Uzbek som: currency and cash

Local currency: Uzbek som (UZS). Exchange rate as of 2026 is roughly 12,000–13,000 UZS to 1 USD; check current rates before you travel.

Bring cash. Even in 2026 Uzbekistan is still a cash-first country. Bring: - US dollars — the most useful. New, clean, undamaged notes only. Any tear, ink mark, or fold at the corner and exchange booths reject the note. - Euros — accepted at banks and better exchange booths, slightly worse rates than USD. - Larger notes preferred ($100 bills get better rates than $20s at exchange booths, though $50 and $100 are functionally equivalent).

Exchanging: - Best rates: licensed exchange booths inside larger hotels or the central Bukhara/Samarkand tourist zones. - Banks: fair rates, requires passport, opens at 9:00. - Airport: OK rates, useful for a first tranche. - Never use black-market street changers. It was common pre-2017 currency liberalisation; today it's slower and illegal.

ATMs: - Most work with Visa and Mastercard. Amex rarely. - Withdrawal limits are low (usually 4–6 million UZS per transaction, ~$300). - Frequently out of cash — try 2–3 machines before giving up. - Best chances: bank branches on weekday mornings.

Card payments: - Accepted at 4- and 5-star hotels, larger restaurants, and modern supermarkets. - Not accepted at chaikhanas, bazaars, taxis, small shops. - Some cafés advertise "card accepted" but the terminal is broken half the time.

Rough daily budget (2026, mid-range): - Meals: $15–30 - Local transport: $5–15 - Sightseeing entries: $5–15 - Hotel double: $50–120 - Total: $80–180 per person per day.