Many travellers treat Tashkent as an airport stop on the way to Samarkand. That is a pity: the capital has a living old quarter, one of Central Asia's great bazaars and a metro that is a sight in itself. One well-planned day shows you all three.
Morning: the old town
Begin at the Hazrati Imam complex (also called Khast Imam), the religious heart of the old city, with its mosque and madrasas. Its library is known for an early manuscript of the Quran. From there, walk through the surrounding mahalla — residential lanes where daily life goes on much as before.
Late morning: Chorsu bazaar
A short drive brings you to Chorsu bazaar under its great green dome. Inside are spices, dried fruit, nuts and dairy; outside, the bread sellers and the busy market streets. Next to it stands the Kukeldash madrasa. The bazaar is liveliest in the morning.
Afternoon: the metro
Tashkent's metro is famous for its stations, each decorated around a theme — chandeliers, ceramics, mosaics and marble. Ride a few stops and get off at the most striking ones; a guide knows which are worth it and how to change lines quickly. Photography in the metro is allowed.
Late afternoon: the modern centre
Finish around Amir Timur square and the broad avenues of the modern city, or visit the white Minor mosque by the canal — beautiful in the late afternoon light.
Ways to do it
- On foot and by metro: our Tashkent metro and Chorsu bazaar walk covers the bazaar and the stations in about four hours.
- With a car: the full-day private city tour adds the old town and the modern centre without long walks between them.
Practical notes
- Distances in Tashkent are large; walking between all these places is not realistic in one day.
- Dress modestly for the Hazrati Imam complex: shoulders and knees covered.
- Many trains to Samarkand leave from Tashkent's main station in the morning — if you arrive late, keep the city for the day you fly home.
