Luggage Storage in Uzbekistan: Where to Leave Your Bags for the Day

You checked out of the hotel in the morning, but your train leaves in the evening. It is a familiar situation for any traveler, especially in Samarkand or Bukhara, where you want to fit in as much as possible during the day. Dragging a suitcase around the old town is a nuisance, so it is worth planning where to leave it. Here are the main options.

Hotel or hostel: the simplest way

The easiest thing is to arrange it with the place where you stayed. Most hotels, hostels and guesthouses will happily store luggage after check-out, often free, sometimes for a small fee. Ask in advance, at check-in or the evening before.

If you stayed at a guesthouse in a mahalla, hosts are usually accommodating: you can leave your things in the family's room or a locked space. Even if you leave on the same day, it is often enough to mention it in the morning.

What to do:

• make sure your things are kept in a locked room;
• do not leave documents, money, electronics and medicines in the suitcase, take them with you;
• ask until what time you can collect your luggage;
• remember the name of the staff member you handed the bags to.

Railway stations

Big stations, including those in Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara, normally have a left-luggage room. Opening hours, cost and storage rules depend on the station and can change, so check on the spot or at the information desk. Typically you are given a ticket or a locker number, bags are accepted by size, and on drop-off the contents may be scanned for security. Bring your passport: it may be needed when you leave and collect your bag.

Expect payment to be charged per day or per storage period. I will not quote exact amounts because tariffs change, but it is usually modest.

Airports

International airports in large cities may have luggage storage points. Conditions also depend on the airport: check tariffs, hours and size limits on the official website or with staff. If your flight is late at night and you left the hotel in the daytime, it is more convenient to leave your things at the hotel than to go to the airport too early.

Storage services and automatic lockers

Some shopping centres and tourist spots have automatic lockers or luggage storage services. Availability depends on the city. Before using one, check how the lock works, how to pay and what to do if you lose the code or ticket.

What to consider when choosing

1. Security. Leave bags only at official places that give you a ticket or number.
2. Opening hours. Make sure you can collect the luggage before departure.
3. Size. Large luggage, bicycles and bulky bags may be refused.
4. Valuables. Keep your passport, money, phone, chargers and medicines with you.
5. Time buffer. Do not collect your things at the last minute, especially if the station is far from the centre.

A practical example: a day in Samarkand

Say you left the hotel in the morning and go to Bukhara in the evening. Leave your suitcase at the hotel, take a small backpack with water, documents and a charger, and walk through the Registan, the Gur-Emir mausoleum and Siab Bazaar. Toward evening collect your bags and head calmly to the station. For the trip to the neighbouring city you can also choose a shared ride: on the Samarkand — Bukhara route drivers post trips with different departure times, so you can pick a convenient one and not rush. Luggage in such a car usually goes in the boot, so it is better to warn the driver about large items in advance through the Yo'ldosh app. See all directions on the all routes page.

Bottom line

The most reliable option is to arrange it with your hotel. If not, use a left-luggage room at a station or airport, following basic safety rules. A light backpack makes a day in the city far more enjoyable.

Cover photo: Temari 09, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons.