Where to Stay in Samarkand: Best Hotels & Neighbourhoods
Like any trip, choosing where to stay in Samarkand makes a huge difference to your overall experience. The city’s main sights are spread out, and while taxis between them aren’t expensive, having the right base can make your overall time in Samarkand easier.
On my most recent stay in Samarkand, I stayed in the Kosh Havuz Hotel. I was travelling solo, so I loved being able to walk out the door and be at Registan five minutes later for the nightly illuminations. I’ve always found Uzbekistan safe, but all the same, I liked being central enough that I didn’t have to rely on taxis or long walks at night.
In this guide, I’ll run you through the most popular areas to stay in Samarkand, and then recommend where to stay depending on the type of trip you’re planning; whether you only have two nights, want to be close to the historic sights, or you’re looking for a luxury stay.
I’ve also picked out the hotels I’d consider booking for each type of trip, so you can quickly figure out what area is right for you and what places should make it onto your shortlist.
Neighbourhoods to Choose From
When you’re picking where to stay in Samarkand, it’s more about what sights you want to be close to, rather than village-within-a-city type neighbourhoods that you’ll find in the likes of London or Paris. For most visitors to Samarkand, the key points of interest are going to be high on the itinerary, especially if you’re only passing through for a couple of days.
Around Registan and Historic Centre
Top Hotel Pick
Kamila Terrace Hotel. One of the highest rated in the area, with a rooftop terrace overlooking Registan – imagine your morning coffee with that view!
This is the obvious choice if your priority is being close to Samarkand’s major historic sights. Registan, Gur-e-Amir, Bibi Khanum Mosque and Siyob Bazaar are all around this area, and you’ll find plenty of good hotels and guesthouses in the area.
Pros: Excellent for sightseeing, atmospheric, lots of smaller hotels.
Cons: Less choice of restaurants oddly enough, and the more modern hotels are in newer parts of the city.
University Boulevard & The Modern City
Top Hotel Pick
Continental Hotel Samarkand. This is a total gear shift from some of the lovely local guesthouses, and more in the luxury hotel category. If you’re looking for comfort while you’re exploring the sights of Samarkand, this is worth a look.
West of the historic centre, the area around University Boulevard feels much more like a modern city. You’ll find broader, greener streets, plenty of new build apartments popping up, restaurants and cafes, and larger, more modern hotels.
Pros: More restaurants, larger hotels, quieter, good balance between old and new.
Cons: You won’t have the major monuments right outside your door.
Around Bibi-Khanym and Siyob Bazaar
Top Hotel Pick
Kosh Havuz Hotel. It’s kind of between Registan and Bibi Khanym, and it’s a beautiful boutique hotel with a rooftop bar and rooftop hot tubs. This is where I stayed on my last visit to Samarkand and I can’t recommend it enough.
While this is technically covered in the “Historic centre” bit above, it still warrants its own section as the vibe is slightly different. If your stay in Samarkand is around here, you’ll still be able to walk to Registan, but it’s also where you’ll find a wider range of restaurants and quiet streets.
Pros: Historic atmosphere, close to Bibi Khanym and Siyob, good for exploring on foot.
Cons: Fewer standard hotels.
Should you stay near Samarkand railway station?
If you’re travelling around Uzbekistan by train, you may ask whether it makes sense to stay near the station. Honestly, I wouldn’t. Even if you’re only staying one night, the main sights of the city are elsewhere and I’m yet to come across a city where the main railway station neighbourhood was the nicest part of it.
Use the YandexGo app for taxis around Uzbekistan. If you’re staying in the centre, allow yourself about 25 minutes to get to the railway station. It’s usually a pretty quick journey, but morning traffic or roadworks can slow you down.
Where to Stay in Samarkand If…
You only have two nights
If you’ve only got a two night stay in Samarkand, Kosh Havuz Hotel is an easy pick. This is where I stayed on my most recent trip, which was also for two nights. It’s located on a quiet street, but it’s right in between Registan and Bibi Khanym mosque, so it’s an easy walking distance to both.
The hotel itself is also gorgeous. I was coming here after a trip through Tajikistan and it was such a treat to wind down my travel day with a glass of Uzbek wine on the rooftop terrace.
History is your priority
For a historical stay in Samarkand, I’d recommend Khan Hotel. I stayed here on my first trip to Uzbekistan, and it’s quite literally across the road from the Shah-i-Zinda complex. If you’re planning to go to the necropolis at sunrise to beat the crowds, you can’t stay in a better spot.
You’re vegan
Earlier this year, I spent time reaching out to a bunch of hotels and guesthouses in Samarkand to find out who had vegan options for their guests. You can find the whole list in this post, Where to Stay in Samarkand as a Vegan, but my top pick for vegan travellers is the Green House Eco Hotel.
Of all the hotels I spoke to, they were the most excited about their veggie offerings, telling me a story about a woman who travelled out to them just to try their food.
You want to treat yourself
I’m going to throw a wildcard out here, and suggest the Silk Road Hotel if you’re after luxury. It’s located outside of the city, in “new” Samarkand – an area that’s being rapidly developed along the river.
This is the closest you’ll find to international luxury hotel in the city, although you will need to call taxis to get in and out of the main sights of the city. If you want something closer, I’d still vote for my earlier pick of Kosh Havuz, but if you want pure luxury, then Silk Road it is.
You want restaurants nearby
If you want to be within walking distance of places to grab a bite, then my pick is Bibikhanum Hotel. As the name may suggest, it’s right by the Bibi Khanym mosque, which means you’re also stumbling distance from the Siyob Bazaar, and the nearby Tashkent Road is lined with restaurants. I’m partial to the Bibikhanum Teahouse, and there’s a new veggie place, Samarkind, that opened early 2026 that I’d highly recommend.
You want a local experience
If you want your stay in Samarkand to be a more local experience, then you can’t go wrong with a homestay. Seasons Homestay is one of the most centrally located, with reviews praising the hospitality of the owner – which honestly, if you’ve met Uzbek people, is not remotely surprising.
Conclusion
Given that I’ve mentioned it a couple of times throughout this post, it’s probably no surprise that Kosh Havuz is where I had my best stay in Samarkand. I’d just been on the road in Tajikistan for the last few days, including a night sleeping on a wooden block covered with purple sheets with the word “crying” printed all over them.
By the time I crossed the border into Uzbekistan and took a shared taxi to Registan, I was already so happy to be returning to the country. Rocking up to Kosh Havuz, I pushed open the unassuming doors to walk into the most beautiful lobby, a sunlit courtyard glimmering in the background.
For me, as a solo female traveller, I like to stay in places that are fairly central so I can get around independently. Kosh Havuz was perfect for that – I could get a Yandex taxi easily outside the hotel, or I could wander out and be at some of the main sights in minutes. Likewise, it’s central enough that I could head back easily if I wanted a quick power nap or a shower after the midday sun.
Wherever you stay in Samarkand yourself, I hope this post has been helpful in narrowing down your options. And, more importantly, I hope you have a wonderful trip.
