Overview
Uzbekistan sits at the heart of the ancient Silk Road and has quickly become one of Central Asia's most accessible destinations for UK travellers. The turquoise domes of Samarkand, the mud-walled old town of Khiva and the busy bazaars of Tashkent can all be seen comfortably in a week. UK passport holders visit visa-free, and there is now a direct flight from London. Use the price charts on this page to see current fares and the cheapest departure dates at a glance.
Best time to fly to Uzbekistan
Spring (April to early June) and autumn (September to October) are the sweet spots, with warm days, cool evenings and clear skies for sightseeing. High summer is punishing in the desert cities, where Bukhara and Khiva regularly pass 40°C. Winters are cold and sometimes below freezing, but flights and hotels are at their cheapest and the monuments look wonderful under snow. Fares tend to climb around the Navruz spring festival in March, so check the When to book chart above before fixing your dates.
Main gateway cities & airports
Tashkent International Airport (TAS) is the principal gateway and the busiest hub, with the widest choice of flights. Samarkand (SKD) and Bukhara (BHK) have smaller international airports that are useful if you want to begin further along the Silk Road, while Urgench (UGC) is the arrival point for Khiva. Fast Afrosiyob trains and domestic flights link all four cities.
Airlines and routes
Uzbekistan Airways operates the only direct service, flying from London Heathrow to Tashkent in around 7 hours several times a week. From Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh and other UK airports you will connect, most often with Turkish Airlines via Istanbul, but also via Dubai with flydubai or through other European and Gulf hubs. Connecting journeys usually take 11 to 16 hours in total depending on the layover, and one-stop fares are frequently cheaper than the non-stop, so it pays to compare both.
Popular places to visit in Uzbekistan
- Samarkand: the show-stopping Registan ensemble and Timur's mausoleum, the classic image of the Silk Road.
- Bukhara: a lived-in medieval centre of madrassahs, trading domes and a landmark minaret.
- Khiva: the compact walled city of Itchan Kala, best explored at dawn or dusk.
- Tashkent: the leafy capital, with an ornate Soviet-era metro, good museums and the huge Chorsu Bazaar.
- Nurata & Aydarkul Lake: yurt stays and camel rides on the edge of the Kyzylkum Desert.
Top tips for finding cheap flights to Uzbekistan
- Travel in winter or late autumn, outside the spring and autumn tourist peaks, for the lowest fares.
- Compare the direct Heathrow flight against one-stop routes via Istanbul, which are often cheaper.
- Book two to four months ahead, as Uzbekistan Airways seats and shoulder-season connections sell out early.
- Use the price charts on this page to spot the cheapest departure days before you book.
Travel essentials
British passport holders can enter Uzbekistan visa-free for stays of up to 30 days, and your passport should be valid for the duration of your trip. The currency is the Uzbekistani som (UZS); carry some cash for smaller towns, though cards are widely accepted in city hotels and restaurants. Keep your hotel registration slips, as you may be asked for them on departure. For the best value, book flights a few months out and check the When to book chart above for current pricing.
