Uzbekistan is the beating heart of the Silk Road, where glazed turquoise domes rise above lively bazaars and caravanserais whisper centuries of trade, poetry, and empire. From Tashkent’s leafy boulevards to Samarkand’s awe-inspiring Registan, from Bukhara’s serene madrasas to Khiva’s storybook walled city, history is not a backdrop here—it’s a companion on every walk.

You’ll ride the Afrosiyob high-speed train between cities, savor slow-cooked plov, sip fragrant tea, and—yes—taste Uzbek wine where it was once made for emirs and Soviet connoisseurs alike. Expect museum stops, unique workshops, and plenty of café breaks woven into a relaxed rhythm.

Practical notes: Many nationalities enjoy visa-free entry or e-visa access—confirm requirements before you go. Trains sell out in season; book early. Summers are hot (shade and siesta help), spring and autumn are ideal, and winter is quiet and atmospheric. Cards are widely accepted in cities, but keep some cash for markets and taxis.

Tashkent

Uzbekistan’s capital blends leafy parks, post‑Soviet architecture, and a vibrant food scene. The Tashkent Metro is a rolling art museum; its stations are photogenic time capsules. Chorsu Bazaar is a sensory intro to Uzbek life—mountains of spices, melons, and warm tandoor bread.

• Top sights: Khast Imam Complex (home to the famed 7th‑century Quran), Museum of Applied Arts, State Museum of History, Chorsu Bazaar, and artful Metro stations (e.g., Kosmonavtlar).
• Eat & drink: Plov Center (Besh Qozon) for the national dish; Afsona and Caravan for polished takes on classics; Coffeeboom or Bon! for espresso and pastries; evening tea or a nightcap at your hotel lounge.
• Stay: Mid-range hotels abound and great-value hostels make Tashkent budget-friendly.

Where to book stays: Hyatt Regency Tashkent, Wyndham Tashkent, Art Hostel, Topchan Hostel, or browse Hotels.com: Tashkent and VRBO: Tashkent.

Getting in: Compare flights on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. In-country trains: Trip.com Trains.

Samarkand

“More beautiful than I expected,” Alexander the Great allegedly said. Registan’s three madrasas, the dreamy Shah‑i‑Zinda necropolis, and the vast Bibi‑Khanym Mosque anchor a city that defined Timurid grandeur. Today, café patios peek at tilework that glows at sunset.

• Top sights: Registan, Gur‑e‑Amir (Tamerlane’s mausoleum), Shah‑i‑Zinda, Bibi‑Khanym, Siyob Bazaar, Ulugh Beg Observatory, and Konigil’s Meros Paper Mill.
• Wine & food: Sample at the Khovrenko tasting room; dine at Platan, Samarkand Restaurant, or Bibikhanum Teahouse; grab coffee near Registan before the evening light show.

Where to book stays: Browse Hotels.com: Samarkand and VRBO: Samarkand.

Bukhara

Bukhara is the Silk Road at its most meditative—mud-brick lanes, a skyline of domes and the slender Kalon Minaret. The Old Town is a museum without walls; evenings around Lyabi‑Hauz pool are quietly magical.

• Top sights: Ark Fortress, Kalon Minaret & Mosque, Mir‑i‑Arab Madrasa (exterior), Chor Minor, Lyabi‑Hauz Ensemble, and the old trading domes (jewelry, textiles, spices).
• Eat & drink: Old Bukhara and Minzifa for local cuisine; Chinar for grilled dishes; relax with tea under mulberry trees at Lyabi‑Hauz.

Where to book stays: Hotels.com: Bukhara and VRBO: Bukhara.

Khiva

Khiva’s walled Itchan‑Kala is a preserved oasis of minarets, craft workshops, and carved doors—like stepping into a miniature city of clay and light. Dawn and dusk here feel cinematic.

• Top sights: Kalta‑Minor Minaret, Juma Mosque’s forest of wooden columns, Kuhna Ark, Islam Khodja complex, Pahlavon Mahmoud Mausoleum, and Allakuli Khan’s caravanserai.
• Eat & drink: Khorezm Art Restaurant for regional dishes; Terrassa Café for views; try tukhum‑barak (egg dumplings) and shivit‑oshi (dill noodles) unique to Khiva.

Where to book stays: Hotels.com: Khiva and VRBO: Khiva.

Day 1 – Arrive in Tashkent

Afternoon: Land in Tashkent and check in. Stretch your legs at Amir Timur Square and the tree-lined Broadway (Sailgoh Street) where local artists display works. Coffee at Coffeeboom (good espresso, cakes) before sunrise-splashed photos at the Alisher Navoi Theater.

