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Uzbekistan
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eSIM for Samarkand

Samarkand is the Silk Road city of the Registan, Shah-i-Zinda and Gur-e-Amir, reached from Tashkent by high-speed train in about two and a half hours. The phone books the train, hails the taxi and keeps the hotel's registration details.

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−18%
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1 GB

7 days

$2.49 $2.49/GB

3 GB

30 days −53%

$3.49 $1.19/GB

5 GB

Popular

30 days −60%

$4.99 $0.99/GB

10 GB

30 days −62%

$9.49 $0.99/GB

20 GB

Best value

30 days −65%

$17.49 $0.89/GB

Samarkand: what to know before you go

Trains
The Afrosiyob high-speed train links Tashkent and Samarkand in about two and a half hours, several times a day, and fast trains also run to Bukhara. Tickets are sold on the national railway's official booking site, which has an English version, and popular departures sell out, so book as soon as the sale opens.
Taxi apps
Yandex Go works in Samarkand and shows the fare before you ride. Street taxis seldom use meters, so agree the price before you start.
Hotel registration
Hotels register foreign guests with the authorities on arrival, and travellers are expected to carry their passport and the proof of registration. Ask your hotel for the proof and keep it with your passport.
Local SIM paperwork
A local SIM is tied to your passport, and operators ask foreign visitors to register the phone's IMEI code within a set period. A travel eSIM keeps your own line, so you do not queue at an operator's counter for a local SIM.

How much data you need

A long weekend of maps, taxi apps, train booking and photos takes about 2 to 3 GB.

Written . Opening rules, fees, prices at attractions and event dates change, so check the official site before you rely on them.

Samarkand: when people go

21 March 2027: Navruz
The spring new year is a public holiday in Uzbekistan, and the days off around it are set by official decree. Sights and trains are busy, so book the train as soon as the sale opens.
April and May 2027, September and October 2027: spring and autumn
Milder weather than in summer or winter makes these the popular stretches for visitors. Trains between Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara fill, so book once the sale opens.
July and August 2027: summer heat
Temperatures often pass 35 degrees Celsius at the peak, so sightseeing moves to the morning and the evening.
December 2026 to February 2027: winter
January is the coldest month, with an average near 1.5 degrees Celsius, and fewer visitors come. Download offline maps for the days when you walk between sights in the cold.

Uzbekistan eSIM 2026: prices, network and coverage

9 plans, from $2.49 (1 GB, 7 days) to $17.49 (20 GB, 30 days). Network: Beeline 5G.

Plans and prices in US dollars
DataValidityPricePer GB
1 GB7 days$2.49$2.49
3 GB30 days$3.49$1.16
5 GB30 days$4.99$1.00
10 GB30 days$9.49$0.95
20 GB30 days$17.49$0.87
Unlimited3 days$7.17$2.39 per day
Unlimited7 days$16.04$2.29 per day
Unlimited15 days$33.24$2.22 per day
Unlimited30 days$61.25$2.04 per day
Network
Beeline 5G
Top-up
Yes, from the app, on the same eSIM
Validity starts
At the first connection at your destination
Install by
Shown on your order. An eSIM that is never installed expires
Your number
Stays active, plans are data only
Hotspot
Uses the same plan data, no separate charge
After the daily allowance
Day passes slow down to 512 Kbps

Questions about Samarkand

Do I register myself with the police as a tourist?
In a hotel, the hotel registers you on arrival. Ask for the proof and keep it with your passport.
Can I book the Afrosiyob before I arrive?
Yes, on the railway's official site, which has an English version. Create the account and pay by card before you travel, because popular departures sell out.
How much does an eSIM for Samarkand cost?
Samarkand uses the Uzbekistan plans, because an eSIM belongs to a country and not to a city. Plans start at $2.49 for 1 GB, valid for 7 days. There are 9 plans, from 1 GB to 20 GB, plus unlimited day passes.
Do I need a local SIM card in Samarkand?
No. The eSIM is a SIM card in digital form: you install it from a QR code before you leave, and there is nothing to buy at the airport or swap in your phone.
How is it different from roaming in Samarkand?
With roaming, your own carrier bills the data you use abroad, usually by the day or by the megabyte, at the prices of your plan. The eSIM is prepaid: you know the cost before you leave and nothing is added later. Keep data roaming off on your usual line, so it cannot charge you.
Which networks does the Samarkand eSIM use?
Wigoo connects to Beeline, with 5G where it is available. Each plan lists the operators it uses.
Can I add more data?
Yes. You top up the same eSIM from the app, without installing a new one.
Do I keep my phone number?
Yes. Plans are data only, so your usual line stays active for calls and texts, and WhatsApp keeps working as always.
When do the validity days start?
Not when you buy and not when you install: the days start counting when the eSIM connects to a network at your destination for the first time. A 30 day plan gives you 30 days from that first connection.
How long do I have to install the eSIM?
An eSIM that is never installed expires. The "Install by" date is shown on your order, on the site and in the app, so you can buy ahead of your trip. Install it before that date, on Wi-Fi.
Can I use the eSIM as a hotspot?
Data used through a personal hotspot comes out of the same plan, and Wigoo does not charge it separately. A laptop uses far more data than a phone, so for work a day pass or a bigger plan is safer.
What happens when the data runs out?
Plans are prepaid, so there are no extra charges: when the data is used up, the connection stops until you add more from the app. Day passes give a daily allowance at full speed, then continue at reduced speed (512 Kbps) until the next day.
When should I install the eSIM?
Before you leave, on Wi-Fi. When you land, set the Wigoo line for mobile data and turn on data roaming for it.