21 In Central Asia/ Photo Inspiration/ Uzbekistan

20 Photos to Inspire You to Visit Uzbekistan

I spent a year living and working in Uzbekistan. And, like most people, I didn’t know much about the country before moving there. I quickly learned that Uzbekistan is unlike any other place I’ve lived in or travelled to. As I bumbled around the country from one mishap to another, I quickly fell in love with its beautiful strangeness.

Uzbekistan has an ancient history along The Great Silk Road.

One of nomadic cultures, trade, Islamic traditions, mathematics, beautiful architecture and soviet legacies. It’s a country of many contrasts. From Tashkent’s massive and cold soviet building blocks next to inviting green parks and wide boulevards, to its historic blue-tiled Islamic madrasahs which stand in contrast against the barren desert. It’s a police state marked by human rights abuses. But yet, as a tourist, it feels warm and welcoming.

I told you, it is a strange place! 

In this post I’ve included some of my favorite photos of Uzbekistan that I took while I lived there.

From the ancient cities of Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva, out across the remote Karakalpakstan desert to the almost non-existent Aral Sea, and to Zaamin National Park in the east. There are so many historical sights and unique regions to visit!

Here are 20 photos of Uzbekistan to inspire you to visit!

A view over the city of Khiva on a rainy day

Looking up at Miri Arab Madrasah in Bukhara

The Lyabi House Hotel in Bukhara – breakfast is served on their beautiful terrace!

The remnants of what used to be a fishery on the outskirts of the town of Moynaq, near where the Aral Sea use to be

The ship grave yard, near the former fishing town of Moynaq, in what was once the Aral Sea

The famous Registan in the centre of Samarkand, once a central city along the Great Silk Road

A common scene – stuck in sheep traffic

Sher Dor Madrasah in Samarkand

A man herding his camels near the remote town of Nukus, which is the capital of the autonomous Karakalpakstan Republic

Always posing hard in front of the beautiful tile 😉

Kalyan Mosque in Bukhara

Looking out across the mountains in Zaamin National Park

A view into the courtyard at Kalyan Mosque

The train from the capital of Uzbekistan, Tashkent, to Lake Charvak

Zaamin Reservoir near Zaamin National Park

The Museum of Victims of Political Repression in Tashkent, which is meant to tell the history of Uzbekistan during Soviet Union times

Miri Arab Madrasah in Bukhara

Read More on Uzbekistan:

Along the Great Silk Road: Bukhara, Uzbekistan

Along the Great Silk Road: Khiva, Uzbekistan

The Aral Sea Disaster

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21 Comments

  • Reply
    Lakshmi
    October 21, 2017 at 9:33 am

    Wow..we have been planning for a while…love the pictures

    • Reply
      Eleonore Everywhere
      October 21, 2017 at 12:02 pm

      Enjoy your trip 🙂

  • Reply
    Dawn
    October 21, 2017 at 9:42 am

    Loved this! I have always wanted to travel through the Stan countries..the Aral Sea story is tragic but fascinating and it must be surreal to see.

    • Reply
      Eleonore Everywhere
      October 21, 2017 at 12:02 pm

      Incredibly tragic – and insane that it has disappeared so quickly – but also, as you said, fascinating and surreal to see. I also hope I can visit more of Central Asia one day! Xx

  • Reply
    Kristine
    October 21, 2017 at 10:07 am

    Uzbekistan looks like such an interesting country, with its beautiful architecture and all. Your photos are amazing. Makes me want to pack my bags and go ASAP <3

    • Reply
      Eleonore Everywhere
      October 21, 2017 at 12:01 pm

      Thank you, Kristine 🙂

  • Reply
    Kristen Tcherneshoff
    October 21, 2017 at 11:18 am

    What part of Uzbekistan were you living in? And what’s the top place you would recommend visiting? (As I currently look at travel info and flight costs….)

    • Reply
      Eleonore Everywhere
      October 21, 2017 at 12:00 pm

      I lived in the capital of Tashkent (not the most beautiful city in Uzbekistan by a long stretch – a lot of the beautiful old architecture there was destroyed by an earthquake and replaced with communist style buildings during the soviet era). Samarkand is amazing and a short train ride from Tashkent. I would recommend visiting the Karakalpakstan desert and the area that was formerly the Aral Sea (tragic but fascinating). Bukhara and Khiva are also beautiful cities – very similar in terms of architecture. Zaamin National Park is beautiful – there is also lots of other hiking in the eastern part of the country. The Fergana Valley is also beautiful! Hope that helps! Xx Eleonore

  • Reply
    Abby
    October 21, 2017 at 4:43 pm

    Lovely photos Elenore! The ship graveyard in the Aral seems like a parallel universe. The Zaamin Reservoir looks like somewhere I have to be soon.

  • Reply
    jin
    October 21, 2017 at 5:01 pm

    Omg your photos are amazing! I’ve always wanted to come to this country, but have yet to find the time and money to make it happen. It’s def high on my bucket list!

  • Reply
    Emily
    October 21, 2017 at 5:53 pm

    I honestly had never considered visiting Uzbekistan, but you totally changed my mind! These photos are stunning. The ship graveyard is so eerie, and the mosques are gorgeous! Thanks for opening my eyes to this place.

  • Reply
    Hannah
    October 21, 2017 at 5:59 pm

    Oh my gosh, so beautiful!! Uzbekistan was always kind of on my list, but now it definitely is!

  • Reply
    Tina
    October 21, 2017 at 11:41 pm

    Your photos are really incredible! I know very little about Uzbekistan, but looking at what you’ve posted has certainly inspired me to think about visiting.

  • Reply
    Jordan
    October 22, 2017 at 12:34 pm

    Well Uzbekistan might now be super high on my “Must Visit Country” list due to this post! How cool that you lived here!

  • Reply
    Caity
    October 22, 2017 at 2:59 pm

    These photos are so beautiful! Love it!

  • Reply
    Murodjon Mamadjonov
    November 15, 2018 at 7:17 am

    Awesome photos about my homeland. Feeling really blessed! Thank you for your great post!

    • Reply
      Eleonore Everywhere
      December 19, 2018 at 11:44 am

      Thanks for checking out the photos, Murodjon! I loved living in Uzbekistan – you are from a beautiful and incredible country. 🙂 Xx, Eleonore

  • Reply
    Robiya
    December 7, 2018 at 2:38 am

    Hi my name is Robiya I’m from Uzbekistan this photos are very amazing thanks so much Eleonore for this photo.

    • Reply
      Eleonore Everywhere
      December 19, 2018 at 11:44 am

      Hi Robiya! I love Uzbekistan and miss living there. Glad you enjoyed the photos 🙂 Xx, Eleonore

  • Reply
    Bekzod
    April 11, 2019 at 10:37 pm

    Hey Eleonore.
    Thanks for posting these incredible pictures. I can’t wait to fly back home and see these Places ( Aral sea and Zamin mountains) even I have not been yet!!

    • Reply
      Eleonore Everywhere
      July 3, 2019 at 1:38 pm

      Thank you for reading 🙂 They are great spots to visit in Uzbekistan, I hope you can go one day! Xx, Eleonore

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