Tashkent for first-timers: districts, transport and what to know

Tashkent is often treated as a transit stop before Samarkand and Bukhara: fly in, sleep, move on. But it is a large and varied city of nearly three million people, where Soviet architecture sits next to old mahallas and bazaars sit next to new business districts. If this is your first visit, this guide will help you understand how the capital is laid out, how to get around and how much time to give it.

How the city is laid out

Tashkent changed dramatically after the 1966 earthquake: much of the centre was rebuilt with wide avenues, squares and parks. That is why the city feels spacious and green, but distances are large — you cannot walk from one district to another.

Roughly speaking, the capital falls into several parts:

• The new centre — Amir Temur Square, Mustaqillik (Independence) Square, the Navoi Theatre, museums, hotels and offices. A good place to start.
• The old city — west of the centre: mahallas with mud-brick houses, Chorsu Bazaar, Kukeldash Madrasa and the Hazrati Imam complex. This is the most traditional part of Tashkent.
• Residential districts — Yunusabad in the north, Chilanzar in the south-west, Mirabad and Yakkasaray closer to the centre. For visitors they are mostly interesting for parks, markets and everyday local life.
• New quarters — the Tashkent City business district with its park and high-rises, which has become a popular spot in recent years.

What to see in your first days

If you have a day or two, focus on three areas:

1. The old city. A morning at Chorsu Bazaar when trading is in full swing, then Kukeldash Madrasa and a walk through the mahallas to the Hazrati Imam complex, which holds one of the oldest surviving copies of the Quran.
2. The centre. Amir Temur Square, the Museum of Timurid History, Independence Square, the Navoi Theatre building and the Museum of Applied Arts in an old mansion with carved ceilings.
3. The metro and the city at night. Tashkent's metro stations are an attraction in their own right — each one is decorated differently. In the evening head to the Tashkent City park or the Minor Mosque on the bank of the Ankhor canal.

Getting around

Metro — the fastest option. Several lines, including an overground circle line, connect the centre, the old city, the train stations and the big residential districts. Trains are frequent and fares are cheap. Payment methods (bank card, transport card, QR code) have changed in recent years, so check at the ticket office.

Taxi — booked through mobile apps, with prices low by European standards. Handy for places the metro does not reach and for late evenings.

Buses — a dense network across the city, but harder to navigate without knowing the routes.

On foot — fine within the centre and the old city, but take transport between them.

Stations and the airport

• The airport is close to the centre — about 20–30 minutes by taxi without traffic.
• Tashkent station — the main one: high-speed trains to Samarkand and Bukhara leave from here.
• Southern station — some long-distance trains depart from here; check the station on your ticket.

Intercity trips by car usually start from the edge of the city on the side of the right highway. If you travel by shared ride, the driver gives the pick-up point in the trip description or confirms it in the chat.

Practical details

• Money. Cards are widely accepted in Tashkent, but you will need cash at bazaars and small cafes. Exchange currency at banks and official exchange points.
• Registration. Hotels usually register foreign guests. Keep the confirmations.
• Water. Drink bottled water.
• Season. The best times are April–May and September–October. In summer daytime temperatures can exceed 40 °C; in winter expect slush and cold winds.
• Food. In Tashkent plov is traditionally cooked for lunch and served until mid-afternoon — do not leave it for dinner.

How many days you need

Where to go next

Tashkent is the country's main transport hub, and all the main routes start here:

• Samarkand — about 300 km south-west. By train it takes 2–2.5 hours, by car 4–4.5 hours. Yo'ldosh has trips on Tashkent — Samarkand every day — handy when train tickets are sold out or you want to leave at your own time.
• The Fergana Valley — about 300 km east over the Kamchik pass, 4.5–5 hours. See trips on Tashkent — Fergana: the road offers superb mountain views.
• The mountains and Charvak — 1.5–2 hours away. The first leg is easy on Tashkent — Chirchik, then switch to local transport.

A shared ride is a good option between cities: it costs less than a taxi, drivers are verified and you book your seat in the app.

The bottom line

Give Tashkent at least two days: the city does not reveal itself at once, but it has both history and lively modern life. And when you are ready to move on, check the routes page — it lists destinations across the whole country.

Cover photo: UnknownUnknown, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons.