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Travel Essentials › Uzbekistan

Travel Essentials

Uzbekistan: What To Know Before You Go

Plugs: Types C and F, 220 V. Emergency: Police 102, Ambulance 103, Fire 101. Tipping: Not expected; many restaurants add a 10-15% service charge, otherwise rounding up is appreciated. Tap water: Drink bottled or treated water..

Open The Uzbekistan Trip Kit

Plugs And Power

Types C and F, 220 V

Emergency Numbers

Tipping

Not expected; many restaurants add a 10-15% service charge, otherwise rounding up is appreciated.

Water And Health

Tap water

Drink bottled or treated water.

Vaccines

Routine vaccines, hepatitis A, typhoid; rabies and hepatitis B for some travelers.

Malaria

None

Apps To Download Before You Go

• Yandex Go: The main ride-hailing app in Tashkent and larger cities, with cheap fixed fares.
• MyTaxi: A popular local ride-hailing alternative.
• Telegram: By far the most used messaging app, also used by businesses, tour agencies and news channels.
• Yandex Maps: Better local coverage of addresses and transport than most alternatives.
• Uzrailways (Railway Tickets): Buy tickets for the Afrosiyob high-speed train between Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara.
• Payme: Local mobile wallet used to pay bills, phone credit and in shops.
• Click: The other big Uzbek payment app, accepted by many merchants.
• Yandex Eats: Food and grocery delivery in Tashkent.
• Google Translate: Works for Uzbek and Russian, which most people speak in cities.

Customs And Etiquette

Greetings. A handshake is standard between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand first. Placing your right hand over your heart is a polite alternative greeting.

Hospitality and bread. Bread (non) is sacred: never place it upside down or throw it away. Accept tea and food offered in homes, as refusing can seem impolite.

Dress at religious sites. Cover shoulders and knees when visiting mosques and mausoleums; women may be asked to cover their hair at some sites.

Safety And Scams

Uzbekistan is one of the safer countries in the region, with a low crime rate against tourists and a heavy, visible police presence around major sites.

Taxi overcharging. Unmetered taxi drivers often quote double the normal fare to tourists; use ride-hailing apps like Yandex Go instead of hailing cars on the street.

Currency exchange tricks. Only exchange money at banks or official kiosks; street changers may shortchange you or use counterfeit notes.

Women travelers. Uzbekistan topped a 2026 solo female travel safety index; women are generally treated respectfully, though modest dress is appreciated outside big cities.

LGBTQ+ Travelers

Criminalized

Male same-sex relations are criminalized under Article 120 of the criminal code, punishable by up to three years in prison; enforcement against foreigners is rare but public displays of affection or openness are not advisable.

What Things Cost

2026-09

Best Time To Visit

Spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November) are best, with mild, dry weather in the mid-teens to high 20s°C for sightseeing the Silk Road cities without summer's extreme heat.

Do You Need A Visa?

Uzbekistan visa requirements by nationality

Phrases

Basic Uzbek phrases · Basic Russian phrases