Uzbekistan has long been famed for its significance on the ancient Silk Road. For centuries, if not millennia, it has served as the crossroads of Europe and Asia. Conquerors and explorers alike have galloped across its endless deserts, and countless empires have risen, crumbled, and been lost to the sands of time. While Samarkand and Uzbekistan’s other ancient cities are well-known for their significance during the Silk Road era, Tashkent often goes overlooked. It is not a place that many travelers rave about, and a city that some opt to ignore altogether.

I visit Tashkent with tempered expectations. After all, no one really says “oh my God, you need to go to Tashkent!” when one mentions that you’ll be visiting Uzbekistan. Despite being its capital and largest city, Tashkent is heavily overshadowed by Samarkand’s magnificent monuments. However, as my first destination in Uzbekistan, I still wore my rose-colored glasses, and overall, found Tashkent to be a fascinating place.

While the days of the Silk Road are long gone, Tashkent today still feels like a modern-day crossroads of cultures. You hop into the metro stations and feel the Soviet influence in its massive, extravagant stations, each platform lined with chandeliers. I walked along an Istiklal Street, and while it wasn’t nearly as chaotic as Istanbul’s lively Istiklal Street, the Turkish relationship was obvious in its food and language. The months I spent studying Turkish while living in Istanbul helped far more than I imagined. Many basic words, from important city landmarks to numbers, were the same as in Turkish.

As the cars passed me along the highways, it might have been the most eclectic mix of car brands I had seen. Chinese BYDs, Korean Kias, and American Chevys zoomed past me in equal numbers, as well as a smattering of Russian, Japanese, and European makes. And of course, the uniquely Central Asian identities that Tashkent was primarily comprised of. Uzbeks, Tajiks, Kazakhs, the Kyrgyz, Afghan, and many others left their imprint on Tashkent’s melting pot of citizens.

While Tashkent may not have the ancient historical monuments of Samarkand, or the millennia-old desert fortresses outside of Khiva, or Bukhara’s timeless traditions of rug-making and blacksmithing, Tashkent has its own charm. For those willing to give it a chance, Tashkent can be an equally-fascinating travel destination. Here is everything you need to know before visiting Tashkent.

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Table of Contents

• How To Get To Tashkent
• Where To Stay in Tashkent
• Getting Around Tashkent
• The Best Things To Do in Tashkent
• Closing Thoughts on Tashkent
• Buy Me A Beer!

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How To Get to Tashkent

Tashkent, as the capital and largest city of Uzbekistan, is likely the starting or ending point for your adventures in Uzbekistan or Central Asia. Flights to Central Asia are not cheap, and that is a major reason why this region of the world is still relatively undiscovered. However, affordable deals to Tashkent pop up every now and then, especially from South Korea, China, and the Middle East. I started my own Central Asia backpacking trip in Tashkent, courtesy of a $250 T’way flight from Seoul.

If you are already in Central Asia, traveling overland to Tashkent can be pretty easy. It’s a major city close to Uzbekistan’s borders with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. If you are coming from Shymkent in Kazakhstan or Khujand in Tajikistan, it won’t be hard to find a bus or marshrutka heading towards Tashkent, although you might have to switch buses at the border. I’m not too sure about Kyrgyzstan, and you’ll likely have to make a stop at a different city closer to Uzbekistan’s border than Tashkent.

If you are already in Uzbekistan, finding your way to Tashkent will not be an issue. The railway system of Uzbekistan is extensive, affordable, and easy to use. Tashkent is the main hub for Uzbekistan’s railway system, and practically everywhere in Uzbekistan is a train ride away from Tashkent. Here is Uzbekistan’s railway website where you can book train tickets. Buses are also an option for domestic travel in Uzbekistan, although I found the trains to be far superior in every way. Tashkent’s main railway station is connected to the rest of the city by metro, so it’s easy to transfer into the city upon your arrival.

Where To Stay in Tashkent

As a backpacker on a budget, I appreciated Tashkent for its multitude of cheap hostels and hotels. I stayed at a few different places in Tashkent, but my favorite was The Art Hostel. It was the first hostel in Tashkent and it is one of the few that actually has a bit of a social atmosphere. It’s a fairly basic hostel, but with dorm beds starting at around $6 a night, you cannot complain. It’s also got a swimming pool and a large breakfast buffet included in the nightly rate.

I didn’t find location to be too much of an issue when deciding where to stay in Tashkent. Most of the more central accommodations were the vast international luxury hotel chains that took up entire city blocks by themselves. Most hostels and budget-friendly hotels will be tucked away in a more local neighborhood, but I never found that to be a problem. Ordering taxis were pretty cheap, and most of the city is within a 15 minutes’ walk from a metro station.

