Last Updated on: 28th July 2026, 09:31 pm
In recent years, Uzbekistan’s capital has undergone a transformation so rapid and comprehensive that many older travel books are already obsolete. Its Soviet-era neighborhoods have largely been bulldozed and replaced by highrises. And historic buildings now sit side-by-side modern replicas. Today, Central Asia’s largest city is certainly pleasant and efficient, but also undeniably bland.
In any case, given its status as a transport hub, most visitors to Central Asia are going to find themselves passing through Tashkent at some point. And this following guide to things to do in Tashkent should help give you a better idea of what to do and see (or in some cases, skip).
It’s worth noting that three major Tashkent landmarks were closed during my visit: the State Museum of the History of Uzbekistan, the State Museum of Arts, and the Hazrati Imam Complex. So they’ll only be discussed briefly below.
For more information on reaching Tashkent and where to stay, be sure to check the end of the article.
In regards to getting around the city, the attractions below can be accessed with a combination of subway, foot, and the Yandex Go ride hailing app.
The State Museum of the Timurids
The State Museum of The Timurids in Central Tashkent sits just across from Amir Timur Square, which features a large sculpture of Timur on his horse.
The square was once home to dozens of chinar trees that were inexplicably cut down in 2010, leaving the park rather desolate.
As for the museum building, it’s an eye-catching circular structure designed to commemorate Timur’s 660th birthday. At the time of writing, it costs 40,000 som to enter.
Timur (1336-1405) was the founder of a vast empire which spanned from India to Anatolia. He even attempted to lead an invasion against the Ming dynasty, but died en route to China in 1405.
And after his death, his descendants would continue to rule in Central Asia until 1507.
Timur’s capital was Samarkand, and most of Uzbekistan’s significant Timurid-era landmarks can be found there or in Bukhara.
Having already visited those cities, I was nonetheless looking forward to a comprehensive historical overview. But you won’t really find that here.
Recently renovated in 2026, the interior is modern and beautiful, complete with elaborate murals and a large chandelier. But upon closer examination, it contains little of substance.
Most of what’s on display are reproductions, paintings, and decorative pieces inspired by the Timurid period, with only brief historical overviews.
It was interesting, however, to see scale models of the Taj Mahal and other Indian Mughal structures, as that empire was actually founded by Timur’s direct descendant, Babur.
As such, it could be argued that Timur’s dynasty lasted until 1857 when the Mughals finally fell.
All in all, it would be best to think of this museum as the ‘Museum of Timurid-Inspired Art.’
Along Navoi Avenue
Navoi Avenue is one of Tashkent’s prominent streets. Walking along it, you’ll find significant landmarks such as the National Library of Uzbekistan and the massive Ankhor Park.
And continuing all the way west, you’ll eventually reach the Hoja Ahror Valiy Mosque and Chorsu Bazaar, which we’ll cover further below.
But perhaps this might be a good section to discuss Tashkent’s recent developments, as Navoi Avenue exemplifies where the city is headed.
Modern Tashkent's Rapid Redevelopments
Tashkent is indeed an objectively ‘nice’ city in the sense that it has plenty of parks, wide sidewalks, is impeccably clean, and has relatively advanced transport infrastructure. And exploring the city on foot is a largely stress-free experience.
With that said, I also found it a bit eerie. When wandering through a big city for hours, the look and feel of the neighborhoods is supposed to naturally shift over time. But no matter how much time I spent wandering through Tashkent, I often felt like I was stuck in the same district.
Previously, much of the city largely dated to the 1960s and ‘70s following its recovery from a devastating earthquake in 1966.
Then in recent decades, hundreds of old wooden houses have been demolished to be replaced by new highrises. And so have dozens of Soviet-era two-story buildings.
But rather than create distinct neighborhoods, city planners seem to have copy-and-pasted the same cookie-cutter buildings and parks throughout the area, eliminating any character they formerly might’ve had. At least that’s the way it seemed to me.
While parks like Ankhor Park, with its numerous monuments, are an exception, many other parks around the city (such as Amir Timur Square) are depressingly barren.
Shayhantaur Memorial Complex
The Shayhantaur Memorial Complex is one of Tashkent’s few remaining pre-Soviet historical sites, hidden within the Tashkent Islamic University.
The mausoleums date back to the 15th century, including one belonging to Yunus Khan. He was the grandfather of Babur, who, as mentioned, founded the Mughal Empire.
The complex was originally part of a much larger ensemble, but only three mausoleums and a mosque survive today. The rest were destroyed by earthquakes and redevelopment, and even now, the complex is surrounded by construction sites.
