Published 13 Oct 2026
Uzbekistan is the Central Asian trip for travellers who want monuments rather than mountains: a flight of about three hours from Delhi, an online visa, and a fast train that links Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara. Plan seven days and roughly ₹62,000 to ₹95,000 per person.
Visa and entry rules for Indians
Indian passport holders need an e-visa. The Uzbek embassy in New Delhi’s consular page, which we checked on 13 October 2026, lists India among the countries eligible for the electronic tourist visa, and not among the visa-free countries. It states:
- Fee: $20 USD, paid online with Visa or Mastercard.
- Timing: apply at least 3 working days before the planned date of travel.
- Where: the official portal at e-visa.gov.uz, which the embassy site links to.
The embassy page does not state the e-visa’s validity or the length of stay, and the portal needs JavaScript so we could not read it automatically. Travel sites report a stay of up to 30 days, which fits this trip, but check the figure on the portal before paying.
A visa-free regime has been announced but is not in force. Reports from Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Tashkent on 29–30 August 2026 say Uzbekistan intends to allow Indian citizens 30 days without a visa. We found no decree, start date or update to the embassy’s lists, so apply for the e-visa unless the embassy or your airline confirms otherwise.
Use only the government portal. Look-alike “visa service” sites charge extra fees for the same form. Carry a printout of the e-visa, your hotel bookings and a return ticket. We did not find an official passport-validity figure, so travel on a passport with at least six months left, which is the safe default.
What it costs in rupees
Per person, sharing a room, mid-range, seven days. These are our estimates; one Uzbek som is roughly ₹0.007, so check the day’s rate.
| Item | Approx. cost |
|---|---|
| Return flight, Delhi to Tashkent | ₹22,000 – ₹35,000 |
| E-visa ($20) | ₹1,800 – ₹1,900 |
| Hotels, 6 nights (half the room cost) | ₹14,000 – ₹23,000 |
| Trains: Tashkent–Samarkand–Bukhara–Tashkent | ₹6,000 – ₹9,000 |
| Food, about ₹1,200 – ₹1,600 a day | ₹8,000 – ₹11,000 |
| Monument tickets, taxis, SIM, insurance, tips | ₹8,000 – ₹13,000 |
| Total | ₹62,000 – ₹95,000 |
Train fares rose 15% from 1 February 2026, per the Kun.uz report on Uzbekistan Railways. It lists economy on the Afrosiyob at 311,000 som for Tashkent to Samarkand and 509,000 som for Tashkent to Bukhara, which is roughly ₹2,200 and ₹3,600 at the rate above. Business and VIP classes cost more.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: arrive in Tashkent
Check in and keep the evening easy. Walk the Chorsu Bazaar for dried fruit and bread, and see the metro stations if you like Soviet design, which are some of the most decorated in the region.
Day 2: Tashkent to Samarkand
Take a morning Afrosiyob train, about two hours to Samarkand. Book tickets early, because they sell out in high season and go on sale around 60 days ahead. After checking in, see the Registan at sunset, three tiled madrasas around one square.
Day 3: Samarkand
Visit Gur-e-Amir, Timur’s mausoleum, the Bibi-Khanym Mosque and the Siyob Bazaar. Finish at Shah-i-Zinda, a lane of blue-tiled tombs; it is quietest in the late afternoon.
Day 4: Samarkand to Bukhara
Take the train to Bukhara, roughly an hour and a half to two hours. Spend the afternoon around Lyabi-Hauz, the pool and plaza at the centre of the old town.
Day 5: Bukhara
Walk the old town on foot: the Ark fortress, the Poi Kalyan complex with its minaret, the covered trading domes and the Chor Minor. Watch for souvenir pressure in the domes and compare prices before buying.
Day 6: Bukhara to Tashkent
Take a morning train, about four hours, and use the afternoon for any remaining Tashkent sights or shopping.
Day 7: fly home
Reach the airport three hours before an international departure.
Vegetarian and Jain eating in Uzbekistan
Uzbek cooking is built on lamb and beef, so ask. Fresh non bread from tandoor ovens, samsa (pumpkin or potato versions exist, confirm with the baker), salads of tomato and cucumber, vegetable soups, fruit, yoghurt and sweets are dependable. Indian restaurants operate in Tashkent and Samarkand, and many hotels will cook vegetarian breakfasts if asked. Jain travellers should carry dry snacks and rely on hotels with kitchens, particularly on train days.
Best time to go
April, May, September and October have mild days and clear light for the tilework. July and August are very hot, which makes the open courtyards hard going in midday. Winter is cold, but the cities are quiet.
Practical tips
- Money: the currency is the som. Carry US dollars and a forex card, and exchange cash at banks or reputable exchange offices; don’t plan on UPI.
- Connectivity: an eSIM bought before you fly, or a local SIM at the airport, covers most of the trip.
- Getting around: the Afrosiyob high-speed train links all three cities; taxis in towns are cheap and usually booked by app.
- Plugs: European two-pin plugs are common, so bring an adapter.
- Dress: shoulders and knees covered at mosques and mausoleums.
- Insurance: buy travel cover before you go.
Related guides
Another Silk Road and Caucasus mix is in our Georgia guide, and the Armenia guide covers a similar visa process. For mountains in the same region, see Kazakhstan. More facts are on the Uzbekistan hub.
Frequently asked questions
Do Indians need a visa for Uzbekistan?
Yes. The Uzbek embassy in New Delhi lists India among the countries eligible for the electronic tourist visa and not on the visa-free list. The fee shown is $20, paid online by Visa or Mastercard, and you should apply at least three working days before travel. A 30-day visa-free regime for Indians was announced in late August 2026, but we found no decree or start date, so plan on the e-visa.
How much does the Uzbekistan e-visa cost for Indians?
The embassy page we checked says $20 USD, paid online with a Visa or Mastercard card. Apply only on the official portal at e-visa.gov.uz; look-alike sites add service fees.
How many days are enough for Uzbekistan?
Seven days covers Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara comfortably by train without rushing. Five days works if you skip a second night in Tashkent and Bukhara; add Khiva only if you have nine or ten days.
How much does an Uzbekistan trip cost from India?
Roughly ₹62,000 to ₹95,000 per person for seven days, including a non-stop return flight from Delhi, the e-visa, mid-range hotels, train tickets, food, entry fees and a local SIM. The flight and the hotel grade move the total most.
Is there a direct flight from India to Tashkent?
Yes. Aggregators list non-stop Delhi to Tashkent flights of about 3 hours on Uzbekistan Airways and IndiGo, a few times a week. Schedules change, so confirm on the airline sites.
Is Uzbekistan good for vegetarians?
It is manageable but needs care. Plov, shashlik and soups are usually made with meat, but you can eat well on fresh non bread, samsa with pumpkin or potato, salads, vegetable soups, fruit and dairy, and Indian restaurants in Tashkent and Samarkand. Say you eat no meat or stock, and carry snacks for train days.
What is the best time to visit Samarkand and Bukhara?
April, May, September and October. Summer days in the desert cities are very hot, and midwinter is cold, although the tilework looks striking against clear skies.
