Tashkent Metro: A Complete Guide

Updated November 2026, Tashkent Metro: A Complete Guide was originally written in October 2019

I spent a big chunk of my 30th birthday underground, but not in the way you might expect. I was exploring the Tashkent Metro, one of the most beautiful metro systems in the world, exploring its elaborate Soviet-era architecture, colorful mosaics, marble columns, and ornate chandeliers.

Located beneath the capital of Uzbekistan, the Tashkent Metro is far more than a convenient way to get around the city. Each station has its own architectural style and story, with designs celebrating everything from Uzbekistan’s Silk Road history and famous poets to Soviet space exploration and the country’s cultural heritage.

When I first visited Tashkent, photographing the metro stations wasn’t permitted. That changed in June 2018, when photography restrictions were lifted, and I finally had the opportunity to return in October 2019 and explore the stations with my camera.

I made it my mission to photograph all 29 stations that were operating at the time. In just two days, I worked my way through the network, stopping at everything from the marble-clad Mustaqillik Maydoni to the otherworldly Kosmonavtlar and the intricate turquoise mosaics of Alisher Navoi.

The Tashkent Metro has since expanded considerably. Today, it has 50 stations across four lines, including the elevated Circle Line, making it even more interesting to explore.

In this Tashkent Metro guide, I’ll walk you through the system’s history, how to use the metro, ticket prices, operating hours, and the most beautiful Tashkent Metro stations to visit. I’ll also share my favorite stations, what makes each one special, and nearby attractions worth visiting.

Start Here: The Complete Uzbekistan Travel Guide
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A Brief History of the Tashkent Metro

The Tashkent Metro has a fascinating history that stretches back to the Soviet era. Opened in 1977, it was the first underground metro system in Central Asia and remains one of the most distinctive examples of Soviet public transport architecture.

During the Soviet period, metro systems were generally constructed in the largest and most important cities of the USSR. Tashkent’s population had grown rapidly during the 1960s, surpassing one million residents and making it a candidate for its own underground transport network.

Construction of the Tashkent Metro began in 1972, just six years after the devastating 1966 earthquake that destroyed much of the city and left hundreds of thousands of people homeless. As Tashkent was rebuilt into a model Soviet city, a metro system became part of the ambitious reconstruction and modernization plans.

The first line, now known as the Chilonzor Line, opened on November 6, 1977, with nine stations. The Oʻzbekiston Line followed in 1984, while the Yunusobod Line opened in 2001, several years after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The metro has continued expanding since Uzbekistan gained independence. The Yunusobod Line received additional stations in 2020, while the elevated Circle Line began operating in August 2020. Further extensions have since brought the network to 50 stations across four lines.

One of the most interesting aspects of the Tashkent Metro is how its architecture reflects the different periods of Uzbekistan’s history. Soviet-era engineering and design sit alongside artwork celebrating the country’s ancient civilizations, Silk Road connections, famous poets, astronomers, and cultural traditions.

For many years, photographing the Tashkent Metro was prohibited because the system was classified as a strategic military installation and was designed to serve as a potential bomb shelter. Restrictions on photography were lifted in June 2018, allowing visitors to finally document the elaborate interiors.

Today, the Tashkent Metro is both an essential part of daily life in the Uzbek capital and an attraction in its own right. Its stations are effectively underground museums, with each one offering a different perspective on the country’s history, culture, and architectural development.

Read: A Two Week Uzbekistan Itinerary

Tashkent Metro Important Info

Tashkent Metro Cost

The Tashkent Metro is one of the most affordable ways to get around Uzbekistan’s capital, and it’s also an inexpensive way to spend a few hours exploring some of the city’s most beautiful architecture.

As of November 2026, a single journey costs:

• 2,500 UZS when paying electronically with an ATTO transport card, bank card, or supported mobile payment method.
• 3,000 UZS when purchasing a single-use paper QR ticket with cash.

You can purchase a QR ticket at the self-service kiosks in metro stations or use an eligible contactless payment method at the entrance.

The old plastic metro tokens are no longer in circulation. They were replaced by QR-based ticketing.

