What to see in Shahrisabz in one day: 5 best places

Shahrisabz is a fascinating and historic city located about 100 kilometres south of Samarkand. Known as the ‘birthplace of Amir Timur’, the city is replete with monuments dating from the time of this great conqueror.

Although there is evidence that the area has been inhabited for more than 2000 years, it could be said that from the 7th century onwards it began to have a certain relevance as a city.

In that century, it was founded by King Kesh, a Sogdian ruler who made it an important commercial and cultural centre. Thus, until the 14th century, the city was called Kesh.

When Amir Temur, the Mongol conqueror who was born in the city, laid the foundations of his empire. He changed the name from Kesh to Shahrisabz, which can also be spelled Shahrisabz or Shahr-e Sabz, meaning ‘green city’.

During the reign of Amir Timur, Shahrisabz became one of the most prosperous and beautiful cities in the world. The conqueror ordered the construction of several impressive monuments, such as the Ak-Saray Palace, the Dorus Saodat complex and the Kok-Gumbaz Mosque.

After the death of Amir Timur, Shahrisabz lost its political and economic importance, was sacked several times by foreign invaders, and its population declined considerably.

In the 19th century, Shahrisabz experienced a cultural renaissance, becoming an important centre of Uzbek culture. Several new monuments were built, including the Hazrati Imam Mosque.

The list of places to visit in Shahrisabz that we’ve compiled in this article and our recommendations are based on our experience travelling around Uzbekistan on our own for three weeks. We hope you like it!

🔝 Take a look at our guide to travelling in Uzbekistan (soon), where you’ll find tips, recommendations, prices and curiosities for travelling around the country.

🔝 See also our suggested itinerary for Uzbekistan in 15 days (soon) (and we’ll show you the one we did!).

Shahrisabz, a World Heritage Site in Danger

✅ The historic centre of Shahrisabz is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, although in 2016 it was included in the list of World Heritage Sites in danger due to the destruction of a large part of its historic centre.

🔘 Mira el resto de Patrimonios de la Humanidad que hemos visitado.

In 2015, when we visited Shahrisabz, the historic centre was in the process of being redeveloped.

The changes they made were drastic, demolishing houses and bazaars that used to be traversed in order to reach each historical monument. This is why, as we said, it is under observation by UNESCO as an endangered heritage site.

It’s been transformed into a corridor about 500 metres long where they have built a park with plants and fountains where travellers can go quickly from one place to another.

Nowadays, the works have been completed, the trees have grown and provide some shade, there are plenty of hotels in the surroundings, cafés, restaurants and shops, all designed for tourists.

MAP of the places to see in Shahrisabz in one day

Today, construction is complete and the historic centre of Shahrisabz can be covered in a few hours, making it a perfect day trip from Samarkand.

Check out our article on all there is to see in Samarkand, perfect to combine with your trip to Shahrisabz.

1) Ak-Saray Palace

Ak-Saray means ‘white palace’ and was designed to be the seat of the government and court of the empire. It is one of the main sights to see in Shahrisabz.

When Amir Timur ordered its construction in 1380, he wanted it to be a palace that would convey the grandeur, might and splendour of his empire, and he succeeded!

This spectacular work took 25 years to complete, and it is estimated that more than 50,000 people worked on it, from slaves to the best architects and craftsmen.

The palace was a huge, opulent building with an inner courtyard 250 metres long and 125 metres wide. The main portal was 70 metres high, and the corner towers were 80 metres high. The palace was decorated with coloured tile mosaics, which can still be seen in some parts if you enter the palace grounds.

To understand its dimensions, two things must be taken into account:

1. The imposing statue of Amir Timur, which can be seen from the palace, stands in what used to be the heart of the great palace.
2. Today, what remains standing is the enormous 40-metre high entrance, adorned with mosaics in shades of blue, white and gold.

In the 16th century, the city was attacked by the Amir of Bukhara, Abdullah Khan, and this palace was almost completely destroyed along with other monuments.

💵 The entrance fee for a closer look at the Ak-Saray Palace is 30,000 sum (about €2), rates updated to 2024, although you can take photos from outside without paying an entrance fee.

2) Statue of Amir Timur

The statue of Amir Timur in Shahrisabz pays homage to the legendary 14th century conqueror. As locals and travellers gather around the statue to take photos, it is worth getting close and paying attention to the details of the work and the expressiveness of Amir Timur’s face.

With its piercing gaze and majestic stance, the statue not only celebrates Timur’s greatness, but also evokes the grandeur of his empire, the great legacy he has left in Uzbekistan and his crucial role in world history.

3) Amir Timur Museum

Walking to the left, after seeing the imposing statue of Amir Timur, you will come across the Shahrisabz Museum of History and Material Culture, also known as the Amir Timur Museum.

This museum, located in the Chubin Madrasa complex, houses treasures from the past, mainly from the Timurid dynasty: from artefacts to furniture, a collection of ancient crockery, statuettes, coins and old books. Each piece on display is a testament to the art, culture and daily life that has defined Shahrisabz over the centuries.

4) Dorut Tilovat Complex (Kok-Gumbaz Mosque)

If there is one thing you must see in Shahrisabz, it is the Dorut Tilovat Complex, whose meaning resonates with “house of meditation”. Inside stands the imposing Kok-Gumbaz Mosque, also known as the Friday Mosque.

It was Ulugbek, the grandson of Amir Timur, who, as a gesture of veneration for his father, Shah Rukh, commissioned the construction of this majestic mosque with its distinctive monumental gate and beautiful blue dome.

