Sughd Province · Tajikistan
Khujand travel guide
Khujand is a city in Sughd Province, Tajikistan, home to about 199,000 people.
- Best months
- May, September and October
- Nearest airport
- LBD9 km · Khujand International Airport
- Currency
- TJSTajikistani somoni
- Time zone
- Asia/Dushanbe
- Language
- Russian, Tajik
About
About Khujand
Khujand, sometimes spelled Khodjent and formerly known as Leninabad from 1936 to 1991, is the second-largest city of Tajikistan and the capital of its northernmost Sughd province.
Khujand is the second largest city in Tajikistan (145,000 inhabitants in 2025), in the Ferghana Valley on both banks of the Syr Darya river, known in classical sources as the Jaxartes. Khujand is an old city. It was probably founded by Alexander the Great in 329 BCE as Alexandria Eschate (Furthest Alexandria), although there are reports of the city predating him. It might also have been the site of the ancient Persian city of Cyropolis, which was a major city in Sogdia whose remains still have not been found.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Khujand
See
For an almost 3000-year-old city, there are very few historical sites left. Still, Khujand has plenty to offer.
- Arbob Palace
- Historical Museum of Sughd Region
- Independence day monument
- Kamoli Khujandi Park and Museum
- Kamoli Khujandi Theatre
- Khujand Fortress
- Mausoleum of Sheikh Muslihiddin
- Somoni Park
- Stella Khujand
- Victory Park
- Nur-i Islom Mosque
Do
- Kanatnaya Doroga
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
When to go
The best time to visit Khujand
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Khujand are May, September and October. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 35 °C; March is the wettest, with about 89 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Khujand: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Khujand International Airport (LBD), about 8.9 km from the city centre in a straight line; Zomin Airport (OMN, 108 km) and Tashkent International Airport (TAS, 113 km) are also within reach.
Getting around
Khujand is a pretty walkable city, although distances may seem shorter on maps than they actually are (the local running club considers a loop that goes from one bridge to the other and back to be 5K). Both of the main bridges across the Syr Darya in the center of town have sidewalks. Taxis start at С9 per ride for short cross-river drives. The average price for a taxi between the "fortress-to-Panjshanbe" region is С12. Taxis to Somon Bazaar and Avtostantsiya cost С21. Taxis to the airport (which is in Chkalovsk) cost about С30.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
LBD · Khujand International Airport
OMN · Zomin Airport
TAS · Tashkent International Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Khujand
Eat
Locals claim that they have the best food in all of Tajikistan! While you may or may not agree, it certainly is worth trying. The Khujandi version of plov (called "Osh" in the city) is very similar to the Samarkandi style, as opposed to the Dushanbe style found in the southern half of the country. There are numerous small restaurants and cafés throughout the town, as well as street vendors. During Ramadan, expect all of the following to be closed until around Iftar (the sunset prayer), at which point they all become incredibly crowded with locals heading out to eat. Grocery stores and a decent number of the food vendors at the bazaars remain open during the day.
Drink
There aren't many nightclubs or bars in Khujand, but alcohol stores can be found on most streets. Unlike in many other countries, grocery stores do not sell alcohol in Tajikistan. Prices are generally slightly cheaper than in countries like the US or most of Europe, but the quality may reflect that. Most "sit-down" style restaurants will serve alcohol, but "fast food" style ones (like burger/shwarma/pizza joints) will not. Being a former Soviet country, Tajikistan is a good place to find Georgian and Moldovan wines, as well as other beverages from the former republics.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Khujand: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Khujand?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Khujand are May, September and October. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 35 °C; March is the wettest, with about 89 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Khujand?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Khujand International Airport (LBD), about 8.9 km from the city centre in a straight line; Zomin Airport (OMN, 108 km) and Tashkent International Airport (TAS, 113 km) are also within reach.
What currency is used in Khujand?
Tajikistani somoni (TJS).
Nearby
Destinations near Khujand
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.