Evening: Dinner at Afsona: modern takes on Uzbek staples—try the succulent qozon‑kabob and a salad with salty kurt cheese. If you’d like a quiet nightcap, hotel lounges pour Uzbek wines and herbal teas—perfect for a relaxing first night.

Day 2 – Tashkent’s highlights, markets, and a foodie evening

Morning: Explore the Khast Imam Complex (look for the Uthman Quran) and the ornate Museum of Applied Arts (carved wood, suzani textiles). Ride the Metro between stops to see station art like Kosmonavtlar.

Afternoon: Dive into Chorsu Bazaar under its teal dome—grab hot samsa, non bread, and dried apricots. Then continue through Independence Square and the State Museum of History to frame Uzbekistan’s past and present.

Evening: Join a guided overview or dedicate the night to tasting. Consider:

• Tashkent City Tour

  

  An affordable, well-paced way to connect the dots between major sights.
• Ten Bites Adventure Food Tour in Tashkent

  

  From manti dumplings to tandoori bread, it’s a delicious primer for the week.

Day 3 – To Samarkand by high-speed train + first look at the Timurid capital

Morning: Ride the Afrosiyob high-speed train Tashkent → Samarkand (approx. 2–2.5 hours; ~$12–25 in economy). Book early via Afrosiyob high speed train tickets - Guaranteed Pass

or search schedules on Trip.com Trains.

Afternoon: Check in, then head to the Siyob Bazaar for fresh lepeshka bread and dried fruit. Visit Gur‑e‑Amir, where the jade Tombstone of Tamerlane rests beneath a ribbed dome—the interior goldwork glitters in soft light.

Evening: Registan at dusk is unforgettable—tilework shifts colors as the sun lowers. Dinner at Platan (reliable Uzbek and European dishes) or Bibikhanum Teahouse near the great mosque. If you enjoy wine, ask your guide about tastings at the Khovrenko tasting room.

Day 4 – Samarkand’s masterpieces on foot

Morning: A guided walk ties the sites together. Consider the Samarkand Walking Tour

to cover Registan, Bibi‑Khanym, and the kaleidoscopic mosaics of Shah‑i‑Zinda.

Afternoon: Visit the Meros Paper Mill in Konigil village to see mulberry-bark paper made by hand, then the Ulugh Beg Observatory—proof that this was once a capital of science as well as art.

Evening: Dinner at Samarkand Restaurant (classic interiors, hearty portions) and a relaxed coffee on a patio near Registan. Night photography lovers may return for the illuminated squares.

Day 5 – A relaxed day or green-mountain detour to Shakhrisabz

Morning: If you’re staying easy, linger over breakfast, then browse local crafts—embroidered suzani, miniature paintings, and ceramics—near the Registan and in small ateliers.

Afternoon: Optional scenic excursion across the Takhtakaracha Pass to Shakhrisabz, birthplace of Tamerlane, to see the Ak‑Saray palace ruins and Dorut Tilovat complex. Book a guided option like the Private Day Trip to Shakhrisabz from Samarkand

(allow a full day).

Evening: Back in Samarkand, keep it mellow: try a light dinner—laghman noodles or vegetable manti—and a dessert stop near Siyob Bazaar.

Day 6 – Samarkand to Bukhara by train + Lyabi-Hauz sunset

Morning: Afrosiyob train Samarkand → Bukhara (1.5–2 hours; ~$10–20). Book early via the Guaranteed Pass or check Trip.com Trains.

Afternoon: After check-in, wander the trading domes—Toqi Zargaron (jewelers), Toqi Sarrafon (money-changers), Toqi Telpak Furushon (hat sellers). Pause for tea and halva near Lyabi‑Hauz.

Evening: Dinner at Minzifa or Old Bukhara (rooftop views). Stroll around the lit-up pool and hear the city settle into its soft desert night.

Day 7 – Bukhara’s old town, crafts, and a hammam

Morning: Orient with a guided walk such as Bukhara: Walking Tour with a Small Group

to cover the Ark, Kalon complex, and Chor Minor with stories that bring them to life.

Afternoon: Try a traditional hammam (men and women have separate hours—ask your hotel to confirm). Then browse carpets and textiles; if you’re serious about buying, book Shopping Carpets in Bukhara

for expert context and provenance.

Evening: Dine around Lyabi‑Hauz—try tender lamb shashlik or vegetarian dolma. For a low-key toast, many restaurants pour local vintages; ask for a dry Rkatsiteli or semi‑sweet Aleatiko to sample Uzbek styles.

