Tashkent, Uzbekistan: travel guide
The vibrant capital of Uzbekistan and the largest city in Central Asia, Tashkent blends a Soviet-era grid of wide boulevards and monumental metro stations with a living Islamic old city of madrasas and bazaars. The Chorsu Bazaar, Khast Imam Islamic complex, and a thriving café and arts scene make it an essential gateway and destination in its own right.
- Country
- Uzbekistan
- Currency
- UZS
- Time zone
- Asia/Tashkent
- Nearest airport
- TAS
Top places to visit in Tashkent
Chorsu Bazaar
Market · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h
Central Asia's most spectacular bazaar, anchored by a vast Soviet-era azure dome and operating in one form or another for over 2,000 years. Chorsu is the pulsing commercial heart of Tashkent's old city — a labyrinth of spice mounds,…
Khast Imam Islamic Complex
Mosque · 4.6 rating · about 1.3 h
Tashkent's most important Islamic site and one of the finest in Central Asia — a walled precinct of madrasas, mosques, and a library containing the world's oldest Quran manuscript (Uthman Quran, 7th century AD). The Barak Khan Madrasa and…
Amir Timur Museum
Museum · 4.3 rating · about 1.5 h · entry UZS 30,000
An elegant turquoise-domed museum in the heart of modern Tashkent dedicated to the life and conquests of Timur (Tamerlane) — the 14th-century conqueror whose empire stretched from Turkey to India. Well-curated exhibits cover Timurid art,…
State Museum of History of Uzbekistan
Museum · 4.2 rating · about 2 h · entry UZS 40,000
Uzbekistan's largest museum with over 250,000 artefacts spanning from the Palaeolithic to the modern era. The Silk Road and Greco-Bactrian sections are particularly remarkable — displaying gold jewellery, carved ivory, and Buddhist…
Navoi Opera & Ballet Theatre
Cultural · 4.5 rating · about 2.5 h · entry UZS 50,000
One of the grandest opera houses in Asia, built in 1947 by Japanese POW labour — a fact acknowledged in a display inside. The building blends classical European theatre design with Uzbek architectural motifs across six halls, each…
Independence Square
Cultural · 4.5 rating · about 1 h
Tashkent's vast central plaza (Mustaqillik Maydoni) with the Independence Monument, Crying Mother memorial, and fountains.
Amir Timur Square
Cultural · 4.4 rating · about 0.5 h
Historic square with the equestrian statue of Amir Timur, ringed by colonial-era buildings.
Tashkent TV Tower
Viewpoint · 4.4 rating · about 1 h · entry UZS 35,000
One of the tallest towers in Central Asia (375m) with a revolving restaurant and observation deck over the city.
State Museum of Applied Arts
Museum · 4.6 rating · about 1.3 h · entry UZS 25,000
Housed in a lavishly tiled 19th-century mansion; collection of Uzbek ceramics, suzani embroidery, woodcarving and jewelry.
Minor Mosque
Mosque · 4.6 rating · about 0.5 h
Modern white-marble mosque on the Ankhor Canal, one of Tashkent's most photographed contemporary landmarks.
Kukeldash Madrasah
Heritage · 4.3 rating · about 0.8 h
16th-century madrasah overlooking Chorsu Bazaar, one of the largest surviving in Central Asia.
Kosmonavtlar Metro Station
Cultural · 4.7 rating · about 0.3 h
Space-themed Tashkent Metro station honoring Soviet cosmonauts, with murals of Gagarin and Uzbek-born cosmonauts.
Things to do
- Tashkent Metro Art Tour Sightseeing · 1.5 h · from UZS 31,200 per person
- Chorsu Bazaar & Old City Cultural Walk Cultural · 2 h · from UZS 43,700 per person
- Uzbek Plov Cooking Class Food · 3 h · from UZS 225,000 per person
- Hazrat Imam Ensemble & Old City Heritage Walk Heritage · 2.5 h · from UZS 49,900 per person
- Chimgan Mountains & Charvak Lake Day Trip Adventure · 9 h · from UZS 350,000 per person
- Tashkent Old Town Sunset Photography Walk Sightseeing · 2.5 h · from UZS 90,000 per person
- Uzbek Ceramics & Textile Shopping Tour Cultural · 3 h · from UZS 100,000 per person
Day trips and tours
- Tashkent Highlights: Bazaars, Metro & Old City 8 h · from UZS 275,000
Where to stay in Tashkent
- Old City (Eski Shahar) about UZS 60 per night
The atmospheric Islamic old quarter around Chorsu Bazaar and Khast Imam — mud-brick lanes, teahouses, and 16th-century madrasas. Guesthouses and boutique hotels here give the most authentic Tashkent experience.
- Amir Timur Square Area about UZS 120 per night
The grand Soviet-era civic heart of Tashkent — wide avenues, the Navoi Opera, luxury international hotels, and metro stations. Most convenient for business travellers and those wanting modern comforts.
Hotels
- Hyatt Regency Tashkent 5-star · UZS 1,800,000 to UZS 3,500,000 per night
- Hilton Tashkent City 5-star · UZS 1,600,000 to UZS 3,200,000 per night
- Movenpick Hotel Tashkent 5-star · UZS 1,500,000 to UZS 2,900,000 per night
- Radisson Blu Hotel Tashkent 5-star · UZS 1,400,000 to UZS 2,600,000 per night
- International Hotel Tashkent 5-star · UZS 1,300,000 to UZS 2,500,000 per night
- Wyndham Tashkent 4-star · UZS 900,000 to UZS 1,800,000 per night
Where to eat
- Plov Centre (Osh Markazi) Uzbek, Central Asian · about UZS 30,000 per person
- Caravan Restaurant Uzbek, Central Asian · about UZS 85,000 per person
- Besh Qozon Uzbek, Central Asian · about UZS 35,000 per person
- Nobu Tashkent Japanese, Peruvian, Fusion · about UZS 400,000 per person
- Afsona Restaurant Uzbek, Central Asian · about UZS 90,000 per person
- Basq Restaurant Uzbek, Modern · about UZS 250,000 per person
- Ikra Bar & Restaurant Seafood, European · about UZS 300,000 per person
- Chorsu Lagman House Uzbek, Uyghur · about UZS 25,000 per person
Getting around
- Metro main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Taxi main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Walking
Every city has walking. 2.5 km ceiling is a placeholder default, not a researched per-city figure -- Singapore is sheltered and air-conditioned, Bangkok often has no pavement.
Safety and scams to avoid
Airport Taxi Overcharge
Tashkent International Airport
Unlicensed drivers quote 150,000–300,000 UZS for the 20-minute city trip; legitimate Yandex fare is 25,000–40,000 UZS.
How to avoid it: Book Yandex Go or InDrive before exiting arrivals. Licensed taxis at the official rank post metered rates.
Chorsu Bazaar Pickpockets
Chorsu Bazaar, main dome area
Dense crowds create easy cover for pickpockets targeting jacket pockets, zipped bags or phone-in-hand tourists.
How to avoid it: Use a money belt or inner pocket. Keep phone in a front pocket. Avoid displaying camera equipment in tight lanes.
Money Exchange Shortchange
Tashkent city-centre exchange offices
Operator flips through bills quickly and removes a note mid-count.
How to avoid it: Always count every note yourself before leaving the counter. Licensed exchange offices have CCTV.