Uzbekistan asks a little more of your suitcase than a beach holiday does. You will walk cobblestones under a fierce sun, step into cool marble mausoleums where the rules change at the threshold, and move between a 40°C afternoon and a genuinely cold desert night. Pack for that reality and the trip gets easier. Below is what we actually recommend bringing, organised so you can build your own list without overthinking it.
What to wear by season
Uzbekistan is a landlocked, continental climate: hot, dry summers and cold winters, with two golden shoulder seasons in between. What you pack depends heavily on when you go, so if your dates are still flexible, read our guide to the best time to visit Uzbekistan first.
Spring and autumn (April–May, September–October)
These are the easiest months to dress for and the most popular for good reason. Days are warm and pleasant, evenings cool off noticeably. Pack layers: breathable tops, a light sweater or fleece, and a packable jacket for the mornings and after dark. A light scarf earns its place for women (more on that below). This is the sweet spot where one carry-on genuinely does the job.
Summer (June–August)
Summer is hot and can push past 40°C in Bukhara and Khiva, with very low humidity. The instinct to wear as little as possible works against you here: loose, light-coloured, long-sleeved cotton and linen keep the sun off your skin and actually feel cooler than exposed skin baking in direct light. Think flowing trousers and long skirts over shorts. You will thank yourself at the religious sites too, where covered shoulders and knees are expected regardless of the heat.
Winter (November–March)
Winter is genuinely cold, with temperatures around or below freezing and occasional snow that makes Samarkand’s blue domes photograph beautifully. Bring a proper insulated coat, gloves, a warm hat, and thermal layers. Interiors are heated but often unevenly, so the layering approach still wins. Fewer crowds are the reward for the chill.
Dress etiquette for mosques and mausoleums
Uzbekistan is one of the more secular countries in Central Asia, and in the cities Western clothing is completely normal. Nobody expects you to cover up walking around Tashkent or a Samarkand café. The rules tighten at active religious sites, and getting them right is a matter of basic respect rather than strict enforcement. Our full Uzbek culture and etiquette guide goes deeper, but here is the packing-relevant version.
- Everyone: cover shoulders and knees inside working mosques and mausoleums. No tank tops, no short shorts, no bare shoulders. This applies to men too.
- Women: carry a lightweight scarf to cover your hair inside active mosques and some mausoleums. It doubles as sun protection and a shoulder cover, so it is the single most useful thing in your bag.
- Shoes off: you will remove your shoes before entering prayer areas. Slip-on shoes or ones with easy laces save you a lot of fumbling at doorways.
- Provided cover-ups: large tourist sites often hand out wrap skirts or cloaks at the entrance if you turn up underdressed, but relying on that is a gamble. Bring your own and stay comfortable.
A practical tip: choosing an outfit each morning that already meets the mosque standard means you never have to change plans on the fly. Loose trousers plus a top with sleeves, and a scarf in your daypack, covers you at every site in Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva. The shoulders-and-knees rule has been stable for years, so once you have one compliant outfit you can repeat the formula every day without a second thought.
Footwear for cobblestones and long days
This is the item most people underestimate. Uzbekistan’s old cities are paved in uneven cobblestone, brick and stone, and a full day of sightseeing easily racks up 15,000 to 20,000 steps. Fashion sandals and new shoes are a mistake here.
- Bring comfortable, broken-in walking shoes or trainers with proper support and grip. Slip-on styles are ideal given how often you take them off at religious sites.
- Add a pair of sturdy walking sandals for hot summer days, but avoid flimsy flip-flops on cobbles.
- Pack more socks than you think you need, and consider blister plasters in your daypack from day one.
Sun protection
The sun is strong for much of the year and the dry air hides how much it is affecting you. Don’t skimp here.
- High-SPF sunscreen (harder to buy locally at a price you will like, so bring your own).
- A wide-brimmed hat or cap.
- Sunglasses with real UV protection.
- A refillable water bottle. Staying hydrated in the dry heat matters more than you would expect, and refilling saves money and plastic.
Electrical: plugs, voltage and adapters
Uzbekistan uses Type C and Type F plugs (the standard two-round-pin European style), running on 220V at 50Hz (last checked: July 2026). If you are coming from the UK, US, or anywhere with a different socket, you need a travel adapter.
- From Europe: your plugs already fit. No adapter needed.
- From the UK, US, Australia, and most other regions: bring a Type C/F or universal travel adapter.
- Voltage: phones, laptops and camera chargers are almost always dual-voltage (check for “100–240V” on the brick) and work fine. Single-voltage 110V appliances like some US hair tools will need a voltage converter, not just an adapter.
- A power bank is worth its weight for long sightseeing days and train rides.
You can confirm the current plug and voltage details on Power Plugs & Sockets before you fly.
