Uzbekistan
Things to do in Samarkand
23 places22 stories3 routes
Sightlore has 23 places to explore in Samarkand, and 22 of them come with a 60-second story in 5 languages. Point your camera at a landmark to learn its name and story, and earn points and badges at the places you actually visit.
Samarkand's must-sees
The city's most important places. In the app you see how many you've visited and earn a badge when you've seen them all.
- 1
Rukhabad Mausoleum
Mausoleum of the scholar and saint Sheikh Burhaniddin Sagarji in Samarkand, built in the 1370s, in the early years of Timur's reign.
- 2
Al Bukhari Memorial
The Memorial Complex of Imam al-Bukhari is an Islamic religious complex located in the district of Xo'ja Ismoil in the city of Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
- 3
Khoja Ahrar complex, Samarkand
The Khoja Ahrar Complex is an Islamic religious complex located in the Ulugbek district in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. It is made up of a mosque, madrasa and the tomb of Khwaja Ahrar, a 15th-century Muslim statesman.
- 4
Ulugh Beg Observatory
The Ulugh Beg Observatory is an observatory in modern day Samarkand, Uzbekistan, which was built in the 1420s by the Timurid astronomer Ulugh Beg.
- 5
Gur-e Amir
The Gur-e-Amir, also transcribed Gūr-i Amīr or Guri Amir is a mausoleum of the Turco-Mongol conqueror Timur (also known as Tamerlane) in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
- 6
Shah-i-Zinda
Shah-i-Zinda is a necropolis in the north-eastern part of Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
- 7
Hazrat-Hyzr Mosque
The Hazrat Khizr Mosque is a historical monument in Samarkand, Uzbekistan (mid-19th century); associated with the name of the legendary Islamic prophet Khizr.
- 8
Sherdar Madrasa
The Sherdar Madrasa is a 17th-century madrasa (Islamic school) located on the Registan in the historic center of Samarkand, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Uzbekistan.
- 9
Bibi-Khanym Mosque
The Bibi-Khanym Mosque is one of the most important monuments of Samarkand, Uzbekistan. In the 15th century, it was one of the largest and most magnificent mosques in the Islamic world.
- 10
Siyob Bazaar
Siyob Bazaar, also called Siab Bazaar, is the largest bazaar in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The building is built in the shape of a dome, under which there are several pavilions with a large number of shopping arcades.
Discovery routes in Samarkand
Visit the stops in any order and tap "Check in" at each one; finish the route to earn points and its own badge.
Samarkand: Gur-e Amir, Registan and Bibi-Khanym
From the Aksaray Mausoleum to Gur-e Amir and the Rukhabad Mausoleum; then the Registan with the Ulugh Beg, Sherdar and Tilakari madrasas, the Bibi-Khanym Mosque and Siyob Bazaar.
Samarkand: Shah-i-Zinda, Afrasiyab and Ulugh Beg Observatory
From the Hazrat Khizr Mosque and the Mausoleum of Islam Karimov to Shah-i-Zinda; then Afrasiyab, the Afrasiab Museum, the Khodja Doniyor Mausoleum, the statue of Ulugh Beg and the Ulugh Beg Observatory.
Around Samarkand: mausoleums and Imam al-Bukhari
From the Cathedral of Saint Alexius to the Khoja Ahrar complex, the Ishrat-Khana Mausoleum, the Abdi Darun complex and the Mausoleum of Abu Mansur al-Maturidi; then the Al Bukhari Memorial.
Places to visit
Historic sites
Aksaray mausoleum
A 15th-century architectural monument in Samarkand, the last burial vault of the Timurids.
Gur-e Amir
The Gur-e-Amir, also transcribed Gūr-i Amīr or Guri Amir is a mausoleum of the Turco-Mongol conqueror Timur (also known as Tamerlane) in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
Rukhabad Mausoleum
Mausoleum of the scholar and saint Sheikh Burhaniddin Sagarji in Samarkand, built in the 1370s, in the early years of Timur's reign.
