8 October 2026 9
Samarkand Without a Visa: Why Russians Are Flocking to Uzbekistan

Are more Russians travelling to Uzbekistan in 2026? Yes. Uzbekistan's Tourism Committee counted 465,885 visitors from Russia in January–May 2026, up from 334,275 a year earlier — growth of more than 30%. Russia's tour operators' association ATOR, using border-service data, recorded more than 165,000 Russian tourist trips to Uzbekistan in January–June 2026, 55.4% more than a year before.

Behind those numbers is a feeling many Russian travellers describe the same way: Uzbekistan is close, warm and welcoming, yet it still surprises. You step off the plane, hear familiar words in the street, smell bread from a tandoor oven — and within a day you are standing in front of the Registan, wondering why you waited so long.

Tours to Uzbekistan from Russia: what the 2026 numbers say

The two sets of figures measure different things, so it is worth reading them carefully. According to the Tourism Committee, quoted by Vestnik Kavkaza, the May holidays alone brought more than 124,000 Russians to Uzbekistan, compared with 94,200 in the same period of 2025. ATOR's border-based count of tourist trips, reported by BFM.ru, shows Uzbekistan growing faster than its neighbours: over the same January–June period, trips to Kyrgyzstan rose by 7.84% and to Tajikistan by 19.53%, against 55.4% for Uzbekistan.

Different methods, one clear direction: more and more travellers from Russia are choosing the Silk Road for their holidays.

Do Russians need a visa for Uzbekistan?

No. Citizens of Russia enter Uzbekistan visa-free with a valid international passport (zagranpasport); an internal Russian passport is not accepted, and children need their own international passport. According to Travelto, Russians do not need to register during the first 15 days of their stay; for longer trips, temporary registration is required, and hotels usually handle it for their guests. Rules can change, so check them shortly before you travel or ask our team.

Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva in autumn: a Silk Road holiday that feels like home

Autumn is a gentle season in Uzbekistan: soft light on the tiled portals of Samarkand, quiet evenings in the old quarter of Bukhara, bazaars piled high with grapes, pomegranates and melons. In Khiva, the walls of Itchan Kala glow amber at sunset, and the whole town feels like a museum you are allowed to live in for a night.

For a first trip, our historical tour of Uzbekistan links the great cities of the Silk Road at a comfortable pace. If your heart is in the kitchen, the Taste of the Great Silk Road food journey takes you from plov centres to family courtyards. Photographers will love the Silk Road photo tour, timed for golden hours at the most beautiful monuments.

Plan your trip now: New Year and winter holidays fill up early

With demand from Russia growing this fast, the best hotels in Samarkand and Bukhara and the most convenient trains are worth securing early, especially for the winter holidays. GoUzbekistan is a licensed tour operator with offices in Tashkent and Bukhara, operating since 2007. We arrange transfers, guides, train tickets and hotels. Tell us your dates: create your own custom tour or explore our tours. WhatsApp: +998 93 963-00-00, email: info@gouzbekistan.com.

Plan your Uzbekistan trip — in your language

العربية

السياحة في أوزبكستان تشهد نموًا كبيرًا في 2026: سمرقند وبخارى وخيوة على طريق الحرير تستقبل المزيد من الزوار كل شهر. خطّط لرحلتك مبكرًا مع فريق محلي مرخّص. صمّم رحلتك الخاصة

Deutsch

Usbekistan Reise im Herbst: weiches Licht über Samarkand, ruhige Abende in Buchara und die Stadtmauern von Chiwa im Sonnenuntergang. Planen Sie Ihre Seidenstraße Rundreise rechtzeitig, die Nachfrage wächst. Jetzt Reise planen

Español

Viajes a Uzbekistán en otoño: luz dorada sobre Samarcanda, bazares llenos de granadas y uvas, y las murallas de Jiva al atardecer. Reserva pronto tu Ruta de la Seda, porque la demanda no deja de crecer. Diseña tu viaje

Français

Un voyage Ouzbékistan en automne : lumière dorée sur Samarcande, soirées paisibles à Boukhara et remparts de Khiva au coucher du soleil. Réservez tôt votre Route de la Soie, la demande progresse vite. Créez votre voyage

中文

秋季乌兹别克斯坦旅游:撒马尔罕的金色光影、布哈拉宁静的夜晚、希瓦古城墙上的落日。丝绸之路热度持续上升,建议尽早预订行程。定制您的行程

Русский

Туры в Узбекистан набирают популярность: за первое полугодие 2026 года поездок россиян стало на 55% больше. Самарканд, Бухара и Хива на Шёлковом пути ждут вас — без визы, по загранпаспорту. Создайте свой тур

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