Asia

Uzbekistan in January

The emptiest month. Snow on the domes is beautiful, but some Khiva guesthouses close and days are short.

Quiet valueCold, Samarkand highs near 43F (6C), nights below freezing, occasional snow

Registan Samarkand, Uzbekistan — UzbekistanPhoto: Petar Milošević, CC BY-SA 4.0

The straight answer

January is a quiet, good-value month to visit Uzbekistan. The emptiest month. Snow on the domes is beautiful, but some Khiva guesthouses close and days are short.

Weather: Cold, Samarkand highs near 43F (6C), nights below freezing, occasional snow
Crowds: 1 of 5
Prices: 1 of 5

What January is like in Uzbekistan

January is Uzbekistan's emptiest month. Samarkand highs hover near 43F (6C), nights drop below freezing, and snow sometimes dusts the tiled domes. Days are short. You will often have the Registan and Bukhara's lanes nearly to yourself, and hotel prices are at their lowest. Some guesthouses in Khiva and rural areas close for winter, though major hotels and monuments stay open.

January suits photographers, budget travelers and people who dislike crowds and do not mind cold. Families with small kids and anyone wanting long days outside will be much happier in April, May, September or October.

Make the most of January

What is especially good about Uzbekistan this month.

Snow on the Silk Road

A light snowfall on the Registan or the Khiva walls is rare and beautiful. Keep a flexible day to catch it.

Empty monuments

Shah-i-Zinda and Gur-e-Amir are quiet enough to linger over the tilework without tour groups.

Warm plov and tea houses

Winter is the time to settle into a chaikhana with steaming plov, fresh bread and green tea.

What to pack for January

A warm winter coat, hat and gloves
Waterproof boots with grip for icy old-town paving
Thermal base layers
A headscarf for women visiting mosques and mausoleums

Our timing tip

Confirm your Khiva guesthouse is open for winter before booking, and plan outdoor sightseeing for the warmest hours around midday.

Book Uzbekistan for January.

Sponsored links to Expedia and Vrbo. We may earn a commission; it never changes a verdict.

Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Uzbekistan
Opens a hotel search for Uzbekistan in January, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for January
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in Uzbekistan
Whole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
Rentals on Vrbo
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in Uzbekistan
Timed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Uzbekistan for January. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

Things to do in Uzbekistan

Full guide

Registan, Samarkand

See it at sunrise and again after dark when it is lit up. Midday in summer is brutal on the open square.

Tickets and tours →

Shah-i-Zinda, Samarkand

An avenue of tiled mausoleums, among the most beautiful in Central Asia. Early morning is quietest.

Tickets and tours →

Bukhara Old Town

The Kalyan Minaret, the Ark fortress, and the Lyabi-Hauz pond. Stay inside the old town and walk in the evening.

Tickets and tours →

Itchan Kala, Khiva

A walled city of minarets and madrasas. Climb the walls at sunset; stay overnight to see it after the day-trippers leave.

Tickets and tours →

Tashkent Metro and Chorsu Bazaar

Soviet-era stations decorated like palaces, and a huge domed bazaar for spices, bread, and dried fruit.

Tickets and tours →

Gur-e-Amir, Samarkand

Tamerlane's mausoleum, with a ribbed turquoise dome. Beautiful when lit at night.

Tickets and tours →

Beat the crowds

Aim for late April or early to mid October, when weather is ideal and tour groups are slightly fewer than in the peak weeks of May and September.
Stay overnight in Khiva and Bukhara so you can walk the old towns at dawn and after dark, when day-trippers have left.
Visit the Registan at opening time or late in the day, and return after dark for the lighting.
Book Afrosiyob high-speed train tickets as early as sales open, as they sell out in peak months.

Know before you go

In winter, some guesthouses and small hotels in Khiva and rural areas close, and restaurant choices narrow. Major hotels and monuments stay open.
In summer heat, monuments are open, but walking between them from late morning to late afternoon is exhausting; plan a midday break.
Around Navruz and Independence Day, domestic travel increases and trains fill; book early.
Ramadan has little impact for visitors in Uzbekistan; restaurants and cafes generally stay open.

Uzbekistan in January, quick answers

Is January a good time to visit Uzbekistan?

January is a quiet, good-value month to visit Uzbekistan. The emptiest month. Snow on the domes is beautiful, but some Khiva guesthouses close and days are short.

What is the weather like in Uzbekistan in January?

Cold, Samarkand highs near 43F (6C), nights below freezing, occasional snow.

Is Uzbekistan crowded in January?

January is one of the quieter months in Uzbekistan; most sights can be done without long waits.