Samarkand International Airport — Samarkand, Uzbekistan

Samarkand International Airport, coded SKD, provides air access to one of the Silk Road's most storied cities, a UNESCO World Heritage site famed for the turquoise domes and monumental tilework of the Registan ensemble. Uzbekistan's tourism-friendly reforms over recent years, including simplified visa rules, have driven steady growth in foreign arrivals, and the airport has expanded terminal capacity and added international routes in response. Historically a caravan crossroads linking Persia, India, and China, Samarkand now draws travelers on cultural and heritage circuits through Central Asia, often paired with stops in Bukhara and Khiva. SKD handles a mix of domestic flights connecting Samarkand to Tashkent and a growing number of direct international services from the Gulf, Russia, and parts of Europe. The airport's modernization mirrors a broader push by Uzbek authorities to position the country as an accessible, increasingly open destination after decades of restrictive policy.