Holiday dates
1 January is a public holiday, and in 2027 the 2nd of January is a day off too. Families celebrate at home on the night of 31 December, and city squares and parks in Tashkent are decorated through late December and early January. Most sights, restaurants and trains work as usual; some offices close.
Weather
| City | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Tashkent | around 0–8 °C in the day, frost at night, snow possible |
| Samarkand | similar to Tashkent, sometimes snow on the domes |
| Bukhara and Khiva | dry, sunny days and hard frost at night |
Dress warmly and bring gloves: many sights are open courtyards. See the packing list.
A 6-day winter route
| Day | Plan |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Tashkent: Chorsu Bazaar, metro, Khast-Imam; New Year's Eve in the city |
| Day 2 | rest morning, then a day in the mountains near Tashkent or the city's museums |
| Day 3 | Afrosiyob to Samarkand: Gur-e-Amir and the Registan at sunset |
| Day 4 | Samarkand: Shah-i-Zinda, Bibi-Khanym, Siyob Bazaar |
| Day 5 | train to Bukhara: old town, trading domes, Lyabi-Hauz |
| Day 6 | Bukhara: Ark, Poi-Kalyan; fast train back to Tashkent |
Make this plan yours
UzGidAI builds a day plan around your start time, pace and food wishes, and replans tomorrow from what you managed to see.
Plan my dayMountains near Tashkent
The Chimgan mountains are about 1.5 hours' drive from Tashkent. The Amirsoy ski resort there opens in winter, with lifts that also work for non-skiers who just want the views. Check the season and ticket prices on the resort's website before you go.
Book early
- Train tickets around 30 December – 3 January sell out: buy as soon as sales open on railway.uz, up to 60 days ahead.
- Hotels in Tashkent and Samarkand cost more on the holiday nights.
- Restaurants hold New Year's Eve banquets with set menus; reserve a table in advance.
- Russian citizens can stay up to 90 days without a visa; other nationalities: visa and registration.