Top 12 Things to Do in Tashkent

1. Spend Hours at the Bustling Chorsu Bazaar

If you have time to do only one thing in Tashkent, make it this. It is huge, and when I say huge, I mean that you could spend two or three hours wandering around all the stalls!

Part of the bazaar is housed under the iconic Soviet dome structure which is decorated in keeping with the classic blue/turquoise of Uzbekistan’s mosques, madrasas, mausoleums.

Inside the dome, you’ll find meat, cheeses, and pickles on the bottom floor. For vegetarians, this is likely the level to avoid, but quickly head upstairs to find row after row of dried fruit, nuts, spices, teas.

From this top level, you can also get great photos of the whole market and the dome structure itself.

Outside and surrounding the dome, there are market stalls selling fresh fruit and veg, biscuits, baked goods, sweets, and the absolute highlight: the bakery.

See the freshly-baked rounds of Uzbek non and then head inside the bakery to see the magic.

Watch as the bakers cut the dough and spread it on to paddles which they then use to slap the non up against the inside of the traditional tandyrs. They might even let you get a close-up view right inside the tandyr!

Buy yourself a non straight from the oven. Crisp on the bottom, beautifully chewy throughout.

Another layer of stalls away from the fruit and veg and bakery, you’ll find clothing and decorative items. There is such a huge array of materials and patterns to choose from, you’ll struggle to decide what to get!

I personally love a bright, floaty, patterned trouser – Uzbek women’s fashion is my favourite.

Beyond the stalls of clothing, is the best section: the food market! Now, a lot of this is HEAVY on the meat but you will also find some veg-friendly options.

In all honesty, though, this is somewhere you have to go to experience the cooking chaos – huge cauldrons of plov bubbling, bowls filled high with pickles and salad, grills charring shashlik.

The seating is all shared so you won’t be allowed to have a table to yourself. Pull up a pew next to your new Uzbek bestie and try some of the good stuff.

Grab a pot of tea, some bread and a delicious tomato salad (seriously, what makes Uzbek tomatoes so insanely tasty?!) and some hanum!

Also known as Uzbek lasagne, this vegetarian dish consists of a pasta-esque or dumpling-style package filled with sliced potato, drenched in a tomato sauce, and served with lightly pickled onions and herbs. You’ll want seconds.

Read about all the tastiest vegetarian Uzbek dishes you have to try!

2. See the Ancient Architecture of the Hazrat Imam Complex

This is probably Tashkent’s best example of classic Silk Road architecture that Uzbekistan is so well-known for.

In June 2025, we spent quite literally an hour trying to work out how to get into the complex, but failed miserably. There is a huge amount of construction work going on around it which made it near on impossible to get in even though locals were confident it was open, and we saw zero people inside the complex.

What we could see from the outside looked stunning! We just couldn’t get in. So I can’t give you much more info on the site because we didn’t manage to actually see it properly, but it is definitely on the list for our third time visiting Tashkent (which is totally on the cards!)

3. Wander Kukeldash Madrasa

Another example of classic Silk Road architecture is Kukeldash Madrasa. The building is still used as a madrasa to this day and on the second level there is a wood workshop where you can buy unique handmade souvenirs such as magnets, earrings, trinket boxes etc.

4. Go Metro Hopping

Ok, I know this sounds a bit odd, but step foot inside a Tashkent Metro station and you may well mistake it for a museum or art gallery.

Tashkent’s metro system was built during the Soviet occupation and is one of the most beautiful in the world. Each station has its own unique theme and decoration, so tap your bank card at the barrier to pay the 10p fee and then jump on and off as and when you see a station that looks special.

Photographing metro stations used to be illegal, but is now totally ok, though you may get a funny side-eye look from security on the platform.

5. See Minor Mosque and Eat Somsa!

This mosque is such a bright white that if you visit in the summer, you’ll need sunglasses!. To enter the mosque, you need to wear one of the hooded cape cover-ups for both men and women. Entrance is free and it is a working mosque.

Oh, and while you’re here, grab yourself a potato and cheese somsa from Minor Somsa. Stunning!

Crisp, flaky pastry with a carby, rich centre. AND grab a pomegranate cold brew coffee from across the road at Jaid’s Coffee. It has a Lavazza logo on it.

6. See the TV Tower (from afar)

Tashkent’s TV tower isn’t really a main event, but it’s still pretty cool to see.

If you fancy seeing views over the city, you can pay to head up to the top viewing platform, but in all honesty the reviews I have heard have been less than stellar.

It’s one of those things that looks better from a distance than getting up close and personal. Instead of going up to the top, see it on your way to the Memorial to Victims of Political Repression.

If you do want to head to the viewing platform, remember to bring your passport as this is required to gain entry.

7. Relax at the Peaceful Memorial to Victims of Political Repression

This whole area is so beautiful. There is a small museum, a green area full of benches, a winding canal, and a tasteful memorial surrounded by flowerbeds full of colourful plants.

