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Where to Stay in Bukhara: Old Town or Newer City, Guest House or Hotel

Practical advice on choosing accommodation in Bukhara: which area, which type of place, and what to check before you book.

Updated: 2026-10-30 · Opening hours and prices can change: check before you go.

The main choice: the old town

For most first-time visitors, the best base in Bukhara is the Old Town (Eski Shahar). The main monuments are close together and easy to cover on foot: the Kalan Minaret and Po-i-Kalyan ensemble, the Mir-i-Arab Madrasah, Lyabi-Hauz, the Toki Zargaron trading dome and the Magok-i-Attari Mosque. The Ark and the Bolo Hauz Mosque facing it are also within reach.

The real advantage of staying here is time. You can walk out early in the morning before tour groups arrive, or in the evening once the heat eases. Summer afternoons are very hot, and being able to retreat to your room at midday makes a real difference.

Places close to the centre

The map shows these places within a few minutes' walk of the Kalan Minaret:

This comes from map data and hasn't been confirmed with the hotels, so confirm the address with the hotel before booking. Each property's page at /mehmonxonalar.html shows its type and readers' ratings.

When the newer city makes sense

The newer parts of town tend to have larger hotels, wider streets and easier parking. That can suit you if you are driving, travelling in a big group, or planning many trips to outlying sights such as the Sitorai Mohi Xossa Palace, the Bahouddin Naqshband Complex or the Chor-Bakr Necropolis. Just factor in a taxi ride into the old town every day.

Guest house or hotel

Our Bukhara listings include hotels, guest houses, hostels and apartments: /mehmonxonalar/buxoro.html.

Guest houses are often family homes built around a traditional courtyard. What they offer:

  • a personal atmosphere, with hosts who will give local advice
  • often a home-cooked breakfast
  • few rooms, so usually quiet

The downsides: rooms can be small, stairs steep, and there is usually no lift.

Hotels offer more standardised service, a staffed reception and sometimes a pool. Hostels suit solo travellers and those on a tight budget.

What to check before booking

  • Air conditioning: essential in summer. In winter, ask about heating — old houses can be cold.
  • Car access: taxis often cannot reach the door in the narrow old-town lanes, so you may have to carry luggage.
  • Room position: rooms facing the courtyard are usually quieter.
  • Whether breakfast is included.
  • Payment: whether cards are accepted or cash is needed. Money exchange points are listed on /turizm.html.
  • Registration: foreign guests must be registered by their accommodation — confirm this when booking.
  • Evening noise: the area around Lyabi-Hauz is lively at night.
  • Readers' ratings: on each property's page at /mehmonxonalar.html.

Good to know: some small guesthouses and hostels in Uzbekistan don't let unmarried couples share a room, mainly when one or both are Uzbek citizens. Foreign couples are usually fine. If this applies to you, ask the hotel before booking.

Useful to know

Plan around the Ark's hours: closed Wednesday, open until 14:30 on Tuesday, and 09:00–18:00 on other days (until 19:00 from 1 April to 1 November). Hours can change, so confirm with the 1173 helpline before you go.

Spring and autumn are the busiest seasons, so book good central places well ahead.

Help

Emergency 112, ambulance 103, police 102. The 24-hour tourist helpline is 1173. Embassies are listed at /elchixonalar.html, hospitals and pharmacies at /turizm.html. Any other questions — use the chat button on every page.

✍️ Prepared with AI from the site's data and checked by an editor.