Bukhara, the pearl of Uzbekistan.
Bukhara, personally my favorite destination in Uzbekistan. The beautiful city of Bukhara is located in the center of the country near Turkmenistan. Where Samarkand which appears calmer and more orderly. Bukhara is a city where the history of Uzbekistan goes hand in hand with a vibrant city life. The lively streets with many shops, stalls and studios in combination with historical places in between give Bukhara the feeling of being a real city rather than an open-air museum. Read our tips from our own experience about Bukhara here!
Practical tips for your visit to Bukhara!
Bukhara is easily accessible by train, choose from the fast or slow train and you will be in Bukhara in 4/6 hours from Tashkent, and 2/3 hours from Samarkand. The slow train is secretly the nicest, old Soviet train with a wonderfully frumpy restaurant on board, giving it an authentic experience. Once you arrive at the station, it is best to book a taxi via Yandex. For a few euros you can be in the old town in half an hour.
We slept in Hotel Samani Bukhara, and I was so happy to come here again in 2023 after 2022! Excellent rooms, nice courtyard, delicious breakfast and owners who steal your heart! Recommended!
The highlights of Bukhara!
All in all, the old town of Bukhara is of course a major highlight. The most beautiful places in the city that you really cannot miss is the enormous minaret Kalon Tower. Actually, it can be called the Registan of Bukhara. Located on the beautiful square surrounded by Islamic schools, this is a beautiful image of Bukhara. You can go to the Islamic school closest to Kalon Tower, the courtyard is beautiful. You cannot enter the Islam school opposite as a non-Muslim. There is still an active Islamic school there. The square is truly impressive, the Kalon Tower is extremely high, in earlier times people could be thrown from it to play court. Personally, I don't think this square is inferior to the Registan in Samarkand!
If you walk further from this square you will come to the Ark of Bukhara. This enormous fortress is immediately visible due to the round shape of the defensive walls. It's a cool sight and appeals to the imagination about what this used to look like. You can also enter the Ark for one euro. Here you can read more about the history of Bukhara, but the museum itself is not as large as you would expect when you walk past.
Opposite the Ark you will find the Bolo Hauz mosque. Here you can walk straight under the roof of the Mosque, which stands out beautifully because of the extremely colorful woodwork. Feel free to sit here in the cooler shade and enjoy the beautiful setting.
For those who want to visit something a bit different, you can walk from here to a small park behind this mosque. Samonids Recreation Park. We screamed with laughter when we saw incredibly bad fairground attractions here that you can only see in Uzbekistan. Traveling is all about laughing of course 🙂
During my visit to Bukhara in June 2022 it was about 45 degrees during the day. So you quickly use up your energy with a lot of walking. Fortunately, Bukhara has something handy for that, as a number of streets with shops are covered in the shape of an old one Bazaar! Here you will find, among other things, very nice studios where you can find beautiful art for a nice price!
Ready for something cold? See Café Ulugbek After some stairs, you can relax with a cold juice. It just so happens that from this roof terrace you have a beautiful view of another square with 2 madrassas. The Madrasa Mirzo Ulughbeg and the Abdulaziz Khan Madrassah. Both beautiful buildings with a beautiful courtyard. From this terrace you can take nice photos of these buildings! You can also walk straight into the shopping streets from here.
A little way from the other highlights you will find the incredibly beautiful one Chor Minor. According to the locals, no one actually knows what the building was for. It immediately stands out because of its subtle construction with 4 turrets. Climbing the building is also a fun experience, and don't forget the antique shop opposite with all kinds of Soviet memorabilia.
Around the Nadir Divan Begi Madrasah you will also find all kinds of typical buildings from times gone by, the nice thing about this part is that there is also a lake and some fountains that give you the necessary cooling in Bukhara.
In short, Bukhara is truly a destination that should not be missed on your trip to Uzbekistan! Personally, I thought this was the nicest city in Uzbekistan, it felt a bit less developed than Samarkand. Although both are super cool! Even though it's out of the way if you're heading east, it's worth the detour! And of course it is perfectly on the route for those traveling to Turkmenistan or Khiva. Stay here for at least 2 full days to fully absorb the city.
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