Once you’ve entered the metro, you can change between lines without paying another fare, provided you remain inside the system.

At current exchange rates, even the more expensive cash fare is still very inexpensive, making the Tashkent Metro a fantastic way to explore the city.

Tashkent Metro Hours of Operation

The Tashkent Metro generally operates daily from 5 AM until midnight, although the Circle Line has slightly shorter operating hours.

Here are the current operating hours for each line:

Metro line	Operating hours
Chilonzor (Red)	5 AM–12 AM
Oʻzbekiston (Blue)	5 AM–12 AM
Yunusobod (Green)	5 AM–12 AM
Circle (Halqa)	5 AM–11 PM

Trains run frequently throughout the day, making it relatively easy to explore several stations in one outing.

If you’re visiting specifically to photograph the stations, I’d recommend avoiding the morning and evening commuter rush. During my visits, I found mid-morning and mid-afternoon particularly good for taking photographs without too many people on the platforms

Evening, after the end-of-workday rush can also be a good time to explore, although you’ll want to keep the closing times of the individual lines in mind.

Metro trains depart stations about every 5 minutes, though during the peak hours are reduced to 2-3 minutes. After 9 pm the frequency increases to every 10 minutes, running on a slower schedule.

Security in the Tashkent Metro

Security is noticeable throughout the Tashkent Metro. When entering a station, you’ll pass through a security checkpoint where your belongings may be scanned or inspected.

You’ll also see security personnel stationed on the platforms and throughout the stations, alongside CCTV cameras.

Although photography is now permitted inside the metro, it’s sensible to follow any instructions given by security personnel and avoid photographing restricted areas or security installations.

The metro was historically considered a strategic military installation, which explains why security remains a visible part of the experience.

Tashkent Metro Map

The Tashkent Metro has four lines connecting different parts of Uzbekistan’s capital: the Chilonzor Line, Oʻzbekiston Line, Yunusobod Line, and Circle Line (Halqa). The network currently has 50 stations, with underground and elevated sections.

The three main underground lines connect many of Tashkent’s major attractions, while the elevated Circle Line serves the outer districts of the city.

The main interchange connections include:

• Paxtakor and Alisher Navoiy
• Amir Temur Xiyoboni and Yunus Rajabiy
• Oybek and Mingoʻrik
• Doʻstlik and Texnopark

The Circle Line also connects to the Chilonzor Line via the nearby Chinor and Qipchoq stations, but this involves a street-level transfer rather than an internal connection.

Where to Stay in Tashkent

One of the easiest ways to get around Tashkent is to stay within walking distance of a metro station. The city’s metro system connects many of its main attractions, making it convenient to explore without relying on taxis.

Budget: My personal recommendation is the Drimin Caravan Sunrise Hostel & Guesthouse, located a quick walk from Oybek Metro Station.

Midrange: A personal favorite is the Art Eco Hotel, located just a 15 minute walk from Pushkin Station.

The Best Tashkent Metro Stations to Visit

If you’re short on time, you don’t necessarily need to visit every station on the Tashkent Metro. Some stations are particularly impressive for their architecture, mosaics, chandeliers, and historical artwork.

Having explored the original network and photographed its stations, these are some of my personal favorites:

• Kosmonavtlar: Probably the most recognizable station, with its blue walls, space-themed decorations, and portraits of Soviet cosmonauts.
• Alisher Navoi: Famous for its turquoise mosaics, intricate artwork, and domed ceiling inspired by traditional Islamic architecture.
• Mustaqillik Maydoni: An elegant station featuring marble columns, geometric ceilings, and crystal chandeliers.
• Pakhtakor: Known for its colorful blue-and-yellow cotton mosaics.
• Bodomzor: One of the most unusual stations, with futuristic geometric decorations and modernist lighting.
• Khamid Olimjan: A striking station with colorful ceramic detailing and impressive lighting.
• Tinchlik: A beautiful combination of marble columns, chandeliers, and modernist panels.
• Beruniy: An impressive station with a high arched ceiling, geometric patterns, and golden chandeliers.
• Chorsu: Particularly interesting because of its architectural relationship with the famous blue-domed bazaar above ground.

