Welcome to the travel guide of Tashkent. Tashkent is the capital of Uzbekistan with 3,1 million inhabitants. It’s the biggest city of Uzbekistan and of the whole of Central-Asia. Tashkent has influences of the time of the Silk Road, but also of Soviet Union Times.
Most travelers skip Tashkent for the more picturesque cities of Uzbekistan like Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand. If you ask me, that’s a waste. Tashkent has the biggest international airport in the country and chances are this is the place you arrive. I recommend staying at least 24 hours or 48 hours in this city. It differs from the other big cities in Uzbekistan, but that’s also what makes it fun. It’s a weird combination of old Silk Rroad madrassahs and Soviet buildings. It is also the most modern city in the country.
When to visit Tashkent?
The best time to visit Tashkent is during the shoulder seasons. This is during spring (March to May) and during autumn (September to early November). The weather is pleasant ranging from 15 degrees Celsius till 30 degrees Celsius. The summer months are incredibly hot, with temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius. The winter months are the opposite with the possibility of snow and freezing temperatures.
How to get to Tashkent?
Like I said before, is there a big international airport in Tashkent, with connection to multiple European destinations, Istanbul and Dubai. It’s also easily reached by train from the Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand. There is also a train connection with Almaty, Kazakhstan and a bus connection with Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
From the airport it is easy to reach the city center. You can take a Yandex cab for around 50.000 UZS. You can also take public bus #67 towards metro station Oybek. From here it’s a short ride until you reach the city center. The railway station is in the city center.
Things to do in Tashkent
Hazrati Imam Complex
For me, this was my first taste of the Silk Road. Even though, it is less impressive than the buildings you’re going to witness in other parts of Uzbekistan. It’s still worth a visit. It’s an architectural complex dating from the 16th to 20th centuries. It consists of a madrassah, a mosque, a mausoleum and an Islamic institute.
Cost: free
Opening hours: 09:00 – 21:00
Chorsu Bazaar
The Chorsu Bazaar is the biggest bazaar is Tashkent. The meaning of the word Chorsu, in Persian, is crossroads. The building was built in 1980 in the style of Soviet Modernism. Since 2026, the Chorsu Bazaar, is an UNESCO site.
The bazaar consists of two parts. First, you have the big dome and what was originally meant to be the entire bazaar. You can go up the stairs for a better view of the labyrinth of stalls. Meat, dairy and cheeses are mostly sold indoors. Outside the down there are even more stalls, with everything you can wish for. Fruits, nuts, bread, cooked food, and home goods.
Cost: free
Opening hours: 08:00 – 23:00
Amir Timur Square
No visit to Tashkent is complete without a stop at Amir Timur Square, the city’s central landmark. The square is named after the legendary ruler Amir Timur, whose statue stand at its centre. It’s the perfect place to soak up the atmosphere and watch daily life unfold.
Facing the square is the iconic Hotel Uzbekistan, an example of Soviet-era modernist architecture. Built in 1974, its distinctive façade, inspired by traditional Uzbek patterns, has become one of Tashkent’s most recognizable sights.
The statue of Amir Timur in combination with Hotel Uzbekistan reflect the history of Uzbekistan clearly. It’s definitely recommended to visit.
Cost: free
Opening hours: 24/7
Minor Mosque
The Minor Mosque is one of the newest additions in Tashkent. The mosque opened her doors in 2014 and stands out because of its white marble exterior and blue domes.
During our visit we couldn’t enter, because it was prayer time. Even though, it’s still worth a visit to admire the beautifull outside. We were also able to watch them setting up the prayer mats outside of the mosque. Outside prayer times you’re able to visit, provided you dress modestly and behave respectfully.
Cost: free
Opening hours: 24/7
Kukeldash Madrasah
Right next to the bustling Chorsu Bazaar, is the Kukeldash Madrasah. It’s one of Tashkent’s oldest historic monuments, built in the late 16th century during the Shaybanid dynasty. The madrasah has survived multiple earthquakes, political unrest and the Soviet times.
The Kukeldash Madrasah was and still is a centre of Islamic learning.
Cost: 10.000 UZS
Opening hours: 08:00 – 18:00
The Memorial of Victims of Oppression
A must visit is the Memorial of Victims of Oppression. It lies next to the Bozsu Canal. The memorial is created to honour the victims of political persecution during Tsarist and Soviet periods.
Beside the monument is the Museum of Victims of Political Oppression, which explores the stories of writers, scholars, and ordinary citizens affected by political persecution. It stands out because of the beautiful woodwork and wooden pillars on the outside.
Cost: 25.000 UZS
Opening hours: 08:00 – 18:00
Besh Qozan
A trip to Tashkent isn’t complete without sampeling the national dish of Uzbekistan, plov! And the restaurant Besh Qozan is the place to do it. Lucky for us, it’s right next to the memorial. Plov consists of a combination of rice, carrots, onions, raisins, spices and meat. In Besh Qozan the plov is cooked in enormous cast-iron pots.
The experience is just as good as the food. The dish is often accompanied by bread, salads, quail eggs, chickpeas and horse sausage. To be honest the horse sausage wasn’t my cup of tea, but I was excited to try it nonetheless.
Budget
Tashkent is a very affordable city. In total we paid 50.000 UZS for the taxi from the airport. We paid 10.000 UZS each for the Kukeldash Madrasah. The accommodation was 480.000 UZS a night. Lastly we paid around 650.000 UZS for food. This included five meals out, to sample all the delicious food Uzbekistan has to offer. In total we paid 1.200.000 UZS or 600.000 UZS per person for 24 hours in Tashkent. This is currently 43,63 euros.
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