Things to do in Tashkent: top sights and where to go
Tashkent spreads its sights wide: the Soviet-era centre around Amir Timur Square with the Navoi Theatre and museums, the Old Town with the Hazrati Imam complex and Chorsu Bazaar to the north-west, and the new Tashkent City Park in between — all linked by a metro whose stations are sights in themselves. Give the first day to the centre and lunch at the Plov Centre; keep the Old Town or the Chimgan mountains for a second day.
Sights
Tashkent itineraries
Tashkent travel guide
Before you go: the palatial metro, Chorsu Bazaar and Hazrati Imam, plov, the train to Samarkand, weather by month.
Tashkent on your own: the essentials
- How many days
- 2 days, then Samarkand and Bukhara
- When to go
- April–May and September–October
- Visa
- Visa-free for many passports, often 30 days
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Currency
- Uzbek som (UZS); cards accepted in cities
- To Samarkand
- Afrosiyob high-speed train ≈ 2–2.5 h
- Time zone
- UTC+5
officiali
Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Key facts
Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Tashkent Metro”Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Hazrati Imam Complex”Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Alisher Navoi Theater”Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Chorsu Bazaar”Things to do in Tashkent
Tashkent’s highlights are the metro with its palace-like stations, Chorsu Bazaar, the Hazrati Imam complex, the Navoi Theatre and the Romanov Palace. Don’t miss plov at the Plov Centre. Outside the city are the Chimgan mountains. Every place with its YesGo score is in the list above; the “Map” button shows them on a map.
| Old city | Hazrati Imam, Chorsu | ½ day |
|---|---|---|
| Centre | Navoi Theatre, Romanov Palace, City Park | ½ day |
| Underground | Metro | 1–2 h |
| Museums | Fine Arts, Applied Arts | 2 h |
| Food & mountains | Plov Centre, Chimgan | 1 day |
Rather not plan it yourself? The list above has ready itineraries, with places in a sensible order.
Tashkent airport and trains onward
Tashkent airport is in the city, 15–20 minutes by taxi from the centre. To travel on, take the Afrosiyob high-speed train: about 2–2.5 hours to Samarkand and about 4 to Bukhara.
Tashkent weather by month
The best time to visit Tashkent is April–May and September–October — warm and dry. Summer heat reaches 36 °C. October is about 21 °C by day, November about 14 °C. Winter is mild, with occasional snow and frost.
°CiLong-term averages, °C: day and night air, sea water near the shore, rain — rainy days a month. Any given year can be warmer or cooler. Tap a month for details below. | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day | 7° | 10° | 16° | 22° | 28° | 34° | 36° | 35° | 29° | 21° | 14° | 8° |
| Night | -2° | 0° | 5° | 10° | 14° | 19° | 21° | 19° | 14° | 8° | 3° | 0° |
| Rain | 12 | 11 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 9 | 11 |
Warm — 20 °C and above by dayBest time to go: April–May and September–October
- day ≈ 7°
- night ≈ -2°
- rain 12 days
Cool, sometimes snow.
- day ≈ 10°
- night ≈ 0°
- rain 11 days
Cool.
- day ≈ 16°
- night ≈ 5°
- rain 13 days
Spring, Navruz.
- day ≈ 22°
- night ≈ 10°
- rain 11 days
Warm, orchards in bloom.
- day ≈ 28°
- night ≈ 14°
- rain 9 days
Warm — one of the best months.
- day ≈ 34°
- night ≈ 19°
- rain 4 days
Hot, about 34°.
- day ≈ 36°
- night ≈ 21°
- rain 2 days
Peak heat, up to 36°.
- day ≈ 35°
- night ≈ 19°
- rain 1 days
Hot and dry.
- day ≈ 29°
- night ≈ 14°
- rain 2 days
Warm, about 29°. Fruit harvest.
- day ≈ 21°
- night ≈ 8°
- rain 6 days
About 21° — the best month.
- day ≈ 14°
- night ≈ 3°
- rain 9 days
Cool, about 14°.
- day ≈ 8°
- night ≈ 0°
- rain 11 days
Cool.
Summers are hot and dry — sightsee in the morning and evening.
Tashkent ticket prices
The bazaar, parks and Hazrati Imam from outside are free. You pay for museums, the theatre and trips to Chimgan.
| Tashkent Metro | 50 | 1 h | 2,500 som by card, 3,000 cash |
|---|---|---|---|
| Navoi Theatre | 44 | 20 min | Shows from 77,000 som |
| State Museum of Arts of Uzbekistan | 36 | 1 h 30 min | Closed for reconstruction |
| Museum of Applied Arts | 36 | 1 h | ≈ UZS 30,000–40,000, unofficial |
| Plov Centre (Besh Qozon) | 34 | 1 h | Plov from 50,000 sum |
Free — 5 places: Romanov Palace, Hazrati Imam Complex, Tashkent City Park, Chorsu Bazaar, Chimgan.
Tips
- Afrosiyob tickets to Samarkand and Bukhara sell out — book ahead.
- Plov is a lunch dish in Tashkent — by evening it may be gone.
FAQ
Is Tashkent worth visiting?
Yes, for a day or two: the palace-like metro, Chorsu Bazaar, Hazrati Imam and the best plov — then take the fast train to Samarkand and Bukhara.
Do I need a visa for Uzbekistan?
Citizens of many countries, including the EU, UK and US, can visit visa-free, often for up to 30 days. Check the rule for your passport.
How do I get from Tashkent to Samarkand?
By the Afrosiyob high-speed train in about 2–2.5 hours.
Sources and fact-check
- Wikipedia, “Tashkent”; “Tashkent Metro”; “Hazrati Imam Complex”; Tashkent climate (1991–2020 normals)
- Uzbekistan Railways — Afrosiyob timetable