Trip highlights
- 1Chorsu Bazaar
- 2Tashkent Metro architecture
- 3Hazrati Imam complex
- 4Plov cuisine
- 5Amir Timur Square
Daily spend
Where you're going
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In pictures
Photos: Unsplash
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Day-by-day plan
Arrival & Amir Timur Square
Tuesday, September 21
Est. spend
$75
per person
🌅 Morning
Arrive at Tashkent International Airport (TAS)
Tashkent International Airport
A taxi connects the airport to central Tashkent in roughly 20-30 minutes depending on traffic.
Use a recognised ride-hailing app like Yandex Go for transparent, metered pricing rather than negotiating with airport taxi drivers.
☀️ Afternoon
Amir Timur Square and Independence Square
Amir Timur Square, Tashkent
Two of Tashkent's grandest public squares, anchored by an equestrian statue of the 14th-century conqueror Timur (Tamerlane) and fountains commemorating Uzbek independence.
Both squares are surrounded by Soviet-era architecture worth photographing, particularly the Hotel Uzbekistan building.
🌙 Evening
First plov dinner
Central Tashkent restaurant
A first taste of Uzbekistan's beloved national dish, plov — rice cooked with lamb, carrots, and onions, traditionally prepared in a large communal kazan pot.
Tashkent-style plov differs from Samarkand's version, often including more carrots and a slightly different fat ratio — a good first comparison point for the trip.
🍽️ Meals
Airport area breakfast
Uzbek/International · $6
Square area lunch
Uzbek · $8
Plov dinner
Uzbek · $10
Chorsu Bazaar & Old City
Wednesday, September 22
Est. spend
$75
per person
🌅 Morning
Chorsu Bazaar
Chorsu Bazaar, Tashkent
A massive domed bazaar that has served as Tashkent's main marketplace for centuries, with vendors selling spices, dried fruit, fresh bread, and traditional Uzbek hats and ceramics beneath its turquoise dome.
Visit the upper level of the dome for a panoramic view down over the entire bustling market floor.
☀️ Afternoon
Hazrati Imam complex
Hazrati Imam Complex, Tashkent
A major religious complex housing the Muyi Muborak Library, home to the Uthman Quran, one of the oldest surviving copies of the Islamic holy book, dating to the 7th century.
The complex's blue-tiled madrasas and mosque are some of the most photogenic Islamic architecture in the capital — visit in late afternoon light.
🌙 Evening
Old city dinner near Chorsu
Old City, Tashkent
A relaxed dinner of shashlik (grilled skewers) and fresh non bread at a restaurant in Tashkent's old city quarter.
🍽️ Meals
Hotel breakfast
Uzbek/International · $6
Chorsu Bazaar street food lunch
Uzbek street food · $8
Old city dinner
Uzbek · $14
Tashkent Metro & Museums
Thursday, September 23
Est. spend
$80
per person
🌅 Morning
Tashkent Metro architecture tour
Tashkent Metro, various stations
One of the world's most ornately decorated metro systems, with individual stations themed around Uzbek history and culture using marble, chandeliers, and intricate ceramic murals — photography was only permitted starting 2018.
Kosmonavtlar station, themed around space exploration, and Alisher Navoi station, with its detailed literary murals, are among the most striking stops.
☀️ Afternoon
State Museum of History of Uzbekistan
State Museum of History, Tashkent
A comprehensive museum tracing Uzbekistan's history from ancient Silk Road civilizations through Soviet rule and independence, with strong Zoroastrian and Buddhist-era artifacts.
The museum's pre-Islamic exhibits are a good primer before continuing on to Samarkand and Bukhara on a wider Uzbekistan trip.
🌙 Evening
Dinner with traditional music
Central Tashkent restaurant
A restaurant featuring live traditional Uzbek music alongside a full spread of plov, shashlik, and fresh salads.
🍽️ Meals
Hotel breakfast
Uzbek/International · $6
Museum café lunch
Uzbek · $10
Live music dinner
Uzbek · $22
Applied Arts Museum & Departure
Friday, September 24
Est. spend
$70
per person
🌅 Morning
State Museum of Applied Arts
State Museum of Applied Arts, Tashkent
Housed in a beautifully tiled former merchant's mansion, the museum displays Uzbek ceramics, embroidery (suzani), woodcarving, and jewelry from across the country's regions.
The building itself, with its carved wooden ceilings and tiled courtyard, is as much a highlight as the exhibits inside.
☀️ Afternoon
Final souvenir shopping for suzani and ceramics
Central Tashkent craft shops
A last stop for handwoven suzani textiles, blue-and-white Rishtan ceramics, and dried fruit before departure.
🌙 Evening
Transfer to Tashkent International Airport
Tashkent International Airport
Allow about 2.5 hours before an international flight given security and customs procedures at this airport.
🍽️ Meals
Hotel breakfast
Uzbek/International · $6
Craft shop area lunch
Uzbek · $10
Airport food
Uzbek/International · $12
Before you go
📅 Best time to visit
April–May and September–October offer mild, comfortable temperatures (18-26°C). Summer is extremely hot and dry; winter can be cold with occasional snow.
🛂 Visas
Most Western nationalities can enter Uzbekistan visa-free for stays of up to 30 days, or obtain an e-visa online in advance for longer stays — entry requirements have significantly relaxed in recent years.
💱 Currency
Uzbekistani Som (UZS), a high-denomination currency requiring large stacks of cash for everyday purchases. Cards are increasingly accepted in Tashkent's hotels and restaurants, but cash remains essential at bazaars.
🆘 Emergency numbers
police: 102
ambulance: 103
💬 Things you won't find in a guidebook
- Photography inside Tashkent Metro stations is permitted as of recent policy changes, but avoid photographing security personnel or checkpoints.
- Plov is traditionally a Friday and special-occasion dish, often prepared by men in large communal gatherings — seek out a dedicated plov restaurant for the most authentic version.
- Ride-hailing apps like Yandex Go offer more reliable, transparent pricing than hailing taxis on the street.
- Tashkent was extensively rebuilt after a major 1966 earthquake, giving it a distinctly Soviet-era planned-city layout compared to the older architecture of Samarkand and Bukhara.
- Uzbek hospitality often includes being invited to share tea or food — accepting graciously, even briefly, is culturally appreciated.
One thing worth not skipping
A 4-day trip to Tashkent, Uzbekistan without insurance is a gamble. Medical emergencies, cancelled flights, lost luggage — cover yourself before you leave.
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