Samarkand in Two Days: A Practical Route

A two-day plan covering Registan, Gur-e Amir and Bibi-Khanym on day one, Shah-i-Zinda, Afrasiyab, Ulugh Beg's observatory and the tomb of Daniel on day two, with tips on food and money.

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

How the route works

Samarkand's main monuments sit fairly close together, so two days are enough for the essentials. The plan is simple: day one covers the centre (Gur-e Amir, Registan, Bibi-Khanym Mosque, Siab Bazaar); day two covers the north-east (Shah-i-Zinda, the Afrasiyab hill, Hazrat Khizr Mosque, the Tomb of Daniel and Ulugh Beg's Observatory).

Many sites open daily from 09:00 to 17:00. Ticket prices and some opening hours change, so check on the spot or call the 24-hour tourist helpline 1173. Details on every site are at /turizm.html.

Day 1: Gur-e Amir and Registan

Start in the morning at the Gur-e Amir Mausoleum (Ak Saray Street, daily 09:00–17:00), resting place of Amir Timur and his dynasty, built in 1403–1404. Mornings are quieter, so you can take in the interior without crowds.

Then walk to Registan Square, framed by three madrasahs: Ulugh Beg (15th century), Sher-Dor and Tilya-Kori (17th century). Step into each courtyard and don't miss the gilded mosque inside Tilya-Kori.

For lunch nearby:

Registan restaurant — Registan Street, daily 08:00–23:00
Labi G'or — Registon Street, daily 07:00–23:00

In the afternoon visit Bibi-Khanym Mosque (Bibi-Khanym Street, 09:00–17:00), the vast Friday mosque Amir Timur built in 1399–1404. Next door is Siab Bazaar, the city's biggest market — a good place to buy Samarkand's famous bread, dried fruit and sweets.

In the evening, head back to Registan to see the square lit up.

Day 2: Shah-i-Zinda and Afrasiyab

Begin at Shah-i-Zinda (Shahizinda Street), a lane of blue-tiled mausoleums from the 11th to 19th centuries, mostly 14th–15th. It is a place of pilgrimage: dress modestly, keep your voice down and ask before photographing worshippers.

From there it's an easy move onto the Afrasiyab hill:

Hazrat Khizr Mosque (1854, daily 09:00–17:00)
Afrasiyab, the ruins of ancient Samarkand, inhabited from the 7th century BC until 1220
Mausoleum of the Prophet Daniel (Khoja Doniyor), Obi-Rahmat Street, 09:00–17:00 — an 18-metre-long tomb above the Siab stream, revered by Muslims, Jews and Christians

In the afternoon go to Ulugh Beg Observatory: the remains of the 1420s observatory and a museum. Distances grow here, so a taxi makes sense.

If you have extra time

Konigil, Meros Paper Mill — paper made from mulberry bark the traditional way
Imam al-Bukhari Memorial Complex in Khartang village near Samarkand, over the grave of the hadith scholar (810–870)

Both are outside the city; arrange transport in advance.

What to eat

Try Samarkand plov, Samarkand bread (non) and shashlik. Besides the restaurants above, Karimbek and Joni Osh are also on our list — check their addresses and hours beforehand. Plov is traditionally a lunch dish and may run out by evening.

Money and safety

Exchange rates change every day. Cash dollar rates at 14 banks are compared daily at /dollar-kursi.html, and rouble rates at 9 banks at /rubl-kursi.html. For cash roubles, banks pay noticeably less than the Central Bank rate. Carry cash for the bazaar and small cafés.

Emergency numbers: 112, ambulance 103, police 102, tourist helpline 1173 (24 hours). Embassies are listed at /elchixonalar.html and air quality at /havo.html. Any questions — use the chat button on every page.

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