Awesome Places to Visit in Tashkent, Uzbekistan

PLACES TO VISIT IN TASHKENT

Uzbekistan offers the modern-day traveller a journey back to a time when what we now see as small Uzbek cities, were once the major trade centres on the lucrative Great Silk Road route. We begin our journey through this country by highlighting the best places to visit in Tashkent, Uzbekistan’s capital city. 

This is one of a series of posts that we have completed, showcasing the country’s main ancient cities:

• Tashkent, 
• Samarkand, 
• Bukhara and 
• Khiva.

They all reflect glorious snippets of the past intertwined with their own unique modern-day atmosphere.

READ MORE: THE ULTIMATE UZBEKISTAN TRAVEL GUIDE

TASHKENT

Similar to other cities within Uzbekistan, Tashkent was one of the major trading posts on the lucrative Silk Road caravan route in this part of Central Asia. It was a favoured stop for merchants given its geographical location and for its reasonably temperate climate. Its history can be traced back over thousands of years and what we see today, is a modern-day version of this once glorious city.

Tashkent was a favoured stop for merchants given its geographical location along the Silk Road and, for its reasonably temperate climate. Its history can be traced back over thousands of years and what we see today, is a modern-day version of this once glorious city.

MAP: TASHKENT PLACES TO VISIT

HOW TO GET TO TASHKENT, UZBEKISTAN

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FLIGHTS TO TASHKENT

Most international flights arrive in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan. Here are some flight duration times to give you an idea of how long it may take you to get there:

• Dubai to Tashkent = 3 hrs 20 mins
• Moscow to Tashkent = 4 hrs
• London to Tashkent = 10 hrs
• New York to Tashkent = 14 hrs 30 mins
• Singapore to Tashkent = 15 hrs 45 mins

TO TASHKENT BY TRAIN

International train travel crossing the borders to and from Uzbekistan are designed for low-cost travel. These are mainly served by Russian and Uzbek Railways and travel on designated days.

For train information use the Uzbek service, Chipta Railway, click here.

Make sure you keep hard copies of your train tickets on hand to show the train station attendants.

THE BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN TASHKENT

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EXPLORE THE TASHKENT METRO

Want to start your visit with something really special? How about subway hopping on Tashkent’s vast underground Metro.

This array of 29 stations, each themed in its own colours and design, drew upon the concepts of famous Uzbek artists and architects. Simply stunning works of art.

Additionally, these metro stations were built to not only withstand earthquakes but to act as nuclear bunkers.

TASHKENT METRO VIDEO

Check out this video of some of these amazing Tashkent underground Metro stations.

The metro stations sit on 3 subway lines:

1. The red Chilonzor line running south-west/north-east
2. The blue Uzbekistan line running north-west/south-east and
3. The green Yunusabad line running north/south.

TASHKENT METRO COSTS

The cost to ride the subway is only 1400 SOM (1.40 USD). You buy a small plastic token that is used to pass a turnstile and enter the subway.

As long as you don’t exit the subway to the streets above, you can legitimately ride from station to station.

Swap onto the different Metro lines and criss-cross your way along on this amazing underground adventure without paying anything more. This is exactly what we did.

Here are a few more images just to whet your appetite.

VISIT THE UZBEKISTAN HOTEL

Riding the Metro Red Line (Chilonzor) or Blue Line (Yunusabad) will have you arriving at Amir Temur Hiyoboni Station. Here, you arrive pretty much on the doorstep of the Uzbekistan Hotel, just a few hundred metres away.

This hotel exemplifies the typical Soviet 1970’s modernist architectural style, boasting 243 rooms on 16 floors.

We decided to have ourselves a bit of a look inside the building and took the elevator up to a random floor. Unfortunately, we couldn’t enter any of the rooms, but we read that they are classically furnished.

Here’s what we did see …

Keep your eyes peeled as the local parks are home to some pretty interesting artwork.

Chorsu Bazaar 

Chorsu Bazaar is the oldest bazaar in Uzbekistan and a traditional marketplace selling bread, spices, fruit and vegetables.

The closest Metro stop is easy to remember, Chorsu, on the Blue ‘Uzbekistan’ Line, leaving a 750m to walk to arrive at the bazaar.

Plov Centre 

The Plov Centre, or also known as the Central Asian Plov Centre, surprisingly serves up Plov. Plov is an Uzbek traditional lunchtime dish of rice and meat, cooked in basically huge woks which can be fun to watch. 

The centre opens at 9 am and the closest Metro stop is Shakhriston on the Yunusobad Line, roughly 650m from the restaurant. 

Tashkent Museums 

If museums are your thing there are plenty to choose from in Tashkent.

•  State Museum of History tracing Uzbekistan’s history
•  State Museum of Art with several thousand pieces of art being the largest collection in Uzbekistan
•  Amir Timur Museum dedicated to the Mongol warlord Amir Timur housing antiquities relating to his life
• Museum of Applied Art showcasing Uzbek carpets, ceramics, textiles, woodwork, musical instruments, artwork and handicrafts.
• Tashkent Museum of Railway Technics displaying diesel and steam locomotives and other train equipment.

WHERE TO EAT IN TASHKENT

We simply dropped by at some of the local eating places that the locals were eating at. This usually indicates that the establishment at least has some decent food and normally at local prices. Also, we were keen to try typical Uzbek cuisine made by locals, for locals.

You can’t really go wrong if you order the main Uzbek traditional dish of Plov, meat and rice dish, or a bowl of Lagman Soup, which is a meat, veg and noodle dish.  

WHERE TO STAY IN TASHKENT

We stayed at the Art Hotel while in Tashkent. The reception staff spoke great English and were super helpful in all areas, especially organising taxis. The hotel is situated within a 1-kilometre easy walking distance of our favourite Metro station: Kosmonavtlar (Kosmanaut).

Check out other Tashkent accommodation deals here. 

PLACES TO VISIT IN TASHKENT – THAT’S A WRAP

Tashkent sure has some awesome places to visit and it definitely won’t break the bank in regards to the cost of getting around and seeing the best the city has to offer.

Having the main Uzbekistan Airport here, Tashkent is a great place to either start or end your Uzbekistan trip. If you’ve found other interesting places to visit in Tashkent that we haven’t included then please let us know as we’d love to hear about them.

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WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT WHAT TO SEE IN UZBEKISTAN?

Check out some more of our Uzbekistan posts:

• Best Things to Do in Bukhara, Uzbekistan
• Practical Uzbekistan Travel Tips and Guide
• Amazing Things to do in Samarkand Uzbekistan
• Kviva to Aral Sea: A Daytrip of Intrigue

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