If you only have a couple of hours, I’d prioritize Kosmonavtlar, Alisher Navoi, Mustaqillik Maydoni, and Pakhtakor. These give you a particularly good introduction to the artistic diversity of the Tashkent Metro.

Tashkent Metro Stations

Chilonzor Line (Red)

The Chilonzor Line was the first section of the Tashkent Metro to open, beginning operations on November 6, 1977, with nine stations. Today, it has 22 stations and connects the western and southern parts of Tashkent with the city center.

Some of the most beautiful stations on the Chilonzor Line include Mustaqillik Maydoni, Pakhtakor, Milliy Bog, Amir Temur Xiyoboni, and Buyuk Ipak Yoʻli.

The line also has an interesting mix of original Soviet-era stations and newer extensions toward the southern districts of the city.

Below are descriptions of 17 of the 22 stations. I have not written info sections for the newest 5 stations (tbh, the architecture is all pretty similar and not as dazzling as the older stations). The newest 5 stations are:

• Choshtepa Station
• Oʻzgarish Station
• Sirgʻali Station
• Yangihayot Station
• Chinor Station

That said, the new additions do connect districts and neighborhoods in the southern stretches of Tashkent.

Olmazor Station (Formerly Sobir Raximov)

Olmazor Station opened in 1977 under the name Sobir Raximov, after the Soviet-Uzbek WWII hero, but in 2010 the station was renamed. The station connected Tashkent’s most populated southern district with Tashkent’s city center.

Olmazor Station is rather simple in design with a traditional star motif on the floor and stone pillars featuring carvings that depict scenes from the Great Patriotic War. Olmazor is at the southern terminus of the Chilonzor Line.

Chilonzor Station

With golden crowns embellished in crystal lights hanging from a white arched ceiling, Chilonzor Station feels elaborate and grandiose. Chilonzor was one of Tashkent’s first metro stations that opened in 1977 connecting the Chilonzor District to the center of Tashkent.

Colorful ceramic murals on the walls feature typical scenes from farmers at work to men having glasses of chai atop a tapchan.

Mirzo Ulugbek Station

Mirzo Ulugbek was the grandson of Amir Timur and a famous 15th century astronomer. The station opened in 1977 but wasn’t named after the Timurid Sultan until 1992 when the name was changed from 50 Let SSSR (50 Years of the USSR).

Mirzo Ulugbek Station has a simple and Soviet vibe to it with square geometric patterns on the floor and reddish-brown stone pillars that are wider at the top than at the base.

Novza Station (Formerly Hamza)

In 2015 the station was renamed Novza from the old name of Hamza without any notice, angering Monday morning commuters who missed their stop upon not hearing the name Hamza read over the train speakers (the same day Khabib Abullaev Station was renamed Shahriston).

Hamza Niyazi was a famous Uzbek poet and helped the Soviets lead the (Hujum) anti-veil campaign. Inside the station, the white arched ceiling is adorned with clusters of gold-rimmed lights in the shape of hexagons emulating the appearance of honeycombs. Each cluster has one hexagon that is of white stone with traditional carvings.

Novza Station opened in 1977.

Milliy Bog Station (Formerly Yoshlik)

Milliy Bog translates out to ‘national garden’, which is a fitting name for a station giving access to the large Navoi Park, chock full of eccentric Soviet-era monuments and buildings. With marble pillars, black lines on the floor, and detailed white carvings inlaid into two beams on either side of the platform coming down from the ceiling I thought Milliy Bog has a very Soviet-era feel to it.

Milliy Bog Station was named Yoshlik (youth) until 2006 when the name was changed. The station opened in 1977.

Nearby: National Park of Alisher Navoi, Istikol Palace & Oliy Majlis (Parliament).

