Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Only in designated camping zones in the Pamir-Alay foothills (60km south)
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Zarafshan National Park (approx. 15km from city)
- National Parks Nearby
- Zarafshan State Nature Reserve
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Walking paths through University Boulevard
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Upper terrace of Shah-i-Zinda at sunset
- Birdwatching Locations
- Zarafshan River banks
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Farkhad Express or EMS Uzbekistan
- Tech Repair Services
- Service centers along Beruni Avenue
- Table Tennis Spots
- Local sports clubs near the Samarkand State University
- Language Classes
- Samarkand Institute of Foreign Languages (Russian/Uzbek courses)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Pushkin Public Library (Pushkin St)
- Community Centers
- Youth Center (Yoshlar Markazi) near Registan
- Gaming Lounges
- Cyber Arena (Tursunov St)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Gambling is strictly prohibited in Uzbekistan
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $800 per m² ($32,000 for 40 m²)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $550 per m² ($22,000 for 40 m²)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $750 per m² ($45,000 for 60 m²)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $500 per m² ($30,000 for 60 m²)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $700 per m² ($56,000 for 80 m²)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $450 per m² ($36,000 for 80 m²)
- Corporate Tax
- 15% (standard); IT Companies in IT Park may pay 0%
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 5% for residents and non-residents
- Tax System
- Residency based (183 days), worldwide income for residents
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 12% flat rate (Personal Income Tax)
- VAT
- 12%
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- No formal CFC rules currently in place
- Property Tax
- Yes, varies by size; typically 0.2% to 0.4% for individuals
- Property Transaction Tax
- Notary fees and state duties apply (approx. 1-2% of value)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- IT Visa available for tech workers with 0% corporate tax if registered in IT Park
Essentials
- City
- Samarkand, Samarkand Region, Uzbekistan
- Population
- Approximately 570,000
- Internet Speed
- Average 40-60 Mbps on fiber; 4G/LTE widely available via Uztelecom
- Currency & Banking
- Uzbekistani Som (UZS). 1 USD ≈ 12,500 UZS. 1 EUR ≈ 13,600 UZS
- Tap Water
- Not recommended for drinking; use bottled or filtered water (approx. 5,000 UZS per 1.5L)
- Power
- 220V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C / F sockets
- SIM Card
- Beeline, Ucell, or Mobiuz. Tourist SIM (20GB) approx. 70,000 UZS ($5.60)
- Banking for Expats
- Kapitalbank (VISA/Mastercard), Ipak Yuli Bank. Humo and Uzcard are local systems
- Accommodation
- Guesthouses (B&Bs) and Boutique Hotels are standard. Monthly apart-hotels approx. $500 - $800
- Cashless Friendly
- Improving; major hotels/restaurants accept cards, but cash is essential for bazaars and taxis
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Booking.com, and local Telegram groups
- Budget Accommodation
- Bahar Hostel or Amir Hostel (approx. $10 - $15 per night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Historical Center (near Registan and Bibi-Khanym Mosque)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Bustonsaroy Street area (Modern Center/European Quarter) for better infrastructure and cafes
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- IT Park Samarkand (Amir Temur St). Day pass approx. 50,000 UZS ($4)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Level Resto & Coffee (Orzu Mahmudov St). Quiet atmosphere, stable Wi-Fi
- Networking Events
- IT Park Uzbekistan meetups; Digital Nomad Samarkand Telegram groups
- Social Events for Expats
- Expats in Uzbekistan Facebook group; meetups at Platan Restaurant
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Yandex Go (standard city ride $1 - $3)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Very limited; local rentals near Registan for tourists (approx. 30,000 UZS/hour)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Tudakul Lake (near Bukhara, 3 hours drive) or Charvak Reservoir (5 hours drive)
- Top Regional Airline
- Uzbekistan Airways
- Top International Airline
- Turkish Airlines, FlyDubai, Aeroflot
- Highway Access
- M37 (to Bukhara) and M39 (to Tashkent)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Samarkand Railway Station (Vokzal). Home of the Afrosiyob high-speed train
- Public Transport Passes
- ATTO cards for buses and trams (single ride 2,000 UZS)
- Regional Travel
- Afrosiyob High-Speed Train to Tashkent (2h 10m) or Bukhara (1h 30m)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Samarkand Regional Multidisciplinary Medical Center or private 'Zarmed' Hospital
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Status Health Club (Yoga classes available with membership)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Power Gym (Gagarina St) or Status Gym. Monthly membership approx. 400,000 UZS ($32)
- Laundry Services
- Vostoka Dry Cleaning (Mirzo Ulugbek St) - approx. 20,000 UZS per load
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Express24
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Samarkand Plov (layered, not stirred like Tashkent style)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Platan (offers salads and vegetable skewers); Karimbek (limited options)
- Best Dessert Spots
- El Merosi (traditional tea and sweets)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Siyob Bazaar for nuts, fruits, and bread (Non)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Uzum Market (Uzbekistan's version of Amazon)
- Grocery Delivery
- Uzum Tezkor or Korzinka Go
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Orzu Mahmudov Street (The 'Broadway' of Samarkand)
- Local Brewery
- Pulsar Brewery (Samarkand-Bira); check the Pulsar Bar on Beruni St
- Wine Bars
- Hovrenko Winery (Tasting room on Mahmud Kashgari St)
- Street Food Stalls
- Non (Samarkand bread) stalls near Siyob Bazaar (approx. 5,000 UZS per loaf)
- Popular International Cuisine
- La Terrazza (Italian/European) or Old City (European/Russian)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Registan Square, Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis
- Museums & Art Venues
- Afrasiyab Museum of Samarkand
- Historical Sites
- Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum (Tomb of Tamerlane)
- Religious Sites
- Bibi-Khanym Mosque, Hazrat Khizr Mosque
- Annual Events
- Sharq Taronalari (International Music Festival) - held biennially
- Cultural Districts
- The Old City (Mahallas surrounding the Registan)
- Theater Venues
- El Merosi Historical Costume Theater
- Local Markets
- Siyob Bazaar (Iron Gate Bazaar)
- Music Scene
- Traditional Shashmaqam music at Registan evening shows
- Street Art
- Limited; mostly traditional tile mosaics on historical monuments
- Cooking Classes
- Masterclasses at local guesthouses like 'L'Argamak' (Plov making)
- Art Galleries
- Happy Bird Art Gallery (Fine ikat and ceramics)
- Historic Buildings
- Ulugh Beg Observatory
- Local Heritage
- Samarkand Paper Mill (Konigil Village) - UNESCO heritage site for mulberry paper