Tashkent Travel Guide

16 Things To Do In Tashkent + Tashkent Travel Guide

Updated January 2026, 15 Things To Do In Tashkent + Tashkent Travel Guide was originally written in January 2020

Tashkent gets skipped over by many visitors to Uzbekistan for its more glamourous Silk Road cities of Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva, but Tashkent actually has quite a bit to offer. If you’re flying into the country, you’ll likely arrive in Tashkent, so why not allow for a couple of days to explore the Uzbek capital?

In this Tashkent travel guide, you’ll find everything to plan your Tashkent visit, from the best things to do in Tashkent, where to stay, Tashkent’s best restaurants, day trips, and more. For more ideas to help you plan the perfect trip to Uzbekistan, I recommend purchasing a copy of the Bradt Uzbekistan Guidebook.

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How Long To Visit Tashkent?

How long you choose to visit Tashkent, of course, will greatly depend on your interests. I’d say for most travelers two days is probably enough time to hit the highlights in Tashkent, though on my most recent visit to Tashkent in 2019 I had three days there and could have easily spent double that.

With that said I wanted to visit and photograph every Tashkent metro station (there’s 29) and see a number of sites (many were revisits), so much more than 2-3 days I think would be overkill for most travelers on limited time in Uzbekistan.

The Best Time To Visit Tashkent

Like much the rest of Uzbekistan, it’s boiling hot in the summer and can be quite chilly in winters. The best months to visit Tashkent with the most comfortable weather are April, May, September, and October. Unfortunately, those months are the most popular for this reason so prices are a bit higher and good-priced and quality accommodations can book up fast.

Shoulder months such as March and November can be good months to opt for to get fewer crowds and a bit more of a bargain, though plan to bundle up, especially in the evenings.

Need help planning you itinerary? Check out my two week Uzbekistan itinerary

Where To Stay In Tashkent

Budget

Topchan Hostel
| Booking.com |

Midrange

Art Eco Hotel
| Booking.com | Hotels.com |

Splurge

Ichan Qala Hotel
| Booking.com | Hotels.com |

Tashkent Tours

There are a handful of tours on offer around Tashkent, including this half-day walking tour of the city, and this night tour of Tashkent.

Things To Do In Tashkent

Take A Ride On The Tashkent Metro

Tashkent Metro is among the most beautiful and ornately designed metro systems in the world. Starting in 2018 the Tashkent Metro was declassified as a military installation so photography is finally allowed in the Tashkent underground. So not only is the Tashkent Metro a cheap and fast way to zip between the sites on this list, but it’s also a sight to behold all itself (and thus making it pretty much my favorite things to do in Tashkent!).

Cost: 2,000 UZS per ride

Mustaqillik Maydoni (Independence Square)

The square is a great place to plop down for a rest between sites in Tashkent and a great place to meet friendly locals. Situated around the square are the Senate Building, Romanov Palace, Crying Mother Monument, and the 1966 Earthquake Memorial.

Metro stop: Mustaqillik Maydoni

Besh Qozon (formerly the Central Asian Plov Center)

Head over at about lunchtime to see the Plov Center in action, in the covered outdoor area, watch cooks fry up plov in front of a line of hungry onlookers armed with bowls from home and even trash bags to carry off plov to-go in.

Home to the world’s largest qazan, the metal pan plov is fried up in. Once your done drooling over plov being cooked up in front of you, head over to the dining hall where you can put in an order and enjoy a bowl of plov.

Metro stop: Bodomzor or Shahriston

Hotel Uzbekistan

The massive Hotel Uzbekistan is a Soviet fixture, looming over Amir Timur Square. Even if you’re not staying in the communist-era monstrosity, head in and have a drink at the Bar Vienna downstairs or grab dinner at the upstairs restaurant.

Metro stop: Amir Timur Hiyobuni or Yunus Rajabiy

Khast Imam Complex, Abu Bakr Kaffal Shoshi Mausoleum, & Barak Khan Madrasa

Among my favorite things to do in Tashkent is visit the Khast Imom Complex, the official religious center of Tashkent that is comprised of the Hazrati Imom Mosque, Moyie Mubarek Library Museum, and the sprawling Khast Imom Square. Try to visit early to avoid the massive tour bus groups.

On the same grounds, you’ll also find the Abu Bakr Kaffal Shoshi Mausoleum dedicated to the Shaybanid era poet and scholar, and the souvenir-shop filled Barak Khan Madrasa. The Moyie Mubarek Library Museum houses (allegedly) the world’s oldest Uthman Quran, which dates back to the 7th century.

