Asia

Uzbekistan in March

Navruz on March 21 brings sumalak cooking, festivals, and a holiday atmosphere. Weather can swing between warm and wet.

GoodCool and changeable, highs near 59F (15C), spring rain

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

The straight answer

March is a good month to visit Uzbekistan. Navruz on March 21 brings sumalak cooking, festivals, and a holiday atmosphere. Weather can swing between warm and wet.

Weather: Cool and changeable, highs near 59F (15C), spring rain
Crowds: 2 of 5
Prices: 2 of 5

What March is like in Uzbekistan

March is the turn of spring. Highs are near 59F (15C), weather swings between warm sunny days and cool spring rain, and the first blossoms start to appear. Crowds are still light and prices are low. The big event is Navruz on March 21, the Persian new year and a national holiday, when the country celebrates with feasts, music and sumalak.

March suits travelers who want a festival, fewer crowds and fair prices, and who pack for changeable weather. Families will find it comfortable for walking. For steadier warm weather and full blossoms, April is the safer month.

Make the most of March

What is especially good about Uzbekistan this month.

Navruz on March 21

Families cook sumalak, a sweet wheat dish stirred overnight in huge cauldrons, and towns hold music and festive gatherings around the holiday.

Early spring green

Hills around Samarkand turn green and the first fruit trees begin to flower late in the month.

Cool walking weather

Mild temperatures make long days on foot in Bukhara and Samarkand easy.

What to pack for March

A waterproof jacket for spring showers
A warm sweater for chilly evenings
Comfortable walking shoes that handle wet paving
A scarf for mosque and mausoleum visits

Our timing tip

Book trains and hotels early around March 21, since domestic travel spikes for Navruz and Afrosiyob seats sell out.

Book Uzbekistan for March.

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Hotels. Expedia
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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 March. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
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What's on in March

Navruz

March 21 every year, with celebrations around it

The Persian new year and a national holiday, celebrated with sumalak, music, and festive gatherings.

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.

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Shah-i-Zinda, Samarkand

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

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Bukhara Old Town

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

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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 March, quick answers

Is March a good time to visit Uzbekistan?

March is a good month to visit Uzbekistan. Navruz on March 21 brings sumalak cooking, festivals, and a holiday atmosphere. Weather can swing between warm and wet.

What is the weather like in Uzbekistan in March?

Cool and changeable, highs near 59F (15C), spring rain.

Is Uzbekistan crowded in March?

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

What is happening in Uzbekistan in March?

Navruz (march 21 every year, with celebrations around it).