Going to Bukhara next? Start planning with my Bukhara Travel Guide

Xalqlar Do’stligi Station (Formerly Bunyodkor Station)

The original name of the station, Xalqlar Do’stligi, means ‘friendship of the people’, but in 2008 the station was renamed after the famous Uzbek football club Bunyodkor. In 2018 the station name was officially changed back to Xalqlar Do’stligi once again. The station opened in 1977.

Nearby: Druzhba Square.

Pakhtakor Station

Pakhtakor means ‘cotton picker’ in Uzbek, and the colorful blue-and-yellow mosaics on the walls pay tribute to Uzbekistan’s cotton industry with depictions of blooming cotton plants.

Cotton is an important part of Uzbekistan’s history, but a dark part of it at that. The cotton fields are partially responsible for the drying of the Aral Sea and desertification of the Karakalpakstan region and forced labor of mountain-dwelling people that were made to work in the fields.

Pakhtakor Station opened in 1977 and is an interchange with the O’zbekiston Line.

Pakhtakor Station is an interchange, connected to Alisher Navoi Station on the O’zbekiston Line by underground tunnel.

Mustaqillik Maydoni Station

Mustaqillik Maydoni Station opened in 1977, but it wasn’t until the fall of the USSR in 1991 that the station changed names from Lenin Maydoni to its current moniker- which coincides with the square above ground from it, whose name translates to ‘Independence Square’ in Uzbek.

Mustaqillik Maydoni Station is made almost entirely of marble quarried from the Kyzyl Kum Desert with glimmering walls, bright white columns, and a stunning geometric-patterned ceiling with crystal chandeliers dangling down. The star-patterned floor supposedly represents Mirzo Ulugbek’s contribution to Uzbek history in the way of being an astronomer as well as the grandson of Amir Timur.

Nearby: Independence Square, State History Museum, Art Gallery of Uzbekistan, Crying Mother Monument, Earthquake Memorial, Romanov Palace & Senate Building.

Amir Timur Hiyobuni Station

Formerly named after USSR’s October Revolution, the station was renamed to honor none other than the 14th century conqueror and founder of the Timirid Empire: Amir Timur.

The highlight of the station is the traditional patterns carved into the ceiling. The walls inside the station, as well as pillar details, are made of red marble quarried in Gazgan, a village near Nurata in the Navoi region.

Amir Timur Hiyobuni was opened in 1977 and originally had wall sculptures of the hammer and sickle created by V. Lunev and L. Ryabtsev, but were taken down shortly after independence.

Nearby: Amir Timur Square, Hotel Uzbekistan, Amir Timur Museum, History Museum of the People of Uzbekistan, Navoi Theatre & the Railway Museum.

Heading to the former Timirid Capital of Samarkand too? Check out my Samarkand City Guide

Amir Timur Hiyobuni is an interchange station, linked by an underground tunnel to Yunus Rajabiy Station on the Yunusobod Line.

Khamid Olimjan Station

Khamid Olimjan Station opened in 1980 on the Chilonzor Line. Named after the Soviet-era Uzbek poet of the same name, who was widely regarded as one of Uzbekistan’s finest 20th-century poets. He died at the young age of 34 in a car accident in Tashkent.

Khamid Olimjan Station is one of the more unique of the Tashkent Metro with bright white high ceilings and imposing bands of green, blue, and gold ceramic work, illuminated by ornate lamps.

Pushkin Station

Named after the infamous early 19th-century Russian poet Alexander Pushkin, who never visited Central Asia at all but still remains an influence in post-Soviet literature.

Hexagonal forms surrounded by square outlines on the ceiling are illuminated by sconces that bear semblance to candelabras clung to marble pillars are the main details immediately noticeable on the platform. Pushkin Station was opened in 1980.

Buyuk Ipek Yoli Station

The Great Silk Road is what the name Buyuk Ipek Yoli translates out from Uzbek to English- which feels sitting given Uzbekistan’s prominent history along the ancient Silk Road. The station is wide and open with rings of lights surrounding carvings on the ceiling.

Buyuk Ipek Yoli Station was originally named after socialist-realism writer Maxim Gorky at its opening in 1980 but changed names to celebrate Tashkent’s position along an ancient and modern Silk Road in 1997. Buyuk Ipek Yoli is the eastern terminus of the Chilonzor Line.

