Hotels in Samarkand

Hotels in Samarkand: prices and the best time to book

When booking in Samarkand costs the least

Samarkand has a sightseeing season, not a beach one, so the price rhythm is the opposite of a coastal resort. It is dearest and busiest in spring, with the peak in April, when the weather is ideal for walking among the monuments and tours and the Navruz festival draw crowds. The second good but calmer time is autumn, September and October. It is cheapest in winter, especially December, when it is cold and rates can drop by roughly half against spring. Across the week the gaps can be large but not very regular, so it is worth comparing several days. Guests usually stay about three days, as Samarkand is a stop on a route across Uzbekistan. For the spring peak it is best to book earlier, even two months ahead.

What a night costs by property type

Samarkand is cheap for the class of monuments it offers. Hostels and guest houses in the centre are the cheapest, two and three-star hotels cost more, and a four-star hotel, a place with a spa or a boutique residence costs the most. We give prices in dollars, as hotels in Uzbekistan usually quote guests in that currency. Indicative nightly rates for two, outside the spring peak:

Indicative rates for a double room, outside the spring peak, in US dollars. In April and the height of the season the same properties are much dearer, so check the real amount for your dates in the search above.

Where to stay in Samarkand

For a first visit the handiest base is the centre, near Registan Square, from where you walk to most of the monuments, restaurants and the bazaar. That is where the most hostels and small hotels cluster, often in traditional houses with an inner courtyard. Those after quiet or a higher standard pick hotels a little further from the core, where a pool, spa and parking are easier to find. Around the city itself a taxi is easiest, as the monuments are spread out and distances are long, though from the centre you can reach many places on foot. Samarkand has its own airport and a high-speed rail station, the Afrosiyob, handy from Tashkent and Bukhara.

Which Samarkand stay fits whom

• Sightseers and first-timers. Small hotels and guest houses in the centre, a walk from the Registan, like Bibikhanum Hotel and Old Palace Hotel.
• Couples and a higher standard. Four-star hotels and characterful boutique residences, like Platan and Kosh Havuz boutique hotel.
• Breakfast and chains. Recognisable hotels with full service, like Mövenpick Samarkand and Hotel Grand Samarkand Superior.
• Spa. Hotels with a sauna and wellness area to relax after a day of sightseeing, like Shohjahon Palace Hotel & Spa.
• On a budget. Hostels and guest houses from about US$28, like The Nest Hotel & Restaurant and Guest house Mullo Kalandar.

Sample hotels in Samarkand with prices

From a hostel to a boutique residence, a few places that map the local price ladder. Prices from, for a double room, outside the spring peak, in dollars:

When Samarkand gets expensive

The sightseeing season rules the prices here. It is dearest and busiest in spring, with the peak in April, when the weather best suits walks around the Registan and the mausoleums and tours and the Navruz celebrations draw people. The second good time is autumn, September and October, pleasant and a little calmer. Summer can be hot, and it is cheapest and quietest in winter, especially December, when it is cold but the monuments stand almost empty and prices fall. That is a good time for those who prefer to explore without the crowds and at lower rates. Across the week the gaps can be irregular, so for the best price compare several dates.