Tech: SIM, internet and VPN
Connectivity in Uzbekistan has improved a lot. A local SIM or eSIM is cheap and covers the cities well; we walk through the options in our Uzbekistan SIM card and internet guide. A few tech notes for the packing stage:
- Unlocked phone: essential if you want to use a local SIM. Check yours is unlocked before you leave home.
- VPN: install a reputable VPN app before you arrive. It is useful for accessing some services and for security on public Wi-Fi, and downloading one after you land is always more of a hassle.
- Offline backups: download offline maps, a translation app with the Uzbek and Russian packs, and any tickets or booking confirmations before you go.
- A universal adapter (see above) plus a multi-port charger keeps all your devices topped up from one socket.
Health and medications
Pharmacies exist in every city, but brands and availability differ from home and staff may not speak English. Bring what you rely on.
- All prescription medication in its original packaging, plus a copy of the prescription. Bring more than the trip length in case of delays.
- A small kit: painkillers, anti-diarrhoea tablets, rehydration sachets, antihistamines, plasters and any personal essentials.
- Hand sanitiser and a small pack of tissues. Public toilets do not always supply paper.
- Stomach upsets are the most common traveller complaint; ease into rich local food and stick to bottled or filtered water at first.
Money and documents
Uzbekistan is still a largely cash economy outside big hotels and modern shops, and the local currency (the som) comes in high-denomination notes, so you end up carrying a thick stack. Card acceptance is growing but not universal, and ATMs can be temperamental. Plan your budget with our Uzbekistan travel costs guide.
- A slim cash pouch or money belt. Genuinely useful here given how much cash you may hold at once.
- Crisp, undamaged US dollars or euros to exchange. Torn or marked notes are often refused.
- At least two payment cards from different networks, kept separately as a backup.
- A physical and digital copy of your passport, visa (if required) and travel insurance.
Uzbekistan is a safe and welcoming destination for travellers; if that is on your mind, see our honest take on whether Uzbekistan is safe.
Quick checklist
Copy this, delete what doesn’t apply to your season, and you are set.
| Category | Essentials |
|---|---|
| Clothing | Loose long-sleeve tops, breathable trousers/long skirt, layers, jacket (season-dependent), sleepwear |
| Modest dress | Lightweight scarf (women), tops with sleeves, knee-covering bottoms |
| Footwear | Broken-in slip-on walking shoes, sandals (summer), plenty of socks, blister plasters |
| Sun protection | High-SPF sunscreen, wide-brim hat, UV sunglasses, refillable water bottle |
| Electrical | Type C/F or universal adapter, dual-voltage chargers, power bank, multi-port charger |
| Tech | Unlocked phone, VPN app, offline maps, translation app, downloaded tickets |
| Health | Prescriptions + copies, mini first-aid kit, hand sanitiser, tissues, rehydration sachets |
| Money & docs | Cash pouch/money belt, crisp USD/EUR, two cards, passport/visa/insurance copies |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do women have to cover their hair in Uzbekistan?
Not in daily life. Uzbekistan is secular and women dress in normal Western clothing in the cities without any head covering. A scarf is only needed to cover your hair inside active mosques and some mausoleums. Carry a lightweight one in your daypack and you are always ready.
What plug adapter do I need for Uzbekistan?
Uzbekistan uses Type C and Type F sockets at 220V, 50Hz. Travellers from Europe need nothing. Everyone else, including the UK, US and Australia, should bring a Type C/F or universal travel adapter. Check that your chargers say “100–240V” so you only need an adapter and not a bulky voltage converter.
Can I wear shorts in Uzbekistan?
Knee-length shorts are fine for walking around cities in summer, though loose trousers or a long skirt are cooler in the dry heat and more common. Short shorts and bare shoulders are not appropriate at religious sites, where both men and women must cover shoulders and knees.
Should I bring cash or rely on cards?
Bring both, but lean on cash. Many restaurants, markets and small guesthouses are cash-only, and ATMs can be unreliable. Carry crisp US dollars or euros to exchange, plus two cards from different networks as backup. A slim money belt helps because you will often be holding a thick wad of som.
Is a VPN necessary in Uzbekistan?
It is not strictly required for a normal trip, but it is worth installing before you arrive. A reputable VPN protects your data on public Wi-Fi and can help you reach services that are patchy locally. Set it up at home, since downloading and configuring one after you land is more awkward.
What shoes are best for Uzbekistan?
Comfortable, broken-in walking shoes with good grip for uneven cobblestone. Slip-on styles are ideal because you remove your shoes at mosques and mausoleums throughout the day. Add sturdy walking sandals for summer, and skip anything new or flimsy.
Final word
Pack light, pack modest, and pack for a wider temperature swing than you expect. Get the scarf, the slip-on shoes and the adapter right, and the rest of Uzbekistan takes care of itself. Safe travels.
Featured image: Panpanchik (CC BY 4.0) via Wikimedia Commons.