O’zbekiston Line (Blue)

The Oʻzbekiston Line was the second section of the Tashkent Metro to open, beginning operations in 1984. It currently has 11 stations and connects several important districts and attractions across the city.

This is arguably my favorite line on the Tashkent Metro, with some particularly beautiful stations, including Tinchlik, Kosmonavtlar, Alisher Navoi, Beruniy, and Do’stlik.

Dostlik Station (Formerly Chkalov)

Do’stlik translates out to ‘friendship’, but the station was originally named Chkalov at opening in 1987 after the Soviet hero and Russian test pilot Valery Chkalov. The design of the Dostlik Station was meant to give metro users the feeling of being on an airplane with the ceiling and walls painted a pale blue to mimic the sky with bands of geometric patterned aluminum to mimic the window panels in a fighter jet. 

In 2012 the station at the eastern terminus of the O’zbekiston Line was renamed.

Mashinasozlar Station

Mashinasozlar Station was opened in 1987 under the name Tashselmash and was renamed Mashinasozlar in 1992. I couldn’t find much information about the name Mashinasozlar which translates to ‘the machines’ but did come across the former name Tashselmash as being the name of a plant that builds the machines that harvest cotton.

Mashinasozlar’s ceilings are plain white and arched with reddish-brown stone pillars each adorned with bluish-white sconces that look to me to be in the shape of a cotton tuft.

Toshkent Station

With over 2,200 years of history, Tashkent needed a station dedicated to it right? The walls are adorned with blue-green ceramic murals depicting ‘national spirit’ as well as events in Tashkent’s two millennia-long history.

Toshkent Station was opened in 1984 and was added to serve as a connection to the city’s train station.

Nearby: Tashkent Train Station, Mirobad Bazaar & Cathedral of Assumption (Orthodox Church).

Oybek Station

Oybek Station opened in 1984 and is named in honor of the famous Uzbek poet. The decor of Oybek Station is quite simple with a white arched ceiling and traditional geometric patterns inlaid into the platform columns.

Nearby: State Fine Arts Museum.

Oybek Station is an interchange station connected by an underground tunnel to Ming Orik on the Yunusobod Line.

Kosmonavtlar Station

Similar to the Almaty Metro’s Baikonur Station in ‘out of this world’ appeal is Tashkent Metro’s Kosmonavtlar Station. Kosmonavatlar pays tribute to Soviet cosmonaut’s contribution to space exploration.

The walls of the station fade from black to blue to white to represent the appearance of Earth’s atmosphere and the dangling glass on the ceiling lights are meant to give passengers the feeling of gazing up at the Milky Way on a dark, clear night.

Giant circular panels on the walls feature murals of pioneers of the Soviet space program like Yuri Gagarin, Valentina Tereshkova, Vladimir Janibekov, and even important astronomers such as Mirzo Ulugbek.

Kosmonavatlar Station was opened in 1984.

Nearby: Museum of Applied Arts, Republican Puppet Theatre & Ak Saroy Presidential Palace (White Palace).

Looking for a cool day trip from Tashkent? Go visit the Solar Furnace in nearby Parkent

O’zbekiston Station

Named after the country itself, O’zbekiston Station opened in 1984 on the line of its same name. Blue glass mosaics form textured wave patterns on the walls giving the appearance of the sea, and bulbous light fixtures pay tribute to the country’s cotton industry, resembling the plant’s white tufts.

Alisher Navoi Station

Opened in 1984 but not completely finished until 1997, this station pays homage to the 15th-century poet, politician, painter, and Sufi mystic Alisher Navoi. Alisher Navoi was born in the city of Herat (in present-day Afghanistan ) under the rule of the Timurid Empire at the time and is regarded by Soviet and Uzbek scholars as a significant influence on the development of the modern Uzbek language (though, not all agree on this).

The ceiling of the station is decorated with pale blue domes with golden details to emulate the mosques and madrasas constructed during the zenith of the Silk Road. The turquoise tile works on the walls depict scenes from Alisher Navoi’s poetry.

