Practical Travel Information

Whether you’re visiting Fergana Valley in Uzbekistan for a day or settling in for a week or more, knowing the following practical travel details will make it easier to plan and your stay more enjoyable. Find out here about tourist visas, money, how to buy a SIM card, language and other travel information to help with your trip planning research. Be sure to visit our separate page dedicated to transportation information on how to get to and around Uzbekistan’s Fergana Valley.

Uzbekistan has visa-free travel for almost 100 countries, including all EU and CIS citizens that allows stays for up to 30 days. You can check whether your nationality requires an entrance visa by selecting your nationality on this page.

For those nationalities that still need a tourist visa, there is a simple online e-visa process that usually takes around three days and costs between $20 and $50 depending upon single, double or multiple entry.  If you get a double or multiple entry visa, note that all your visits need to be within 30 days of your first entry date.

If you have questions on visas to Uzbekistan, please get in touch with one of our CTN Tour Operator members for assistance.

The Uzbekistani Som (UZS) is the official currency in Uzbekistan (check the current exchange rate) and you can easily withdraw local currency from ATMs in bigger cities in Fergana Valley. Most ATMs in Fergana Valley support international bank cards, but there may be a limit on how much you can take out at one time. Be sure to let your bank know in advance that you are traveling in Uzbekistan so that they don’t block your account. 

International credit cards are widely accepted at bigger accommodation providers, restaurants, handicraft stores and tour operators. For daily life and regular expenses, however, you will use cash (e.g., for any street food, markets, and smaller shops).

In the Fergana Valley, the most common language spoken is Uzbek. However, most people also speak Russian and you will often see signs and information in both languages. Sometimes Uzbek language is written in Latin letters while other times it is written in Cyrillic letters. However, many people, especially youth, are also learning English and other foreign languages in schools so it is becoming easier to find English speakers in Fergana Valley.

It is recommended to carry a Russian-English phrasebook or install a translation app like Google Translate or Deepl (for Russian) on your phone to make communication easier. 

It’s very easy to get online and stay connected in Uzbekistan’s Fergana Valley. Many accommodation providers, restaurants and cafés offer free wifi.

In addition, buying an Uzbek SIM card and mobile data plan is also easy and inexpensive. Bring your passport to one of the main mobile providers — Beeline, UCell, UZ Telecom — to buy a local SIM card and data plan. Then, top up your credit at kiosks around the country.

Note: If you will be in Uzbekistan for more than two weeks you will need to register your mobile number and phone with the authorities. This can be done online (they will send you a link by SMS) or at a local post office for a small fee.  If you don’t register within this time then your phone will not operate until you register at a higher fee.

If your phone takes eSIMs, consider buying an eSIM for Uzbekistan from an international eSIM carrier in advance of arriving in the country.

Telegram is the communication and messaging app of choice in Uzbekistan, more than WhatsApp. It is used for everything from booking accommodation and tours to finding a shared taxi from Tashkent. If you don’t already have the app downloaded, it might be useful to do so before your trip to Uzbekistan to coordinate arrangements with local providers.

Uzbekistan is a very safe country for visitors, and Fergana Valley is also known for being very welcoming and safe. This is also true for solo female travelers. In fact, Uzbekistan ranked as the #1 country in the world for safety in the 2023 Safety Perception Index.

However, if you encounter any security issues, please get assistance from the police. If you are unsure of how to do this or need help, ask your accommodation provider to assist you.