Visitors to Samarkand this year will face higher prices than in years past. Across the city, tourist attractions have raised their prices by almost 40% compared to prices just 2 months ago. Even public transportation, including popular train lines like Sharq and Nasaf have increased prices by about 25%. Meanwhile, the value of USD to Uzbek Som has gone down slightly. While Samarkand is still an affordable destination compared to many other cities, with so many ticketed sites, costs can add up fast. Read on to see the current prices for foreigners for Samarkand’s most visited attractions. (Note - at the time of writing, $1 USD is equal to 12,675 UZS, €1 EUR is equal to 14,839 UZS, and £1 GBP is equal to 17,218 UZS.)
The Registan
Current Price: 100,000 UZS ($7.89 USD)
The Registan is the highlight of any trip to Samarkand and is not to be missed. For that reason, it is also Samarkand’s most expensive attraction, at 100,000 som (up from 65,000 earlier this year). Visitors typically spend 1-2 hours here. We highly recommend timing your visit around sunset to get a mix of daylight and dusk, when the whole complex is lit up. Bonus tip, every night there is a laser show projected onto the Registan and can be seen for free from the viewing platform or the steps below it (typically starts at 9pm in summer, 7pm in winter, and 8/8:30pm in spring and autumn).
Amir Timur’s Mausoleum
Current Price: 65,000 UZS ($5.13 USD)
You will not leave Uzbekistan without hearing about Amir Timur (often called Tamerlane or Timur the Lame) Uzbekistan’s national hero, and the pride of Samarkand, his empire’s capital. He originally designed this mausoleum for his grandson, but was also buried here himself after his death in 1405. One of our favorite local legends about the crypt under his tombstone takes place in the Soviet era. Stalin was curious about Amir Timur and wanted to put a face to this great conqueror. On June 21 st 1942 scientist Mikhail Gerasimov opened the crypt under Timur’s tombstone, which was inscribed with the words “He who disturbs this grave will unleash an invader more terrible than myself”. The next day, Hitler invaded the Soviet Union with operation Barbarossa, which is still considered the biggest military offensive in history.
To see this mausoleum for yourself, tickets will cost 65,000 som (increased from the previous price of 50,000 som). It is not a large complex and visitors usually spend around 20 minutes here.
Bibi Khanoum Mosque
Current Price: 75,000 UZS ($5.92 USD)
Bibi Khanoum was Amir Timur’s favorite and most beautiful wife, and he named this mosque after her, though there are some reports that she is actually the one who had it commisioned for him. Either way, Samarkand’s best architects and masters worked on this project and at the time of building (at the very end of the 14 th century), this would have been one of the largest and most visually impressive mosques in the world.
This site is actually a complex of three mosques. While the central mosque is not structurally sound enough to be entered, the two mosques flanking it are open and feature some impressive architectural features, like double domes (which provides incredible acoustics). Visitors usually spend around 30 minutes here, and the ticket price is 75,000 som (up from 50,000 som).
Sha-i-Zinda
Current Price: 50,000 UZS ($3.94 USD)
This stunning complex of mausoleums and small mosques is another massively popular tourist stop. For many people, the highlight will be the magnificent blue tile work on each of the mausoleums and the intricately carved wooden doors, but it is also an important Islamic pilgrimage site, as legend has it that a cousin of prophet Muhammad is buried here.
Most people will spend 45 minutes to 1 hour here to look at each building in this necropolis. Tickets are currently 50,000 som (up from 15,000 som previously).
Tomb of Daniel
Current Price: 30,000 UZS ($2.37 USD)
This is one of the less busy tourist attractions in Samarkand, but we think it has an interesting history. Some say this is the final resting place of Daniel (the biblical figure from the story of the lion’s den), and some say it instead contains only some soil from Daniel’s actual alleged grave. The local legend about the tomb is that it would grow several centimeters each year, and the grave is now a whopping 18 meters long. It no longer grows, as an enclosure was built around it during the soviet era.
Shortly after Daniel was allegedly buried here, a natural spring bubbled up from the ground, which locals say has healing properties. Next to the tomb you will see a thriving pistachio tree, which according to legend was once dead, until a priest washed it with the healing spring water and it sprung back to life. Now locals journey up the hill to touch the tree, pray, and make wishes.
A visit here can be relatively brief, around 15 minutes, but it is a very peaceful and shady place to relax if you choose to stay longer. Tickets here are 30,000 som (as opposed to 20,000 som previously).
Observatory of Ulug Bek
Current Price: 40,000 UZS ($3.16 USD)
Ulug Bek was the grandson of Amir Timur and he came to power in the 15 th century. He was very passionate about science, mathematics, and the arts and under him Samarkand flourished as a place of thought and education. He built many madrassahs (including one of the Registan madrassahs), but one of his most impressive accomplishments was Samarkand’s observatory and astronomy-focused madrassah. The viewing device (of which you can still see the massive lower section) helped him measure celestial bodies with incredible accuracy compared to today’s measurements!
The site includes a small museum inside the madrassah, and a visit here will take around 20-30 minutes. Ticket prices are currently 40,000 som (compared to 25,000 som previously).
Free things to visit in Samarkand:
Islam Karimov’s Tomb
Current Price: Free
The tomb of Uzbekistan’s former president is free to visit, though foreigners need to pay 15,000 som if they would like to physically enter the tomb.
The site is also next to a large soviet-era cemetery, where the faces of those buried are etched into the graves. It can be an interesting and peaceful place to walk around and get away from the tourist crowds.
Siyob Bazaar
Current Price: Free
This bazaar might be free, but you will find lots of things to spend your money on! You can find anything in this bazaar, from fruits and nuts and souvenirs to knock-off shoes and household supplies.
Want to visit Samarkand with us?
We spend time in Samarkand on each of our Uzbekistan tours - find out more about our central asia tours here . Entrance fees are included in our tour price, so you can enjoy the sites and let us worry about the tickets! Email us at [email protected] if you’d like to learn more.
