Bukhara in Winter: What to Do & Seasonal Tips (Dec, Jan, Feb)

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Post overview: In this guide, you will find out all there is to know about visiting Bukhara in winter. It will include weather information, things to do (plus festivals and events), and some tips for your winter trip to Bukhara.

When I booked a last-minute trip to Bukhara this year, it didn’t even phase me that I would be visiting at the end of January into early February. But when I started digging around, the internet told me not to go and that it would be cold and everything would be shut down.

Well, the internet doesn’t know that I live in Finnish Lapland, and after weeks of -40C this winter, 0C would feel like summer. So I booked that trip and was excited for what would feel like a tropical getaway to me.

Is winter in Bukhara the perfect time to see the place? No. It comes alive in spring and autumn (I went back once in spring and once in early summer this year) in a way that just doesn’t happen during the winter months. But it is still a feasible time to visit if Uzbekistan is on your upcoming winter travels. Absolutely.

Throughout this guide, I cover things to know before visiting Bukhara in winter, what to do when there, and things to pack for your trip. If you have any questions, please let me know in the comments. Thanks!

When Is It Winter in Bukhara?

For the sake of this guide, winter is from December until February in Bukhara. One can argue that it starts in November and ends in March, but I think those months are more spring-like than winter. So I will be only discussing December, January, and February throughout this guide.

Because I have also visited Bukhara in spring and early summer, I may make some comparisons to that just to give you an idea of what it is like during winter versus during high season (which is spring and autumn).

Weather in Bukhara in Winter

The weather in Bukhara is usually pretty mild, but because the city is located in the desert, it can feel painfully cold. So even when the temperature says one thing, prepare for it to feel a little colder than that.

Here are the average temperatures during winter in Bukhara:

• Bukhara in December: highs of 8C (46F), lows of -2C (28F)
• Bukhara in January: highs of 7C (44F), lows of -3C (27F)
• Bukhara in February: highs of 10C (50F), lows of -1C (31F)

The wettest period in Bukhara is from February into spring. December and January have around 2-3 days of rain on average throughout the month (or precipitation). February is slightly more, but not by much. Do expect clouds, on the other hand.

Does it snow in Bukhara?

Sometimes it snows in Bukhara but not regularly. You may see a little from December to February (most likely would happen in January). I was there in January, and it was 15C every single day, so there was no snow or chance of it during that time.

Best Things to Do During Winter in Bukhara

Most of the top things to do in Bukhara are also available during the winter season. Just expect fewer tourists and vendors around.

Here are some of the top landmarks to visit in Bukhara:

• Po-i-Kalyan Square (home to Kalan Mosque, Kalan Minaret, and Mir-i-Arab Madrasah)
• Ulugbek and Abdulaziz Khan Madrasahs
• Lyabi Havuz and Nadir Divan-Beg Madrasah (many older men here wanted to chat and asked for photos together once finding out I was American; they were very nice)
• Bolo Hauz Mosque
• Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa (the summer palace… not so green in winter but you’ll have the place to yourself)
• Chor Minor
• Ismail Samani Mausoleum
• Chor Bakr necropolis (I had the entire complex to myself then)

Some places in this guide have small fees: Ismail Samani Mausoleum (15,000 UZS), Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa (60,000 UZS), Kalan Mosque (15,000 UZS), and Abdulaziz Khan Madrasah (separate tickets of 20,000 UZS and 15,000 UZS for the mosque and courtyard).

Mir-i-Arab Madrasah wasn’t open when I was there due to construction on its facade, so I am not sure of the entrance fee once that wrapped up (I think it is finished).

Cultural Experiences in Bukhara

Alternatively, you can take a cultural workshop in Bukhara. The ones with Craft&Culture are offered year-round in Bukhara (pending the artist is around during your dates).

My favorite year-round cultural experiences in Bukhara are:

• Plov masterclass (this takes place in the prettiest studio)
• Suzani embroidery workshop (also in the same studio and was one of my favorite things I did in Bukhara)
• Miniature painting (also another favorite experience I did in Bukhara)

Places to Eat and Drink in Bukhara

Another thing that is perfect to do in winter is to indulge in the local cuisine, and finish it off with a coffee or tea! I have a full guide dedicated to my favorite restaurants in Bukhara (or you can check out my guide to my favorite coffee shops and teahouses there).

