Is Uzbekistan Safe? Solo Female Travel Guide and Tips

Thinking of visiting Uzbekistan? This Central Asian gem, one of the famous Five Stans of the Silk Road, is soaring in popularity with travellers.

Home to some of the most breathtaking architecture I’ve ever seen, Uzbekistan is rich in Islamic history and cultural heritage. It’s no surprise that more and more people are adding it to their travel bucket lists.

However, travelling to this part of the world often raises safety concerns. And while Uzbekistan is arguably the most developed Central Asian country for tourism, many people still wonder: Is Uzbekistan safe?

Short answer: yes. It’s genuinely one of the safest countries I’ve ever been to, at least from the perspective of how I felt. Even though I was travelling alone as a woman, I received no unwanted attention from men, felt safe walking around the cities, and had nearly all positive experiences.

In this post, I’ve shared my personal experience of travelling in Uzbekistan, including my experience as a solo female traveller. You’ll also find helpful safety tips, common scams to watch out for, and my honest opinion on whether it’s a good destination for solo travel.

P.S. Check back soon for my Uzbekistan travel guide.

Disclaimer: The information below is based on my own personal experience in Uzbekistan as a solo traveller. However, political situations can change very quickly, and I can’t always update posts straight away. I suggest checking your government’s travel advice for the latest information.

Safety for tourists in Uzbekistan

Overall, Uzbekistan is a safe place for tourists. While nowhere can be guaranteed 100% safe, Uzbekistan has a low crime rate, especially involving tourists.

In recent years, the Uzbekistan government has focused on improving tourist infrastructure, and with this, they have increased the number of “tourist police” on the streets. Whenever you’re walking around the busy areas, there is nearly always tourist police in view.

Of course, crimes can occur, and petty theft (such as pick-pocketing and phone snatching) is possible in crowded spaces. Having said that, these events don’t seem as common as in other countries I’ve visited.

Despite the relatively low level of crime, it’s still important to exercise caution in Uzbekistan. There are also certain areas of the country where it’s advised you avoid or exercise extra caution, including the border with Afghanistan.

Overall, I felt very, very safe in Uzbekistan. I’d go as far as to say it’s one of the safest countries I’ve ever been to (at least from the perspective of how safe I felt).

One of the things that did make me a little nervous was the road safety. As with many developing countries in the world, road safety isn’t exactly a priority. I took several taxi rides while in the country and don’t think I once had a seatbelt.

The driving was also questionable – and there was one time I genuinely thought it was all about to end for me…

Of course, these types of experiences are part of the “fun” when it comes to backpacking and travelling to lesser-known destinations. There’s not much you can do, other than be mentally prepared.

As with any country, it’s still essential to follow a few safety rules, such as:

• Keeping your valuables safe and out of sight
• Avoid walking alone at night (I felt very safe in the tourist areas, but avoided quieter areas)
• Make sure someone from home knows where you are
• Verify your tour company or taxi driver before getting in any vehicle

Is Uzbekistan safe for solo female travellers? My experience

I visited Uzbekistan (and Central Asia) by myself. I’m not sure I’ve ever visited a country before where so many of my friends and family questioned my decision to go alone…

I’m not sure if it’s because it’s a lesser-known country or due to an unfair reputation, but my trip to Uzbekistan certainly seemed to cause some concern for my friends and family.

So, is Uzbekistan safe for women? Well, as I said in the section above, Uzbekistan felt like one of the safest countries I have ever travelled to.

Locals were generally very kind and helpful. I didn’t receive any unwanted attention (aside from one minor incident in a hotel), I felt safe walking around the tourist areas of the main cities, and I had no issues whatsoever (other than a few scary taxi rides, but I won’t hold that against the country!).

In general, the response online from solo female travellers who have been to Uzbekistan is positive. Of course, everyone has an individual experience, and there are accounts of unwanted attention from men.

One thing I will say is that some of the guesthouses can feel a little intimidating. Many of them are small and owned by families, and I often found I was the only person staying there, or that the owners sometimes were quite intrusive about my plans and why I was alone.

I stayed at a guest house where the male owner would not leave me alone, constantly asked about my plans, and tried to make all my arrangements for me. In the end, it got quite heated, so I decided to leave.

Ultimately, I think this comes down to cultural differences. However, if you’re a bit worried about this, I’d suggest staying in larger hotels/guesthouses where it tends to be a little less personal.

