Bazaars of Uzbekistan: What to Buy and How to Haggle

A bazaar in Uzbekistan isn’t just for shopping — it’s a way to feel the city from the inside.

What to buy

Dried fruit and nuts by weight, spices, ceramics from Rishtan and Gijduvan, silk and cotton fabrics, knives from Chust, traditional skullcaps (doppi). The food sections are a great chance to taste before you buy.

Where to haggle, and where not to

Bargaining is normal in clothing, fabric and souvenir sections, especially if you’re buying several items from the same seller. In food sections with fixed, printed prices, haggling doesn’t apply.

How to haggle politely

Don’t open with too low a price — that’s considered rude. The usual approach is to offer 70-80% of the asking price and meet somewhere in the middle. A smile and good humor work better than aggressive bargaining.

The main tourist bazaars

Siyob in Samarkand, Chorsu in Tashkent, the central bazaar in Bukhara — each with its own atmosphere but similar unwritten rules.

Prices and selection change — these are general principles, not a fixed price list.