Registan
Registan, officially the Registan Square is a historic public square in the city of Samarkand, Uzbekistan. It served as the heart of the Timurid Empire and later as the city's commercial, educational, and ceremonial center.
Ulugh Beg Madrasa
The Ulugh Beg Madrasa is a madrasa (Islamic school) in the historic center of Samarkand, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Uzbekistan. Together with other monuments, it forms the monumental ensemble of Registan, the old heart of the city.
Sherdar Madrasa
The Sherdar Madrasa is a 17th-century madrasa (Islamic school) located on the Registan in the historic center of Samarkand, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Uzbekistan.
Tilakari Madrasa
The Tilakari Madrasa is a 17th-century madrasa (Islamic school) located on the Registan in the historic center of Samarkand, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Uzbekistan.
Mausoleum of Islam Karimov
Burial place of Islam Karimov, the first president of Uzbekistan, at the Hazrat Khizr Mosque in Samarkand.
Shah-i-Zinda
Shah-i-Zinda is a necropolis in the north-eastern part of Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
Afrasiyab
Afrasiyab is an ancient site in northern Samarkand, present-day Uzbekistan, that was occupied from c. 500 BC to 1220 AD prior to the Mongol invasion in the 13th century. The oldest layers date from the middle of the first millennium BC.
Khodja Doniyor Mausoleum
Khoja Doniyor mausoleum is an architectural monument in Samarkand (built at the beginning of the 20th century). It is located in the east side of the Afrosiyab fortress along the Siyob stream.
Ulugh Beg Observatory
The Ulugh Beg Observatory is an observatory in modern day Samarkand, Uzbekistan, which was built in the 1420s by the Timurid astronomer Ulugh Beg.
Ishrat-Khana Mausoleum
The Ishratkhana Mausoleum is an architectural monument-mausoleum in Samarkand, built during the reign of the Timurid ruler Abu Said (1451-1469).
Khodzha Abdu-Derun Mausoleum
Abdidarun Complex is an ancient shrine located on the eastern side (inside, darun means inside) of the Samarkand fortress wall.
Mausoleum of Abu Mansur al-Maturidi
Memorial complex in Samarkand created for the 1130th anniversary (2000) of the birth of Imam al-Maturidi.
Museums
Afrasiab Museum of Samarkand
The Afrasiab Museum of Samarkand is a museum located at the historical site of Afrasiyab, one of the largest archaeological sites in the world and an ancient city that was destroyed by the Mongols in the early 13th century.
Places of worship
Bibi-Khanym Mosque
The Bibi-Khanym Mosque is one of the most important monuments of Samarkand, Uzbekistan. In the 15th century, it was one of the largest and most magnificent mosques in the Islamic world.
Hazrat-Hyzr Mosque
The Hazrat Khizr Mosque is a historical monument in Samarkand, Uzbekistan (mid-19th century); associated with the name of the legendary Islamic prophet Khizr.
Saint Alexius of Moscow church in Samarkand
Orthodox church in Samarkand built in 1911 and dedicated in 1912 to Saint Alexius of Moscow.
Khoja Ahrar complex, Samarkand
The Khoja Ahrar Complex is an Islamic religious complex located in the Ulugbek district in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. It is made up of a mosque, madrasa and the tomb of Khwaja Ahrar, a 15th-century Muslim statesman.
Al Bukhari Memorial
The Memorial Complex of Imam al-Bukhari is an Islamic religious complex located in the district of Xo'ja Ismoil in the city of Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
Monuments
Statue of Ulugh Beg (Samarkand)
Statue of Ulugh Beg in Samarkand, erected in 2010 and listed as a monument of monumental art.
Other
Siyob Bazaar
Siyob Bazaar, also called Siab Bazaar, is the largest bazaar in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The building is built in the shape of a dome, under which there are several pavilions with a large number of shopping arcades.
Explore Samarkand with your camera
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