Top 8 Kid-Friendly Activities in Uzbekistan

If you're considering a family trip along the Silk Road, Uzbekistan should top your list.

Uzbekistan offers a vibrant mix of sights and activities that are perfect for families. With a culture that embraces multi-generational travel, hotels, restaurants, and attractions are designed to welcome guests of all ages.

While Uzbekistan’s summer temperatures and vast distances can pose challenges, the country’s air-conditioned high-speed trains make travel comfortable, allowing you to easily create an itinerary with shorter travel segments. Here’s what families need to know for their journey in Uzbekistan.

Is Uzbekistan suitable for children?

Uzbekistanis adore children and bring them along to various events, be it a festival, historical landmark, or fine dining restaurant. Visitors will find it equally easy to do so, as locals often go above and beyond to meet your needs, from letting you skip the line to helping you locate a peaceful spot for a break or feeding.

Navigating most city centers with a stroller is straightforward: Uzbekistan’s roads and plazas are well-maintained, and with little petty crime, you can safely leave a buggy outside. However, at historical sites, a baby carrier may be more practical due to steps and uneven terrain.

What are the best places in Uzbekistan for children?

The top destinations to explore in Uzbekistan with children include the UNESCO-listed Silk Road cities, but the stunning landscapes—from deserts to mountains—are strong contenders. This diverse array of sights and activities truly enhances Uzbekistan’s family-friendly appeal.

Begin your journey in the capital, Tashkent, then take a high-speed train to Samarkand and Bukhara, and later, head to the Chimgan Mountains for some skiing. For an extra thrill, experience a yurt stay in the Kyzylkum Desert, or explore the Ustyurt Plateau to view the Aral Sea.

Top activities for families with babies and toddlers in Uzbekistan

Attend a puppet performance

Puppetry has deep roots in Uzbekistan. The Republican Puppet Theatre in Tashkent resembles a fairy-tale castle, while Bukhara and Nukus both feature professional puppet theaters. In Khiva, puppeteers entertain passersby in the Ichon-Qala with nearly life-size puppets. They often combine sock puppets and marionettes to narrate beloved stories, many of which are well-known internationally.

Unwind in gardens and parks

Despite being largely desert, Uzbekistan is surprisingly lush. Each city boasts beautifully maintained parks where local families gather to relax in the evenings and on weekends.

In the Japanese Garden in Tashkent, storks, ducks, and peacocks roam freely and eagerly accept food. The Ak Serai, Timur’s palace in Shakhrisabz, is surrounded by elegant gardens, and Bukhara’s Samani Park strikes a delightful balance of historic sites and safe areas for little ones to play.

Top activities in Uzbekistan for older children

Conquer a fortress

Across Uzbekistan, ancient fortresses from the 1st millennium BCE to the 19th century stand tall. Many are well-preserved, allowing kids to dash along the ramparts, march through grand gates, and ascend towers, imagining themselves as soldiers in battle or citizens under siege.

Karakalpakstan boasts the highest concentration of forts, but don’t miss the Ark in Bukhara, known for its intriguingly dark history, or the Nurata Fortress in the Navoi Region, which is said to have been built by Alexander the Great.

Explore history in Khiva’s Ichon-Qala

Khiva’s Old City is like a vast open-air museum, making it perfect for families. The stunning monuments—minarets, madrassas, mosques, and mausoleums—of Ichon-Qala are breathtaking, and the lively streets and squares provide endless entertainment. You might take selfies with a camel, witness a wrestling match, or find yourself among a group of wandering musicians or puppeteers.

Experience unforgettable stargazing by staying in a yurt

Three iconic elements of the Silk Road are deserts, camels, and yurts, all of which Uzbekistan offers. The best yurt camps are located near Aydarkul, but great options are also available near Bukhara, in Urgench, and throughout Karakalpakstan. Combine your yurt stay with a camel ride, a bonfire, and mesmerizing stargazing that kids will cherish.

Cool off at a water park

Summer temperatures in Uzbekistan can be quite high, making a visit to a water park a perfect way to beat the heat while having fun. Tashkent’s Aqua Park is the largest, featuring numerous slides, wave pools, and hot tubs. The Aqua Park in Namangan even hosts open-air disco nights during the summer.

Top activities for tweens and teenagers in Uzbekistan

Take ski lessons

From December to April, Uzbekistan becomes Central Asia’s top destination for winter sports. The premier ski resort, Amirsoy, opened near Tashkent in 2019, featuring international-standard facilities and equipment. Lift passes, gear rentals, and ski lessons in Uzbekistan are significantly cheaper than in European resorts, making it an excellent option for keeping kids of all ages entertained.

Explore the Aral Sea

Reaching the Aral Sea is an adventure in itself: the expansive desert landscapes require much of the journey to be off-road, necessitating a sturdy 4WD vehicle. This challenge adds to the allure, as the route includes views of ghost ships, abandoned towns, canyons, and even surreal salt flats. It’s a fantastic chance to discuss human impact on the environment and witness the effects of climate change firsthand.

Tips for planning your trip

Uzbekistan Airways, the national carrier, provides discounted fares for infants and children, and allows foldable strollers onboard. These policies are applicable for both domestic and international flights, making air travel convenient for families.

The Afrosiyob high-speed train connects Tashkent with Samarkand, Navoi, and Bukhara, with plans to extend to Khiva and Nukus by the end of 2026. These trains are not only fast and budget-friendly but also offer guaranteed seating, complimentary snacks, air conditioning, and ample space for kids to move around. Tickets can be booked online through the official e-ticket portal.

It's advisable to bring your children's medications, processed foods, and diapers, as while baby products are available in local supermarkets, the brands may be unfamiliar and not meet your usual standards. Restaurants in Uzbekistan typically do not have children’s menus, but the food is mild, and there's always a variety to choose from.

If your kids are not keen on local dishes like plov (rice with meat and vegetables) or shashlik (kebabs), there's no need to worry—bread, soups, and salads are readily available, along with bite-sized dumplings known as manti, noodle-like laghman, and chuchvare, a button-shaped pasta. Fresh strawberries, cherries, apricots, and melons are abundant, especially during the summer months.