Other popular hostels including Drimin and Safarov’s Family Hostel. Although I prefer using Hostelworld to book my hostels for their group chat feature, many hostels in Uzbekistan and Central Asia as a whole do not show up on Hostelworld’s platform. You can book directly through the hostels or use Booking.

Aside from hostels, there are plenty of budget-friendly hotels and family-run guesthouses throughout the city. Lower-end hotels will run you about $25 a night, but for the most part, were totally fine for a couple of nights’ rest. Most still had air-conditioning, private bathrooms, and free breakfasts.

Getting Around Tashkent

Public transportation in Tashkent is affordable and easy to use. I stuck entirely to the metro system, although there are also buses that make their way throughout the city. A ride on the metro costs 3,000 som, or about 25 cents. Most of Tashkent’s main attractions can be easily reached by the metro, so I didn’t really feel the need to figure out the local bus routes.

For any gaps that needed to be filled, there was Yandex Go, the main ride-hailing app used in Uzbekistan. If you picked up a SIM card at the airport, you can register for an account, although you might be able to register with an international phone number as well. You’ll just need a way to get the confirmation text. Uzbekistan might be the cheapest country I’ve ever been to for ride-hailing. No matter how far I was going, it seemed like I never paid more than $1.50, or 20,000 som, including to the airport and train station.

Tashkent is a bit of a conundrum when it comes to walkability. On one hand, the sidewalks are huge and half of the city feels like a massive garden. It was great walking around all over Tashkent and never having to dodge traffic. However, the city is very spread out. The buildings are horizontally gigantic, and it sometimes feels like you are walking past the same bland government building for 15 minutes. Tashkent is safe and walkable, but the walks aren’t always particularly stimulating or exciting. They do have the electric scooters available all over the city, so you might want to look into that if you want to zoom around Tashkent faster.

Overall, you’ve got options for getting around Tashkent in a budget-friendly and convenient manner.

Have a plan to stay connected will make things much easier. I got a Beeline SIM card for about $4 at Tashkent’s airport that came pre-loaded with 25 gigabytes of data, but if a SIM card isn’t an option, there are plenty of eSIMs available for Uzbekistan. I use Saily eSIM to keep me online during my travels, ensuring that I have internet from the moment I land to the moment I leave. Saily’s Uzbekistan eSIMs start at just $4, and you can use my code “eli5” for an additional 5% off of your first Saily eSIM.

The Best Things To Do in Tashkent

While Tashkent might be seen as more of a stopover city, I actually found there to be a fair amount to do in Uzbekistan’s cosmopolitan capital. Here are a few ways to fill your time in Tashkent.

Explore Tashkent’s Bustling Chorsu Bazaar

The first, and favorite, place that I visited in Tashkent was the bustling Chorsu Bazaar. Seeing this beautiful blue-tile domed structure from the outside was beautiful, and potentially even more impressive from the inside. It’s a great place to watch the going-ons of Tashkent’s local life, with hundreds, if not thousands of vendors and shop-owners making their home in this huge market. The Chorsu Bazaar spreads out to the neighboring streets and alleyways, so be sure to wander outside of the dome, too.

The State Museum of the Temurids

After walking past this beautiful teal-domed building several times, I finally let my curiosity get the better of me and see what was inside. The 40,000 som entrance fee was worth it alone for the feeling of walking up the stairs into the grand entrance hall for the first time. I had seen my fair share of intricate and extravagant ceilings by this point, but it was still awe-inspiring. The large mural painted on the wall beneath it added to its beauty. The museum itself is small, offering little more than paintings, old costumes, and small-scale of models of Timurid monuments.

The National Art Gallery of Uzbekistan

Unlike the Timurid State History Museum, the National Art Gallery of Uzbekistan wasn’t particularly impressive from the outside. However, I love checking out art museums in foreign countries so I figured it wouldn’t hurt to go inside. Despite it seeming unassuming and fairly plain on the outside, this art gallery also boasts a stunning interior, particularly its main hall highlighted by yet another breathtaking ceiling and chandelier. The entrance fee is 50,000 som, and I would say it was worth the visit. The art gallery covers two floors and features some beautiful art from Uzbek and regional artists, which I really enjoyed.

Amir Temur Square

This park is highlighted by the large statue of national hero and legendary warlord Emir Temur on horseback. There’s not much to see in the park, but its surroundings are nice to look at. It’s a good place to take in the eclectic architecture of Tashkent, from Hotel Uzbekistan’s brutalist style to the modern-classical Palace of International Forums.