It’s a really beautiful park to wander, sit by the water or amongst the trees and admire the artistically arranged flowers.

8. Visit Tashkent’s Disneyland

It’s definitely an odd one, but worth a wander. Magic City Park looks like Disneyland with European old town style buildings, a replica of Silk Road mausoleums, a colourfully painted stone street, a large lake and a ‘Magic Kingdom’-style Disney palace.

There is no entrance fee so you can pop your head in and go explore. There are clothes shops, restaurants, ice cream vendors, and in the evenings there is a light and water show on the lake.

9. See the Grandeur of Hotel Uzbekistan’s Soviet Architecture

The iconic brutalist communist architectural style of Hotel Uzbekistan is the attraction here. It is huge and grand and very grey.

You can stay at the hotel, however, it feels like the general upkeep of the building has not been prioritised. It feels very old and tired and Soviet inside.

If you do want to venture inside, say you want to go the bar for a drink and jump in the lift. From the bar, you can get a view over Amir Temur Park just outside of the hotel.

But yeah, it’s again a spot that’s better from afar than up close and personal.

10. Wander Amir Temur Park

A nice park just beyond Hotel Uzbekistan that has a huge statue of Amir Temur. You can get some great photos of the statue in front of the hotel from here.

11. See the Fountains and Statues of Independence Square

Just outside of Mustakillik Maydoni metro station is Independence Square, and it’s pretty. Water fountains line the path up towards a statue.

12. Photograph the People’s Friendship Square

This park or square has a huge Uzbek flag, a monument, water fountains, benches and has a very communist or Soviet looking building in the background known as People’s Friendship Palace. Again, another pretty and well-maintained park to wander round.

How to Get to Tashkent

If you’re nowhere near Uzbekistan

Tashkent Airport (TAS) is really well-connected. There are direct flights from London, Paris, Madrid, New York, Bali, Tokyo, Bangkok, the Caucasus, the Middle East, Russia.

Uzbekistan Airways is the national carrier which is partnered with Turkish Airlines.

If you’re already in Uzbekistan

All roads (and railway lines) lead to Tashkent. So get yourself to the train station and you’re off!

It’s dead easy to book your tickets online in advance to secure your seat. Check out our blog post on how to reserve and how to decipher which train/seat to book, because trust me, not all the trains are created equal!

Otherwise, you’ll also find marshrutkas and shared taxis, but they don’t always work out cost-effective or time-efficient in comparison to the trains. Trains are definitely the best overland transport in the country.

If you’re nearby Uzbekistan

Shymkent in Kazakhstan is really close to Tashkent, so you could easily reach Tashkent in three or four hours by a mix of Yandex taxi or marshrutka.

There is also a night bus connection between Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan and Tashkent that travels through Kazakhstan.

Or you can cross through to Osh in west Kyrgyzstan, by train and a short local bus. Stay tuned for a fully detailed post on how to take this route each way.

Where to Stay in Tashkent

The Art Hotel (£)

📍18 Zarbog St.

We spent the majority of our time in Tashkent staying at the Art Hotel and I cannot recommend them enough. Affordable, spacious rooms, great location, breakfast included, an outside courtyard area with a topchan which is the perfect spot to eat your late night lagman takeaway.

Up the road from The Art Hotel is another hotel we stayed in called Nest Inn. It’s in the same price bracket and another great option if the Art Hotel isn’t available.

• 10-minute walk to the metro
• 5-minute walk to shops & restaurants

🛏️ Book The Art Hotel 🛏️

How to Get Around Tashkent

Tashkent’s metro is not only beautiful, but also really efficient and affordable. One tap with your regular bank card to enter the metro costs 10p!

Parts of the city that aren’t connected by metro have a regular and modern bus service. You can find bus routes and times on the Yandex Maps app.

Best Places to Find Vegetarian Food

Tashkent is a great city for food! There are restaurants for many different cuisines from Uyghur to Lebanese to Indian to Afghan to Vietnamese.

I thoroughly recommend eating A LOT here as the other major cities around Uzbekistan tend to have much fewer options for vegetarians.

A full guide with all our favourite restaurants catering to vegetarians is in the works. Stay tuned!

Onward Travel

Had your fill of Tashkent and want to explore more of Uzbekistan and its neighbouring countries?

If you’re heading to explore the classic Silk Road cities, I’d recommend starting with the furthest away: the fortified desert town of Khiva and then making your way back towards Tashkent via Bukhara and Samarkand.

If you fancy getting away from the crowds and heading to less visited spots in Uzbekistan, Termez is a fascinating spot right on the border with Afghanistan, and Fergana Valley is a beautiful area where you will really feel and see local Uzbek culture away from tourism. And, it’s the perfect jump-off to reach Osh in Kyrgyzstan.