Asia

Uzbekistan in July

The hottest month. Sightseeing is limited to early morning and evening, and walking between monuments is exhausting.

Think twiceVery hot, Bukhara and Khiva highs near 100F (38C), often higher

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

The straight answer

July is a month to think twice about visiting Uzbekistan. The hottest month. Sightseeing is limited to early morning and evening, and walking between monuments is exhausting.

Weather: Very hot, Bukhara and Khiva highs near 100F (38C), often higher
Crowds: 2 of 5
Prices: 2 of 5

What July is like in Uzbekistan

July is the hottest month, with Bukhara and Khiva highs near 100F (38C) and often higher. The sun is fierce and there is little shade on the open squares. Sightseeing shrinks to early morning and evening, and walking between monuments in the afternoon is exhausting. Crowds are lower and prices soften.

This is an avoid month for most travelers and especially for families with small children, since the heat can be dangerous. If summer is your only option, stick to Tashkent and Samarkand and keep the desert cities short. For comfortable touring, come in mid September to October or mid April to May.

Make the most of July

What is especially good about Uzbekistan this month.

Night walks in the old towns

After sunset, Bukhara and Khiva cool enough for a stroll, and the lit monuments look their best.

Tashkent's cool metro

The underground stations are a shaded break from the heat and worth seeing in their own right.

Lower summer rates

Hotels and guesthouses offer better prices than in spring and fall.

What to pack for July

A wide-brim hat and strong sunscreen
Loose, light-colored clothing that covers skin
A large refillable water bottle and electrolytes
A lightweight scarf to shade your neck

Our timing tip

Book hotels with air conditioning and a pool, and schedule every outdoor visit before 10am or after 6pm.

Book Uzbekistan for July.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Uzbekistan
Opens a hotel search for Uzbekistan in July, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for July
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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.
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Tours and tickets in Uzbekistan
Timed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Uzbekistan for July. 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.

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Tashkent Metro and Chorsu Bazaar

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

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Gur-e-Amir, Samarkand

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

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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 July, quick answers

Is July a good time to visit Uzbekistan?

July is a month to think twice about visiting Uzbekistan. The hottest month. Sightseeing is limited to early morning and evening, and walking between monuments is exhausting.

What is the weather like in Uzbekistan in July?

Very hot, Bukhara and Khiva highs near 100F (38C), often higher.

Is Uzbekistan crowded in July?

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