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Useful information and travel tips before visiting Uzbekistan

Useful information about Uzbekistan and travel tips you should know before traveling:

Tashkent International Airport

Unlike most airports of the world, Tashkent International Airport is located in the city itself, not in a suburb. Moreover, passenger-waiting people (guides, drivers, relatives…) are not allowed to enter inside Tashkent International Airport to meet passengers due to security reasons. They wait 50-60 m away from the exit of the Airport behind a lattice fence. Sometimes, travelers get confused upon arrival in Tashkent and complain as if drivers or guides did not meet them…

Hotel registration sticker/slip in Uzbekistan

Upon check-in, usually hotels ask original passports for the registration. They check visas, get passport details to insert into their systems and return it after a while because hotels’ staffs are fully responsible for the inserted data’s correctness. Upon check-out, hotels give a registration slip/sticker. A traveler should keep it till departure because border security staff may check the existence of a registration slip/sticker randomly upon departing Uzbekistan.

If a traveler stays in a yurt, camp, camper or similar accommodations except hotels and guesthouses, a tour company or a traveler himself should register in the web page EMEHMON 72 hours before staying in such accommodations. Afterward, a traveler should keep the slip of the registration till departure because border security staff may check the existence of a registration slip/sticker randomly upon departing Uzbekistan.

Amount of money to bring to Uzbekistan

Question: How much can I bring cash to Uzbekistan?

Answer: Starting from 01 Sep 2020, individuals can bring to/take out from Uzbekistan foreign cash money in an amount equal or not exceeding the equivalent of 70 million Uzbek Soum (approximately 6840 USD at the rate of the Central Bank of Uzbekistan) without filling any declaration at the borders of Uzbekistan. Such travelers pass a green corridor of Uzbek borders which enables traveler to pass formalities quickly and easily.  Iindividuals can take out from Uzbekistan foreign cash money in an amount equal or not exceeding the equivalent of 100 million Uzbek Soum (approximately 9774 USD at the rate of the Central Bank of Uzbekistan) by filling the declaration blank at the borders of Uzbekistan.

Certainly, there is no limit for the amount of money in the Cards.

Money exchange in Uzbekistan

Uzbek currency is soum (sum); * you can always find out the current dollar rate in relation to the Uzbek soum (sum) on the currency rates page on the website of the Central Bank of Uzbekistan.

Question: What is the best currency to take to Uzbekistan?

Answer: The following currencies are converted easily into Uzbek Soums in the banks and relatively big hotels of the country:

  • Swiss Frank-CHF
  • UK pound-GBP
  • Euro-EUR
  • USA dollar-USD
  • Japanese Yens-JPY

Anyway, the most popular foreign currency is USD.

We highly recommend changing partially in small amount. Otherwise, a traveler cannot change back to USD (or any other foreign currency) after completing the tour.

Banknotes should be clean (free from holes, spots, cut-offs, stamps or handwriting), not bent or not faded. Otherwise, banks would charge approximately 5-10% for the damaged banknotes depending on their damage condition.

ATM cash withdrawal in Uzbekistan

Question: Are there ATMs in Uzbekistan?

Answer: Nowadays there are a lot of ATMs in Uzbekistan: hotels, restaurants, train stations, airports, sights and banks…

ATM machines dispense Uzbek Soum and USD. Most AMT machines accept Maestro card or Visa card, and some MasterCard, too.

Credit Cards in Uzbekistan

Question: Can I use credit cards in Uzbekistan?

Answer: Payments by credit cards are available mostly in big hotels, souvenir shops and restaurants of Uzbekistan. Visa card is more popular in use than MasterCard. 3% is an average commission.

Religion in Uzbekistan

Question: Is Uzbekistan an Islamic/Muslim country?

Answer: Uzbekistan is a multinational country with various types of believers. More than 90% population of Uzbekistan is Muslim, mostly followers of the Hannafi branch of Sunnism. Most Muslims are liberal: partially following Islam rules: some fast and some do not, some pray and some do not… At the same time some layers of the society (esp. in Ferghana valley and Tashkent) are the most devout Muslims in all of Central Asia.

Moreover, freedom of religion is guaranteed in the Constitution of Uzbekistan.

Question: Is alcohol allowed in Uzbekistan?

Answer: Yes, it is allowed. Alcohol shops are available in any part of the country.

Clothing in Uzbekistan

Question: What should I wear in Uzbekistan?

Answer: There is no strict requirement/dress code in Uzbekistan. Depending on season and keeping in mind that the climate of Uzbekistan is mostly continental, a traveler can choose casual style of clothing.  Certainly, some special tours like trekking/hiking tours need proper trekking shoes, trousers …

Lady travelers should keep in mind that it is better to have scarves to cover their open shoulders when visiting mosques and mausoleums.

You can find more useful advice before travelling by visiting our web page “What to pack for a trip”.