Ancient villages meet staggering architecture in this mysterious, land-locked country. Uzbekistan, in the ancient cradle between the Amu-Darya and Syr-Darya rivers, is the most historically fascinating of the Central Asian republics. Within it are some of the oldest towns in the world, some of the Silk Road's main centres and most of the region's architectural splendours.
Capital: Tashkent
President: Islam Karimov
Prime Minister: Shavkat Mirziyayev
Government: republic
Time zone: GMT +5
Area: 447400
Population: 26850000
Languages: Spoken in Samarkand and Bukhara.
Religions: 88% Muslim (mostly Sunnis), 9% Eastern Orthodox
Currency: Uzbekistan Sum (sum)
Country Dialing Code: 998
More regular international flights serve Tashkent than any other Central Asian city. Unfortunately it's also the least friendly airport in the region for first-time visitors; the arrival hall for non-VIPs is a distinctly grim and sweaty place. The airport is about 6km (4mi) south of the city centre. Trains run from Moscow via Samara, across Kazakhstan to Tashkent, or via Urgench, Charjou, Bukhara and Samarkand to Tashkent. It takes about 56 hours to get from Moscow to Tashkent by train. Bringing your own vehicle into Uzbekistan is a logistical nightmare and probably not worth the effort.
Flying is the least edifying and arguably the least safe mode of transport in Uzbekistan. Domestic flights are seriously no-frills - you'll need to pack your own lunch - and have a long way to go before meeting international safety standards. The most popular way of getting between cities on a short haul is by 'marshrutnoe', a shared vehicle which is usually a Daewoo minivan. The train is a better option for longer distances, such as Tashkent to Samarkand and beyond. Although the further you get from Tashkent, the cruddier the trains seem to become. Travelling by bus is the cheapest, but not necessarily the quickest or most comfortable way to get around. Taxis cost a little more than buses, but can be more comfortable, and they're more likely to take you to out-of-the-way places.
Temperatures in Uzbekistan vary wildly, with 20° C (68° F) drops at night and dramatic differences between the deserts and mountains. Rain is minimal, except at higher altitudes, but does tend to turn everything to mud from March to April and October to November. The lowlands can be quite pleasant from May to early June and September to early October. Midsummer (mid-July to August) is insane, with temperatures up to 40° C (104° F) in Tashkent, and 50° C (122° F) in southern Uzbekistan. In winter (January to February), daytime temperatures hover around -5° C to 10° C (23° F to 50° F).
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