Best Time to Visit
April to June and September to November (15-28°C, mild and dry). Summers hit 40°C+. Winter is cold but not extreme (0-5°C)
Language
Uzbek, Russian widely spoken
Currency
Uzbekistani Som (UZS)
Time Zone
UZT (UTC+5)
Airport
Islam Karimov Tashkent International (TAS), 12km S of city center
Population
2.9 million (city proper)
Climate
Continental, hot dry summers (35-42°C), mild winters, very low humidity
Safety Rating
Very Safe — one of the safest capitals in Central Asia, low crime rates
Central Asia's most photogenic market under a massive turquoise dome, overflowing with spices, dried fruits, flatbread (non), nuts, and butchered meat. Free to wander, open daily 6AM-6PM (busiest Sunday mornings). The spice section is mesmerizing — cumin, saffron, sumac, and black sesame piled in colorful mounds. Upstairs has Korean salads (a Tashkent specialty from the deported Korean community). Near Chorsu Metro station. Allow 1-2 hours.
Built in 1977, Tashkent's metro features stations decorated with chandeliers, marble columns, ceramic murals, and hammered copper panels — each with a unique theme. Photography was banned until 2018. Key stations: Kosmonavtlar (space-themed with cosmonaut portraits), Alisher Navoi (ceramic tiled literary scenes), and Mustaqillik Maydoni (ornate chandelier hall). Entry: 1,500 UZS (~$0.12). Ride the entire Uzbekiston line for the best stations.
The central square features an equestrian statue of Amir Timur (Tamerlane), the 14th-century conqueror who built an empire from Turkey to India. The Amir Timur Museum (25,000 UZS, ~$2) is a domed blue building with exhibits on the Timurid dynasty including a Quran attributed to Caliph Uthman. The square is ringed by fountains and is beautifully lit at night. The Hotel Uzbekistan next door is a Soviet-era brutalist landmark. Allow 1-1.5 hours.
A massive outdoor restaurant where giant cauldrons (kazans) the size of bathtubs cook Uzbekistan's national dish — plov (pilaf with rice, lamb, carrots, chickpeas, and cumin). Each kazan makes 70-100 kg at once. A huge plate costs 30,000-40,000 UZS (~$2.50-3.30). Open 7AM until the plov runs out (usually by 2PM). Go before 11AM on a weekday for the full spectacle of cooking. 10 minutes by taxi from the center.
A serene religious complex in the old town housing the world's oldest Quran (Uthman Quran, 7th century, with visible blood stains attributed to Caliph Uthman's assassination). The Moyie Mubarek Library Museum (25,000 UZS, ~$2) displays the Quran. The complex includes the Tillya Sheikh Mosque and Barak Khan Madrasa. Free to walk the grounds. Open 8AM-6PM. 15 minutes by taxi from the center. Allow 1-1.5 hours.
At 375m, the Tashkent TV Tower is Central Asia's tallest structure with an observation deck at 220m. Entry: 50,000 UZS (~$4). Open 10AM-9PM. The revolving restaurant at 104m serves Uzbek cuisine with panoramic views. On clear days you can see the Tien Shan mountain range. The tower is in a pleasant park area near Minor Mosque (a beautiful white marble mosque worth a quick visit). Allow 1 hour.
Arrive at Islam Karimov Tashkent International (TAS), 12km south. Taxi via Yandex Go (15,000-30,000 UZS). Hotel in the center near Amir Timur Square.
Airport transfer(30 minutes)
Yandex Go taxi app for fair metered prices. 15,000-30,000 UZS (~$1.25-2.50)
Chorsu Bazaar evening visit(1.5 hours)
Central Asia's most photogenic market under a turquoise dome. Spices, dried fruits, flatbread (non). Near Chorsu Metro. The spice mounds are mesmerizing. Free. Open daily 6AM-6PM
Dinner at Plov Center (Osh Markazi)(1 hour)
Giant kazan cooking plov for hundreds. 30,000-40,000 UZS for a huge plate. Go before 2PM (sells out). 10 min taxi from center
The Islamic heritage quarter and the Soviet-era metro art underground.
