When to go to Uzbekistan? Weather, climate… The best period by region
Admire the architecture of the Silk Road cities and explore the unexpected treasures of the fascinating country. Discover all the details of the weather and climate of Uzbekistan to choose your travel dates according to your wishes.
Uzbekistan has an arid and continental climate, characterized by large temperature differences between seasons. Most of the country has a flat topography in the form of steppes or deserts, while the southeastern regions have a continental climate. Summer is hot and dry, with temperatures reaching 38°C in major cities. Winters are cold, with an average temperature of -2°C between December and February.
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When to go to Samarkand and southern Uzbekistan?
Classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Samarkand is the perfect embodiment of the grandeur of the Silk Road cities. Suitable for tourism in spring and autumn, when the thermometer reads between 18°C and 27°C, it evokes images of ancient times and sounds almost like a myth. Today, Samarkand is a vibrant city that keeps alive its traditions. Don’t miss radiating around Registan Square and exploring the tombs of Bibi Khanim and Gur Amir, the Shah-i-Zinda complex and the Ulugbek observatory. In Bukhara, one of the best-preserved examples of a medieval city in Central Asia, the mercury reaches 38°C in summer. With more than 350 mosques and 100 madrasahs, its historic center has been an important base for Islamic theology and science for several centuries. We come across the 10th century Ismail Somoni’s tomb there.
When is the best time to visit Khiva and central Uzbekistan?
A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1990, Khiva has a climate similar to that of Samarkand and Bukhara. Spring and early autumn are ideal seasons to walk through the gates of the old city of Ichan Qala, explore its winding alleys and cobbled streets, and discover its multitude of mosques, mausoleums and minarets. It is in this city, which looks like a museum under the open sky, that the scientist A.I. Kharezmi, who introduced algorithms to the world and was the father of algebra, was born. The climate becomes drier as you move towards the Qizilgum desert, where temperatures can reach 48°C in summer. March to May and September to October are best for riding along Aydarkul, a semi-artificial lake of about 4,000 km² in the middle of the desert.
When to go to Tashkent and Eastern Uzbekistan?
As for the rest of the country, spring and autumn are the best times to visit Tashkent, Uzbekistan’s capital, with the mercury hovering around 37°C in summer. This large metropolis reflects the historical development of the country, from the monuments of oriental style architecture to the Soviet street plan and tall modern glass buildings. You can visit the National History Museum, admire the mosques of Khast Imam and stroll among the colorful shops of Chorsu Bazaar. The city is also a good starting point for a trip to the Ferghana Valley, where Andijan, Kokand and Namangan are important medieval stages of the Silk Road.
When to go to Nukus and northwest Uzbekistan?
Nukus is the capital of Uzbekistan’s autonomous republic of Karakalpakstan and is best visited in late summer (April-May) or early autumn (September-October). Although not on par with the Silk Road cities in terms of architecture, Nukus provides information on the history of the Karakalpak people and is home to the Igor Savitsky Museum, which houses an important collection of Soviet avant-garde art. From there you can go to the Aral Sea. Once an important sea for shipping in Central Asia, the area is now a wasteland littered with rusted shipwrecks, symbolizing the delicate balance between nature and man.
