Is Uzbekistan safe for tourists? A local view

Street crime against tourists is uncommon. Most travellers walk the old towns of Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand late into the evening without a second thought. The usual precautions apply: keep valuables out of sight in crowded bazaars and on public transport, and use hotel safes.

The scams you are most likely to meet are small: - Taxis that don’t agree a price in advance. Agree the fare before getting in, or use a ride-hailing app where it works. - Unofficial money changers. Use banks, hotel desks and ATMs. The official rate is fair, and the street rarely beats it now. - "Free" gifts or photos with costumed performers or birds at monuments, followed by a request for money.

Police are visible in tourist areas, and there are road checkpoints between regions. Carry your passport (or a good copy, with the original at the hotel, if your guide agrees) and keep hotel registration slips. Checks are routine and polite. Don’t photograph police, military sites, border posts or the metro’s security staff.

Road traffic is the main safety risk in Uzbekistan, as in much of the region. Driving can be fast and assertive, pedestrians don’t always get priority, and long desert roads invite speeding. We plan realistic driving days, avoid driving long distances at night and use experienced drivers with well-maintained vehicles. When crossing streets in cities, use underpasses and crossings.

• Water: drink bottled or filtered water. Most hotels provide it.
• Food: stomach upsets are the most common complaint. Eat freshly cooked food, wash hands before meals, and be careful with salads and unpeeled fruit early in your trip.
• Heat: from June to August, afternoon temperatures in Khiva and Bukhara often pass 40 °C. Sightsee early and late, drink a lot and cover your head.
• Medical care: good private clinics exist in Tashkent; elsewhere facilities are more basic. Take out travel insurance that covers evacuation.
• Medicines: some common medicines are controlled. See the visa guide.

Women travel in Uzbekistan alone and in groups without serious problems. Unwanted attention is generally limited to curious questions. Modest clothing (shoulders and knees covered) is expected at religious sites and helps outside the big cities. Female guides can be arranged on request.

Be aware that sexual relations between men are illegal in Uzbekistan, and public attitudes are conservative. LGBT+ travellers do visit without problems, but public displays of affection are best avoided, as they are for all couples. Check your government’s travel advice for current guidance.

Areas close to the Afghan border, around Termez, have specific rules; visit them with a guide. Some border zones in the Fergana Valley and the mountains require permits or are closed. The Aral Sea and the deserts of Karakalpakstan are remote: travel with a well-equipped 4×4 and an experienced driver. See Karakalpakstan.

Read your government’s advice before you travel, for example the UK Foreign Office or the US State Department. For the region as a whole, see Is Central Asia safe?.