Entrance is free, but finding it can be a challenge. There are zero signs, and the layout of the area is confusing, so you may need to ask a guard for directions.
Hoja Ahror Valiy Mosque
The Hoja Ahror Valiy Mosque is one of Tashkent’s most visually striking landmarks. Located on a hill near Chorsu Bazaar, its three turquoise domes are visible from around Tashkent’s old city.
The mosque has roots dating back to the 9th century, but the current structure was founded in 1451 by the renowned Sufi sheikh Ubaidullah Khoja Ahrar.
It was severely damaged by the 1868 earthquake and lay in ruins for nearly 20 years before Russian Emperor Alexander III funded its restoration in 1888.
But the mosque you see today is a major reconstruction completed in 2003. And the original single dome was replaced with three turquoise ones (repainted in 2018).
The mosque sits next to the Kukeldash Madrasah, which charges foreigners around 15,000 som for entry.
By this point in my travels in Uzbekistan, I’d already seen countless madrasas. And I was also tired of paying entry fees for attractions that often take just five minutes to see, so I moved on.
Chorsu Bazaar
Chorsu Bazaar is the old city’s main market, crowned by a massive 86-meter turquoise dome built in the Soviet era and completed in 1993. The name means ‘four streams,’ referencing its heritage at the crossroads of multiple Silk Road trading routes.
Stepping inside, you’ll encounter a labyrinth of vendors selling meat, produce, spices, and textiles.
I briefly stepped inside and walked around, but crowded markets are not really my thing. But if you do enjoy exploring bazaars, it may be a highlight of your time in the city.
In any case, given Tashkent’s rampant redevelopments as of late, Chorsu Bazaar remains one of the few significant pieces of Soviet architecture left in the city.
Alisher Navoi Park
Alisher Navoi National Park is Tashkent’s largest green space, and is often touted as one of the city’s top attractions.
I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect, but I certainly wasn’t thinking I’d see a large-scale model of Registan Square shortly after getting out of my taxi.
I continued walking, and grew even more confused as I spotted a Disney castle in the distance. Given how the park is named after a 15th-century poet, I felt like I might have come to the wrong place.
But no, double checking my map, I was indeed at Navoi Park. Or at least a section of it.
Apparently, this part of the park is known as the Magic City amusement complex – a quirky mix of Uzbek pride and European fantasy.
Eventually, however, I did encounter the tribute to Navoi himself – a statue situated beneath a turquoise-domed rotunda.
Alisher Navoi (1441–1501) was a poet, philosopher, and statesman who served as a vizier in the Timurid court of Herat. He’s also hailed as the founder of Chagatai literature.
Continuing further, I happened to come across the ‘Tashkent Museum Under the State History Museum of Uzbekistan’ which hadn’t come up in my prior research.
I was intrigued by the building’s unique mix of traditional woodcarving and modern glass. But multiple reviewers have described it as a tourist trap that’s not worth the 50,000 som entrance fee. I didn’t end up going inside.
Ming Orik
Ming Orik is arguably Tashkent’s most interesting historical landmark – at least if you’re an archaeology enthusiast. The site costs 20,000 som and is open Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 18:00.
Lying beneath modern scaffolding are the remains of an ancient city that was the capital of the Turkic Khaganate of Chach. And the oldest ruins date back to the 1st century AD.
The settlement covered a massive 35 hectares and was a major urban center on ancient caravan routes. It flourished until the Arab conquests in the 8th century effectively ended it.
The city was heavily fortified, with thick clay walls, a water-filled moat, and watchtowers. And at its heart stood an impressive two-story palace that reached up to 23 meters high.
Interestingly, the site was a Zoroastrian center in its prime, and it contained temples with ever-burning fires.
While it won’t exactly wow you – especially when compared with the ancient archaeological sites near Khiva or Termez – it’s still worth a stop for those interested in Central Asian history beyond the Timurid era.
The State Museums
When traveling, it’s pretty much a given that not 100% of a city’s attractions will be open during your visit.
But given Uzbekistan’s recent tourism push, I was puzzled by why they decided to do extensive renovations on Tashkent’s two most prominent museums simultaneously.
Fortunately, the State Museum of the History of Uzbekistan has just reopened as of summer 2026. Based on the latest updates, it seems like it costs 100,000 som for foreigners to enter.
The State Museum of Arts, on the other hand, remains closed at the time of writing.
Tashkent Television Tower
Located to the north of the city center, the Tashkent Television Tower is the tallest structure in Central Asia at 375 meters. Completed in 1985, it’s a Soviet-era steel tower built to withstand earthquakes while serving as the country’s main broadcasting hub.
