I have been to Samarkand twice, and both times I chose to stay within the Silk Road Samarkand complex. Although it is located somewhat away from the historic city center, the area offers several modern, high-quality hotels. As a pleasant bonus to this slightly out-of-town stay, guests gain quick and easy access to one of Samarkand’s most visually striking contemporary attractions — the so-called Eternal City.
The Eternal City is a compact architectural ensemble that brings together stylized examples of traditional architecture from different regions of Uzbekistan. In other words, it allows visitors to “travel” across the country in a matter of minutes.
The official opening ceremony of the Silk Road Samarkand tourist complex took place in August 2022. At the same time, the Eternal City was inaugurated as well. The opening events were attended by the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, underlining the national importance of the project.
The development of Silk Road Samarkand involved a large international team of architects, designers, and planners. Today, the complex includes eight hotels, a congress hall, and an amphitheater, in addition to the Eternal City itself. According to the project’s concept, the entire area is designed to welcome up to two million visitors per year.
The Eternal City is essentially a pedestrian zone made up of small buildings designed in traditional forms and colors. The streets within the complex have their own names, with the central one called Samarkand. As you stroll through the area, you will encounter architectural references to Bukhara, the Fergana Valley, Tashkent, Khorezm, Kashkadarya, Surkhandarya, and even the Republic of Karakalpakstan.
Importantly, the buildings of the Eternal City are not merely decorative scenery for photographs, although they certainly work beautifully as a backdrop. Many of them are open to visitors. Inside, you will find restaurants, a traditional teahouse, a bakery, artisan workshops, souvenir shops, and even a tasting hall offering local brandies and wines.
I explored the Eternal City in the morning, enjoying its calm atmosphere and architectural details at an unhurried pace. On a previous trip, however, I happened to drive past the complex in the evening. After dark, the Eternal City transforms into a large-scale entertainment space, complete with bright illumination and live show programs. Judging by the traffic jam stretching several hundred meters at the entrance, evenings attract huge numbers of both tourists and local residents.
Taxi services in Samarkand are quite affordable. As of summer 2024, a ride from the central districts of the city to the Eternal City costs around 20,000–25,000 Uzbek soums. For this reason, I see little point in planning a visit here solely around public transportation. The only factor worth keeping in mind is the potential queue of cars at the entrance, especially in the evening hours.
