Budget/Backpacker Travel Guide: Samarkand

Accommodation

$8-25 per night

Shared dormitories in hostels, basic guesthouses, budget hotels with shared bathrooms, homestays with local families

Food & Dining

$5-15 per day

Street food vendors, local markets, traditional teahouses (chaikhanas), self-prepared meals, basic local restaurants

Transportation

$2-8 per day

Public buses, shared taxis (marshrutkas), walking, occasional standard taxis for longer distances

Activities

$5-20 per day

Self-guided walking tours, basic entrance fees to historical sites, free mosque visits, local bazaar exploration

Eat at local chaikhanas and street vendors instead of tourist restaurants (typically 60-80% cheaper)

Use public buses and shared taxis rather than private taxis (saves 70-85% on transportation costs)

Visit mosques and outdoor historical areas which are often free, rather than paying for all museum entries

Shop for souvenirs at local markets instead of hotel gift shops (typically 40-70% less expensive)

Book accommodation outside peak tourist areas but within walking distance (usually 30-50% cheaper)

Travel during shoulder seasons when prices drop 20-40% across all categories

Join group tours rather than private tours (generally 50-75% less per person)

Only eating in tourist-heavy areas near major attractions (typically costs 100-200% more than local neighborhoods)

Taking taxis everywhere instead of learning the public transport system (can triple daily transportation costs)

Booking accommodation at the last minute during peak season (often 40-80% higher than advance bookings)

Buying souvenirs at the first shop you see rather than comparing prices across multiple vendors (markup can be 200-300%)