Here are a few places to eat in Bukhara in winter:

• Ayvan Restaurant: Their terrace is closed, but you can still visit it. The restaurant is inside and offers their standard menu.
• Joy Chaikhana Lounge: Their interior is open, and you can enjoy their usual menu there (I really liked their vaguri).
• Silk Road Teahouse: A family-owned teahouse that was quiet and a good place to get off my feet for a bit.
• Pavillon Kalon: A place made famous by influencers at Poi-i-Kalyan Square. Go here for a pot of green tea with views of the Kalan Mosque (and you won’t have to fight the high season crowds).

What to Wear & Bring

Honestly, just wear whatever you’d wear elsewhere in the temperatures I cited above. Definitely bring some good shoes, though. I brought a pair of boots (didn’t need but they were leftover from Almaty where there was snow) and a pair of sneakers. I wore the sneakers daily there.

Bukhara’s old city is mostly made up of harder materials on the ground and it can be painful to your feet if you’re walking a lot and don’t have the right shoes on. I would wear sneakers if you can. The ground can also get a little slippery if it is raining.

Aside from that, layers work best for Bukhara during this time of the year. Generally speaking, the inside of buildings is hot, and the outside is pretty cold or chilly. If the weather outside is warm (like when I was there and it was 15C), the inside is still HOT. Uzbekistan keeps heat on until around March, and there is no way to turn it off.

I would also bring a pair of earplugs if you’re a light sleeper. The other travelers in my hotel were kind of loud and it was nice to have a pair (I go to sleep early; this wasn’t necessarily their fault). They are also good for the train.

Be sure to also bring a small change purse or wallet to carry around cash. Cash is still really good to have on you in Bukhara even though many restaurants take cards. But some sites do not.

Things to Know Before Visiting Bukhara in Winter

✅ Most festivals and events take place in spring and autumn. Navruz and the International Gold Embroidery Festival are in spring; Bukhara City Day is in October; the Silk and Spices Festival is in early summer, etc.

✅ Businesses may not be open. But they mostly were when I went. The businesses that were shut seemed to be shut down for off-season renovations and not because they were seasonal. I was surprised at how many places were open at this time of the year.

✅ The flowers and trees are not in bloom. Nothing is green in winter, and it was kind of a bummer (but to be expected). Especially after my trips in spring/summer when everything was so vibrant!

✅ No one is there. From a tourism perspective. I had the entire Kalan Mosque to myself. I was flabbergasted. Seeing the city without tourists blew my mind, and it was the perfect introduction to Bukhara.

✅ Locals will be curious and want to chat. This was the biggest perk of visiting in winter. Locals were still out and about and wanted to chat, learn where I was from, etc. In high season, there are so many people that their curiosity subsides, but in winter, I spent my days talking to people.

✅ Christmas and the start of the New Year are kind of busy. I would say from December 25 Christmas all the way to Orthodox Christmas in early January. Locals told me that many Russian tourists will travel then, so the crowds may pick up during this period.

✅ Businesses may be understaffed or not have all spaces open. Many terraces were closed (understandably) and restaurants sometimes didn’t have many people working. That is pretty standard when visiting anywhere in the off-season, so I hardly noticed.

✅ Expect renovations. If a main site is closed during your trip, please be prepared for that and understand. Mir-i-Arab was closed when I was there (actually during all three trips this year, as renovations lasted longer than expected), and there was construction inside some of the madrasahs and courtyards during the winter. It happens and it is the best time for locals to do this since the tourism numbers are very low.

✅ Try to hire a local guide. I hired a local guide named Kamilla during my trip (I put her information at the top of the post), and she was super excited to have a tour during this season, as she normally doesn’t get much business then. It is a good way to support the local economy in the off-season and when it can be hard for many people in such a seasonal place.

Winter Trip to Bukhara FAQ

Here are my answers to some frequently asked questions pertaining to visiting Bukhara during winter.

Do you have any questions about visiting Bukhara in winter? Let me know in the comments. Thanks!