Wander Through Kashgar Park’s Walking Streets and Antique Markets

Just across from Amir Temur Square is Kashgar Park. In the park, people often set up small stands selling antiques, artworks, and more. It’s quite a silly place, as you can also play some ping pong and practice your archery. Street food stands line the walking streets, and some shopping malls and upscale restaurants occupy the buildings across from the park. It is truly a one-stop-shop for some of the wackiest things you could imagine. I enjoy the atmosphere here because oftentimes, Tashkent can feel very empty and desolate. Here, you’ll find plenty of locals and foreigners alike enjoying the vibes and the random offerings of the park.

Tashkent City Mall and Tashkent City Park

One thing that surprised me about Tashkent was how futuristic it could feel. I didn’t explore Tashkent’s modern districts until after I had already spent a few weeks backpacking through Uzbekistan’s ancient cities. Coming to Tashkent City Park afterwards was a shock, to say the least. Surrounded by towering silver skyscrapers, shiny malls, and upscale restaurants and wealthy, well-dressed Uzbeks was a dramatic change from the more rustic environments that I had grown used to. It was a nice change of pace to just hang out in an air-conditioned mall’s food court eating mediocre Chinese food for a sense of familiarity.

This park gets quite lively in the evenings, and there are fountain shows and some street food stands that set up shop along its walking paths. It may not be what you picture from a trip to Uzbekistan, but I enjoyed the atmosphere and getting to experience the many different facets of this dynamic country.

Explore the Soviet-Style Metro Stations of Tashkent

As a New Yorker, it is hard for me to fathom encouraging someone else that “exploring the Subways” is a must-do activity. However, in Tashkent, it is actually a pretty fun way to pass the day. A single ride on the metro is 3,000 som, working out to about 25 cents. Once you make it past the turnstiles, you could pretty much connect to anywhere in the city on a single ticket. It made for fun metro-hopping adventure to just gape at the chandeliers hanging above the platforms, or admire the intricate tile-work that decorated the walls.

Kokaldash Madrasah and Hoja Ahror Valiy Mosque

Due to an earthquake back in 1966, the majority of Tashkent’s historical buildings were destroyed. Among the surviving structures is the Kokaldash Madrasah, dating back to 1570 and commissioned by the Shaybanids. The Kokaldash Madrasah has served many purposes over the years, from its traditional use as a religious and education institution, to even a Museum of Atheism and a caravanserai. While you will see plenty of madrasahs throughout your time in Uzbekistan, the Kokaldash Madrasah is well worth a visit while in Tashkent.

Wander Through the Magic City Park

Uzbekistan loves its amusement parks. Almost every city I went, there would be a carnival-esque atmosphere just outside the city walls. Ferris wheels and carnival rides seem to be a staple for any tourist destination. Samarkand has its Eternal City, a modern reconstruction of Uzbekistan’s ancient cities just outside of the actual ancient city. I never understood it, but hey, the locals love it.

Tashkent has the Magic City Park, the closest thing to Disneyland that you’ll find here in Uzbekistan. It is free to enter, so it doesn’t hurt to pop in and walk around the artificial city if you’ve got a free evening.

Take Advantage of Tashkent’s Local and International Food Scene

One thing that I was more appreciative of on my second visit to Tashkent, following three weeks of eating mostly plov and shashlik, was the wide variety of international restaurants, and more experimental Uzbek fusion restaurants. By the time I made it back to Tashkent, the floodgate of cravings had opened. I was feasting on Korean, Afghan, Chinese, Italian, and Turkish food. Tashkent has a lot of great restaurants at budget-friendly prices, and it doesn’t hurt to switch things up from Central Asian food for a few days.

Closing Thoughts on Tashkent

While Tashkent might not be the main attraction for adventurers seeking unforgettable Silk Road memories, Tashkent holds its own as a travel destination. Perspective is everything, and I appreciated Tashkent a lot more on my second visit to the city than my first. After seeing countless Madrasahs and mosques throughout Uzbekistan’s ancient cities, it was a pleasant change of pace to have a little more modernity and cosmopolitan comforts in Tashkent. Give Tashkent a chance, and it might surprise you. Spending a few days in Tashkent is an excellent way to kick off or wrap up one’s adventures through Uzbekistan.

Buy Me A Beer!

If this post helped you out, show some love and support for the blog and help keep my adventures going by buying me a beer! My adventures are entirely self-funded, so any show of support is greatly appreciated, and allows me to keep writing helpful travel guides and creating travel content to help you all travel the world on a budget.