Venture through this rugged and welcoming country and you’ll find it easy to imagine camel-led caravans winding their way down the Silk Road. Uzbekistan is synonymous with the ancient set of trading routes that once linked Southern Europe to Asia. Cities like Khiva, Samarkand, and Bukhara feature turquoise-domed palaces and mosaic-tiled mosques and madrassas preserved from that era, the most famous being Samarkand’s Registan. But quirkier, off-the-beaten-track things to do also entice travelers, from a secret collection of Soviet art tucked away in Nukus to the dried-up Aral Sea.
Weather-wise, early fall and late spring are your best windows for visiting, since Uzbekistan sizzles in summer and drops to sub-freezing in winter. Better yet, fall is when the most delectable fruit and vegetable harvests take place, from pumpkins to sugar-sweet Mirza melons. Early spring (beginning March 21) is when the 3-day Nowruz festival takes place. Those interested in the country’s pre-Islamic heritage should try to time a visit with the Boysun Bahori folklore festival, held in the town of Boysun in May.
Traveling around Uzbekistan is remarkably easy thanks to a network of high-speed trains known as the Afrosiyob. Designed by a Spanish company, they’re very similar to high-speed trains in Europe, featuring electrical outlets and all the standard amenities, including air-conditioning. Travel times are lightning fast: Getting from Tashkent to Samarkand takes less than three hours. For a less sleek but more atmospheric ride, don’t miss the Soviet-era sleeper car to Nukus or Khiva.
Don’t think you can see the Registan in an hour. Many travelers have made that mistake and found themselves hastily canceling plans. Admission tickets are valid for the whole day, so make the most of it: Admire centuries-old mosaics as they glitter under the morning sun, wander through serene courtyards, and spend time browsing the antiques and handcrafted tchotchkes for sale in the dormitory rooms that now double as souvenir shops. You might consider bringing an empty suitcase.
