Bukhara walking route: Toki-Zargaron to Ismail Samani
The interactive route in Bukhara includes five key attractions: the Toki-Zargaron trading domes with carpets and spices, the ancient Citadel of the Ark, the mausoleum of Ismail Samani with poetic brick architecture, the summer palace of Sitorai Mokhi-Khosa and basic information about the history of the city. The route covers the central regions of Bukhara, revealing the medieval architecture and cultural heritage of Uzbekistan.
- Distance
- 12.1 km
- Mode
- Places
- Start
- Toki-Zargar
- End
- A Brief Overview of Bukhara
- Stops
- 5
- Video author
- travmap
- Updated
Stops on this route
- Toki-Zargar — Trading dome filled with carpets, copper goods, spices and local craftsmen.
- Ark Citadel — Ancient fortress and royal residence that served as the seat of Bukharan rulers.
- The Mausoleum of Ismail Saman — 10th-century mausoleum considered a masterpiece of early Islamic brick architecture.
- Star of the Moon-Flower — Summer palace of the last Emir of Bukhara, famous for its elegant peacocks.
- A Brief Overview of Bukhara
Useful for your trip
- Tip
- The route in Bukhara can be completed in one day: Lyabi-Khauz, Khanaka Divan-Begi, trade domes, Magoki-Attari Mosque, madrasah, Minaret and Kalyan Mosque, Ark Citadel, Ismail Samani Mausoleum
- Tip
- In Bukhara, Tajik is spoken, not Uzbek. Many locals also speak Russian
- Timing
- In the evening, be sure to return to Lyabi-Hauz Square for beautiful photos with the reflection of the domes in the water
- Tip
- In the old city of Bukhara, out of 120 historical reservoirs, only 4-5 remain. The main one is Lyabi-Hauz with a depth of 6 meters, with stairs to the bottom
- Tip
- The monument to Khoja Nasreddin is rubbed by tourists by the nose - a local tradition for good luck
- Tip
- In the commercial domes (Toki), the architecture is specially designed for coolness: hot air escapes through the upper windows, and the houses catch passing merchants
- Tip
- The Magoki-Attari Mosque is one of the most ancient (10-12 centuries). The name means 'recess', as the mosque is below street level due to the rise of the ground over time
- Tip
- Abdullaziz Khan Madrasah is the oldest surviving madrasah in Central Asia. Initially, it was a hotel, which the ruler ordered to convert into a madrasah
- Tip
- There was a Jewish community in Bukhara. Jews worked in trade domes (Toki-Sarrofon) with currency changers, since Muslims were forbidden to do so
- Tip
- Uzbekistan has changed a lot over the past 10-20 years: it is open to tourists, infrastructure is developing, investors from different countries are being attracted
- Tip
- Zafar guide contact: +998883037343. He conducts tours of Bukhara in Russian
Video on this route
Bukhara 2026: Free guided tour. Full itinerary, History, Prices