But overall, Uzbekistan is an excellent destination for experienced solo female travellers.

I want to emphasise the ‘experienced’ here… I don’t think Uzbekistan is the best place for newbie solo travellers, unless you’re very confident.

While the country is overall very safe and easy to navigate, it can feel a little isolating. There aren’t many other solo travellers (I think I only met one other solo female traveller during my entire ten days in Uzbekistan), and there is quite a cultural barrier.

Another thing I want to share is how I felt while eating out. I’ve been solo travelling for the best part of the last five years, so I’m pretty confident when it comes to eating out alone. However, it did feel a little intimidating in Uzbekistan (which I was not expecting).

I think this was primarily due to the lack of other solo travellers, but also, many of the restaurants were quite touristy. In Khiva and Bukhara, many of the restaurants had outdoor terraces that felt quite romantic. I can’t lie – I did feel a bit uncomfortable eating there alone (not that you should).

I also got turned away from a restaurant one night (Old Bukhara Restaurant). They told me they can’t accommodate tables for single people during busy times. In my five years of travel, the only other time this has ever happened to me was in Japan.

But this goes back to what I mean when I say it’s not the best place for first-time or unconfident solo travellers. It’s an excellent destination, but you need to be confident when travelling by yourself.

Pros and cons of solo travel in Uzbekistan

If you’re struggling to decide whether Uzbekistan is right for your solo trip, here are some pros and cons.

Safety tips for Uzbekistan

Download Google Translate

One of the biggest challenges of travelling in Uzbekistan is the language barrier. Although it was slightly easier than in other countries in Central Asia, I still struggled at times with communicating what I required.

The local language in Uzbekistan is Uzbek, but Russian is also widely spoken in places.

In the main tourist areas, such as Bukhara, Samarkand and Khiva, you’ll find that many hotel owners and restaurant staff speak English. Many of the restaurants also provide English menus.

However, this isn’t always the case, and I found Tashkent particularly challenging. It’s much less touristy than other popular destinations in Uzbekistan.

I’d suggest downloading Google Translate in advance and installing the Uzbek language so you can use it offline.

Be aware of your belongings and surroundings

Although Uzbekistan is overall very safe for tourists, crimes can still happen, and it’s important to be aware of your belongings and surroundings (especially if you’re alone).

Try to keep your phone out of view and ensure your valuables are always kept in a safe place.

Wear appropriate clothing

Uzbekistan is a muslim country, and women are expected to cover their knees and shoulders (and sometimes heads) when entering many of the mosques (and some other sites such as madrasas).

While there isn’t an official dress code for walking around the towns & cities, I’d still suggest dressing conservatively. I nearly always wore long trousers or skirts, and tried to wear t-shirts instead of vests.

I carried a scarf with me all the time. This way, if I ended up in a mosque or madrasa, I was able to cover my head.

Some sites were stricter than others. I found that many tourists ignored the guidelines, but at many mosques, you won’t be allowed in without following the dress code.

Some mosques have scarves you can borrow, but I think it’s better to take your own if you can.

Verify your tour agency or driver

As I mentioned above, the driving in Uzbekistan can be, er… questionable (saying that nicely).

I’d suggest verifying your tour agency or driver online before booking anything. I ended up booking the cheapest tour I could find to get from Khiva to Bukhara via the desert Fortresses, and oh my god did I regret it! The driving was terrifying, and there were no seatbelts (for a ten-hour drive).

For a reliable tour operator, I suggest Islambek Travel. While they are more expensive, the cars are guaranteed to have seatbelts and air conditioning, and the company promises its drivers will drive safely. I took one journey with them and wish I had also booked the other with them.

If you’re going to places like the Aral Sea, it’s really worth paying the extra bit of money. It’s a long drive along scary roads, and you don’t want to be stuck with a dangerous driver.

Avoid certain areas

It’s advised to avoid some areas of Uzbekistan, including the Afghanistan border. In fact, I believe you need permission from the Uzbekistan authorities to travel there.

I suggest checking your government’s travel advice for the latest information on this.

Check the local laws

It’s worth having a look at the local laws in Uzbekistan, in case these may impact you.

For example, same sex relationships are still prohibited, and some hotels won’t let you share a room with someone unless you’re married to them.

Avoid tap water

I’d recommend avoiding the tap water in Uzbekistan. While some websites say it’s safe to drink in “some cities”, I personally don’t think it’s worth the risk.