Visitors can take an elevator up to the 97 m-high observation deck, while the tower also features a revolving restaurant.
Though I went to check out the area on a free morning, I ultimately decided not to enter the tower. First of all, tickets cost a hefty 100,000 som, while the views are obstructed by glass.
Having just visited the open-air observatory of Dushanbe’s Itiklol Monument, I didn’t feel like this one was necessary.
In any case, while somewhat remote, you’ll find parks, shopping malls and plenty of restaurants in the general area.
Minor Mosque
In terms of religious architecture, another significant landmark in Tashkent is Minor Mosque. But this mosque isn’t historic, having just been inaugurated in 2014.
It’s a white marble mosque that stands out amongst the colorful tilework adorning many other mosques throughout the country.
Though I didn’t end up stepping inside, it’s said to be able to host up to 2,400 worshippers.
The nearest metro station is Bodamzar, which is about fifteen minutes away on foot.
Hazrati Imam Complex
Considered the spiritual heart of Uzbekistan, the complex dates back to the 16th century. Hazrati Imam is another name for Abu Bakr Kaffal Shashi, a renowned 10th-century Islamic scholar, poet, and the first imam-khatib (prayer leader) of Tashkent.
In the center of the complex lies his tomb, but I couldn’t reach it. Though I was aware of ongoing construction and renovations, some reviews I’d come across made it seem that certain areas were still accessible.
But that wasn’t the case during my visit. Not only were they renovating the main building, but they were in the midst of construction of a whole series of new buildings surrounding it. It all appeared very theme park-like, though time will tell how the end result turns out.
Apparently, the massive new Center for Islamic Civilization was just inaugurated here in March of 2026.
Additional Info
Tashkent is a huge and sprawling city, so regardless of where you stay, you’re going to be needing the subway or taxis at certain points. On that note, the closer you are to a subway station, the better.
All in all, accommodation in Tashkent is pricier than in Uzbekistan’s main touristic cities (Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva).
As a budget traveler, I found a good deal at a place called Hayot Hostel located in the southern part of the city. Though it was very cheap, it wasn’t near a metro station, so I ended up having to use Yandex Go to get around much of the time.
I also encountered a weird situation where my room shared a window with the guest house’s shared kitchen! And though there was a curtain, it didn’t really block the light, nor the sound.
For those on a slightly higher budget, the Welcome Inn Hotel has great reviews, as does Harris Hotel Spa&Fitness.
And for those able to splurge, Farovon Tashkent Boutique Hotel and LOTTE City Hotels Tashkent Palace also seem like great choices.
Note that when visiting Uzbekistan, you’re supposed to collect little slips of paper from each accommodation proving where you stayed and for how many nights. You may then be asked to show them when leaving the country.
A lot of hotel owners will tell you that the system is digitized now and therefore it shouldn’t matter anymore. There are also many cases where the officers won’t ask anything at all.
But the reality on the ground is that immigration officers are indeed still sometimes asking for the paper slips. And I’ve met some travelers who got themselves into trouble when they couldn’t provide them.
I entered and exited the country twice, and though I wasn’t asked anything during my first exit, I was asked during my second. Fortunately, I had them on me.
BY RAIL:
Generally speaking, Uzbekistan is one of the easier countries to travel through in Central Asia thanks to its rail network. You can easily book tickets online or via the official Uzbek Railways app.
Coming from Bukhara, the regular train lasts 6-8 hours, while the express train takes a little over four.
From Samarkand, the regular train lasts around 4.5 hours, while the express train takes 2-3.
Direct trains from Khiva exist, but the slow trains take as long as 14 hours.
It’s also possible to take a direct train from Termez, with the ride lasting 9-10 hours.
BY AIR:
Tashkent International Airport is very well connected. You can find direct international flights from cities like Paris, London, Istanbul, Beijing, Seoul, Dubai, New York, and various cities in Russia.
FROM TAJIKISTAN:
It’s relatively easy to get to Tashkent by land from Tajikistan, with the nearest Tajik city being Khujand.
First, take a taxi to a place marked ‘Taksistkho Maschokh, Oybek’ on Google Maps. Once there, you should be able to take a shared taxi to the Oybek/Aybek border for roughly 70 Tajik somoni.
In my case, the border crossing was relatively smooth and uneventful. And then on the Uzbek side, I paid 150,000 Uzbek som for a shared taxi, which was perhaps a bit much, but the driver did drop me off directly at my hotel.
