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The Silk Road Cities: the Day-by-Day Itinerary
Uzbekistan is the Silk Road made real. Samarkand's Registan is one of the planet's great squares, Bukhara's old town has traded for two thousand years, and Khiva at dusk feels like walking into a miniature painting. Fast trains link it all now.
The Silk Road Cities is a 1000 km one-way journey (by rail). It works best as 6–9 days; the plan below is the 7-day version for April, built from 276 verified places, with timetable-estimated transit times, opening hours and daylight checked.
Customize this plan → 6-day plan · 7-day plan · 9-day plan · best time to go
7
days
999 km
distance
12.5 h
on trains
45
curated stops
💡 Good to know for this plan
- Spring and autumn are the Silk Road's sweet spots — blue-tile domes under blue skies, and bearable desert trains.
Day 1 Tashkent → Samarkand
🌡 -5.0–33.9°C · 🌧 ~8 rain days · ☀ 13.1h light
09:00
Kukeldash Madrasahmuseums & heritagehistory & sagas
See the grand yellow-brick courtyard and historic hujras.
50 min · Tashkent · Adult 15,000 som
open: Daily 08:00-18:00
09:50
Minor Mosquechurches & landmarkslocal & traditional
Marvel at the gleaming white marble and traditional minarets.
50 min · Tashkent · Free
open: 24 hours
10:40
State Museum of the Temuridsmuseums & heritagehistory & sagas
Explore the legacy of Timur through gripping exhibits and artifacts.
50 min · Tashkent · Adult 40,000 soʻm
open: Tu-Su 10:00-17:00
15:15
Panjab Shia Mosque and Panjab Madrasahchurches & landmarksmuseums & heritagehistory & sagas
Witness vibrant Shia ceremonies and social gatherings in this center.
50 min · Samarkand
16:05
Afrasiyabchurches & landmarksmuseums & heritagehistory & sagas
Walk among ancient ruins of Samarkand's rich past.
90 min · Samarkand
18:30
Historichistory & sagaslocal & traditionalstreet food
Savor authentic shashlik and Uzbek dishes near Registan.
75 min · Samarkand
open: Daily 08:00-22:00
Overnight: Samarkand
e.g. Jahongir Hotel · Registan Hostel
Day 2 Around Samarkand
🌡 -5.0–33.9°C · 🌧 ~8 rain days · ☀ 13.1h light
09:00
Samarkand Regional Theater of Musical Dramachurches & landmarksmuseums & heritagelocal & traditional
Appreciate Uzbek performances in a Soviet-era building.
90 min · Samarkand
10:30
Galaasiya Mosquechurches & landmarkscoffee & bakes
Feel the charm of a neighborhood mosque near famous Samarkand bread.
50 min · Samarkand
11:20
Bibi-Khanym Mosquechurches & landmarkshistory & sagas
Witness the grand yet troubled architecture of Timur's era.
50 min · Samarkand · Adult 75,000 som, child 30,000 som
open: Daily 09:00-20:00
12:10
Gur-e-Emir Mausoleumchurches & landmarkshistory & sagas
Marvel at the final resting place of the legendary warlord Timur.
50 min · Samarkand · Adult 75,000 som
open: Daily 09:00-19:00
13:00
Ishrat-khana Mausoleumchurches & landmarkshistory & sagas
Explore the eerie ruins of a Timurid dynasty women's burial site.
50 min · Samarkand · Free
open: Daily 09:00-18:00
13:50
Khodja Ahrar Complexchurches & landmarkshistory & sagas
Marvel at ornately tiled mausoleum, mosque, and madressa.
50 min · Samarkand · 35000som
open: 24 hours
14:40
Cafe Magistrcoffee & bakes
Relish veggie options in stylish setting with English-speaking staff.
60 min · Samarkand
open: M-Sa 08:00-23:00, Su 12:00-23:00
Overnight: Samarkand
e.g. Jahongir Hotel · Registan Hostel
Day 3 Around Samarkand
🌡 -5.0–33.9°C · 🌧 ~8 rain days · ☀ 13.1h light
09:00
Sayyid Ibrahim Shrine and Imamzadeh Shia Mosquechurches & landmarkslocal & traditional
Feel the serene beauty of Shiite shrine interiors akin to Iran.
50 min · Samarkand
09:50
Roman Catholic Church of St. John the Baptistchurches & landmarkslocal & traditional
Appreciate neo-Gothic architecture built by wartime prisoners.
50 min · Samarkand
10:40
Armenian Church of the Holy Mother of Godchurches & landmarkslocal & traditional
Observe Samarkand's Armenian heritage in this historic church.
50 min · Samarkand
11:30
The former Orthodox Church of St. George the Victoriouschurches & landmarksmuseums & heritage
Discover a museum and art gallery in a transformed church building.
50 min · Samarkand
12:20
Baha'i Spiritual Centermuseums & heritagelocal & traditional
Discover a tranquil multi-ethnic spiritual haven tucked away.
50 min · Samarkand
13:10
Or Avner Synagoguemuseums & heritagelocal & traditional
Experience late 19th-century Jewish tradition in a modern renewal.
50 min · Samarkand
14:00
Joni Oshlocal & traditional
Taste acclaimed plov before it sells out early.
60 min · Samarkand · 70,000 som for a "half" portion, salad,
open: Opens 11:00; closes when they run out of Plov, usually before 14:00
Overnight: Samarkand
e.g. Jahongir Hotel · Registan Hostel
See the remaining 4 days of the 7-day plan →
Route map
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