Travel Tips - Uzbekistan

Passport control: To cross the border with Uzbekistan, you must have a valid foreign passport with a visa. 

Meeting at the airport and transfer to the hotel: Turn on your WhatsApp no. after arriving at Airport. At the international airport in Baku upon arrival, after passing through passport and customs control, you are met by a representative with a sign/placard and escorted to the transfer service, which follows the hotel where you will stay for the period of your stay in City. Travel is easier if you speak a few words of Uzbek or Russian. English is not widely spoken in Uzbekistan outside of tourist hotels, so it helps to learn some words of Uzbek (a Turkic language similar to old Turkish), or Russian, which remains a lingua franca amongst older people right across the former Soviet Union. Street signs are mostly in Uzbek Latin script, though you may also see some Russian-style Cyrillic script; it’s useful to learn both so you can at least read signs for place names and bus destinations. Google Translate can help, but only if you have smartphone data – to minimize roaming costs, tourist sim cards valid for a month are available from several local companies, notably Beeline and Ucell. Bazaars are your friend if you’re vegetarian, Food in Uzbekistan is quite meat-heavy, focused on the four staples of shashlik (lamb kebabs), Plov (pilau rice), sherpa (stew), and Laghman (noodles) – all sometimes featuring more fat than visitors may be used to. But there are almost always some vegetarian options, including plenty of Russian-influenced salads, so don’t be afraid to ask for a meat-free meal. For food on the hoof, Uzbekistan’s bazaars are good places to stock up on dried fruits and nuts, fresh fruit, mountain honey, and freshly cooked non (naan) bread.

You need to keep your hotel registration cards: Every time you check into your hotel or Airbnb, you’ll be given a “registration card”. It’s a receipt that shows how many nights you stayed at that particular hotel. You’ll need to show them to the immigration agents when you leave the country.

Electricity/ Circuit: For Uzbekistan, there are two associated plug types, types C and F. Plug type C is the plug that has two round pins and plug type F is the plug that has two round pins with two earth clips on the side. Uzbekistan operates on a 220V supply voltage and 50Hz.

Time: The whole country lives according to the time of the capital Tashkent (GMT + 5)

Excursions and activities: Going on excursions, carefully listen to the recommendations of the guide on clothes, for comfortable and convenient travel to interesting places.

Guided tours: Collecting for group and individual excursions are strictly at the appointed time and the place indicated in the excursion program and agreed with the guide on the eve.

The maximum waiting time is 10 minutes. If you are late for a tour, no claims for services rendered are accepted. For any possible fine for refusal/impossibility of visiting the tour, please contact the company representative.

Telephone communications: The telephone code of Uzbekistan is +998. When calling from other countries, it is necessary to dial the country code. 

Currency and Credit Cards: Credit cards are not widely accepted beyond Tashkent and the main tourist areas of Samarkand and Bukhara, and there are limited cash dispensers. It's important to note that US dollars are the most widely accepted foreign currency but you should only change money through official exchange booths.

Uzbekistan's currency is Uzbekistani SOM. 

1USD = app. 12300 SOM (06 Sep.23)

You are recommended to carry most of your money in cash. US dollars are the easiest to exchange and transport, though someone can usually be found to exchange euros, roubles, or, at a push, sterling. Divide your money between multiple locations about your person and carry a dummy wallet with just a few dollars and some old supermarket loyalty cards as a decoy for pickpockets and anyone attempting to extract a bribe. Uzbekistan has very few ATMs outside large cities. ATMs dispense only Uzbek Sum. Some banks have a relationship with Visa, others with MasterCard. You'll need to look at the logo on the machine to see if your particular card will work.

First Aid Kit: For those who regularly take medicines, it is recommended to take them with you.

The guide has a formed first-aid kit, which is useful for you with mild indispositions, will save time in finding necessary medications, and will save you from problems.

Weather: Summers are long, hot, and dry, with an average monthly temperature of 27.2°C in the hottest month (July), and with an average daily maximum of 35°C in many of the major cities. Winters are cold, with average monthly temperatures of -1°C to -3°C between December and February.

Tipping: If you like the service in cafes, restaurants, etc, you can leave a tip. Tipping in the amount of 10% of the total invoice amount is included in the general check.

Smoking: Smoking is prohibited in all other enclosed public places, except in designated areas and premises for the use of tobacco. 

Transport: Buses, trolleybuses, trams, and taxis Flights are made not only by the state but also by private companies. In major cities, in addition to buses, trams, and trolleybuses run. Taxis in Uzbekistan are inexpensive. You need to agree on the fare in advance, otherwise, you will pay more at the end of the trip.

Shopping souvenirs: Shopping in Uzbekistan can be a delightful experience, with a variety of traditional items and unique handicrafts available. You can choose from local: Ceramics, Ikat fabrics and outfits, Uzbek caps (Doppa), Bread Stamps, Jewellery (Kashgar Boldak), Wool Hats., Suzani Blankets, and Tea.

Hotel Accommodation: Check-in at the hotel, usually takes place after 14:00-1500 hrs. Upon arrival for accommodation at the hotel you need to present your passport.

It is also recommended that you take a hotel’s visiting card so that, if you get lost in the city, go back without problems to the hotel. The address of the hotel is also indicated in the tourist's road book, which you were given along with the tourist's envelope.

When leaving the hotel, pay for additional services and take a document confirming payment.