Bukhara
Go to Bukhara for a compact old town of medieval mosques, madrasas and bazaars that is easy to walk in a few days.
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Bukhara is a city in southwestern Uzbekistan, on the old caravan routes of the Silk Road. Its historic center has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993. The main sights sit close together: the Kalon Minaret and Kalon Mosque, the Mir-i Arab Madrasa, the Ark fortress, and the Samanid Mausoleum, a brick tomb from around the 10th century.
Bukhara suits a slow trip of two or three days. Most of the old town is best covered on foot, and its lanes, domed bazaars and teahouses around the Lyabi Hauz pond make it easy to wander between sights. Lyabi Hauz is a good base for evening walks. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons, since summer days can be very hot. Two full days cover the main monuments at a relaxed pace, and a third gives room for the bazaars and a slower lunch.
Bukhara in five
- Load an eSIM before you landMaps and ride apps need mobile data from the moment you leave the airport, and the old town lanes are hard to find without a live map. Set up the data plan before you fly.Phones and eSIM
- Call rides through Yandex GoYandex Go is a common ride app in Uzbekistan. Check that it covers Bukhara before you rely on it, and agree the fare first if you hail a car on the street.
- Carry som in small notesBazaar stalls, tea houses and many taxis deal in cash, and small vendors often cannot change large notes.
- Cover shoulders and knees at the mosquesMosques and mausoleums are active religious sites. Take your shoes off where local people do, and carry a scarf for women to cover their hair at some sites.
- Book intercity trains in advanceTrains between cities are booked through Uzbekistan Railways, and the Afrosiyob high-speed line runs between Tashkent and Samarkand. Book seats before the day you travel.Getting around
Things to do in Bukhara
See all attractions in Bukhara
Need to know
- Currency
- Som (UZS)
- Entry
- Visa-free or e-visa for many passports; check before you fly Read more
- Emergency
- 102 police, 103 ambulance, 101 fire; 112 for all services
- Tipping
- Optional; rounding up or a small tip at restaurants is common
- Time
- UTC+5, no daylight saving
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryClear5 rainy daysHigh9°Low0°Cold, quietJanuaryClear
Mixed
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 0°
- Precipitation
- 22 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- FebruaryPartly cloudy6 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh12°Low2°Cold, quietFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 31 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- MarchClear6 rainy daysHigh19°Low7°Spring startsMarchClear
Good
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 34 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring starts
- AprilClear4 rainy daysHigh26°Low13°Mild, greenAprilClear
Good
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 23 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, green
- MayClear3 rainy daysHigh32°Low19°Warm, dryMayClear
Best
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 17 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, dry
- JuneClear0 rainy daysHigh37°Low24°Hot, dryJuneClear
Mixed
- High
- 37°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 1 mm
- Rainy days
- 0
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, dry
- JulyClear0 rainy daysHigh40°Low27°Very hotJulyClear
Poor
- High
- 40°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 0 mm
- Rainy days
- 0
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Very hot
- AugustClear0 rainy daysHigh37°Low24°Very hotAugustClear
Poor
- High
- 37°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 0 mm
- Rainy days
- 0
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Very hot
- SeptemberClear0 rainy daysHigh31°Low18°Warm, easingSeptemberClear
Good
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 0 mm
- Rainy days
- 0
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, easing
- OctoberClear2 rainy daysHigh23°Low10°Mild, clearOctoberClear
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 8 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, clear
- NovemberClear3 rainy daysHigh15°Low4°Cool, quietNovemberClear
Good
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 12 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, quiet
- DecemberClear4 rainy daysHigh10°Low1°Cold, quietDecemberClear
Mixed
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 1°
- Precipitation
- 11 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
Average daily high and low in Bukhara, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Bukhara
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
12
- Feels like
- 9°
- Humidity
- 40%
- Wind
- 8 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Bukhara
05:20 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today22°7°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 22°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed16°9°39%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 16°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 39%.
- Thu23°6°3%Thursday: Fog. High 23°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Fri28°13°22%Friday: Cloudy. High 28°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 22%.
- Sat29°15°12%Saturday: Cloudy. High 29°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 12%.
- Sun29°13°24%Sunday: Cloudy. High 29°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 24%.
- Mon17°6°51%Monday: Rain. High 17°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 51%.
Updated 03:47 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 11,902 UZS
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Samarkandabout 3 to 4 hours by car or trainThe Registan and the Gur-e Amir mausoleum, a long day or a stay of one night.
- Gijduvanabout 1 hour by carPottery workshops and a slower pace than the old town.
- Khivaa long drive, best as an overnightA walled old city with a long drive, best done as an overnight.
Before you go to Bukhara
Rules for Bukhara, checked
- Check visa-free or e-visa rules for your passport on the official e-visa portal before you book flights.Source
- Hotels register foreign guests with the authorities, so keep your passport and entry details on hand at check-in.
- Mosques, mausoleums and madrasas are active religious sites: cover shoulders and knees, and follow the signs on shoe removal.
Plan around Bukhara
Trains, buses, taxis and ride apps between cities and sights
Read the guideVisas and entry rulesWhich passports need an e-visa and what to carry
Read the guideWhere to stay in BukharaOld town guesthouses, hotels and quieter streets compared
Read the guideMoney and costsCash, cards and typical daily spending in the old town
Read the guidePhones and eSIMData plans for maps, ride apps and bookings
Read the guideAll of UzbekistanCities, routes and entry rules for the whole country
Read the guideBukhara FAQ
Is Bukhara worth visiting?
Yes, for two nights in the old town, with the Ark, the Kalon Minaret and the mausoleums on foot. It is a poor choice if you want beaches, nightlife or a long hiking trip.
How many days do you need in Bukhara?
Two days cover the old town at a relaxed pace. Add a third day for a trip to Gijduvan or a second look at the sights you liked most.
Can you visit Bukhara as a day trip from Samarkand?
Yes, by car or train, though the trip takes most of the day. The distance by road is about 280 km, so an overnight is easier if you want time to see the sights.
Is the old town of Bukhara easy to walk?
Yes, the historic center is compact and most sights are within walking distance of each other. The paving is uneven, so wear shoes with a good grip.
What is the best month to visit Bukhara?
April, May, September and October have mild days. July and August are very hot, and winter nights are cold.