Some of the towns/cities are known to have polluted or heavily-treated water, and the last thing you want is an upset stomach.

I used a Pure Clear water filter and cannot recommend it enough. I’m planning to write a full review on this, but it’s by far the best water filter bottle I’ve ever used. It claims to remove all harmful chemicals, bacteria, metals and viruses from water, so you can drink tap water.

I did this for my whole trip in Central Asia and didn’t get sick once. I used to use LifeStraw, but it doesn’t filter viruses or heavy metals, so I was sometimes a little nervous to use it in cities… (Sidenote: don’t get me started on Water to Go – if there’s one filter bottle brand to avoid, it’s this one).

Always remember to buy travel insurance – this will cover you when things go wrong. I love SafetyWing for simple trips and True Traveller for more adventurous ones. They have different policies for different emergencies, but generally cover health-related issues.

Airline safety

Overall, Central Asia isn’t known for having the best airlines in terms of safety. In fact, many airlines are banned from operating in the EU.

Uzbekistan’s national carrier is Uzbekistan Airways, and they operate flights across Europe and Central Asia. If you’re planning to fly within Central Asia, Uzbekistan Airways is likely your best option (or Air Astana if heading to Kazakhstan).

Carry your passport

According to the law, you must always carry your passport with you while in Uzbekistan. This includes when you’re sightseeing, eating at a restaurant or shopping.

If you lose your passport, you need to report it straight away to the local tourist police.

(I *hate* carrying my passport – I am always terrified I will lose it.)

For what it’s worth, I was never once asked to show my passport randomly, but I didn’t want to take any risks, so I carried it with me at all times.

(Side note – if you’re visiting Almaty, definitely carry your passport… I was asked for mine by the police, and thankfully, I had it.)

Scams in Uzbekistan

Sadly, scams against tourists seem to be on the rise in Uzbekistan. I guess with more tourists coming every year, this sadly comes with the territory.

They’re not always your obvious scams, so for the sake of this post, let’s call them ‘subtle scams’.

I experienced a few of these, including:

• Being given the wrong change
• Being overcharged for items or things such as entry to the toilets
• Menus not showing a price
• Being brought extra items with a meal and being charged for them, even though I didn’t ask for them

Menus not having a price was the most common scam I witnessed, and I saw many people fall victim to this.

Bars and cafes (and sometimes restaurants) don’t put the prices on the menu. They then charge you a very high price at the end, but it’s too late, you’ve already consumed the food and drink.

Before ordering a beer in Khiva, I asked for the price. I tried to pay as soon as the beer came, but she wouldn’t let me. Then, when I went to pay, they wanted to charge me $6 for a beer, twice as much as they had initially said. I insisted on paying what they had originally told me, and they eventually agreed.

I understand I might seem quite entitled doing that – who am I to come into their country and refuse to give them a few extra dollars for a beer? – but it’s the principle. Be upfront about your pricing, don’t try to scam people out of money.

Group tours in Uzbekistan

If you’re a bit worried about solo travel in Uzbekistan, you could consider a group tour.

While they are VERY expensive in Uzbekistan (I’m not sure why, as it doesn’t reflect the country’s cost), they can be a great way to explore a country with someone available if things go wrong.

Check out my guide on group tours – I share my experiences with various companies and tell you what to expect.

One of my favourite tour companies is G Adventures, and they now have tours specifically designed for solo travellers. They give you more independence, but you still get the security of a group tour.

Their 12-day Uzbekistan tour covers all the main highlights and includes transport and accommodation.

They also have a range of other tours on offer.

Summary: Is Uzbekistan safe for tourists?

So, is Uzbekistan safe? I would be naive to say ” 100% yes”. I mean… is anything really safe in this day and age? However, when it comes to travel in Asia, Uzbekistan is generally a very safe place to travel.

Crime in general is very low. Petty theft against tourists occurs, but not as much as in some countries. And the locals are generally very welcoming and helpful.

I was honestly very surprised by Uzbekistan. It felt a lot safer than I was expecting, and it was also a lot more tourist-y! Honestly, if anything, it was almost too tourist-y…

However, I’d still approach visiting Uzbekistan as any other country, especially as a solo female traveller. Trust your gut, don’t take any risks, and always make sure someone at home knows where you are.

Check back soon for my Uzbekistan travel guide.