Ensemble · Shahrisabz City
Dorus-Saodat Ensemble
The family mausoleum Timur built for himself and his sons
city · Kashkadarya Region
Shahrisabz City
An ancient town in the Kitob–Shahrisabz oasis and Timur’s birthplace. Its historic centre has been on the UNESCO list since 2000; since 2017 it has been a city of regional status.
Photo: Normuratov7 · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Setting and history
Shahrisabz sits in the Kitob–Shahrisabz oasis on the old Great Uzbek Highway, at about 658 m above sea level, between the Tankhozdaryo to the south and the Oqsuv to the north. It had 150,100 inhabitants in 2025. Archaeology dates its founding to the middle of the 1st millennium BC; as Kesh it was one of Sogdiana’s leading towns. Timur was born near Kesh in 1336, and the town flourished under his patronage.
From 1926 to 2017 Shahrisabz was the centre of Shahrisabz District. A presidential decree of 11 July 2017 made it a city of regional subordination with its own administration. In 1942 a Polish division of Anders’ Army was stationed here, and a Polish war cemetery survives from that time.
Shahrisabz today
The historic centre, with Ak-Saray, Dorut Tilovat, Dorus-Saodat and other monuments, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000. The Economic Cooperation Organization named Shahrisabz its tourism capital for 2024, and the city holds the Order of Amir Timur. Embroidery traditions are strong, and the surrounding orchards and vineyards live up to the name “green city”.
Sources (3)
Shahrisabz City
Places here
Ensemble · Shahrisabz City
Dorut Tilovat Ensemble
A Timurid family shrine and Ulugh Beg’s Blue Dome
Ensemble · Shahrisabz City
Ak-Saray Palace
What remains of Timur’s colossal palace in his home town
Ensemble · Shahrisabz City
Historic Centre of Shahrisabz
Kesh, Timur’s birthplace and a UNESCO site
Mausoleum · Shahrisabz City
Crypt of Timur
The tomb Timur prepared for himself, which stayed empty
Mausoleum · Shahrisabz City
Jahangir Mausoleum
A cone-domed tomb for Timur’s favourite son
Mosque · Shahrisabz City
Kok Gumbaz Mosque (Shahrisabz)
The Friday mosque Ulugh Beg built in his father’s name
Modern · Shahrisabz City
Amir Timur Statue (Shahrisabz)
Timur stands tall in his home town
Bazaar · Shahrisabz City
Chorsu Trading Dome (Shahrisabz)
A domed market where four streets meet
Madrasa · Shahrisabz City
Chubin Madrasa (Shahrisabz History Museum)
The town museum in a madrasa by the old timber market
Mausoleum · Shahrisabz City
Gumbazi Sayyidon Mausoleum
The “Dome of the Sayyids”, built by Ulugh Beg for his dynasty
Mausoleum · Shahrisabz City
Shamsuddin Kulol Mausoleum
Resting place of Timur’s spiritual guide and his father
Shahrisabz City
Getting there
Airport, railway station and bus stations — addresses, timetables and the live board.
All transportShahrisabz City
From Shahrisabz to other cities
Road distance, the fastest train and whether there is a direct flight.
All distances| City | Road, km | By car | By train | Flight | Bus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samarkand Samarkand Region |
86 | 1 h 45 min | 2 h 15 min Afrosiyob 773Ф |
— | — |
| Karshi Kashkadarya Region |
129 | 1 h 34 min | 55 min Afrosiyob 773Ф |
— | — |
| Kattakurgan Samarkand Region |
164 | 2 h 38 min | — | — | — |
| Jizzakh Jizzakh Region |
177 | 3 h 7 min | — | — | — |
| Boysun Surkhandarya Region |
196 | 2 h 39 min | — | — | — |
| Navoi Navoiy Region |
253 | 4 h 12 min | — | — | — |
| Termez Surkhandarya Region |
289 | 3 h 29 min | — | — | — |
| Tashkent Tashkent (city) |
401 | 6 h 21 min | 4 h 40 min Afrosiyob 773Ф |
1 flight | 1 route |
Weather: MET Norway
Shahrisabz City
Where to stay and eat
Checked hotels and places to eat — with addresses, phone numbers, opening hours and price levels.
Places to stay5
See all (5)
Hotel
$$$$
Tumor
Small budget hotel near the Kok Gumbaz Mosque
95 Aspijallob St
Hotel
Bek
Small family-run hotel with a garden
1/58 Oq Saroy St
+1
Hotel
Maqom Plaza
Hotel with an outdoor pool near Ak-Saray
2 Ipak Yoli St
+3
Hotel
Kesh Palace
Hotel about 700 m from the Ak-Saray ruins
4 Fusunkor St
Hotel
Karvon
Hotel with a restaurant at the southern edge of town
58V Bahor St
Places to eat5
See all (5)
Restaurant
Karvon
Café-restaurant at the southern edge of town
58V Bahor St
Restaurant
Chorsu Milliy Taomlar
Uzbek-food restaurant in northern Shahrisabz
8 Ipak Yoli St
Restaurant
Namaton Shashlik
Kebab house in north-eastern Shahrisabz
15 Namaton St
Restaurant
Kish-mish
Family restaurant next to the Kesh Palace hotel
11 Fusunkor St
Café
Sayfullo Bobo
Kebabs and samsa by Kitob station
18A Tinchlik St
Shahrisabz City
Government offices
Khokimiyat, public service centre and other offices: addresses, phones, hours.
All offices (7)Khokimiyat
Shahrisabz City Khokimiyat
42 Ipak Yuli St, Shahrisabz
9:00–18:00
Read morePublic Service Centre
Shahrisabz City Public Services Centre
53 Tabassum St, Buston Mahalla, Kitob District
Read more- Police · Shahrisabz City Shahrisabz City Department of Internal Affairs 3 Ipak Yuli St, Shahrisabz
- Civil registry · Shahrisabz City Shahrisabz City Civil Registry Office 2 Ipak Yuli St, Shahrisabz
- Khokimiyat · Shahrisabz District Shahrisabz District Khokimiyat 86 Fusunkor St, Shahrisabz
- Public Service Centre · Shahrisabz District Shahrisabz District Public Services Centre 7A T. Malik St, Ziyokor Mahalla, Shahrisabz
- Police · Shahrisabz District Shahrisabz District Department of Internal Affairs 103 Pillakashlik St, Shahrisabz
Qarshi City
city · Heir to Nakhshab and Nasaf, a 2,700-year-old regional capital
Chiroqchi District
district · A former beglik and the Siypantosh rock art
Dehqonobod District
district · Salt deposits and the western spurs of the Hisor Range
G‘uzor District
district · A caravan crossroads and the Sho‘rtan gas field
Kasbi District
district · Irrigated farming on the Qarshi steppe
Kitob District
district · A foothill oasis with the mildest climate in the region
Ko‘kdala District
district · The region’s youngest district, created in 2022
Koson District
district · An ancient oasis on the lower Kashkadarya
Mirishkor District
district · The western edge of the Qarshi steppe, on the Turkmen border
Muborak District
district · One of the capitals of Uzbekistan’s gas industry
Nishon District
district · The Tallimarjon reservoir and the southern Qarshi steppe
Qamashi District
district · From the Qarshi steppe to the Hisor peaks
Qarshi District
district · The lower Kashkadarya around the regional capital
Shahrisabz District
district · Hisor foothills, Miraki and the headwaters of the Kashkadarya
Yakkabog District
district · Home to Khoja Ilgar, the village where Timur was born