Is Bukhara Worth Visiting in 2026? Pros, Cons, & My Honest Thoughts.

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Post overview: This guide will walk you through some of my honest opinions on the Silk Road city of Bukhara, Uzbekistan. I share some pros and cons of visiting, as well as my overall thoughts about whether or not I think Bukhara is worth visiting.

I have spent quite a bit of time in Bukhara this year. In fact, I visited three times and spent several days there each time, making the city feel like a mini-home in Central Asia this year. So, is Bukhara worth visiting?

If you have been on my blog a bit this year, you will know that I didn’t quite hit it off with Khiva. The travel time it took to get to the city was a bit much for what I thought the city had to offer, and I don’t think visiting may be ideal for many travelers’ itineraries. Bukhara, on the other hand, is a must for Uzbekistan itineraries, and I break it down a bit in this post and share why I think so.

In this post, I will break down the pros and cons of visiting Bukhara, a popular Silk Road destination in Uzbekistan. I have visited Bukhara in winter, spring, and early summer, so this pertains only to those seasons.

I hear autumn is pretty fantastic, so maybe I will get the chance to visit during fall one day too. These are solely my opinions about Bukhara, but feel free to share yours below in the comments.

I will preface this post by saying that most of it is overwhelmingly positive. I really enjoyed Bukhara a lot! If you have any questions or comments, feel free to pop them below or send me a message. Thanks!

Pros of Visiting Bukhara

1. Bukhara is one of the most important Silk Road cities in the world.

Bukhara’s historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is over 2,000 years old. The city is well-preserved and showcases Islamic heritage from the 10th to 17th centuries better than most places in Central Asia.

As you wander Bukhara’s old streets, you will find important monuments like the Ismail Samani tomb (dating back to the 10th century), the Po-i-Kalyan minaret (dating back to the 11th century), countless madrasahs, and more. The city is pretty impressive, if not slightly overwhelming due to so many important sites being in one place.

2. The city is compact and walkable.

Coming from Samarkand? You will appreciate that Bukhara is pretty compact and walkable! Bukhara’s historic center is compact, and you can see most important madrasahs, mosques, and sites on foot.

The only two sites (besides a bunch of Soviet-era mosaics I went on a hunt for) I had to properly leave the old town to see were Chor Bakr and Sitorai Mohi Khosa Palace (the Summer Palace), both an easy ride with a Yandex taxi. Everything else is easy to see on foot; just be sure you go in the mornings or evenings if the temperatures are hot.

3. It is free to walk the historic center of Bukhara.

While not every site is free to access, it is free to just walk around and see the artisans at work, hear music on the streets, and take in the scenery. This does mean that you will need to pay per site, but if you don’t want to visit every place, then it won’t be that expensive.

Here are a few of the individual sites that require entrance tickets (which you can purchase on-the-spot with cash and sometimes card):

• Abdulaziz Khan Madrasah (to visit the entire complex, you need two tickets: one for the mosque and one for the courtyard… they are 15,000 UZS and 20,000 UZS).
• Ark of Bukhara (60,000 UZS)
• Chashmai Ayub Mausoleum (20,000 UZS)
• Sitorai Mohi Khosa Palace (60,000 UZS)
• Ismail Samani Mausoleum (15,000 UZS)
• Kalan Mosque (15,000 UZS)

4. Bukhara is easy to reach by train from Tashkent and Samarkand.

Uzbekistan has seriously upped its railway game in the last few years, with some even faster options this year. There are several trains that go to Bukhara from Tashkent daily (via Samarkand), and different types of trains. I have taken the Sharq (around a 6-hour journey) and the Afrosiyob (around 4 hours and 15 minutes) to and from Bukhara.

Both journeys were fantastic and recommendable. There is also the new fast train called the Jaloliddin Manguberdi, which takes around 3 hours and 55 minutes, as well as a slower train with sleeper cabins that takes 7-8 hours.

While there are more train routes to Bukhara than ever, it doesn’t mean it is easy to get on one. I chat more about this in the ‘Cons’ section of this post.

5. Bukhara is teeming with artisans and craftspeople.

Walking around Bukhara is impressive, and you will inevitably see artisans on the street and workshops with open doors. It is pretty mind-blowing because I haven’t quite visited a city that has its textiles and crafts on display in the same way Bukhara does. I loved it.

Some of the crafts Bukhara is known for are:

• Ceramics
• Gold embroidery
• Blacksmithing (sword and knife making)
• Miniature painting
• Wood carving
• Carpet weaving
• Suzani making
• Papermaking
• Metal embossing
• …etc

And one of the things I love most about Bukhara is that you can take a workshop and learn some of these skills for yourself! Craft&Culture is an Uzbek company run by some friends of mine who work with the best local artisans to create workshops and masterclasses for those visiting Uzbekistan.

Here are some of my favorites:

• Making plov in a traditional workshop (the location of the kitchen is INSANELY beautiful!)
• Suzani embroidery workshop (I did this and loved it; it is hosted in the same workshop as the plov masterclass)
• Miniature painting workshop (I did this and thought I’d be better… but it did inspire me to start watercoloring again!)
• Puppet-making workshop
• Wood-carving masterclass (I did a wood-carving masterclass in Khiva but not yet in Bukhara)
• Pottery workshop (they take you nearby to Gijduvan for this experience)
• Gold Zardozlik embroidery workshop
• Carpet making workshop (includes a city walk)

Cons of Visiting Bukhara

Before getting into this, know that these cons should not deter you from visiting Bukhara. They may just require a little extra planning or knowledge beforehand. Bukhara is a must-visit, no doubt!

