Exercise caution — there are real risks that travellers should plan around. Civil liberties are tightly restricted and political expression can carry risk.
Regional breakdown
Most travel happens along the Silk Road corridor. Tashkent, the capital, handles the bulk of arrivals and feels calm by regional standards. Samarkand and Bukhara draw the heritage crowd and report few problems for foreign visitors. Khiva, further west, is quieter still and tends to pass without incident. The Fergana Valley in the east is more sensitive. It borders Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, and some frontier zones remain closed or only open at fixed crossings. Travellers heading to Andijan, Namangan or Fergana city should check the latest crossing rules before setting off. Land borders here have closed at short notice in the past. The far west around Karakalpakstan and the shrinking Aral Sea is remote. Nukus and Moynaq receive a trickle of visitors, but distances are long and services thin. Travellers heading there should plan fuel, water and communications in advance, and tell someone their route.
Recent advisory changes
The official advisory guidance last updated its Uzbekistan page on 19 March 2026. It does not warn against travel to the country as a whole. The main note relates to wider regional disruption: escalation in the Middle East has caused airspace closures and flight cancellations that can ripple through Central Asian routings. The official advisory guidance points readers to its regional risks section for border-specific guidance, especially around the Fergana Valley frontiers. The official advisory guidance reissued its advisory on 26 January 2026 at Level 1, Exercise Normal Precautions. This is the lowest of the four US levels. The reissue also flagged the new visa-free regime for travellers, allowing up to 30 days for tourism and business from 1 January 2026. No ordered departure of US government staff is in place, and no specific province carries a higher US warning at the time of writing.
What travellers should know
Petty theft and scams happen in crowded bazaars and around major train stations, particularly in Tashkent and Samarkand. Watch out for unofficial taxis and agree fares before getting in. Registered ride apps are widely used in the capital and tend to be more predictable. Carry a copy of your passport and registration slips, since spot checks by police still occur. Entry rules have eased for many nationalities, but travellers should confirm their own status before flying. Hotels usually handle the registration paperwork that authorities expect within three days of arrival. Winter air quality in Tashkent is poor and can affect anyone with a respiratory condition, so a mask is worth packing. Medical facilities outside the capital are limited, and travel insurance with evacuation cover is sensible. Same-sex relations between men remain criminalised, and dress codes at religious sites are conservative. Border crossings into neighbouring states can shut at short notice, so build flexibility into overland plans.