Practical tips for a trip to Uzbekistan: when to go, money, connectivity, etiquette and useful details.

Best time to visit

The best months are April–May and September to early November. In summer (June–August) the south and the desert reach 38–42 °C, so we plan visits early in the morning and in the evening. Winter is cold, especially in Khiva and Karakalpakstan, but there are fewer visitors. The table shows average daytime temperatures, °C.

• Termez is the hottest place in summer and the mildest in winter.
• Karakalpakstan (Nukus, Moynak) has the coldest winters.
• March is the time of Navruz, the spring festival celebrated across the country.

Money and currency

• The currency is the Uzbek sum (UZS). It can only be bought in Uzbekistan.
• In October 2026 the rate is about 12,000 sum per US dollar and about 13,500 per euro. Current rates: Central Bank website cbu.uz.
• Change money only at banks and official exchange offices, with your passport. US dollars are the easiest to change; notes must be clean and undamaged, and old dollar bills (before 2013) are often refused. Street exchange is illegal.
• Visa and Mastercard are accepted in large hotels, supermarkets and some museums, sometimes with a 1–3% fee. Bazaars, small shops and guesthouses take cash.
• ATMs dispense sum only. Outside the big cities ATMs are scarce, so carry cash.
• Declare all foreign cash on arrival and keep the form: you may not take out more than you brought in.

Internet and SIM cards

• Main operators: Beeline, Ucell, Mobiuz and Uzmobile (Uztelecom).
• SIM cards are sold on presentation of a passport; operators have desks at Tashkent airport. Tourist plans with data are inexpensive.
• Some operators offer eSIM.
• Most hotels have Wi-Fi, but in guesthouses and in the desert the connection can be weak.

Visiting mosques and holy sites

• Clothing should cover shoulders and knees; women should carry a scarf.
• Shoes are removed in mosques and in homes.
• In mausoleums do not step or sit on tombs; keep quiet, do not eat or smoke.
• Donations go into the boxes provided.
• Photograph people, especially during prayer, only with permission. Do not photograph military sites, border posts, bridges or guarded metro stations; drones are banned almost everywhere.
• During Ramadan restaurants are open, but avoid eating and drinking in the street in daytime. In 2027 Ramadan is expected from about 8 February to 9 March.

Tipping

• Tipping is not compulsory but appreciated.
• Some restaurants already add a 10–15% service charge; if not, 5–10% or rounding up is usual.
• Guides and drivers are usually tipped at the end of an excursion or tour — the amount is up to each traveller.

Practical details

• Electricity: 230 V, 50 Hz, European sockets (types C and F).
• Time: UTC+5, no daylight saving. Country code +998.
• Emergency: 112 (general number), 101 fire, 102 police, 103 ambulance.
• Citizens of the EU, Japan and many other countries enter visa-free for up to 30 days; Russian citizens for up to 90 days. Others can apply for an e-visa at e-visa.gov.uz. Passports should be valid for at least 6 months.
• Hotels register foreign guests automatically; keep the registration slips until you leave the country.
• Carry your passport with you: it may be checked.

Information as of October 2026. Rules and prices may change — please check with us before travelling.

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