Samarkand Weather in December 2026: what to expect (4.1/10)

The month in detail

What to expect in December

Winter in Samarkand is cool (9.0°F during the day). Days are short (3.9h of sunshine) but the city reveals a different side. Expect rain on 26.0% of days — a light raincoat in the bag is recommended.

December ranks 11 out of 12 months in Samarkand. Compared to November: −11°F daytime, 6 pts more rainy days, −1.1h of sun per day.

This month's conditions

What it's like in December

UV index

2 · low

no protection needed

Feels like

dry air

-3°

Daylight

9.2h of daylight

Air quality

good

AQI 37

Compare

Is December the right month?

The best month in Samarkand is September (9.4/10), 5.3 pts higher than December.

See September →See all 12 months →

Context

Our verdict

Samarkand, legendary city of the Silk Road in Uzbekistan : 540,000 inhabitants. UNESCO 2001 for its historic center ("Samarkand - Crossroads of Cultures"), capital of Tamerlane Timur the Lame's empire 1370-1405.

Read Gilles' full review →

Book

Plan your trip

Hotels at their lowest outside peak season, highest on comfortable months. Shoulder seasons offer a good price/climate compromise.

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Stay

Hotels & rentals · Samarkand

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Activities

Tours, tickets, experiences

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Flights

Multi-airline comparator

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🎟️ Activities & tours · Samarkand

GetYourGuide selection · free cancellation

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Affiliate link · GetYourGuide

Practical info

What you need to know before you go

Three angles: the country (language, currency, safety, budget), the year-round climate, and the specifics of a city break.

Country · Uzbekistan

🗣️LanguageOuzbek

💶CurrencySum ouzbek (so'm)

🚗DrivingRight-hand

🛡️Safety ⓘVery safe · 1/5

💰Cost of living ⓘVery cheap · 1/5

🌡️ Climate

🌍Climate typeTemperate

📈Climate trend ⓘStable

🔥Hottest monthJuly · 97°F

❄️Coolest monthJanuary · 46°F

🌧️Rainiest month ⓘMarch · 39%

🏛️ City break

📅Tourist peak seasonJune → August

☔Indoor sights ⓘYear-round

🚇Public transportGood

Explore

Other destinations in December

If December doesn't convince you for this destination, compare with others.

Similar climate

Nearby

BukharaUzbekistan218 km

KhivaUzbekistan590 km

BishkekKyrgyzstan731 km

AshgabatTurkmenistan767 km

Other top picks

🗺️ See all 754 destinations on the map

Location

Where is Samarkand ?

Global position + regional geographic context.

🌍 World

🔍 Geographic context

Uzbekistan

Temperate climate with a 9.4 → 4.1 gap between best and worst month. 10 years of ERA5 data to choose by project.

39.65°N · 66.96°E

Questions

Frequently asked questions

What is the best time to visit Samarkand?

September is the best month with 86°F highs, 59°F lows, 10.2h of sunshine and 3.0% rainy days. The months of September & May offer comparable conditions.

How many hours of sunshine does Samarkand get in September?

Samarkand averages 10.2 sunshine hours per day in September. It is the sunniest month with a climate score of 9.1/10.

What is the rainiest month in Samarkand?

January is the most unfavourable month with January has the lowest climate score of the year and the lowest climate score of the year.

What are the temperatures at night in Samarkand in September?

In September, overnight lows reach 59°F, while afternoon highs average 86°F.

Is Samarkand good in winter?

In winter (December-February), Samarkand scores 4.0/10 on average — Difficult period — prefer the peak season.. The best month overall remains September with a score of 9.1/10.

When should you avoid Samarkand?

January is the most difficult month to visit Samarkand, with January has the lowest climate score of the year. Climate conditions are at their lowest of the year during this period.

Do you need sun protection in Samarkand in December?

The average UV index reaches 2 in December in Samarkand (low), with about 9.2h of daylight. No protection needed.