Metro stop: Gafur Gulom

Chorsu Bazaar

The frenetic and bustling core of Chorsu Bazaar is covered by a Soviet-era blue dome, but the bazaar sprawls out from underneath it and feels almost like a city of its own. If you’re on the hunt for literally anything, this is the place you’ll likely find it.

Metro stop: Chorsu

International Islamic University & Sheik Khantaur Complex

The Islamic University has an impressive facade that faces out toward Abdullah Qodiri Street, with three 15th century mausoleums to Yunus Khan, Tole Bi, and Sheikh Hovendi Takhur.

Metro stop: Alisher Navoi or Pakhtakor

Minor Mosque

Minor Mosque is a new addition to Tashkent, built in 2016, but the large mosque complex is quite unique being decorated in blinding white marble.

Metro stop: Bodomzor or Minor

Have more time in Uzbekistan? Why not check out the Uzbek Fergana Valley?

Tashkent Tower

This monstrosity is the tallest structure in all of Central Asia at 395 meters. The TV tower itself, in my opinion, isn’t really worth the 120,000 UZS admission fee to go up in, but you can easily admire it from a distance. The Tashkent Tower is located very close to the Central Asian Plov Center.

Metro stop: Bodomzor or Shahriston

Oloy Bazaar

Oloy Bazaar is a bit pricier, but far more chill than Chorsu Bazaar. The bazaar has a modern look to it, but it’s argued whether the bazaar originated in the 12th century or the 17th century.

Metro stop: Abdulla Qodiri

Kulkadesh Madrasa & Joma Mosque

Kulkadesh Madrasa and Joma Mosque sit side by side atop a hill overlooking Chorsu Bazaar. Entrance to Kulkadesh Madrasa is 10,000 UZS.

Metro stop: Chorsu\

Navoi Theatre

Most evenings the theatre puts on a show, which can be a great way to spend one of your evenings in the city. Tickets typically fall in the 10,000-100,000 UZS price range depending on the seat but make sure to get there early to wander the halls and foyers to appreciate the architecture.

Metro stop: Mustaqillik Maydoni or Kosmonavtlar

Plan a perfect two week Uzbekistan & Tajikistan itinerary

Cathedral of Assumption

The gold-domed Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin is a Russian Orthodox cathedral originally built in 1871. On the opposite corner of Nukus and Avliyuta Ko’chasi you’ll find the Mirobad Bazaar. The neighborhood off of Nukus and Oybek Ko’chasi still has some good Soviet apartment blocks that still have Soviet-style mosaics on display (many of the old apartment blocks are being updated and mosaics disappearing).

Metro top: Tashkent or Oybek

Amir Timur Maydoni (Amir Timur Square)

Amir Timur Maydoni feels like the center of Tashkent with the streets of the city spiderwebbing out from it. You’ll find the Amir Timur Statue at the center of the square, but also around it, you’ll find the Amir Timur Museum, the Dom Forum, the House of Photography, and Hotel Uzbekistan.

Metro stop: Amir Timur Hiyobuni or Yunus Rajabiy

Tashkent Museums

State Museum of the History of Uzbekistan

Even if you’re not a history buff, the State Museum of the History of Uzbekistan is definitely worth a stop for anyone looking to learn a little about the history of Uzbekistan from the days of Turkestan to present day. Admission is 10,000 UZS, cameras are an additional 25,000 UZS.

Metro stop: Mustaqillik Maydoni

Art Gallery of Uzbekistan

The Art Gallery of Uzbekistan houses a combination of the rotating international exhibits and permanent exhibits displaying Uzbek contemporary artists’ works.

Metro stop: Mustaqillik Maydoni

Amir Timur Museum

The Amir Timur Museum houses displays that explain the history of the Timirid Empire. The museum opened in 1996, the year the late president Islom Karimov declared ” the year of Amir Timur”. Admission is 15,000 UZS, and an additional 30,000 to take photos.

Metro stop: Amir Timur Hiyabuni or Yunus Rajabiy

Railway Museum

The Railway Museum displays a collection of Soviet locomotives that were in use from the 1930s-1950s. Admission is 25,000 UZS.

Metro stop: Toshkent

State Fine Arts Museum

The State Fine Arts Museum of Uzbekistan houses artwork that spans over 1,500 years of history. The highlight (at least I think) is the Uzbek Applied Arts section which showcases carvings and suzanis (an embroidered tapestry). Admission is 10,000 UZS, and cameras are an additional 50,000 UZS.

