Travel to Uzbekistan and wander through Samarkand's historic streets, or trade your way through the many bazaars in the capital Tashkent. Explore the magnificent natural parks and fill your day with fun experiences in the huge cities.
With its 28 million inhabitants, Uzbekistan is Central Asia's most populous country. The only metro in Central Asia is found in the capital Tashkent and Uzbekistan is said to be the cleanest country in the former Soviet Union.
Cuisine of Uzbekistan
Take your time to taste the various local delicacies, like the national dish 'plov' - made from rice. For dinner you can enjoy one of Uzbekistan's many and excellent wines, of which several are exported around the world.
Tashkent and surrounding region
Although your first impressions of Tashkent may not necessarily be the best, you will eventually discover that the city is actually quite exciting. Soviet buildings and modern architecture dominate the city skyline, and the streets have a lively atmosphere with a wide selection of good restaurants.
Tashkent is located on the ancient Silk Road, stretching from China to Europe. The city offers interesting museums with lots of history, and the amusement park Tashkentland is a fun way to pass time even though it does not have the most daring attractions. From the TV tower you get great views and nice restaurants, and from here you can move on to the city's water park with several pools - one pool even has artificial waves.
The metro works well as a means of transport, but note that taking photographs in the stations is not allowed. Alternatively, public taxis take you effortlessly around the city, just remember to agree on the price beforehand with the driver. Hiking is also possible, and the locals are happy to give you a ride for a small sum of money. Ugam-Chatkal National Park is about a half hour drive from downtown and it's a place where you can try activities such as rafting, trekking or skiing.
Samarkand
Samarkand is arguably one of Uzbekistan's best places, and is on UNESCO's World Heritage List. This 4,000-year-old city is a four-hour drive from Tashkent and offers several amazing mosques and old historic buildings. In the ancient part Registan you can admire the impressive Mosque Bibi-Khonym, one of the most beautiful in the world.