The best time to visit Uzbekistan will depend on two main factors.
First, the objectives of your trip. Are you coming to see the major historical landmarks (e.g., Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva) and take some photos? Or are you simply looking to explore the country, meet local people, eat some yummy food and admire nature? Perhaps you are looking to do some skiing at a lower price than at major European resorts?
Second, your tolerance to heat. Is this a major issue for you, or you don’t mind it too much?
In the section below, I will provide my thoughts on visiting Uzbekistan during various times of the year, their pros and cons and my personal option on when the best time to visit Uzbekistan is.
Remember, there is no size fits all!
Winter
Generally speaking, winter is not the best time to visit Uzbekistan (although, as you will see below, there are some exceptions). The weather in winter is quite unpredictable. Many days are cold and gloomy, possibly rainy. There are very few beautiful snow days (you’d need to get really lucky to experience that). Sometimes, you will get some warm days, but rarely too sunny. If you are looking for beautiful pictures of landmarks, you probably won’t be able to get them.
If you do want to come in winter, I suggest doing so during Christmas time. You will see a lot of beautiful Christmas decorations. While Uzbekistan is a Muslim country, they celebrate New Year very widely and there are New Year trees (as they call them) installed everywhere. You will see them in different malls and squares. In fact, this winter, Tashkent authorities installed a 35 meter tall New Year tree, which tied for the 2nd place in the world. There are various festivals taking place throughout the city with music and various cultural performances.
Keep in mind that since most of the people don’t celebrate Christmas, all the stores and restaurants will be open during that time. Also, many people will still be working, so there won’t be large crowds at attractions. This is a big advantage for tourists.
However, New Year is a different story, so be careful. Most places will not work on December 31 and possibly January 1 and 2. If you come during that time, you risk having nothing to do. Also, this is the time when many locals will be going to different attractions. Everything will be very, very crowded.
One other important point. If you are interested in skiing as opposed to seeing historical landmarks, Uzbekistan has some excellent ski resorts which you can visit, for example, Amirsoy. If this is what you are after, then winter is the best time to visit Uzbekistan! Take advantage of the great resorts at lower prices than what you can find elsewhere.
Spring
Spring is definitely one of the best times to visit Uzbekistan. I do not recommend coming in March, since weather might still be a bit unpredictable, unless you particularly want to see beautiful Navruz celebrations which take place on March 21. To be on a safe side, it’s best to come in the second half of April/the first half of May when the weather is usually nice and not yet hot. The fruit season is already starting at that time and you’ll be able to eat some yummy fruits.
Summer
June already gets a bit hot, but it’s still okay for most of the people (especially first half). A big advantage is that there are few rains, so you are guaranteed to have bright sunny weather. So, you can consider visiting in June. Another advantage is that you already have a lot of nice fruits in season (strawberries, raspberries, apricots etc.) Prices are lower than in spring.
July and August are brutally hot in Uzbekistan. Many expats like myself try to leave Uzbekistan during these months and go elsewhere. I recommend not to travel here during these months, unless you are very heat resistant and/or are interested in hiking in the mountains (e.g., Zamin, Chimgan, Amirsoy). If you want to do hiking in the mountains, summer is a great time to visit as temperatures are much lower there. However, keep in mind that prices for mountain resorts are also higher at that time (they usually increase significantly from June 1 due to high demand and then decrease again in the end of September).
Temperatures in summer can reach 45C in the shade easily, so most of the people don’t go out during the day unless they really need to. Mornings and evenings are fine. Uzbekistan has dry heat, which makes it a little more manageable. In theory, if you go to various landmarks early in the morning, you won’t be super hot and will take beautiful photos. But during the rest of the day you’d need to stay inside unless you want a heat stroke.
Fall
I’ve lived in Uzbekistan for almost three years and I can tell for sure: fall is one of the best times to visit Uzbekistan. I highly recommend coming in the fall. September can still be a bit hot (up to 35C), but October is usually a perfect month to do your sightseeing and take some stunning photos. Moreover, you get to eat amazing fruits and vegetables which are a total bargain.
Imagine: delicious figs, peaches, apples, grapes, melons, watermelons which cost next to nothing. You can buy as many as you want!
One downside is that during these months there will be more tourists at various attractions and also tickets will be more scarce. So, you need to book your trip early (hotel, airplane and train tickets).
In conclusion
From personal experience, the best time to visit Uzbekistan is either spring or fall. Another good time is Christmas as there are many beautiful decorations throughout and everything is open.
Hope you get a chance to visit Uzbekistan and are all the landmarks in their full glory.