Uzbekistan in January

Cold, grey, sometimes snowy; empty monuments and low prices.

January is rated mixed. These months rate higher:

• AprilGreatBest month: green, 20–28 °C, the peak for tour groups.
• MayGreatWarm to hot by the end; book trains and old-town hotels early.
• SeptemberGreatHeat breaks mid-month; melon and grape season; Independence Day on the 1st.
• OctoberGreatClear, warm days and cool nights; the other peak.

• Tashkent and the east · Tashkent, Chimgan, Fergana Valleycool

  Continental: snow possible Dec–Feb, highs above 35 °C (95 °F) in Jul–Aug. Chimgan is 10 °C (18 °F) cooler than the city.Continental: snow possible Dec–Feb, highs above 95 °F (35 °C) in Jul–Aug. Chimgan is 18 °F (10 °C) cooler than the city.

• Silk Road oasis cities · Samarkand, Bukhara, Shahrisabzcool

  Dry heat to 40 °C (104 °F) in summer; cold, grey winters with frost at night. Samarkand is higher and a little cooler than Bukhara.Dry heat to 104 °F (40 °C) in summer; cold, grey winters with frost at night. Samarkand is higher and a little cooler than Bukhara.

• Khorezm and Karakalpakstan · Khiva, Urgench, Nukus, the Aral Seacool

  The most extreme: −15 °C (5 °F) nights in winter, 40 °C (104 °F)+ days in summer, dust storms in spring near the Aral.The most extreme: 5 °F (−15 °C) nights in winter, 104 °F (40 °C)+ days in summer, dust storms in spring near the Aral.

• South · Termez, Surkhandaryacool

  The hottest corner of the country; spring comes early. The Afghan border area is restricted.

• Ferghana Valley: Ferghana Valley · Valley floor, 400–500 mcool

  Continental and hotter than Tashkent in July–August; April–May and September–October are the comfortable windows.

• Northern Uzbekistan: Khiva / Urgench · Khorezm oasiscold

  Continental desert: April–May and September–October are the comfortable windows. July and August push past 40 °C (104 °F); December to February can drop below freezing.Continental desert: April–May and September–October are the comfortable windows. July and August push past 104 °F (40 °C); December to February can drop below freezing.

• Northern Uzbekistan: Nukus / Karakalpakstan · Aral Sea basincold

  Drier and windier than Khorezm; spring dust storms are possible. May and September are the best months for the Aral Sea run.

• Samarkand through Bukhara: Samarkand and Bukhara · Zeravshan valley and the Kyzylkum edgecold

  Continental and dry: April–May and September–October are the comfortable windows; July–August is hot and dry; winter is cold with occasional snow.

• Southern Uzbekistan: Termez and the Amu Darya valley · Far south, near the Afghan borderfine

  The mildest winter in Uzbekistan, but summer is extreme — 40 °C (104 °F) and above from June to August, with the highest readings of the year in July.The mildest winter in Uzbekistan, but summer is extreme — 104 °F (40 °C) and above from June to August, with the highest readings of the year in July.

• Southern Uzbekistan: Shakhrisabz and the Kashkadarya foothills · North of the Amu Darya, 600–900 mcool

  Cooler than Termez at night; the Takhtakaracha pass can be snowbound in winter.

• Tashkent5 °C (41 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 8 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 8 rain days
• Andijan4.2 °C (40 °F) / -3.3 °C (26 °F), 21 rain days40 °F (4.2 °C) / 26 °F (-3.3 °C), 21 rain days
• Ayaz-Kala5 °C (41 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 5 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 23 °F (-5 °C), 5 rain days
• Chust6 °C (43 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 8 rain days43 °F (6 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 8 rain days
• Ferghana5 °C (41 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 7 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 7 rain days
• Kokand4 °C (39 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 5 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 23 °F (-5 °C), 5 rain days
• Moynoq2 °C (36 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 5 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 23 °F (-5 °C), 5 rain days
• Namangan5 °C (41 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 5 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 5 rain days
• Nukus5 °C (41 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 5 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 23 °F (-5 °C), 5 rain days
• Pop5 °C (41 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 6 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 6 rain days
• Qarshi2 °C (36 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 5 rain days36 °F (2 °C) / 23 °F (-5 °C), 5 rain days
• Shakhrisabz7 °C (45 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 9 rain days45 °F (7 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 9 rain days
• Termez5 °C (41 °F) / -3 °C (27 °F), 5 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 27 °F (-3 °C), 5 rain days
• Urgench5 °C (41 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 5 rain days41 °F (5 °C) / 23 °F (-5 °C), 5 rain days
• Samarkand6 °C (43 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 6 rain days43 °F (6 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 6 rain days
• Bukhara7 °C (45 °F) / -2 °C (28 °F), 4 rain days45 °F (7 °C) / 28 °F (-2 °C), 4 rain days
• Khiva4 °C (39 °F) / -5 °C (23 °F), 4 rain days39 °F (4 °C) / 23 °F (-5 °C), 4 rain days

Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.

• New Year

  1 Jan

  Two days off; the big family holiday of the Soviet calendar.

• New Year holiday

  1 January · Tashkent

  Public holiday; some museums closed, city lights on.

Crowds · Uzbekistan

Low

Prices · Uzbekistan

Low

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Uzbekistan, side by side.

• Layers: a fleece or light jacket

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