Bahodir B&B

Bahodir B&B is one of Samarkand's longest-running budget guesthouses: as early as 2007 a travel website described it as the cheapest place to stay in town. It stands at 132 Mullakandov Street, 340 metres in a straight line from the Registan and 220 metres from the Chorsu trading dome; the Bibi-Khanym Mosque is 500 metres away.

It is a classic Uzbek house, with rooms opening onto a spacious inner courtyard that has become a meeting place for travellers from all over the world; travel websites note that it is especially popular with cyclists and motorcyclists. Rooms are simple, with old-fashioned furniture, and reviews note that some are better than others. The family runs the place, with the younger generation helping out at reception, and new arrivals are welcomed with tea. The courtyard also has a small garden and a terrace, a quiet spot to rest during the day.

Breakfast is included, and reviewers keep coming back to how generous it is. Rooms have air conditioning and there is Wi-Fi in the common areas. Check-in from 12:00, check-out by noon.