Silk Road legends come to life in Uzbekistan, where blue-tiled domes and bustling bazaars meet modern cafés and a surprisingly contemporary arts scene. In five days, you’ll trace centuries of trade and scholarship from Tashkent’s leafy boulevards to Samarkand’s iconic Registan.

Uzbekistan’s story is layered: Timurid brilliance, Soviet modernism, and an independent nation that celebrates craft, cuisine, and hospitality. Expect monumental madrassas, fragrant bread (non) ovens, and metro stations that feel like palaces.

Practical notes: many travelers qualify for an e-visa, cash is still king (ATMs in major cities), and dress modestly for mosques. Spring and fall are ideal; summers are hot. The Afrosiyob high-speed train links cities in a breeze, and classic dishes—plov, shashlik, lagman—are essential parts of the journey.

Tashkent

Uzbekistan’s capital blends Old Town mahallas, Soviet-era architecture, and a youthful café culture. It’s a superb arrival base with excellent museums, a photogenic metro, and easy day trips into the mountains.

• Top sights: Chorsu Bazaar, Hazrati Imam (Khast-Imam) Complex, Minor Mosque, Amir Timur Square, State Museum of Applied Arts, Tashkent TV Tower, and the art-filled Tashkent Metro.
• Why visit: Taste the country’s best plov at the famed Plov Center, shop ikat textiles and suzanis, and ride between museum-quality metro stations.
• Dining vibes: From classic chaikhanas to inventive modern Uzbek, you can graze from samsa ovens to shashlik grills in a single day.

Where to stay (Tashkent): Browse stays on Hotels.com or VRBO. Traveler favorites include the Hyatt Regency Tashkent (polished, central), Wyndham Tashkent (great pool), Art Hostel (social, budget-friendly), and Topchan Hostel (clean, upbeat backpacker hub).

How to get here: Fly into Tashkent (TAS). Compare fares on Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com. Taxis to the center take 15–25 minutes; app rides usually cost ~$3–8.

Day 1: Arrival, Old Town Atmosphere, and Metro Art

Morning: In transit.

Afternoon: Check in and head to the Hazrati Imam Complex to see the famed Uthman Quran and serene courtyards. Then roam Chorsu Bazaar—pause at the samsa ovens, taste kurut (salty cheese balls), and pick up dried fruits. Coffee break at a nearby café; try a cardamom latte and halva pastry.

Evening: Ride the photogenic Tashkent Metro: hop between Kosmonavtlar (cosmic blue mosaics), Alisher Navoi, and Paxtakor to see Soviet-era design. Dinner at Afsona (refined takes on Uzbek classics—try the pumpkin manti and qovurma lagman) or Caravan (warm interiors, tandyr non straight from the oven). Night stroll around Amir Timur Square and the Broadway promenade for street artists and gelato.

Day 2: Museums, Modernism, and Plov

Morning: Delve into Soviet modernism and station design with a focused tour: the geometric lines, terrazzo, and experimental facades tell the city’s recent history.

Tashkent Soviet Architecture (Modernism) and Subway station tour.

Afternoon: Visit the State Museum of Applied Arts (ikat, woodcarving, ceramics) housed in a 19th‑century mansion. Stop by Minor Mosque with its white marble and tranquil riverside setting. Lunch ideas: Rayhon Milliy Taomlar (home-style Uzbek, quick service), or Central Asian Plov Center (Besh Qozon) for a theatrical kazan of plov—arrive before 1:30 pm when the best cuts are still available.

Evening: Catch a performance at the Navoi Opera & Ballet Theatre (check nightly listings). For dinner, try Sunduk (kebab platters, live music some nights) or a relaxed dumpling feast at a local chaikhana. Nightcap along Sayilgoh (Broadway) or a pastry-and-tea stop—apricot jam with black tea is a Tashkent ritual.

Day 3: Day Trip—Amirsoy, Chimgan & Charvak Mountains

Swap domes for mountains on a full-day escape to the Western Tien Shan: chairlifts at Amirsoy, trails in Chimgan, and sapphire views over Charvak Reservoir. In winter, ski or snowshoe; in summer, ride the gondola and picnic with view. Hotel pickup and drop-off keeps it easy.

Explore Amirsoy, Chimgan & Charvak – A Full-Day Mountain Tour

Food tips: Grab breakfast pastries and coffee to go; lunch is often included or available at mountain cafés (try somsa and shashlik). Back in town, celebrate with an evening feast: Caravan or contemporary spot Afsona for a final Tashkent dinner. Early night—tomorrow’s a train day.