The complex also contains two significant mausoleums, each telling its own story. One of them guards the memory of Sheik Shamseddin Kulyal, the spiritual guide of Amir Timur, and is presented as a building adorned with tiled mosaics and a carved wooden door. The other, known as Gumbazi Seydan, serves as the mausoleum for Ulugbek’s descendants, completing the triad of buildings connected by an extensive elongated courtyard.

📝 Entrance to the Dorut Tilovat complex: 30,000 sum (about 2 €), rates updated to 2024.

5) Dorus Saodat Complex (Jehangir’s Tomb and Amir Timur Crypt)

The Dorus Saodat Complex, whose name carries with it the meaning of “seat of power”, was conceived by Amir Timur as the final resting place for him and his family in Shahrisabz.

This complex houses the Tomb of Jehangir, the first-born and favourite son of Amir Timur, whose life was cut short at the early age of 22.

A stone’s throw from Jehangir’s tomb is the Amir Timur Crypt, a space that remains empty today. Although it is believed that the crypt was never completed, this was the site chosen by Amir Timur for his eternal resting place, close to his son.

However, like life itself, history had its own unexpected twists and turns. A storm hit the region after Amir Timur’s death and prevented access to the mountain pass between Shahrisabz and Samarkand due to snow, eventually leading to Amir Timur being buried in the Gur-e-Amir mausoleum in the city of Samarkand.

💵 Ticket price: 30,000 sum (about 2 €), rates updated to 2024.

Is Shahrisabz worth visiting? Is Shahrisabz enough to do in one day?

If you have already admired the architectural magnificence of cities such as Samarkand or Bukhara, it is true that the heritage of Shakhrisabz may not generate the same impression of awe. However, the city itself has substantial historical value as the cradle of the Timurid empire. For us, it was the starting point on our tour of Uzbekistan, marking the beginning of our immersion into the country’s grandiose history.

Honestly though, if your time in Uzbekistan is limited, a trip to Shahrisabz may seem like a detour. But for those with a passion for history, it’s a worthwhile getaway to pay homage to the Timurid ancestors. All the sites to see in Shahrisabz can be visited in half a day.

Ultimately, the decision to visit Shahrisabz depends on how much you like history and your desire to explore a place that, while less ostentatious than other cities in the country, can be seen at a glance to have enjoyed a glittering past.

Useful travel information to Shahrisabz

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Recommended hotels in Shahrisabz

When we visited the city, there was only the Shahrisabz Hotel, an upscale accommodation across the street from the sights. Now, with the renovations carried out in previous years, there are many more options to stay in Shahrisabz if you are going to spend at least a day in the city. To recommend:

• Kesh Palace: in a beautiful building and with a typical Uzbek interior decoration, it is close to the city’s attractions. Spacious rooms and a good breakfast.
• Oq Saroy Hotel: this is a simpler and cheaper hotel than the previous one, surrounded by lots of greenery. It is a bit further away from the places to visit in the city, but it is a good option if you are travelling on a budget.

🏨 Do you want to look for other options? Find the best accommodation in Shakhrisabz here.

How to get to Shahrisabz from Samarkand (4 options)

The distance from Samarkand to Shahrisabz is about 90 km and the average journey time is 2 hours, passing through the Zerafshan Valley and observing the various cotton plantations, which is one of the main sources of income for the country’s economy.

Four options for getting from Samarkand to Shahrisabz:

• Train: You can also go by train from Samarkand to Shahrisabz, which stops at Qarshi. It’s a bit of a detour, considering the paved route goes the other way.
• Shared taxi: If you want to travel on your own to Shahrisabz you have to find a shared taxi, where the journey should cost around €4-5. For this option you usually have to go to a bazaar or normal meeting point for taxi drivers, negotiate the price and wait for the taxi to fill up.
• Private taxi: the trip is more comfortable, at your own pace, and can probably be arranged from your hotel. They take you, give you a couple of hours to explore on your own, and bring you back to Samarkand. Normally, this trip can be had for US$50 and would not include a guide.
• Private tour: with the peace of mind of having it booked in advance and having an English-speaking guide accompany you and explain more about this fascinating city.

📷 So, do you want to visit Shahrisabz in one day? Book this private tour, which includes hotel pick-up and drop-off, private transport, no other people in the group, car or minibus (depending on the size of the group), English speaking guide, one 0.5L bottle of water per person.

How to get to Shahrisabz from Tajikistan

Steps to go from Dushanbe to the border with Tajikistan on your own

• Step 1, go from Dushanbe to Tursanzade: this is the closest town to the Uzbek border. You can take a bus here and the journey takes about an hour and a half for 55km.
• Step 2, getting from Tursanzade to the border itself: there is no choice but to take a private or shared taxi to the border. We got a shared taxi to make the 15 km and 20-minute journey.

📝 Summary: We did 70 km in 1:45 hs – Bus plus shared taxi

Steps to go from Uzbekistan’s border with Tajikistan to Shakhrisabz

From the Uzbek border we made the journey to Shakhrisabz in three legs, as we did it on our own:

• Step 1, from the border to Sariosiyo: we paid for a shared taxi, to cover 18 km with a journey time of 20 minutes.
• Step 2, from Sariosiyo to Denau: we took a marshrutka for a 15 km journey in 20 minutes.
• Step 3, from Denau to Shahrisabz: we took a shared taxi, for 290 km in five and a half hours.

The downside of having done it on our own is that we spent all morning and part of the afternoon waiting for the shared taxi to fill up to take us to Shahrisabz. We arrived very tired after all the hustle and bustle, very late at night. The best thing was that in the taxi was a girl who invited us to spend the night in her house with her family and we had our first experience (of many) of hospitality in Uzbekistan.

📝 Summary: We did 320 km in 6:10 hrs – Shared Taxi + Marshrutka + Shared Taxi – At the border, there is also the possibility of taking a direct, private taxi, which can cost around €50.

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