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.
Best souvenirs
Authentic items worth bringing home.
Suzani embroidery
Silk or cotton hand-embroidered wall hangings; Samarkand is a recognised suzani centre.
Price: 300,000–3,000,000 UZS (~$25–250)
Where: Registan Craft Stalls, Tim Abdullakhan
Mulberry-bark paper
Handmade Samarkand paper in notebooks and cards.
Price: 30,000–300,000 UZS (~$2.5–25)
Where: Konigil Meros Paper Mill
Samarkand non
Domed, stamped bread that stays fresh for days.
Price: 3,000–5,000 UZS (~$0.2–0.4) per loaf
Where: Siab Bazaar entrance
Dried fruit and nuts
Apricots, raisins, walnuts and halva sold by weight.
Price: 30,000–150,000 UZS (~$2.5–12) per kg
Where: Siab Bazaar
Painted ceramics
Blue and turquoise plates and bowls.
Price: 40,000–300,000 UZS (~$3.3–25)
Where: Registan Craft Stalls
Hand-knotted carpets
Silk and wool carpets made in local workshops.
Price: from US$300 (~3,600,000 UZS)
Where: Khujum Silk Carpet Factory
Samarkand wine and cognac
Bottles from the Khovrenko winery.
Price: 80,000–300,000 UZS (~$6.7–25) per bottle
Where: Khovrenko Winery
Traditional markets
Where locals shop and travellers find treasures.
Siab (Siyob) Bazaar
The city's main market; bread, dried fruit, spices and everyday goods.
Where: Beside Bibi-Khanym
Hours: Daily roughly 07:00–19:00 (closing day varies; verify)
Registan Craft Stalls and Madrasa Workshops
Craft stalls and souvenir shops by the Registan.
Where: Registan area
Hours: Daily, roughly 09:00–20:00 (varies by stall)
Tim Abdullakhan Trading Dome
Historic trading dome with craft stalls.
Where: Between Registan and Bibi-Khanym
Hours: Daily, roughly 09:00–19:00 (verify)
Konigil Meros Paper Mill
Paper workshop and shop in Konigil village.
Where: Konigil village, 13 km from Samarkand
Hours: Daily; hours listings conflict, so telephone ahead
Khujum Silk Carpet Factory
Silk carpet workshop near Shah-i-Zinda.
Where: Near Shah-i-Zinda
Hours: Daily, roughly 09:00–18:00 (verify)
Shopping districts
Neighbourhoods known for retail.
Bargaining tips
Negotiate like a local.
Start at about 60 percent of the asking price and settle around 70 to 80 percent.
Fixed-price shops do not bargain.
Buy dried fruit by weight and taste first.
Compare two or three stalls before buying suzani or carpets.
Customs & restrictions
What you can and can't take home.
Greet vendors with 'Assalomu alaykum'., Antiques and carpets older than 50 years need an export certificate., Ask before photographing sellers.