Visiting Bukhara: A Complete Silk Road Guide

The Chor Minor in Bukhara — Source: Pixabay

Bukhara, the Dome of Islam in the East, is one of the great holy and historic cities of the Silk Road, a UNESCO-listed old town of mosques, madrasas and Sufi shrines. This guide gathers our articles on its sacred heritage, its old city and where to stay on a budget.

Our Bukhara Guides

Who Comes to Bukhara

Bukhara draws pilgrims visiting the Naqshbandi Sufi shrine, lovers of Islamic art and architecture, and Silk Road travellers exploring Central Asia. Its mosques and shrines welcome respectful visitors of every background, who are asked to dress modestly at sacred sites.

When to Visit

Spring and autumn offer the most pleasant weather, with warm days and cool evenings ideal for wandering the old city. Summers are very hot and winters cold, though both bring quieter streets and lower prices.

Getting There

Bukhara is connected by fast train to Samarkand and the capital Tashkent, making it easy to combine with a wider Silk Road journey. The city has its own airport, and within the old town nearly everything can be reached comfortably on foot.