Nearby: Sheik Khantour Mausoleum Complex, Youth Theater of Uzbekistan & Museum of Communications History of Uzbekistan.

Alisher Navoi is an interchange station, connected by an underground tunnel to Pakhtakor Station linking the O’zbekiston and Chilonzor lines.

G’afur G’ulom Station

G’afur G’ulom was one of Uzbekistan’s most influential and celebrated poets of his time, most well known for his famous works of Shum Bola and Yodgor. The station is adorned with turquoisey-emerald columns, modernistic mosaics depicting faces and artistic representation of G’ulom’s poetry on the walls of the station, and the ceiling lights hidden inside white domes.

S. Sultonmuradov was the artist brought in to design the station which was operational in 1989.

Nearby: Hazroti Imam Complex, Abu Bakr Kaffal Shoshi Mausoleum, Barak Khan Madrasa & Moyie Mubarek Library Museum.

Chorsu Station

Chorsu Station is aptly named after the blue-domed Chorsu Bazaar that is situated just above ground from the station. The word chorsu translates out to four streams.

The designs on the walls and ceiling of Chorsu Station remind me very much of the lines on the dome covering the main part of the actual Bazaar. Chorsu Station opened in 1989.

Nearby: Chorsu Bazaar, Kulkadesh Madrasa, Joma (Friday) Mosque.

Tinchlik Station

Tinchlik is a small town in the Navoi region of Uzbekistan and subsequently where the marble that the columns of Tinchlik Station are mined. The real draw for me about Tinchlik was the modernist panels on the walls depicting familiar scenes around Uzbekistan, along with the crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling.

Mukhamadjon R. and A. Kayumov were the two artists brought in to design Tinchlik Station, the station was opened in 1991.

Beruniy Station

Beruniy is the terminus of the O’zbekiston line. The station opened in April 1991. With a white arched ceiling adorned with geometric patterns and golden chandeliers of crystal, Beruniy is an easy favorite of mine. The station was named after the city of Beruniy in Karakalpakstan.

Yunusobod Line (Green)

The Yunusobod Line opened in 2001 and currently has eight stations, connecting the northern districts of Tashkent with the central metro network.

Some of my favorite stations on this line include Bodomzor and Yunus Rajabiy, both of which have distinctive architectural features.

Ming Orik Station

Ming Orik translates out to ‘thousand apricots’, a testament to the abundance of apricots impossible to miss at the end of summer in Tashkent. What the interior decor has to do with apricots I’m unsure, but the unique chandeliers hanging from squares in the ceiling are worth a look up at.

If you love symmetry Ming Orik Station will feed your fancy (or is it just me that loves symmetry that much?). The station is at the terminus of the Yunusobod Line, but there are future plans to extend it four more stations south.

Nearby: State Fine Arts Museum.

Ming Orik Station is connected to Oybek Station on the O’zbekiston Line by a shiny Underground Tunnel. 

Yunus Rajabiy Station

Yunus Rajabiy was a famous 20th-century Uzbek musician and composer. In his honor, the Yunus Rajabiy Station was named after him when it was opened in 2001. The station has high ceilings, beautiful chandeliers, and features tall marble pillars with opulent light fixtures.

Yunus Rajabiy & Amir Timur Hiyaboni form an interchange between the Yunusobod and Chilonzor Lines by way of an underground tunnel.

Abdulla Qodiri Station

Abdulla Qodiri is considered to be one of the most influential Uzbek (and Soviet) writers of the 20th century. He introduced literary realism into his works and inspired a generation of Central Asian creatives. Qodiri was executed during the Stalin Regime’s Great Purge.

Abdullah Qodiri Station was opened in 2001 and named after the famed poet. Don’t forget to look up at the gorgeous chandeliers draped from the ceilings. The blue, red, and green glass mosaics inlaid into the pillars are also worth your attention.

Minor Station

To be honest, Minor was one of my least favorite of the Tashkent Metro stations, and I think it’s because I don’t love the columns that run down the middle of the platform, which in turn does make it unique from other Tashkent Metro stations.

