What to See in Uzbekistan

last edited Dec 11, 2019

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Location Map of Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan Open the interactive map

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Uzbekistan has 5 sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list:

Bukhara (1993)
Like its neighbour Samarkand, Bukhara boasts a magnificent ancient heritage, typical of the medieval cities of the region, which has earned it UNESCO World Heritage status.

Khiva (1990)
Another major Silk Road city with a rich heritage. Its walled inner old town, Itchan Kala, is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Samarkand (2001)
One of the best-known cities in Central Asia and one of the most beautiful, with all its historical and architectural traces of its past linked to the famous Silk Road. Samarkand is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site for this reason.

Shakhrisabz (2000)
South of Samarkand, the city where Tamerlane was born is a UNESCO World Heritage site for its historic center.

Western Tien Shan (2016)
Just a few dozen kilometres from the capital, this high mountain range, a UNESCO World Heritage site stretching across several countries, offers magnificent landscapes. It is also renowned for Lake Charvak and opportunities for trekking or skiing (Chimgan resort). Its wildlife (wolves, bears, birds...) and flora are equally remarkable.

Cities and Cultural Heritage

Bukhara
Like its neighbour Samarkand, Bukhara boasts a magnificent ancient heritage, typical of the medieval cities of the region, which has earned it UNESCO World Heritage status.

Ferghana
In the valley of the same name, the city is home to an old fortress and a regional museum.

Khiva
Another major Silk Road city with a rich heritage. Its walled inner old town, Itchan Kala, is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Kokand
A major city in the Ferghana Valley, home to the vast Khudayar Khan Palace dating from the 19th century.

Moynaq
This former fishing port on the Aral Sea, now over 30 km from its shores, stands as a testament to the lake's drying and the ecological disaster it has endured. A striking ship graveyard can be seen here.

Namangan
The country's second-largest city, located north of the Ferghana Valley, features several ancient monuments and buildings.

Nukus
The major city of the north, capital of Karakalpakstan. Its main attraction is the Igor Savitsky Art Museum.

Urgench
This Soviet-style city is also a base for exploring Khiva, located about forty kilometers away. You can also visit some ancient fortified cities in the surrounding area.

Qarshi
Also called Karshi, it is a major town in the south, best known for its carpets.

Silk Road
This famous route between China and the Mediterranean, which reached its peak in the medieval era, is UNESCO-listed for its China-Central Asia section. Beyond its "historical and cultural" value, it still offers traces of that period along its path (caravanserais, monuments, and more).

Samarkand
One of the best-known cities in Central Asia and one of the most beautiful, with all its historical and architectural traces of its past linked to the famous Silk Road. Samarkand is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site for this reason.

Sarmishsay
Not far from Navoi, this gorge and its immediate surroundings contain over 4,000 petroglyphs and small ancient remains.

Shakhrisabz
South of Samarkand, the city where Tamerlane was born is a UNESCO World Heritage site for its historic center.

Tashkent
A modern capital and the country's largest city, Tashkent also has a (small) historic core and Soviet-style buildings that add to its appeal. It’s also famous for its stunning covered markets and bazaars.

Termez
Located on the Afghan border, which it provides access to, Termez offers numerous monuments that bear witness to its rich history.

Toprak-Kala
This is an archaeological site featuring the remains of an ancient city located in the northern part of the country.

Ferghana Valley
This fertile valley spanning three countries is home to a large portion of the region's population, with villages, ethnic groups, traditions, and distinct cultures that are partly the cause of conflicts among neighboring countries.

Natural Heritage

Kyzyl Kum Desert
This is the central part of Uzbekistan, around the oasis city of Zeravchan, where vast arid plains or dune-covered expanses extend into Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. You can encounter a few oases, "desert castles" like Ayaz-Kala, and locally go on camel treks or spend nights in a yurt.

Lake Aydar Kul
A vast lake southwest of Tashkent renowned for fishing and bird nesting.

Aral Sea
This vast lake, which has been drying up for decades, offers striking landscapes of desolation, with its ship graveyards, including in Moynak, once a fishing port and now over 30 km from the lake’s shores.

Chatkal National Park
This is the natural area northeast of Tashkent, extending into Kyrgyzstan. Like the Tian Shan mountains, it’s a stunning mountainous region perfect for trekking and rafting.

Zaamin National Park
Located on the Tajik border, it is the country's oldest national park.

Western Tien Shan
Just a few dozen kilometres from the capital, this high mountain range, a UNESCO World Heritage site stretching across several countries, offers magnificent landscapes. It is also renowned for Lake Charvak and opportunities for trekking or skiing (Chimgan resort). Its wildlife (wolves, bears, birds...) and flora are equally remarkable.