Welcome to Uzbekistan

More accessible than ever before, Uzbekistan is open and ready for world travelers. There is a rich history to explore thanks to the mix of ethic groups found throughout the country, from the Uzbeks to the Kazakhs, Russians to Tatars.

Explore the Khast Imam complex in Tashkent. Visit the Registan, heart of the ancient city of Samarkand. Shop the boutiques and open-air bazaars of Bukhara for handwoven silk carpets and handmade pottery. And don’t miss the chance to try the country’s most famous dish, plov, a delightful blend of rice, carrots, onions, dried fruit and meat.

Unique Facts

• There are only two doubly landlocked countries in the world: Liechtenstein and Uzbekistan. To reach any coastline from Uzbekistan, you’ll have to travel through two countries.
• Uzbekistan is home to the world’s largest open-pit gold mine. The Muruntau mine in the Qizilqum Desert produces approximately 2 million ounces of gold every year in a pit that is 2.17 miles by 1.55 miles and 1,837 feet deep.
• There’s a massive, yet shrinking lake, in Uzbekistan. Formerly, the Aral Sea was the world’s fourth-largest late and covered 26,300 miles. It has been shrinking since the 1960s.
• There are five UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Uzbekistan, including Itchan Kala, Buhkara, Samarkand, Western Tien Shan and Shakhrisyabz.
• The Iranian Nomads who were also known as the Scythians in the first millennium BC were the first known people to have occupied the region that is now Uzbekistan.

Language

Uzbekistan’s official language is Uzbek.

When To Go

The best time to go to Uzbekistan is April and May and September to early November, when the weather is warm and dry but not uncomfortably hot.

Airports

Islam Karimov Tashkent International Airport

Passport Validity

Passport must be valid at time of entry.

Visa Required By US Citizen?

Yes

Vaccinations

The CDC recommends the following vaccines for most travelers when visiting Uzbekistan: Hepatitis A and Typhoid. Depending on where you are traveling, you may also need Hepatitis B and Rabies vaccines.

Electrical Outlets

Power plugs and sockets: types C and F. Standard voltage: 220V. Frequency: 50Hz.

Currency

Official local currency: Uzbekistani Soʻm

Getting Around

The main roads in central Tashkent are well maintained. Secondary roads and those in the Tien Shan Mountains are in poor condition, poorly lit and for 4WD vehicles only. Be on the lookout for farm equipment, animal-drawn carts and pedestrians on the roadways.

Public transportation options in Tashkent include taxis, buses, trolleybuses, trams and buway. Regular bus service runs to all major cities.

Driver’s License

An international driving permit is required.

US Embassy Info

U.S. Embassy Tashkent
3 Moyqorghon Street, 5th block
Yunusobod District, 100093
Tashkent
Uzbekistan
Telephone: +(998) (78) 120-5450
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(998) (78) 120-5450
Fax: +(998) (71) 120-5448
ACSTashkent@state.gov

Local Visitor Info

National Uzbekistan Tourism Office
18, Oybek str.
Tashken, 100015
Uzbekistan
Tel: 998-71-200-00-88
help@uzbekistan.travel

Local Emergency Phone Numbers

Ambulance: 03
Police: 02
Fire: 01

Safety and Security

The crime rate is low, but rising, in Uzbekistan. Take standar safety precautions. Be aware of pickpockets in public places, such as tourist attractions, train stations and markets.