Things to do in Shahrisabz

Ak-Saray Palace

Statue of Amir Temur

It is built in a park on the site of a fortress. Timur is revered as a hero in Uzbekistan, and this statue is a popular attraction for taking photos.

Kok Gumbaz Mosque

Oq saroy tarixiy yodgorligi

Dor Us-Siyodat Mausoleum

No. 1 of Night Attractions in Uzbekistan

Registan Square

Registan Square is the central square of the old city of Samarkand and an important center for the city's social life, once surrounded by markets and commercial streets. Today, its most prominent feature is the architectural complex formed by three large madrasas. During the day, you can walk into the courtyards of each madrasa to examine the arcades, painted domes, and small rooms where students once lived. From the second-floor corridors of some courtyards, you can even overlook the city. After nightfall, the lights come on, and the architectural outlines are clearly defined by the warm glow. In the evening, there are often light projection shows using the facades as screens. Dusk to night is a great time to experience the atmosphere of this ancient Silk Road city.

No. 2 of Best Things to Do in Uzbekistan

Shah-i-Zinda necropolis

Shah-i-Zinda necropolis is a complex of mausoleums located northeast of Samarkand, Uzbekistan, situated on the slopes of the ancient city ruins of Afrasiyab. Dating back to the 11th century, it currently houses over 20 mausoleums and ritual buildings, divided into lower, middle, and upper groups, connected by four domed entrance halls to form a long, sloping corridor of tombs. The building facades are adorned with lapis lazuli blue and turquoise glazed tiles and mosaics, featuring geometric patterns, floral scrolls, and Arabic calligraphy, resembling an open-air museum of blue tiles. On a sunny day, taking a low-angle shot of the layered arches from the entrance steps, or looking back at the blue facades on both sides from the middle of the corridor, are unmissable scenes during a trip to Samarkand.

Oqsaroy majmuasi

Hazrati Bashir

No. 5 of Best Things to Do in Uzbekistan

Amir Temur Mausoleum Gur-i Amir Сomplex

Amir Temur Mausoleum Gur-i Amir Сomplex is the family mausoleum of the Timurid dynasty, located in Samarkand. It is an octagonal building crowned with a large, azure ribbed dome. Several ridges radiate evenly from the apex, and blue, light blue, and white tiles form geometric patterns on it, creating a highly recognizable silhouette on the Samarkand skyline. The entrance portal is adorned with carved bricks and mosaics, with a tower standing on each side. Stepping inside reveals a different world, where the lower half of the walls is covered with onyx slabs, and the arches and inner dome are filled with gilded high-relief paintings, their opulence undimmed even in the dim light. The sarcophagi in the hall are merely markers. The actual burial chamber containing the remains is hidden beneath the ground. Standing in the courtyard and looking up at the large blue dome is also a stop worth making on your Samarkand itinerary.