The best place to experience Central Asia is in the bazaars. The bazaars of Tashkent and Samarkand offer goods ranging from herbs and spices to Central Asian carpets. A variety of produce is sold. In the Alaiski Bazaar in Tashkent it is possible to buy decorated Uzbek knives. Visitors are advised to take a local who can steer them clear of poor quality goods.
Many museums have small shops which sell a variety of modern reproductions and some original items.
It is possible to buy carpets and embroidered wall hangings. Bukhara is famous for its gold embroidery, and visitors can buy elaborately embroidered traditional Uzbek hats. Visitors should be aware that it is illegal to export anything more than 100 years old or items which have a cultural significance. It is normal to remove shoes but not socks when entering someone's house or sitting down in a chai-khana . Shorts are rarely seen in Uzbekistan and, worn by women, are likely to provoke unwelcome attention from the local male population.