Bukhara
Bukhara's old town is a lived-in medieval centre rather than a set of monuments: trading domes, a working madrasa quarter and the Ark fortress, all walkable. It feels older and quieter than Samarkand and most sites are within ten minutes of the Lyabi-Hauz pool. Caravanserai guesthouses are the characteristic place to stay.
How long to stay
April to May and September to October.
Typical daily budget
No budget published for this place yet
Best time to go
No seasonal guidance published for Bukhara yet
Is Bukhara right for your trip?
Based on what this guide covers, not a score. This is what Bukhara is known for.
Great for
- History & culture
- Couples
Less of a focus
- Food
- Nightlife
- Nature
- Family
- Solo
Build your Bukhara trip
Top things to do
Ark of Bukhara
Entrance UZS 60,000 · VerifiedBukhara
The massive earthen fortress that housed the emirs, now holding museums of the city's history.
Lyabi-Hauz
Free entry · VerifiedBukhara
A stone-edged pool from 1620 shaded by mulberry trees, the social centre of the old town.
Poi Kalyan
Free entry · VerifiedBukhara
The 12th-century Kalyan minaret with a madrasa and congregational mosque facing each other across a courtyard.
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Popular activities
Bukhara old town walking tour
Guided loop of the trading domes, madrasas and the Ark.
Plov cooking demonstration
Watch and taste Bukhara-style plov cooked in a kazan.