Samarkand

Samarkand is the Silk Road’s shimmering icon: Timurid blue tiles, astronomer-kings, and bazaars perfumed with spice. The Registan’s three madrassas form one of the world’s great urban stages—best admired at golden hour.

• Top sights: Registan Square, Gur-Emir Mausoleum, Bibi-Khanym Mosque, Shah‑i‑Zinda necropolis, Siab Bazaar, Ulugh Beg Observatory, and the Afrosiab Museum.
• What to love: Monumental architecture balanced by living neighborhoods baking non bread and selling sugared nuts at the bazaar.
• Food: The city excels at tandir kabobs, saffron-hued plov, and flaky samsa. Tea culture is strong—order green tea and linger.

Where to stay (Samarkand): Compare hotels on Hotels.com or apartments on VRBO. Look near the Registan/Siab Bazaar for easy walking.

Day 4: Tashkent → Samarkand by Afrosiyob, Registan and Gur‑Emir

Morning: Take the Afrosiyob high-speed train to Samarkand (~2 hr–2 hr 15 min; typically ~$12–25 depending on class). Search schedules on Trip.com trains or secure tickets via the service below.

Afrosiyob high speed train tickets - Guaranteed Pass

Afternoon: Check in, then head to the Registan—climb a madrassa minaret (when open) for tiled perspectives. Continue to Gur‑Emir, Tamerlane’s luminous mausoleum; the jade cenotaph and starry interior are masterpieces. Coffee at a nearby café; try a pistachio eclair or local halva with tea.

Evening: Dinner at Platan (local favorite; try beef kebabs, pumpkin ravioli, and seasonal salads) or Samarkand Restaurant (Karimbek) for shashlik and live music ambiance. Return to the Registan for night illumination—an unforgettable photo session.

Optional guided experience today or tomorrow:

Private City Tour in Samarkand with Guide and Transportation

Day 5: Shah‑i‑Zinda, Bibi‑Khanym, and Siab Bazaar → Return to Tashkent

Morning: Start at the luminous Shah‑i‑Zinda necropolis—best in early light when tilework glows and crowds are thin. Walk to the colossal Bibi‑Khanym Mosque, then graze your way through Siab Bazaar: warm non bread, paper-thin halva, dried apricots, and local nuts make perfect souvenirs.

Afternoon: If time allows, visit the Ulugh Beg Observatory and the Afrosiab Museum to connect architecture with science and archaeology. Quick lunch near the bazaar—look for samsa and lagman stalls or a teahouse serving dimlama (braised veggies and meat). Catch an early-afternoon Afrosiyob back to Tashkent (~2 hr–2 hr 15 min) via Trip.com trains or your reserved ticket above, then connect to your flight on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Evening: Departure day. If you have a spare hour in Tashkent, unwind with tea and a slice of honey cake at a central café, or pick up last-minute ikat scarves near Amir Timur Square.

Where to eat and drink—extra picks you’ll love:

• Tashkent breakfast/coffee: Café bakeries around Amir Timur Square for cappuccinos and honey cake; look for samsa stands near Chorsu baking every 30–40 minutes.
• Tashkent lunch: Rayhon Milliy Taomlar (quick Uzbek comfort dishes) or the Plov Center (arrive by 12:30 pm).
• Tashkent dinner: Afsona or Caravan for a polished take on national dishes; for kebab cravings, try a neighborhood chaikhana for smoky shashlik and tomato-onion salads.
• Samarkand coffee/sweets: Boutique cafés near the Registan serve espresso and pistachio eclairs; pair with green tea if you’re tile-gazing between sites.
• Samarkand dinner: Platan or Samarkand Restaurant (Karimbek); many teahouses around Siab Bazaar also dish out excellent lagman and manti.

Getting around and practical tips: The Tashkent Metro is cheap (well under $1 per ride) and photogenic; taxis via apps are affordable. Dress modestly at religious sites; women may bring a light scarf. Carry small bills (UZS) for markets; card works at hotels and many restaurants. Sunrise and late afternoon are best for photography at the Registan and Shah‑i‑Zinda.

Summary: In five days you’ll sample Tashkent’s markets, museums, and metro masterpieces; breathe mountain air in Chimgan; then stand awestruck before Samarkand’s Registan and tiled avenue of Shah‑i‑Zinda. The Afrosiyob train keeps the pace easy, and the food—plov, samsa, shashlik—will pull you back for seconds.