Nukus
Nukus is the place to see the Savitsky Museum's Russian avant-garde collection and to start a trip to the dried Aral Sea shore.
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Nukus is the capital of Karakalpakstan, an autonomous republic in northwest Uzbekistan, on the Amu Darya river. Most visitors come for the Karakalpak State Museum of Art, known as the Savitsky Museum after Igor Savitsky, the Russian artist who built much of its collection. It holds a large body of Russian avant-garde work alongside regional art and crafts. The city is small enough to walk.
Nukus is also the usual starting point for trips to the Aral Sea area, where the shoreline has pulled far back from its old ports and rusting ships lie on the sand. The Mizdakhan burial ground lies near the city. Khiva, the walled Silk Road city in Khorezm, is a natural second stop. Two days covers the museum and one day trip. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons, since summers are very hot and winters are cold.
Nukus in five
- Check the e-visa rules before you bookMany passports enter Uzbekistan visa-free for short stays, but others need an e-visa from the official portal. Check your own passport on e-visa.gov.uz before you buy flights.Visas and entry
- Carry som cash for bazaars and shared ridesMarket stalls and shared taxis often take only cash, so change some som before you travel north from Tashkent. Keep small notes for tips, tolls and short rides.Money and costs
- Hire a driver for Moynaq and the Aral SeaMoynaq is a long drive from Nukus, on roads that vary in condition. A driver who knows the route and a spare day in your plan are safer than a rental car.Getting around
- Visit the Savitsky Museum early in your stayThe museum holds the Russian avant-garde collection gathered by Igor Savitsky, one of Nukus's main reasons to visit. Go in the first days, so you can plan day trips around what you see there.Culture
- Dress modestly at mosques and mausoleumsCover your shoulders and knees, and take off your shoes where people do. Carry a light scarf, since it is useful at shrines and religious sites.
Need to know
- Currency
- Som (UZS)
- Entry
- Visa-free for many passports; e-visa for others, via the official portal Read more
- Emergency
- 102 police, 103 ambulance, 101 fire
- Tipping
- Not expected
- Time
- UTC+5, no daylight saving
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy3 rainy daysHigh4°Low-4°Cold, quietJanuaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 4°
- Low
- -4°
- Precipitation
- 10 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- FebruaryPartly cloudy3 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh7°Low-2°Cold, dryFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 7°
- Low
- -2°
- Precipitation
- 11 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, dry
- MarchClear5 rainy daysHigh14°Low4°Spring warmsMarchClear
Good
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 23 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring warms
- AprilClear4 rainy daysHigh23°Low12°Mild, springAprilClear
Good
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 17 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, spring
- MayClear4 rainy daysHigh30°Low18°Warm, dryMayClear
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 22 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, dry
- JuneClear1 rainy dayHigh35°Low23°Hot, dryJuneClear
Mixed
- High
- 35°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 3 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, dry
- JulyClear1 rainy dayHigh38°Low25°Very hotJulyClear
Poor
- High
- 38°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 2 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Very hot
- AugustClear0 rainy daysHigh35°Low22°Very hotAugustClear
Poor
- High
- 35°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 1 mm
- Rainy days
- 0
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Very hot
- SeptemberClear1 rainy dayHigh28°Low16°Warm, clearSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 6 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, clear
- OctoberClear2 rainy daysHigh19°Low8°Mild, clearOctoberClear
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 8 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, clear
- NovemberClear2 rainy daysHigh11°Low1°Cool, quietNovemberClear
Good
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 1°
- Precipitation
- 8 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, quiet
- DecemberClear3 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh4°Low-4°Cold, quietDecemberClear
Mixed
- High
- 4°
- Low
- -4°
- Precipitation
- 9 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
Average daily high and low in Nukus, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Nukus
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
5
- Feels like
- 1°
- Humidity
- 62%
- Wind
- 8 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Nukus
03:00 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today16°1°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 16°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed17°2°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 17°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu21°8°0%Thursday: Cloudy. High 21°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri17°6°3%Friday: Cloudy. High 17°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Sat13°4°20%Saturday: Cloudy. High 13°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 20%.
- Sun11°6°23%Sunday: Rain. High 11°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 23%.
Updated 01:39 AM local time · 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
- Khivaby car from NukusA walled old city in Khorezm, with a long history of trade on the desert routes.
- Moynaqby car from Nukus, roads varyA former Aral Sea port, now a dry shore with rusting ships left on the sand.
- Tashkentby plane from NukusThe capital, reached by a flight from Nukus.
Before you go to Nukus
Rules for Nukus, checked
- Check your entry requirements on the official e-visa portal before you fly. Visa-free rules and e-visa fees depend on your passport.Source
- Cover shoulders and knees at mosques and mausoleums, and take off your shoes where asked. Dress modestly at shrines and religious sites.
- Antiques and old art cannot leave Uzbekistan without an export permit. Ask the seller for paperwork, or leave the piece in the country.
Plan around Nukus
Cities, routes and the wider country around Nukus
Read the guideVisas and entry rulesWhich passports need an e-visa and what to check
Read the guideGetting around UzbekistanFlights, trains and drivers from Nukus
Read the guideMoney and costsCash, cards and typical daily prices
Read the guideCulture and customsDress, etiquette and the history behind the sights
Read the guidePhones and eSIMMobile data for the city and the desert roads
Read the guideNukus FAQ
Is Nukus worth visiting?
Yes, for the Savitsky Museum and a look at Karakalpakstan away from the usual tourist route. It is a poor choice if you want lively nightlife or many sights in one town.
Is Nukus a good base for the Aral Sea?
Yes. Moynaq is a long drive away, so a driver for a full day is the practical way to go. Keep a spare day in case the road slows you down.
How do I get to Nukus?
Fly to Nukus Airport from Tashkent, or take the train. Check current schedules with the airline or Uzbekistan Railways before you plan.
Do I need a visa for Uzbekistan?
It depends on your passport. Many visitors enter visa-free for short stays, and others apply for an e-visa online. Check the official e-visa portal.
How many days do you need in Nukus?
Two days is enough for the museum and one day trip. Add a night in Moynaq if you want the Aral Sea.