Bukhara
A minaret raised in 1127, more than 140 protected monuments, and a pool of the 1620s under old trees.
- Arrival
- Bukhara International · BHK
- To the city
- About 8 km to the centre
- Private jets
- Land at BHK, VIP hall in the terminal
- Best time
- April to May · September to October
The city
A mediaeval city, still lived in.
Bukhara is more than two thousand years old, and its historic centre, on the UNESCO list since 1993, is often described as the most complete mediaeval city surviving in Central Asia. More than 140 monuments are protected, from the Samanid Mausoleum of the late ninth or early tenth century to Chor-Minor, built in 1807.
Life gathers round Lyabi-Hauz, the pool laid out about 1620 for the grand vizier Nadir Divan-Begi, and under the trading domes of the sixteenth century. April and May, September and October bring afternoons in the twenties; from June to August the heat reaches 35 to 37 °C and no rain falls at all.
- Kalyan Minaret Raised in 1127 to 45.6 metres, the centrepiece of the Poi-Kalyan ensemble of mosque and madrasas.
- The Ark The citadel above the old town, much of it destroyed in the Red Army’s assault of 1920.
- Samanid Mausoleum A mausoleum from the late ninth or early tenth century, some nine centuries older than Chor-Minor.
Arriving
A small airport, a larger one planned.
Bukhara International lies about 8 km from the centre and handled more than 574,000 passengers in 2025, most of them on international flights. A new airport complex is planned at Kumsulton, in Bukhara district, with a terminal for 1,200 international passengers an hour.
- Tashkent 55 min
- Baku 1 h 55
- Dubai 2 h 40
- Istanbul 4 h 15
- Tokyo 8 h 40 long-range jet
When to go
April to May, and September to October.
A desert climate: hot, dry summers and short, chilly winters, with little rain at any time. April and May, September and October have highs of 22 to 30 °C. From June to August the heat reaches 35 to 37 °C; January highs average 6 °C.
- 6° J 22
- 9° F 17
- 16° M 32
- 24° A 30
- 30° M 11
- 35° J 1
- 37° J 0
- 35° A 0
- 30° S 1
- 22° O 5
- 15° N 12
- 8° D 21
Where to stay
Close to Lyabi-Hauz.
Shown for information. We have no arrangement with any of these hotels.
- Mercure Bukhara Old Town Near Lyabi-Hauz and the trading domes, with an indoor pool and the Saffron restaurant’s terrace over the old city.
- Wyndham Bukhara Two hundred and twelve rooms within walking distance of the monuments, with a seasonal outdoor pool and the Prana spa.
- Grand Bukhara Hotel One hundred and forty-eight rooms about five minutes on foot from the Lyabi-Hauz ensemble.
- Asia Bukhara A two-storey hotel with a façade in the style of a madrasa, an outdoor pool and a bar on the roof.
- Sahid Zarafshon A business hotel of 148 rooms with indoor, outdoor and children’s pools and six restaurants.
Elsewhere in Uzbekistan
More reasons to come.
Flying to Bukhara?
Choose how you arrive.
A Business or First Class seat on a scheduled airline, or an aircraft of your own. Tell us the date and how many are travelling, and we reply with one final price, our margin included.