Asia
Uzbekistan in May
Excellent sightseeing weather, especially early in the month. Bukhara starts to heat up by late May.
The straight answer
May is one of the best months of the year to visit Uzbekistan. Excellent sightseeing weather, especially early in the month. Bukhara starts to heat up by late May.
- Weather
- Warm to hot, highs near 82F (28C), dry
- Crowds
- 4 of 5
- Prices
- 4 of 5
What May is like in Uzbekistan
May is warm to hot and dry, with highs near 82F (28C). Early May is excellent sightseeing weather, but Bukhara and Khiva start heating up toward the end of the month. It is peak season, so hotels in Samarkand and Bukhara fill and trains can sell out. Everything is open, and evenings in the old towns are long and lively.
May suits first-timers, families and anyone doing the full Silk Road loop, as long as they come early in the month. If you are traveling in late May, see the desert cities first thing in the morning. For a similar feel with harvest produce, October is the fall equivalent.
Make the most of May
What is especially good about Uzbekistan this month.
Silk and Spices Festival
In some years, Bukhara hosts this crafts, music and food festival in late spring. Confirm this year's dates before planning around it.
Evenings at Lyabi-Hauz
Warm nights make Bukhara's old pond square a pleasant place for dinner under the mulberry trees.
Registan after dark
Long, dry evenings are perfect for returning to see the three madrasas lit up.
What to pack for May
- A wide-brim sun hat
- Breathable long sleeves and trousers for sun and modesty
- A refillable water bottle
- Sunscreen and sunglasses
Our timing tip
Travel in the first half of May and do Bukhara and Khiva before the Samarkand leg, since the desert cities heat up faster.
Book Uzbekistan for May.
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- Hotels for May
Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in UzbekistanOpens a hotel search for Uzbekistan in May, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
- Rentals on Vrbo
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in UzbekistanWhole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
- Tours and tickets
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in UzbekistanTimed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Uzbekistan for May. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
What's on in May
Silk and Spices Festival
Late spring in Bukhara, typically May or June, varies by year
Crafts, music, and food in Bukhara's old town. Confirm dates before planning around it.
Things to do in Uzbekistan
Registan, Samarkand
See it at sunrise and again after dark when it is lit up. Midday in summer is brutal on the open square.
Shah-i-Zinda, Samarkand
An avenue of tiled mausoleums, among the most beautiful in Central Asia. Early morning is quietest.
Bukhara Old Town
The Kalyan Minaret, the Ark fortress, and the Lyabi-Hauz pond. Stay inside the old town and walk in the evening.
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.
Tashkent Metro and Chorsu Bazaar
Soviet-era stations decorated like palaces, and a huge domed bazaar for spices, bread, and dried fruit.
Gur-e-Amir, Samarkand
Tamerlane's mausoleum, with a ribbed turquoise dome. Beautiful when lit at night.
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 May, quick answers
Is May a good time to visit Uzbekistan?
May is one of the best months of the year to visit Uzbekistan. Excellent sightseeing weather, especially early in the month. Bukhara starts to heat up by late May.
What is the weather like in Uzbekistan in May?
Warm to hot, highs near 82F (28C), dry.
Is Uzbekistan crowded in May?
Uzbekistan is busy in May, though mornings and late afternoons stay workable.
What is happening in Uzbekistan in May?
Silk and Spices Festival (late spring in bukhara, typically may or june, varies by year).
Keep planning Uzbekistan.
The months either side, and the best one if this is not it.
Also at their best in May
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