visitSamarkand is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Central Asia, with a history stretching back more than 2,700 years. Once the capital of Amir Timur (Tamerlane), it became the dazzling centre of a vast empire and a UNESCO World Heritage Site described as the "Crossroad of Cultures".
The Registan
The Registan ensemble — framed by the Ulugh Beg, Sher-Dor and Tilya-Kori madrasas — is the most iconic public square in the Islamic world, its facades sheathed in cobalt and turquoise majolica.
Timurid masterpieces
The Gur-e-Amir mausoleum holds the tomb of Timur beneath a fluted azure dome, while the Bibi-Khanym Mosque and the sacred necropolis of Shah-i-Zinda showcase the pinnacle of Timurid tilework. On the edge of the city, the Ulugh Beg Observatory recalls Samarkand's golden age of astronomy.
Must-Visit Landmarks
Registan Square
Three grand madrasas facing a single plaza — the emblem of Samarkand and of Uzbekistan itself.
Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum
The tomb of Amir Timur, crowned by a ribbed turquoise dome that inspired later Mughal architecture.
Shah-i-Zinda
A breathtaking avenue of mausoleums and the tiled necropolis of Samarkand's saints and nobles.
Bibi-Khanym Mosque
Once among the largest mosques in the Islamic world, built by Timur after his Indian campaign.
Ulugh Beg Observatory
The 15th-century observatory of the astronomer-king Ulugh Beg, who charted over a thousand stars.