Samarkand is Uzbekistan's Silk Road showpiece, a 2,700-year-old city of turquoise domes, the Registan's three madrasas, Timur's tomb and the tiled mausoleums of Shah-i-Zinda.
Samarkand is generally safe for visitors. Violent crime against tourists is rare; petty theft, taxi overcharging and aggressive souvenir selling are the main risks.
Current safety advisory
Low
Samarkand is generally safe for visitors; petty theft and taxi overcharging are the main risks.
Last updated: 2026-10-21
Official advisories
Guidance from national travel-advisory services.
Essential safety tips
Practical advice that applies everywhere.
Use Yandex Go or a hotel-called taxi rather than unmarked cars.
Keep a passport copy and the original in the hotel or guesthouse safe.
Watch for pickpockets in Siab Bazaar and around Registan.
Do not photograph military or government sites.
Keep hotel registration slips; police can ask foreign visitors to show proof of where they stayed.
Ignore unofficial people offering minaret climbs or private access at Registan.
Common scams to avoid
Recognise and sidestep tourist-targeted scams.
Taxi overcharging
Drivers at the railway station and tourist sites quote high fixed fares.
How to avoid: Order a Yandex Go ride or agree the fare before getting in.
Unofficial minaret or access offers
Men near Registan offer private climbs or entry for large cash payments; climbing is officially restricted.
How to avoid: Decline; buy tickets only at the official ticket office.
Currency changers
Street changers short-change or swap notes.
How to avoid: Use banks and licensed exchange offices.
Fake police ID checks
Rare cases of people asking to inspect cash.
How to avoid: Refuse and ask to go to a police station; real police wear uniforms.
Health considerations
Staying healthy on your trip.
- Vaccinations
- No mandatory vaccinations for most travellers; routine vaccines plus hepatitis A and typhoid are commonly advised. Check current official advice.
- Water
- Drink bottled or filtered water.
- Food
- Eat freshly cooked food; wash fruit bought at bazaars.
- Facilities
- Private clinics in Samarkand handle minor problems; serious cases are often transferred to Tashkent. Carry insurance with medical evacuation.
Safety for specific travellers
Tailored advice for different groups.
Solo travellers
Share the itinerary with someone at home., Carry a card with the guesthouse address in Uzbek and Russian.
Female travellers
Dress modestly and avoid empty streets late at night., Use Yandex Go rather than hailing cars.
Families
Cross roads carefully; drivers are assertive., Keep children close in Siab Bazaar.
LGBTQ+ travellers
Male same-sex relations are criminalised; discretion is advised.
Emergency contacts
Numbers to know before you go.
- Police
- 102
- Medical
- 103
- Fire
- 101
- General Emergency
- 112
- Main Hospital
- Call 103 for an ambulance; a hotel or guesthouse can name the nearest private clinic.
- Embassy Us
- US Embassy Tashkent: +998 71 120 5450 (3 Moyqorghon Street, Yunusobod; also after-hours line)
- Embassy Uk
- British Embassy Tashkent: +998 78 120 1500 (67 Gulyamova Street; confirm on gov.uk)