Culture and how to dress in Uzbekistan

One of the most important things to know before traveling to Uzbekistan is about the culture and how to dress. Uzbek is the official language of Uzbekistan. It is a Turkic language written in Latin letters. If you know a little Turkish, you might be able to understand some of the dialogue! Russian is a second language for many Uzbeks, and it is the primary language of 14% of the population. Knowing the Cyrillic alphabet or some Russian phrases is useful in Uzbekistan.

There isn't much of a dress code for women visiting major sights in Uzbekistan. Despite being an Islamic country, many women enter major Islamic sites wearing shorter dresses and skirts and without headscarves. That isn't to say that girls should show up in hot pants and tube tops—modest attire is always appreciated. Even in major mosques, headscarves are not required, though it is prudent to bring one for less touristy mosques.