Day 8 – Through the desert fortresses to Khiva

Morning: Travel Bukhara → Khiva by private car via ancient Khorezm fortresses (Toprak‑Kala, Ayaz‑Kala)—a unique day in the Kyzylkum sands (7–9 hours with sightseeing, ~$120–180 per car). Book a driver easily with Private Bukhara-Khiva Transfer via Ancient Fortresses

for a scenic, story-filled route.

Afternoon: Lunch at a simple yurt café near the fortresses (try noodle soups, fresh salads, and tea). Continue to Khiva and check into a hotel inside or just outside the walls—sunset light is spectacular from the western gates.

Evening: First wander of Itchan‑Kala: Kalta‑Minor’s blue tiles glow at twilight. Dine at Khorezm Art Restaurant (try shivit‑oshi dill noodles) or Terrassa Café for open-air views.

Day 9 – The walled city of Khiva

Morning: See the highlights with a local expert: Khiva day tour

covers the Kuhna Ark, Juma Mosque’s carved columns, Islam Khodja minaret, and sacred Pahlavon Mahmoud.

Afternoon: Shop for hand-carved doors and woodwork, suzani, and silk ikat. Coffee break with a slice of honey cake at a café by the inner walls; photograph the minarets from the ramparts (ticketed access).

Evening: Quiet dinner and, if available, a traditional music performance in a madrasa courtyard. Night skies here are starry—perfect for a reflective stroll.

Day 10 – Optional desert add-on, then fly to Tashkent for departure

Morning: Two relaxing options before you go: a focused fortresses photo outing—Guided Desert Castles Photo Tour

—or a hands-on tasting experience in town. Prefer something culinary? Consider a bread-making masterclass if time permits.

Afternoon: Transfer to Urgench (approx. 40 minutes) for a flight to Tashkent (about 1h40; ~$40–90). Search on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. Connect to your international departure later in the afternoon.

Evening: If you’ve got extra time in Tashkent, celebrate with one final plate of plov at Plov Center and a final espresso at Bon!—a tasty bookend to your Silk Road circuit.

Where to Stay (quick picks by vibe and budget)

• Tashkent (arrival/departure hub): Value hostels to 5-star comfort. See Hyatt Regency Tashkent, Wyndham Tashkent, Art Hostel, Topchan Hostel, plus Hotels.com and VRBO.
• Samarkand: Mid-range boutiques near Registan; search Hotels.com or VRBO.
• Bukhara: Courtyard inns in the old town; check Hotels.com or VRBO.
• Khiva: Atmospheric stays inside Itchan‑Kala; explore Hotels.com or VRBO.

Getting Around (time & budget cues)

• Tashkent → Samarkand: Afrosiyob high-speed train, ~2–2.5 hours, ~$12–25 economy. Book via Guaranteed Pass or check Trip.com Trains.
• Samarkand → Bukhara: Afrosiyob, ~1.5–2 hours, ~$10–20.
• Bukhara → Khiva: Overland via desert fortresses (7–9 hours with stops) using Private Transfer via Fortresses. Direct train also exists (longer; schedules vary).
• Khiva (Urgench) → Tashkent: Flight ~1h40; ~$40–90 on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com.

Daily Food & Coffee Ideas (shortlist)

• Tashkent: Breakfast at Bon! or Coffeeboom; lunch at Plov Center (Besh Qozon); dinner at Afsona or Caravan.
• Samarkand: Coffee near Registan; lunch at Bibikhanum Teahouse; dinner at Platan or Samarkand Restaurant; Khovrenko wine tasting when available.
• Bukhara: Tea house by Lyabi‑Hauz; lunch at Chinar; dinner at Minzifa or Old Bukhara; late walk under the Kalon Minaret.
• Khiva: Terrace coffee within Itchan‑Kala; lunch at Terrassa Café; dinner at Khorezm Art Restaurant (try regional specialties).

Want to add nature between cities? If you had one extra day, a mountain escape to Chimgan/Charvak from Tashkent is wonderful; compare options on Explore Amirsoy, Chimgan & Charvak – A Full-Day Mountain Tour

for fresh air and lake views.

Summary: In ten unhurried days you’ll trace the Silk Road from Tashkent’s markets to Samarkand’s turquoise giants, from Bukhara’s serene courtyards to Khiva’s golden-hour walls. Great trains, flavorful meals, coffee stops, and a few well-chosen tours make it both restorative and richly memorable.