Tashkent first trip: riding the metro, the old town and Chorsu Bazaar, and a 2-day route

Two or three nights cover Tashkent's highlights

Tashkent is the capital of Uzbekistan and the largest city in Central Asia. This 2,200-year-old Silk Road city brings together the Khazrati Imam complex and Chorsu Bazaar in the old town, a metro where every station has its own design, and museums. The guide suggests 2 to 3 nights.

Walk the old town on the first day and ride the metro to Amir Temur Square in the center; on the second, see the museums and the Minor Mosque, then stroll Taras Shevchenko Street in the evening.

Uzbekistan's national tourism site calls spring and autumn the 'velvet season', the best time to travel. From around 20 June to early August comes 'chillya', the 40 hottest days.

• Day 1: Khazrati Imam complex → Chorsu Bazaar → Kukeldash Madrasah and Gulbozor street → metro to Amir Temur Square
• Day 2: State Museum of Temurids History → State Museum of History → State Museum of Applied Arts → Minor Mosque → Taras Shevchenko Street

• Tashkent travel guide →
• First trip abroad checklist →

Airport to the city: check buses and taxis officially

Tashkent International Airport (TAS) is in the city's Sergeli district. The airport's official site gives no city transport details, so check bus route numbers, hours and journey time locally.

According to Tashkent Metro, city buses accept the ATTO transport card or a contactless bank card just like the metro, at UZS 1,700 per ride. For taxis, the national tourism site advises using official taxi apps to avoid overpricing. Check taxi fares officially.

The check-in area on the airport's second floor has currency exchange, ATMs and SIM card sales. The currency is the Uzbek som (UZS).

• Airport to city by bus: check routes and times officially; UZS 1,700 per ride (ATTO or contactless card)
• Taxi: official taxi apps; check fares officially
• Airport second floor: exchange, ATMs, SIM cards

• Airport to city: which option to choose →

How to ride the Tashkent Metro

The Tashkent Metro opened in 1977 as the first metro in Central Asia. It officially runs daily from 05:00 to 00:00, and Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists four lines.

A ride costs UZS 1,700 with an ATTO transport card or a contactless bank card. With cash only, buy a one-ride QR ticket (UZS 3,000) at a station ticket office. ATTO cards are sold at metro ticket offices, city bus company offices and post offices.

Every station was decorated by different architects and artists with mosaics and traditional patterns, earning it the name 'underground art gallery'. The Alisher Navoi and Paxtakor transfer stations even have a reading room and library.

• Hours: daily 05:00-00:00
• ATTO or contactless card: UZS 1,700 per ride
• Cash QR ticket: UZS 3,000 (station ticket office)
• ATTO cards: metro ticket offices, city bus company offices, post offices

Day 1 morning: Khazrati Imam complex and Chorsu Bazaar

Start in the old town (Eski Shahar). The Khazrati Imam complex is a religious ensemble that survived the 1966 earthquake, made up of the Tillya Sheikh Mosque, the Kaffal Shashi Mausoleum, the Barak Khan Madrasah and more. The 7th-century 'Quran of Osman' manuscript is kept in the library of the Muyi Muborak Madrasah. Women are advised to cover shoulders, back and legs.

Next is Chorsu Bazaar, a huge market known since the Middle Ages, formed around the 10th century where four trading streets met. The food pavilion under the blue dome sells dried fruit, spices and dairy products (katyk, kurt, suzma).

Have lunch at the nearby food stalls: plov, kebab and samsa. Plov, Uzbekistan's signature dish, was inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2016. Ceramics, national clothing and other souvenirs are plentiful.

• Khazrati Imam: women should cover shoulders, back and legs
• Chorsu Bazaar: blue-dome food pavilion with dried fruit, spices and dairy
• Lunch: plov, kebab, samsa

Day 1 afternoon: Kukeldash Madrasah, then the metro to Amir Temur Square

Kukeldash Madrasah is a couple of minutes on foot from Chorsu Bazaar. This 16th-century religious school has a 20-metre portal decorated with majolica tiles and is still in use. The neighbouring Gulbozor street is a tourist street with craft workshops and a 'History of Bread' exhibition.

Then take the metro, looking at the stations on the way, to Amir Temur Square in the center. Temur's equestrian statue in the middle bears the motto 'Strength is in justice' in four languages.

• Kukeldash Madrasah: 16th century, 20-metre portal
• Gulbozor street: craft workshops, 'History of Bread' exhibition
• Amir Temur Square: Temur's equestrian statue

Day 2: three museums, the Minor Mosque and an evening walk

The State Museum of Temurids History next to the square opened in 1996 and has an 8.5-metre crystal chandelier and more than 3,000 exhibits. The State Museum of History, opened in 1876 as one of the first museums in Central Asia, holds more than 250,000 objects; a 1st-century Buddha statue found in Surkhandarya is a highlight. Check hours and prices officially for both.

The State Museum of Applied Arts shows more than 7,000 works: ceramics, jewellery, gold embroidery, suzani, carpets, skullcaps and more.

In the afternoon, visit the white marble Minor Mosque on the Ankhor river. It opened in 2014 and holds more than 2,500 people; visit outside prayer times. In the evening, walk Taras Shevchenko Street, an official 'gastronomic street' with traditional dishes, food trucks and street musicians.

• Temurids History and State History museums: check hours and prices officially
• State Museum of Applied Arts: more than 7,000 works
• Minor Mosque: visit outside prayer times
• Taras Shevchenko Street: evening walk

Etiquette, safety and emergency numbers

In mosques avoid shorts, T-shirts and skirts, and women should cover their heads. Don't take photos during prayers, and ask before photographing people in the street. Drinking alcohol in public places and smoking outside designated areas are prohibited. Flying a drone requires prior permission.

During summer 'chillya' (late June to early August), avoid midday walks and drink plenty of water. Don't drink untreated water. The time zone is UTC+5.

Emergency numbers: unified number 112, police 102, ambulance 103, fire 101. The tourist safety call center is 1173, and Tashkent has tourist police to help foreign visitors. Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has no travel alert for Uzbekistan (checked 2026-10-05). Entry rules depend on your nationality, so check official information before you travel.

• Unified 112, police 102, ambulance 103, fire 101
• Tourist safety call center 1173
• Mosques: no shorts, T-shirts or skirts; women cover their heads
• Entry requirements: check official info

• Full Tashkent travel guide →
• Paying abroad: cash vs card vs travel card →

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