Minor Station was opened in 2001 and bears the same name as the nearby and newly constructed (2016) Minor Mosque, famous for its unique white-stone architecture.

Nearby: Minor Mosque.

Bodomzor Station

Bodomzor Station has a real sci-fi feel to it with the modernistic light fixtures that illuminate the bright white tunnel decorated with pale blue hexagonal-and-star-lines. The circular ceramic reliefs that dot the inside I was told supposedly represent chilis and non– 2 staples of Uzbek cuisine, but personally, I’m unsure of that after re-visiting and looking at the ceramics– you be the judge.

All that said, Bodomzor is one of my favorite Tashkent Metro stations because it’s just so unusual and distinct from the others. Bodomzor Station was opened in 2001.

Nearby: UZexpocenter & International Business Center.

Shahriston Station (Formerly Khabib Abdullaev)

Angering Tashkent Metro commuters in 2015, Khabib Abdullaev Station was renamed to Shahriston Station without any notice as part of Uzbekistan’s ongoing anti-Soviet renaming campaign. Khabib Abdullaev was a geologist with pro-Soviet ideas which lead to the decision to change the name to Shahriston which translates out to ‘the city’.

The station was opened in 2001.

Nearby: Tashkent Tower, Central Asian Plov Center.

Yunusobod Station

Opened on August 29, 2020, the Yunusobod Metro Station was added to the existing Yunusobod Line. The line was extended to help alleviate road congestion by connecting the Yunusobod area of Tashkent. The station has a futuristic feel to it.

Turkestan Station

Opened the same day with Yunusobod Station, Turkestan Station is now the new terminus of the Yunusobod Line.

The ceiling decor is impressive to say the least with gleaming black designs overlaid on an opulent white backdrop. Reliefs on the wall display famous sites from around Uzbekistan and the greater Turkestan region.

Circle Line (Halqa)

The Circle Line, also known as the Halqa Line, is the fourth line of the Tashkent Metro. Unlike the older underground lines, much of this route runs on elevated tracks above the city.

The first section opened in August 2020, with the line gradually expanding as additional stations were constructed. Today, the Circle Line has 14 stations running between Texnopark and Qipchoq.

Despite its name, the Circle Line does not yet form a complete ring around Tashkent. Instead, it currently operates as an open arc through the eastern and southern parts of the city.

The names of the stations are:

• Texnopark
• Yashnobod
• Tuzel
• Olmos
• Rokhat
• Yangiabad
• Qo’yliq
• Matonat
• Qiyot
• Tolariq
• Xonobod
• Quruvchilar
• Turon
• Qipchoq

The new stations more or less look nearly the same, with Do’stlik 2 looking a bit different from the others.

Taking a Ride on the Tashkent Metro

Even if you aren’t particularly interested in public transport, the Tashkent Metro is one of the most fascinating places to visit in Uzbekistan’s capital. What started as a practical way to move people around a rapidly growing Soviet city has become an underground showcase of Uzbekistan’s history, culture, and architectural influences.

I originally set out to photograph all 29 stations operating during my 2019 visit, spending hours underground admiring everything from the space-themed interiors of Kosmonavtlar to the elaborate marble columns of Mustaqillik Maydoni and the colorful mosaics of Pakhtakor. Returning to explore the newer additions has been a reminder of just how much the network has grown.

What I love most about the Tashkent Metro is that no two stations feel quite the same. Some celebrate Uzbekistan’s ancient history and Silk Road connections, others pay tribute to famous poets and scientists, while several retain the unmistakable aesthetic of the Soviet era.

Whether you have an afternoon to photograph the most beautiful Tashkent Metro stations or simply want to hop on a train to get around the city, I’d highly recommend making time for it during your visit.

And if you do find yourself spending a few hours underground like I always do, don’t forget to take your time on each platform, even if it means for a slower journey to your destination.

Have Any Questions About the Tashkent Metro?

Ask your questions about the Tashkent Metro in the comments section below.

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