Samarkand City Tour: Registan, Shah-i-Zinda & Imam Al-Bukhari

Three madrasahs at Registan Square were built across two centuries by different rulers, each one trying to outdo the last.

A private guided tour of Samarkand covering the Registan Square, Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum, Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis, Bibi-Khanym Mosque and Imam Al-Bukhari Complex, with a local guide who speaks English, Russian or Persian. The itinerary is flexible. You choose the pace, add lunch stops or request extra sites, and the guide tailors the day to your interests. Hotel or train station pickup and drop-off are included, as is bottled water and all parking fees.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Gur-e-Emir Mausoleum1h
2. Registan Square30m
3. Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis1h

Explore Samarkand's historic landmarks

• Hotel or train station pick-up
• Visit Statue of Amir Timur
• Tour Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum
• Explore Registan Square
• See Ulugh Beg Madrasah
• See Sher-Dor Madrasah
• See Tilla-Kori Madrasah
• Visit Bibikhanum Mosque
• Walk through Siyab Bazaar
• Visit Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis
• Tour Imam Al-Bukhari Complex
• Hotel or train station drop-off

The experience

Five to eight hours gives you room to move through Samarkand without rushing. The tour starts with pickup from your hotel or train station, then moves through the city's major sites: you'll stand in front of the Statue of Amir Timur, walk through the Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum where Timur himself was buried in 1404, and spend time at the Registan Square, where three madrasahs (the Ulugh Beg, Sher-Dor and Tilla-Kori) face each other across a plaza that was once a marketplace. The guide explains the history and architecture of each one as you move through them.

From there you'll visit the Shah-i-Zinda Necropolis, an 11th-century burial complex with decorated mausoleums, and the Bibi-Khanym Mosque, commissioned by Timur in the late 14th century. The Imam Al-Bukhari Complex, one of Central Asia's most important Islamic pilgrimage sites, is the resting place of the hadith scholar Muhammad al-Bukhari. The guide walks you through the restored complex and explains his legacy. If you want to stop at the Siyab Bazaar to see local life and buy spices or textiles, or if you'd prefer lunch at a particular spot, you can ask. The itinerary is yours to shape.

Private transportation means you're not waiting for other groups or following a fixed schedule. The guide is a local who knows the sites and can answer questions about what you're seeing. Bottled water is provided, and parking fees are covered, so the only thing you'll need to pay separately is entrance tickets to the monuments and any meals you choose.

What’s included

• Private transportation throughout the day.
• a professional local guide speaking English, Russian or Persian.
• hotel or train station pickup and drop-off.
• bottled water.
• parking fees at all sites.
• photo stops at the best vantage points.
• and the flexibility to adjust the itinerary to your pace and interests.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day13 departure times: the first at 06:00, the last at 15:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (7 and older) · Child (3 to 6 years) · Infant (1 to 2 years): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Persian and Russian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by tourgoCA

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want the major sites of Samarkand without coordinating transport or timing. The guide knows where to go and how long each stop takes, so the day holds together while you set the pace. The private format means you're not following a group schedule or waiting for others to finish, and you can ask the guide to linger at a site, skip one, or add a bazaar stop without affecting anyone else's day.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Russian and Persian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 6 years); Infant (1 to 2 years): free.

How much does it cost to enter the Registan Square and the other monuments?

Entrance tickets to the monuments are not included in the tour price and must be paid separately at each site. Your guide can tell you the current fees and help you purchase them.

Can I add lunch to the tour, or do I need to arrange it myself?

Lunch is not included, but your guide can recommend restaurants or stop at a bazaar if you want to eat during the day. You choose where and when to stop.

What is the Imam Al-Bukhari Complex, and why is it important?

The Imam Al-Bukhari Complex is one of Central Asia's most important Islamic pilgrimage sites and the burial place of Muhammad al-Bukhari, a renowned 9th-century hadith scholar whose collections of Islamic teachings continue to influence millions of Muslims worldwide. The complex features elegant restored architecture and is a significant spiritual destination.

Can I customize the itinerary or skip certain sites?

Yes. The tour is flexible and can be tailored to your interests. You can adjust the pace, add stops at markets or lunch spots, or request to visit different sites based on what matters most to you.