12 Best Things to Do in Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Tashkent does not get the love that Samarkand or Bukhara do, and that is a shame. Most travelers rush through it on the way somewhere else, but I lingered for a few days and found a city of wide boulevards, remarkable public art, and a food scene that quietly outdoes the rest of the country. It is modern in places, rebuilt after a major earthquake, yet threaded with bazaars and tea houses that feel ancient. These are the things I would do again.
Ride the metro just for the stations
The Tashkent metro is a work of public art. Each station has its own theme, with chandeliers, mosaics, and carved stone that turn a commute into a museum visit. It is cheap, clean, and safe, and photography is welcome. I spent a full morning riding the lines and hopping out at every notable station to look at the designs. It is easily the best value experience in the city.
Shop and eat at Chorsu Bazaar
Chorsu is the beating heart of local life, a huge market beneath a green dome where everything from spices to fresh bread to hand stitched caps is on sale. The dried fruit stalls are fantastic, and the smell of bread baking somewhere nearby never lets you forget where you are. Haggle politely, sample freely, and come hungry. Go early for the most energy and the freshest goods.
Walk through Amir Timur Square
The city center is anchored by Amir Timur Square, a broad public space with an equestrian statue of the great conqueror at its heart. Wide avenues radiate out from it, lined with trees and fountains. It is the obvious starting point for the modern city, and at dusk it takes on a calm, orderly beauty. The nearby Amir Timur museum tells the national story in grand style.
Stroll Independence Square
Further along the main avenue, Independence Square is vast and ceremonial, with fountains, an arch, and a giant globe monument. It feels grand in a slightly Soviet way, and it is the place locals come for holidays and evening walks. The scale is impressive and it photographs well. Give it twenty minutes and you have seen the essence of the modern civic center.
Eat plov the proper way
Plov is the national dish, a rice pilaf cooked with meat, carrots, and garlic, and Tashkent takes it seriously. Some restaurants serve it by the kilo in the traditional manner, ladled from huge iron pots. I ordered too much every single time and regretted nothing. It is the signature meal of Uzbekistan and the version in the capital is as good as anywhere in the region.
Explore the Old City around Hazrat Imam
Away from the grand squares, the Hazrat Imam complex in the old city holds madrassas, shrines, and a famous manuscript, the earliest surviving Quran. The brickwork is intricate and the atmosphere is calm and spiritual. Nearby alleys and tea houses round out a half day of gentle wandering. It is the closest Tashkent comes to the Silk Road charm of the other cities.
Drink tea at a chaikana
The chaikana, or tea house, is the social heart of the city. Green tea arrives in a painted cup, often with sweets or nuts, and conversation stretches for hours. I spent a slow afternoon talking with locals at one and it was the highlight of my trip. Do not rush the tea. The whole point is the pause it creates.
See the view from TV Tower
The Tashkent Television Tower is one of the tallest structures in Central Asia, and the observation deck gives a sweeping view over the green, orderly city. On a clear day you can see all the way to the mountains beyond. It is a quick stop that reorients you to the scale of the capital.
Visit a museum or two
The State Museum of History and the Applied Arts Museum both reward a couple of hours. The former covers the sweep of Uzbek history, while the latter is housed in an ornate building full of crafts, textiles, and ceramics. If the weather is hot, these make perfect afternoons. Choose whichever matches your interest and go in with time to spare.
Try the street food
Beyond plov, the city runs on cheap, excellent street food. Samsa, pastries filled with meat, come straight from clay ovens. Non, the round flatbread, is everywhere and always fresh. I ate my way around the bazaar stalls and small shops and was rarely disappointed. Keep an open stomach and follow the local lines.
Take an evening walk on Broadway Street
One of the main pedestrian streets fills up after dark with strolling families, street performers, and cafes. It is lively without being frantic and gives you a clear window into daily life. I liked it best in the evening, when the lights come on and the whole street turns social.
Day trip on a day trip
Tashkent also makes a strong base for going deeper into Uzbekistan, with fast trains to Samarkand and Bukhara running from the central station. If you have time, day trips are easy and give you the historic sights the capital lacks. Otherwise, give the city itself a few patient days. It grows on you quietly.