Khast Imam Complex(1.5 hours)
World's oldest Quran (7th century) at Moyie Mubarek Library (25,000 UZS). Tillya Sheikh Mosque, Barak Khan Madrasa. Free to walk grounds. 15 min taxi from center
Ride the Tashkent Metro(1.5 hours)
1,500 UZS per ride. Ride the Uzbekiston line: Kosmonavtlar (space-themed), Alisher Navoi (ceramic literary scenes), Mustaqillik Maydoni (ornate chandeliers). Photography allowed since 2018
Lunch at a local chaikhana(1 hour)
Teahouse restaurants. Samsa (meat pastry from clay oven, 5,000 UZS), lagman (noodle soup, 20,000 UZS), and green tea. Sit cross-legged on a tapchan (raised platform)
Amir Timur Square & Museum(1.5 hours)
Equestrian statue, domed museum (25,000 UZS). The Quran attributed to Caliph Uthman. Square is beautifully lit at night
Uzbekistan's crown jewel — the Registan, Shah-i-Zinda, and Silk Road grandeur. 2.5 hours by high-speed train.
Afrosiyob train to Samarkand(2.5 hours)
~90,000 UZS (~$7). Book on uzbekrailways.uz 2-3 days ahead
Registan Square(1.5 hours)
Three madrasas facing each other — the most iconic image of Central Asia. Entry: 40,000 UZS. The tilework is staggeringly intricate. Arrive early for fewer crowds
Shah-i-Zinda necropolis(1.5 hours)
25,000 UZS. An avenue of tiled mausoleums so blue they seem to glow. Each facade is different — 14th-15th century tile artistry at its absolute peak
Lunch — Samarkand plov(1 hour)
Samarkand's plov is different from Tashkent's — darker, with quince and chickpeas. Try at Bibikhanum Teahouse near the mosque. 25,000 UZS
Bibi-Khanym Mosque(45 minutes)
15,000 UZS. Once the largest mosque in Central Asia. The scale is breathtaking even in its partly restored state
The Holy City of Central Asia — 140 mosques and madrasas in a sand-colored old town. 4 hours by high-speed train.
Afrosiyob train to Bukhara(4 hours)
~150,000 UZS (~$12). Depart early (6:30AM) to maximize time
Lyabi-Hauz complex(1 hour)
The social heart of Bukhara — a plaza with a tree-shaded pool flanked by madrasas and a khanaka. Free. Sit at a cafe, drink tea, watch life. Mulberry trees are 500+ years old
Kalon Minaret, Mosque & Miri-Arab Madrasa(1 hour)
The 47m Kalon Minaret (1127) was so impressive that Genghis Khan spared it when he destroyed the rest of the city. The mosque and active madrasa form Bukhara's most photographed ensemble. 25,000 UZS
Lunch at Lyabi-Hauz restaurant(1 hour)
Shashlik (lamb kebab, 20,000 UZS), non bread, and cold Sarbast beer. The poolside setting under ancient mulberry trees is blissful
Ark Fortress(1 hour)
25,000 UZS. Bukhara's 2,000-year-old fortress citadel. The throne room and dungeons tell the story of the Bukharan Emirate. The view from the walls over the old city is excellent
The modern side of Central Asia's largest city.
Minor Mosque morning visit(30 minutes)
A beautiful white marble mosque on the Ankhor canal. Free. Best photographed in morning light
Tashkent TV Tower(1 hour)
50,000 UZS. 375m, Central Asia's tallest. Observation deck at 220m. Tien Shan mountains visible on clear days
Navoi Theatre exterior and park walk(1 hour)
The Alisher Navoi Opera and Ballet Theatre, built by Japanese POWs in 1947, is architecturally stunning. The surrounding park is pleasant. Free to walk (performances from 25,000 UZS)
Lunch at Caravan restaurant(1 hour)
Upscale Uzbek in a restored caravanserai setting. Manti (steamed dumplings, 30,000 UZS), dimlama (lamb stew, 40,000 UZS). Beautiful interiors
Tashkent City modern district(1.5 hours)
The new development with the Magic City park, glass towers, and Uzbekistan's emerging modern identity. A stark contrast to the old town. Good coffee scene developing here
Learn to make plov, then explore the neighborhoods tourists miss.
