The best fashion and gift stores Uzbekistan

Timetable

Stores are generally open every day in urban centers and tourist areas. Small craftsmen also open their stores and workshops every day in the high tourist season, but may reduce their opening hours or days in winter. Nevertheless, it is often possible to find the telephone number to open the door on the shop window or from a neighbor.

Budget & Tips

All over the country, you'll find handcrafted souvenirs at very affordable prices (ceramics, scarves, knives...) as well as more expensive products: Bukhara carpets, miniatures... Uzbekistan's best craftsmen, whose work is sometimes protected by Unesco, are grouped together in workshop-boutiques in the heart of heritage areas. In this case, the budget may be higher. They can be found mainly in the Ferghana Valley, Khiva and Bukhara. Some galleries in Tashkent are also worth a visit.

While credit cards are increasingly accepted in classic stores, cash remains the most common means of payment. There are cash dispensers everywhere, so don't worry.

What's very local

Silk is an obvious choice when traveling in the footsteps of Marco Polo. The finest, highest-quality silk is made in Marghilan, which has both large and small factories, but you can buy it almost anywhere in the country. Beware of Chinese counterfeits. Less expensive and more bulky, suzani, a large embroidered panel for decorative purposes, is produced mainly in the Samarkand and Bukhara regions.

Bargaining is common throughout the country: in cabs, stores, bazaars... It's up to you to judge how much you're willing to pay, and to advance your price as you negotiate. If the shopkeeper doesn't accept your proposal, it's because your price was too low. You can use this as a basis for negotiation next time. Stay calm during the transaction - there's no such thing as a good deal or a bad deal, no one gets taken advantage of - it's a game of supply and demand, plain and simple!