Samarkand sits at 700 m elevation with a continental climate:
| Season | Temp (°C) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| --- | --- | --- |
| March | 5–15 | Wet, tree blossoms |
| April–May | 12–28 | Ideal — clear skies, wildflowers, still-empty sites |
| June | 20–36 | Comfortable evenings, hot midday |
| July–August | 24–40 | Very hot; visit sites before 10:00 |
| September–October | 12–28 | Second ideal window — pomegranate harvest |
| November | 3–14 | Chilly, thinning crowds |
| December–February | −3 to 8 | Cold, occasional snow, deserted sites |
Golden hour: about 15 minutes before sunset, the west-facing madrasas at the Registan catch a warm light that photographs make famous. In April this happens around 19:00; in October around 18:00.
Navruz (21 March), the Persian/Central Asian new year, brings public festivities on Registan Square but also large domestic crowds.
Ramadan (moving date) affects opening hours of some smaller cafés and restaurants outside the tourist zone. Most monuments and hotels operate normally.
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