and lower prices, though fewer English speakers and simpler facilities. Several cities serve as bases for exploring traditional crafts and mountain access.
This rural mountain region between Samarkand and Bukhara offers unique homestay experiences in traditional villages and seasonal yurt camps. Accommodation is basic but provides unmatched access to hiking, petroglyphs, and traditional rural life. Most stays include home-cooked meals and guided nature walks.
Near the Afghan border, this historically rich but less-visited region has limited accommodation infrastructure, primarily basic hotels catering to domestic travelers and archaeological tour groups. The area rewards adventurous travelers with Buddhist heritage sites and frontier atmosphere, though comfort levels are modest.
Timur's birthplace offers a growing selection of guesthouses and small hotels, typically used as a day trip from Samarkand or overnight stop en route to southern regions. Accommodation is modest but adequate, with family-run properties dominating. The town's compact size means most lodgings are within easy reach of the main historical sites.
This remote northwestern region offers extremely limited accommodation, mainly yurt camps and basic guesthouses in Moynaq and Nukus. Visiting the former Aral Sea typically requires tour arrangements including accommodation. Options are rustic and facilities minimal, suited only to adventurous travelers prepared for challenging conditions.
The Chimgan and Beldersay mountain areas northeast of Tashkent offer seasonal resort accommodations, from Soviet-era sanatoriums to newer chalets and hotels. Winter brings skiers, while summer attracts hikers and domestic tourists escaping capital heat. Facilities vary widely in quality and many properties show their age.
Accommodation Landscape
What to expect from accommodation options across Uzbekistan
International hotel chains have limited but growing presence in Uzbekistan, concentrated almost exclusively in Tashkent. Brands like Hilton, Hyatt, Wyndham, and Radisson have properties in the capital, providing Western standards for business travelers and those seeking familiar amenities. Samarkand has seen some international brand development, with properties like Hilton Garden Inn, while Bukhara and Khiva remain dominated by independent hotels. Regional hotel groups like Asia Hotels are expanding across major tourist cities with reliable mid-range properties.
Independent locally-owned hotels and guesthouses form the backbone of Uzbekistan's accommodation sector. Many are family-run establishments where owners live on-site, providing personalized service and local insights. In historical cities, numerous properties occupy restored traditional homes featuring courtyards, carved wooden pillars (khona), and traditional decorative elements. Standards vary considerably, from simple rooms with shared facilities to boutique properties with modern amenities in heritage settings. Registration with authorities is mandatory, and most proprietors are experienced with foreign guest requirements.
Uzbekistan offers several distinctive accommodation experiences rooted in local culture. Traditional guesthouses in restored mahalla (neighborhood) homes provide authentic courtyard living with traditional furnishings and home-cooked meals. Yurt camps in mountain and desert regions offer nomadic-style stays with modern conveniences, particularly popular in the Nuratau Mountains and near the Aral Sea. Some converted caravanserais and madrassas in Bukhara and Khiva allow guests to sleep in historically significant buildings. Community-based tourism homestays in rural areas like Fergana Valley and mountain villages provide immersive cultural experiences with local families. Chaikhanas (teahouses) in some regions offer simple overnight accommodation alongside traditional dining.
Booking Tips for Uzbekistan
Country-specific advice for finding the best accommodation
All foreign visitors must register their accommodation with local authorities within three days of arrival, and hotels must provide registration slips for each stay. Ensure your accommodation provides proper registration documentation, as these may be checked when leaving the country. Reputable hotels handle this automatically, but confirm with guesthouses and homestays that they can provide official registration.
Many smaller guesthouses and family-run properties in Uzbekistan lack online booking systems or charge lower rates for direct contact via WhatsApp or email. International booking platforms often don't include the country's most characterful accommodations. However, advance payment can be difficult, and communication may require patience, so balance spontaneity with securing peak-season reservations for major cities.
Traditional guesthouses typically include breakfast and often offer dinner for a modest additional fee, providing excellent value and authentic home cooking. Confirm meal arrangements when booking, as restaurants may be scarce in smaller towns. Half-board arrangements are common in rural areas and yurt camps where dining alternatives don't exist, and these meals often become memorable cultural experiences.
While larger hotels in major cities accept credit cards, many guesthouses and smaller properties operate on cash-only basis, preferring US dollars or Uzbek som. ATM availability is improving but remains limited outside major cities. Bring sufficient cash for accommodation, particularly when traveling to rural areas, and confirm payment methods when booking.
English proficiency varies dramatically across accommodation types and regions. Major hotels in Tashkent and tourist-focused guesthouses in Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva usually have English-speaking staff, but elsewhere Russian remains the lingua franca. Download translation apps and have key information written in Cyrillic to smooth communication, or consider booking through tour operators who can facilitate arrangements.
When to Book
Timing matters for both price and availability across Uzbekistan
For April-May and September-October travel, book accommodation in Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva at least 4-6 weeks ahead, as the best guesthouses and boutique hotels fill quickly. Tashkent hotels can usually be booked with less notice except during major events or conferences. The Navruz holiday period (late March) requires even earlier booking across the country.
March and early November offer more flexibility, with 2-3 weeks advance booking generally sufficient for most properties. June and late October see fewer tourists, making last-minute bookings feasible except for the most popular boutique guesthouses. This timing offers better rates while maintaining good weather.
Winter months (December-February) allow walk-in bookings in most locations, with significant discounts available for advance reservations. Many smaller guesthouses in secondary cities close entirely, so confirm operations before planning. Summer (July-August) also sees reduced demand due to extreme heat, offering negotiating power for rates, though mountain resort areas remain busy with domestic tourists.
Book major Silk Road cities (Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva) 3-4 weeks ahead during peak season, Tashkent 1-2 weeks ahead, and remain flexible for other regions where options are limited regardless of booking timing. Consider that Uzbekistan's tourism infrastructure is rapidly developing, so accommodation availability improves each year, but the most atmospheric properties in prime locations remain consistently popular.
Good to Know
Local customs and practical information for Uzbekistan