Plov cooking class(3 hours)
Several guesthouses and tour operators offer plov-making classes (learn the kazan technique). 150,000-250,000 UZS including the meal. The key is the zirvak (onion-carrot-meat base) and the precise layering
Walk through Eski Shahar (Old Town)(2 hours)
The mahalla neighborhoods between Chorsu and Khast Imam are traditional Uzbek residential quarters. Courtyard houses, bread-baking in tandoor ovens, children playing in narrow lanes. Not touristy at all
Afternoon at Uzbekistan State Museum of Applied Art(1 hour)
In a beautiful 19th-century diplomat's house. Entry: 20,000 UZS. Suzani embroidery, ceramics, woodcarving, and traditional dress. The suzani collection is exceptional
Farewell dinner at Old City restaurant(1.5 hours)
Full Uzbek spread: plov, shashlik, samsa, salads, non bread, and Uzbek wine (surprisingly good). 80,000-120,000 UZS per person for a feast
Final morning and airport.
Last Chorsu Bazaar visit(1 hour)
Buy dried fruits, spices, and suzani embroidery as souvenirs. The dried apricots and mulberries are extraordinarily good
Airport transfer(30 minutes)
Yandex Go (15,000-30,000 UZS). Allow 3 hours — airport security is thorough
Citizens of 90+ countries including the US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia, Japan, and South Korea can enter Uzbekistan visa-free for 30 days. No pre-registration required. Just arrive with a passport valid for 3+ months. For others, an e-visa is available online (processing 2-3 business days, $20).
The Afrosiyob high-speed train connects Tashkent to Samarkand (2.5 hours, ~90,000 UZS/~$7) and Bukhara (4 hours, ~150,000 UZS/~$12). Book on uzbekrailways.uz 2-3 days ahead — popular departure times sell out. Trains are comfortable, air-conditioned, and remarkably punctual. The Tashkent-Samarkand route is one of Central Asia's best day trips if you start early.
Uzbekistan was cash-only until recently, but Visa and Mastercard now work at most restaurants, hotels, and shops in Tashkent. ATMs dispense UZS. Outside Tashkent (including Samarkand and Bukhara), cash is still preferred. The black market exchange rate no longer exists — the official rate matches the market rate since 2017 reforms. Change money only at banks or official exchange offices.
A full meal at a local restaurant costs 30,000-60,000 UZS (~$2.50-5). A samsa (meat pastry) from a street oven is 5,000 UZS (~$0.40). Budget hotels: $15-25/night. Mid-range: $40-70. Taxis across the city: 15,000-30,000 UZS. Use Yandex Go (Uzbekistan's ride-hailing app) for fair metered prices — avoid negotiating with street taxis who overcharge foreigners.
Non (Uzbek flatbread) is treated with deep respect. Never place bread upside down on a table, never throw it away, and never cut it with a knife — tear it by hand. At meals, the eldest person breaks the first piece. When shopping at the bazaar, vendors may offer you bread to taste — always accept with both hands and say 'rahmat' (thank you).
Uzbekistan has relaxed significantly in recent years, but photographing military installations, police stations, and some government buildings can still attract unwanted attention from security personnel. The metro photography ban was lifted in 2018, but be discreet around uniformed officers. Airport security checks are thorough — allow extra time.
TipsFrom riding the most beautiful metro you've never seen to eating plov before it runs out at 2PM, here's everything you need to know.
StoriesI took the high-speed train between two Silk Road cities and found the gap between Soviet concrete and Timurid splendor more fascinating than either alone.
Travel GuidesA $3 lunch that could feed three people. A metro ride for twelve cents. A high-speed train to the Silk Road for $7. Tashkent is absurdly underpriced.
