The Atlas Obscura Guide To Uzbekistan

27 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Uzbekistan

Updated July 17, 2024

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Cities

Unusual Attractions in Uzbekistan

Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis.

Samarkand, Uzbekistan

Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis

The Avenue of Mausolea is a series of grand palatial tombs.

Ulugh Beg Observatory.

Samarkand, Uzbekistan

Ulugh Beg Observatory

Light still pours into the ruins of this ancient Islamic observatory.

A rusted fleet sits crumbling in the sunbaked desert

Muynak District, Uzbekistan

Moynaq

Once a bustling fishing port, this semi-ghost town is now more than 90 miles away from the shore.

Itchen Kala.

Xiva, Uzbekistan

Walls of Itchan Kala

Ancient barriers wrap around what was once an important stop along the Silk Road.

The mosque, with the minaret in the background.

Bukhara, Uzbekistan

Kalyan Minaret

This "tower of death" has acted as an observatory, a religious hub, and an executioner's lair.

Kantubek, Uzbekistan

Vozrozhdeniye Island

Former island in the Aral Sea used to be a top-secret Russian bio-weapons facility.

Khoja Daniyar Mausoleum

Samarkand, Uzbekistan

Tomb of Daniel at Samarkand

An 18-meter-long sarcophagus of a constantly growing dead prophet.

See All 27 Things To Do in Uzbekistan

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Uzbekistan

Plov being prepared.

Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Central Asian Plov Center

Giant cauldrons overflow with Uzbekistan's favorite rice dish at this cavernous dining hall.

Apricots, figs, prunes, dates, and raisins among the masses of dried fruit available.

Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Chorsu Bazaar

Prowl through this sprawling bazaar under a massive Soviet-era dome for delicious eats.

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Architecture 6

Memento Mori 4

History & Culture 3

Architectural Oddities 3

Cultures And Civilizations 3

Sacred Spaces 3

Religion 2

Soviet Architecture 2

Museums 2

Disaster Areas 2

Markets 2

Catacombs And Crypts 2

Monuments 2

Ancient 2

Instruments Of Science 2

Unesco 1

Geology 1

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Stories About Uzbekistan

Podcast: Moynaq

A city in Uzbekistan that was once a port is now in the middle of a desert.

by The Podcast Team, Atlas Obscura

February 6, 2024

Qurt at the Osh Bazaar in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

Make the Ancient Road Snack of Central Asian Nomads

Qurt is salty, long-lasting, and packed with protein.

by Susie Armitage, Atlas Obscura

Two fishing vessels nestled in the sands near the former seaport city of Moynaq, Uzbekistan.

Why It's So Hard to Study the Toxic Dust Blowing From Earth's Youngest Desert

It all comes down to something scientists call "ground truth."

by Jonathan Carey, Atlas Obscura

Koryo Saram meal, photographed in Ushtobe, Kazakhstan.

How Survivors of Stalinism Created a New Korean-Fusion Cuisine

When the Koryo Saram were forcibly relocated, they forged new identities.

by Mark Hay, Atlas Obscura

September 10, 2018

Two vendors at the Bukhara bazaar sell melons.

Tracing the Overlooked Legacy of the Silk Road's Fruits and Nuts

A new archaeobotanical study is helping shift the historical record.

by Paula Mejia, Atlas Obscura

August 16, 2018

Lists Featuring Uzbekistan

Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis.

A rusted fleet sits crumbling in the sunbaked desert

Ulugh Beg Observatory.

The mosque, with the minaret in the background.

6 Unique Places to Visit in Uzbekistan

From palatial tombs to desert ghost towns, these are the places Atlas Obscura users most want to visit.

Including Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis, Moynaq, and Ulugh Beg Observatory