1. Summers are scorching… and there is little relief.

I would even go so far as to say that I don’t recommend visiting in summer at all. I went in spring and in early summer, and I thought I was going to die. Late April and early May were pleasant but warm. Late May into early June was so hot I ended up in my air-conditioned hotel room at Duston Boutique Hotel a lot of the time!

It was 42C daily with sun when I visited in late spring to early summer in Bukhara. There was little relief, minus hanging out under the trading domes (toqi), but with the crowds and live music taking place under them, it was sensory overload.

I would plan your trip in March, April, late September, or October as a result. I loved my visit in winter, but flowers and trees were still in their winter hibernation state, so it wasn’t that green (which I feel most people would want).

Another thing to consider, for women especially, is that you need to dress modestly in Bukhara. I wore linen pants, linen shirts, or abayas daily when there, and it wasn’t that hot. But if you bring the wrong clothing and don’t have the money to purchase loose-fitting alternatives, you may struggle.

2. The high season is very crowded.

Unlike many places in Central Asia, Bukhara’s high season is NOT summer. Nor is it winter. Peak tourist season is spring and autumn. And boy can it get crowded!

While I didn’t find it that unpleasant, you will need to plan ahead with restaurant reservations and hotel bookings. I found the early mornings to be nice for a stroll around the historic city, as well as the afternoon (when temperatures permitted). The evenings are bustling across Bukhara, and the locals hang out in the city alongside the tourists, which is really fun. But crowded.

If you don’t care about greenery or cooler temperatures, consider visiting in winter. I visited at the end of January into early February one time and loved it. There was NO one there. Most sites and restaurants were open for business.

But what I loved the most about visiting during winter is that locals wanted to chat non-stop. I got to meet so many people, and the locals didn’t have tourist fatigue at that point. It felt like such a richer experience than my later trips.

3. Trains sell out fast, so you MUST book ahead.

The trains in Uzbekistan sell out so fast, especially the fast trains (Afrosiyob and Jaloliddin Manguberdi). This requires a lot of planning ahead for your trip to Uzbekistan. If you are going there last minute, you should still consider checking out Uzbek Railways’ website because travel agents often purchase tons of tickets when they go on sale, and they can’t sell them all, in turn returning them to Uzbek Railways.

If your searches on the official website are returning nothing, you can also check 12GO, as they often have tickets available. But I would definitely go through the official website before doing this.

4. The train station in Bukhara is not close to the historic center.

This means you will need a taxi or a transfer from the Bukhara train station to the historic center or your hotel (pending it is not at the station). This takes around 25-30 minutes from my experience, and you can book a taxi with the Yandex Go app.

When you exit your train and get to the front of the station, you will be bombarded with wild taxi drivers. I would not take one as a foreigner. Grab a Yandex or have your hotel arrange a transfer for you. I use a friend in Bukhara for a transfer and give him around $15, but Yandex’s are much cheaper at like 34,000 UZS (under $3).

Is Bukhara Worth Visiting? FAQ & More

Is Bukhara worth visiting this year?

Bukhara is definitely worth visiting this year if you’re into Silk Road history and want to see a walkable UNESCO Heritage Site in Uzbekistan and Central Asia. No matter how many days you have in Uzbekistan, I would make it a point to travel to Bukhara.

How do I get to Bukhara?

The best way to reach Bukhara is by train. There are four types of trains that travel daily to Bukhara: the Afrosiyob (fast train), the Jaloliddin Manguberdi (an even faster train that sells out so fast it is hard to get on), the Sharq (a little slower but still efficient), and the sleeper train.

The faster the train, the more expensive the train ticket. Book your train asap after booking a plane ticket to Uzbekistan since they sell out so quickly.

When is the best time of the year to visit Bukhara?

The best time of the year to visit Bukhara is spring or autumn. Summers are almost always over 40C (even up to 50C), and winter can be a bit cold, and the trees and flowers are not in bloom. While spring and autumn are the best times to visit, do know that this is peak tourist season, so it will be crowded.

Is Bukhara safe for tourists?

I never once felt unsafe in Bukhara. I walked the historic center several days and even visited local restaurants outside in the residential areas of the city. However, do be mindful of petty theft, pickpockets, and other scams… just like any other city in the world. Also, do not take street taxis (I call them wild taxis).

Is Bukhara touristy or overcrowded?

Bukhara is crowded during spring and autumn, more so than the middle of summer (too hot) and winter (too cold).

How many days do you need in Bukhara?

I think two full days in Bukhara are just enough to see everything in the city, including the Summer Palace (Sitorai Mohi Khosa), which requires a taxi to visit. If you want to try out some workshops and enjoy Bukhara at a slower pace, consider adding on an extra day.

Is Bukhara better than Samarkand?

I like both cities for different reasons. Samarkand felt more modern and somewhat wealthier than Bukhara outside the historic center. Both are must-visits when in Uzbekistan, but I find them so different I don’t think it is appropriate to compare the two.

Can I visit Bukhara as a day trip from Samarkand?

Yes, you can take a day trip to Bukhara from Samarkand… but I absolutely would not rush the visit that way. Bukhara comes alive after dark and really deserves one overnight (at a minimum!).

Do I Think Bukhara Is Worth Visiting?

Absolutely, yes. While I was a bit more indifferent to Khiva (mostly due to its location), I feel like Bukhara is easy to get to, has a lot to offer visitors, and is tourist-friendly.

I do think that taking a craft or cooking workshop will enhance your experience quite a bit, so I would plan enough time there that you get to do something hands-on, which will help you understand the local history and trades. Even if you have limited time in Uzbekistan, I would make the effort to visit Bukhara.

Have you visited Bukhara? Let me know about your experience (good or bad) in the comments. Thanks.