Most beautiful places
Cities, monuments, nature and holy sites
CityTashkentThe capital of Uzbekistan and the most populous city in Central Asia, with more than 3.1 million people.Read more →
CitySamarkandOne of Central Asia's oldest cities and Timur's capital, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001.Read more →
CityBukhara"Noble Bukhara", an ancient centre of Islamic learning whose historic core has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993.Read more →
CityKhiva and Itchan KalaAn ancient city of Khwarazm whose walled Itchan Kala became Central Asia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1990.Read more →
MonumentRegistanThe heart of Samarkand — a square framed by three great madrasas, one of the finest ensembles of Islamic architecture.Read more →
MonumentGur-e-AmirThe mausoleum of Amir Timur and his descendants, regarded as a model for India's Taj Mahal.Read more →
MonumentUlugh Beg ObservatoryAn observatory built in Samarkand in the 1420s, one of the greatest astronomical centres of the medieval Islamic world.Read more →
MonumentShahrisabz and the Ak-Saray PalaceAmir Timur's birthplace and the remains of his giant summer palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000.Read more →
MonumentNukus Museum of Art (Savitsky Museum)Home in Karakalpakstan to the world's second-largest collection of Russian avant-garde art, called "the Louvre of Uzbekistan".Read more →
ShrineShah-i-ZindaThe "Living King" — a street of mausoleums in Samarkand whose blue-tiled tombs are jewels of the Timurid era.Read more →
NatureAral Sea and MoynaqOnce one of the world's largest lakes, the Aral has been drying since the 1960s; Moynaq's "ship graveyard" is the symbol of this disaster.Read more →
NatureZaamin National ParkUzbekistan's oldest nature reserve, founded in 1926 and called "the Switzerland of Uzbekistan" for its beauty.Read more →
Why Uzbekistan?
Discover the culture
Instruments, dances, crafts and carpets
InstrumentDutarA long-necked two-stringed lute, one of the main instruments of Uzbek, Turkmen and Tajik folk music.Read more →
InstrumentDoiraA frame drum with jingles, the rhythmic heart of Uzbek music and dance.Read more →
InstrumentKarnay and surnayThe sound of festivals and weddings: the long brass karnay trumpet and the double-reed surnay.Read more →
Musical genreShashmaqamThe "six maqams" classical music system born in Bukhara, UNESCO heritage since 2008.Read more →
Musical genreBakhshi artThe art of Uzbek bards who sing epics to the dombra or dutar, UNESCO heritage since 2021.Read more →
Musical workState Anthem of UzbekistanAdopted after independence, with music by Mutal Burhanov and words by the poet Abdulla Aripov.Read more →
Traditional dressDoppiAn embroidered square or round skullcap, the national headwear of the Uzbeks.Read more →
DanceLazgi: Khorezm danceThe fiery folk dance and song of Khorezm, UNESCO heritage since 2019.Read more →
National cuisine
The taste and tradition of the table
DishUzbek palov (osh)The king of the Uzbek table — meat, yellow carrots and rice cooked in a kazan; UNESCO heritage since 2016.Read more →
DishUzbek non (tandyr bread)A round patterned bread baked in a tandyr, the sacred food of the Uzbek family table.Read more →
DishSamsaA meat pastry baked in the tandyr, Central Asia's favourite street food.Read more →
DishSumalakA Navruz dish cooked all night from sprouted wheat, a relative of the Azerbaijani samani halva.Read more →
Notable people
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From places to visit to national days: every section of the country in one place.
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TashkentWeather in the capital · Tashkent
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