Places / Asia / Tajikistan
Khujand
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At a glance
- Country
- Tajikistan
- Region
- Sughd
- Population
- 200,000
- Best time to go
- April to June, September to October
- Main airport
- Khujand (LBD)
- Coordinates
- 40.28°N, 69.62°E
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Overview
Khujand is one of Central Asia's oldest cities, founded on the Syr Darya at the mouth of the Fergana Valley and often linked with Alexander the Great's Alexandria Eschate. It is Tajikistan's second city and feels quite different from the capital.
Life here revolves around the river and the bazaar. It is an easy, friendly stop on the way between Dushanbe and Uzbekistan, with an old trading town nearby.
Things to see
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Photo: Zack Knowles, CC BY-SA 3.0 Panjshanbe Bazaar
A grand market hall with a pastel façade, piled with melons, dried fruit, bread and spices.
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Photo: Petar Milošević, CC BY-SA 4.0 Khujand Fortress
Restored walls on the riverbank, with a regional history museum telling the city's long story.
Tickets and tours -
Photo: Richard Mortel, CC BY 2.0 Sheikh Muslihiddin complex
A mosque and mausoleum facing the bazaar, still busy with worshippers.
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Photo: Petar Milošević, CC BY-SA 3.0 Syr Darya embankment
A long riverside promenade where families stroll in the evening as the heat fades.
Things to do
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Photo: Bertramz, CC BY-SA 3.0 Day trip to Istaravshan
An old town of mud-brick lanes, workshops and blue-domed madrasas, about an hour south.
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Photo: Dogross, CC BY-SA 4.0 Swim at Kayrakkum
In summer, locals head to the beaches of the large reservoir just east of the city.
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Photo: Harry Breault, CC0 Eat at the bazaar
Try fresh non bread, samsa from the tandoor and seasonal fruit straight from the stalls.
Where to stay
City centre
Near the bazaar and fortress, and walkable to the river.
Hotels in City centreRiverside
Quieter hotels along the Syr Darya, good for evening walks.
Hotels in Riverside
Getting around
The centre is compact enough to walk, and taxis are cheap for anything further.
The airport is a short taxi ride from town. Shared taxis from Dushanbe cross the mountains in most of a day.
When to go
Spring and autumn are warm and pleasant, with the bazaar at its best in late summer and autumn. Summer days are very hot, while winters are cold.
Plan your trip to Khujand
Guide last checked October 2026. Opening times and prices change, so check before you go.