Metro stop: Oybek or Ming Orik

Museum of Applied Arts

The Museum of Applied Arts is housed within the former home of Russian diplomat Alexander Polovtsev, who collected Uzbek handicrafts inside his mansion decorated in grand Uzbek style. It’s quite colorful and a great introduction to Uzbek decorative styles and architecture. Admission is 21,000 UZS for admission + camera.

Metro stop: Kosmonavtlar

Museum of the Victims of Political Repression

Located just across Amir Timur Ko’chasi from the Central Asian Plov Center and the Tashkent Tower, the Museum of the Victims of Political Repression pays tribute to those repressed and killed by the government as well as the history of the country when Uzbekistan was under control of the Soviet Union

Metro stop: Bodomzor or Shahriston

Magic City

Newly built, Magic City is akin to an Uzbek Disneyland with a princess castle, replicas of several famous monuments around the world, and even a replica of the Registan and Samarkand. I wouldn’t necessarily go out of my way to visit (we happened to be passing by in the evening and wandered in), but if you are traveling Uzbekistan with kids, this will likely keep them occupied for a bit.

Entry to Magic City is free and they even have weekly firework displays. There are heaps of restaurants and shops to wander through here as well including several foreign chains.

Metro stop: Xalqlar Dostigli or Milliy Bog

How To Travel To Tashkent

By Flight: Tashkent is easily reached by air with Uzbekistan Airways, Aeroflot, Ural Airlines, Air Manas, Air Astana, Turkish Airlines, and several more airlines offering services to the city. Uzbekistan Airways, of course, offers the most routes including several throughout Central Asia, Europe, East Asia, the Middle East, and even a new direct flight to New York City.

By Shared Taxi: Tashkent is easily reached by shared taxi and marshrutka from just about any city or town in Uzbekistan. International connections include Shymkent, Kazakhstan; Osh, Kyrgyzstan; and Khujand, Tajikistan, but do expect to have to change to a different vehicle on the other side of the border.

By Train: Major cities in Uzbekistan, such as Samarkand, Bukhara, Urgench, Termez, Nukus, and more are all connected by rail as well as international destinations in Kazakhstan, Russia. You can book tickets within Uzbekistan book tickets within Uzbekistan here, but do note that many have difficulty booking online with the Uzbek Railways site (I gave up when I was there in October and just took a shared taxi). You’ll typically want to book at least a couple of days in advance, so if the site isn’t working for you ask a local (many times your guesthouse can lend a hand) to book a ticket for you and pay them in cash.

Best Restaurants In Tashkent

Another of my favorite things to do in Tashkent is to gorge out on great food. The city has exploded with many new restaurants all around, especially on Shota Rustaveli. For a rundown on the best places to eat in Tashkent, including local Uzbek cuisine, Central Asian regional fare, and international kitchens, check out my Best Restaurants in Tashkent Guide.

Things To Do Outside Tashkent: Tashkent Day Trips

Parkent

At only 45 km from Tashkent, the Solar Furnace that sits on a hill above the town of Parkent makes for a perfect day trip from the city. The Solar Furnace’s staff will give tours of the fascinating facilities for 100,000 UZS on weekdays during normal business hours (though it is best to call in advance to arrange it).

The solar furnace uses thousands of mirrors to reflect light in order to achieve temperatures of over 3,000ºC to create energy, melt metals and elements, and more.

The easiest way to visit is to order a Yandex Taxi from Tashkent to the Solar Furnace and back (it’s still quite cheap, especially if you have a few of you going). However, it is possible to get to Parkent from Tashkent by marshrutka and then hire a taxi in Parkent to take you the remaining 7 km and up the hill to the Solar Furnace.

Ugam Chatkal National Park

Ugam Chatkal National Park is located in the Chimgan Mountains, a portion of the Western Tien Shan that Uzbekistan shares with Kyrgyzstan. The national park is only about an hour’s drive from Tashkent. This is the best place to head if you’re in Tashkent and want to get out into nature, whether it be a day trip to the mountains or a multi-day trek.

Chimgan, as well as nearby Beldersay, are great places to head if you’re visiting in the winter and want to get in some skiing.

Have Any Questions About This Tashkent Travel Guide Or About Any Of The Things To Do In Tashkent Mentioned?

Ask your Tashkent travel questions in the comments section below.

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