Things to Do in Tashkent

November 5, 2026

Tashkent is the capital of Uzbekistan and the largest city in Central Asia. It was rebuilt after the earthquake of 26 April 1966, so the centre mixes Soviet modernist buildings, wide boulevards and a surviving Old City around Chorsu Bazaar. Most of the best activities sit inside the city, and the metro and ride-hailing apps link them. Uzbek som (UZS) is the currency, and cash is needed in the bazaars and at small ticket desks.

Center of Islamic Civilization and Hazrati Imam Square

The Center of Islamic Civilization stands beside Hazrati Imam Square at Karasaray Street 89A. It opened in March 2026 and its Qur’an Hall displays the Uthman Quran, moved there from the Hazrati Imam complex in November 2025. The central dome is about 65 m high. Foreign visitors pay about USD 25 for an adult ticket and USD 20 for a child, and an audio guide in several languages comes with it. Reported hours are daily from 09:00 to 22:00, though it is worth checking before a Monday visit.

Around the square you will find the 16th-century Barak-Khan Madrasah, the Tilla Sheikh Mosque and the Friday mosque built in 2007, whose two minarets reach roughly 50 m. These are active religious sites. Cover shoulders and knees, women should cover their hair inside mosques, and shoes come off at carpeted thresholds.

Chorsu Bazaar

Chorsu Bazaar sits opposite Chorsu metro station under a blue dome designed in 1980. It was inscribed by UNESCO in July 2026 with nine other modernist sites in the city. Listings show it open daily from early morning to about 20:00. Go in the morning for bread, dried fruit and spices, and bring cash.

Metro stations

The metro doubles as an architecture tour. Kosmonavtlar station, also on the UNESCO list, is themed around space exploration, and Alisher Navoiy, Mustaqillik Maydoni and Bodomzor are other favourites. Photography inside the system has been legal since 1 June 2018, though bags are screened at the entrance and you should not photograph police or checkpoints. A ride costs 2,500 UZS with a bank card or ATTO card and 3,000 UZS in cash.

Lunch and craft museums

Besh Qozon, the Central Asian Plov Centre in Yunusabad near the TV tower, cooks plov in large cauldrons. Go at lunchtime, because it can sell out by early afternoon. The State Museum of Applied Arts occupies a building commissioned by the Russian diplomat Alexander Polovtsov and shows textiles and crafts. Check hours and ticket prices at both.

Mountain and city views

The Tashkent TV Tower is 375 m tall, with an observation deck at 97 m and a restaurant above it. Tickets run about 40,000 to 60,000 UZS and hours are around 10:00 to 20:00. In the hills north-east of the city, Amirsoy resort runs gondolas to the 2,290 m mark in summer and winter.

Practical tips

Summers are hot and dry, so schedule outdoor sights early or late and use the metro or a museum at midday. Entry for UK visitors is visa-free for up to 30 days, with registration within 3 days (hotels usually handle it); see the UK entry requirements . Check current government advice and carry travel insurance. Compare tours on GetYourGuide and see the official tourism portal for sights.