The largest city in Central Asia, it offers plenty of cozy lodging, international eateries, and a delightful selection of parks, theaters, museums, and Soviet monuments that are unique to the region.
When visiting Uzbekistan, Tashkent is most likely where you will arrive first. Which attractions in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, are the best? To ensure a fantastic trip to Tashkent, be sure to read this travel guide.
1) CHORSU BAZAR
Although the market has existed for generations, the blue-domed building covering it was built by the Soviets. Since the market is regularly visited by all the people, it’s also a perfect spot to see the unique blend of cultures that makes Tashkent famous.
I had a wonderful time there. Chorsu is sprawled across several tiers and tents where friendly vendors stand ready to sell you everything that you need and more. Visiting Chorsu Bazaar is one of the best things to do in Tashkent.
2) HOTEL UZBEKISTAN
The capital of Uzbekistan, Tashkent, is home to more than 4 million people, making it the largest city in Central Asia. Most tourists overlook it in favor of the breathtaking Silk Road cities of Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva. Seeing Soviet architecture is one of my favorite aspects of visiting former Soviet nations. They are large, fashioned from concrete, and antiquated.
My absolute favorite Soviet structure in Tashkent is the Hotel Uzbekistan, whose size will not fail to impress. Each window, in my opinion, has to represent a room.
3) AMIR TEMUR SQUARE
Situated in the center of the city, Amir Timur Square is actually a circle with main boulevards radiating outward in all directions. The square is dotted with historical sites across its perimeter. After I took a picture with the statue of Amir Timur (Tamerlane) in the middle of the square, I explored the Amir Timur Museum, a gorgeous domed structure whose displays highlight the accomplishments of one of the most important historical people in Uzbekistan.
4) AMIR TEMUR MUSEUM
The Uzbek capital, Tashkent, is home to the Amir Timur Museum. It honors the Turco-Mongol warlord Amir Timur (Tamerlane), and it opened in 1996. Though the museum was built according to the traditions of medieval architecture, it satisfies modern requirements
The museum collection consists of about 5,000 objects, of which over 2,000 are on show in the exhibition halls. The museum’s exhibits, in particular, center on Amir Temur’s ancestry, ascent to power, Sahib Kiran’s military campaigns, trade and diplomatic ties, craftsmanship, landscaping and city improvement, and the advancement of science and education.
Exhibits pertaining to Timurid dynasty representatives also include jewelry, rare manuscripts, miniatures, weaponry, copper and silver coins, and maps.
5) TASHKENT METRO
The metro project was possibly the most ambitious of all because the goal was for the Tashkent metro to be an artistic masterpiece in the tradition of the already-built metros in Moscow and Saint Petersburg. Constructed at great depths, nearly all of the Tashkent Metro’s stations are breathtaking and distinctive from one another.
From stunning mosaics to enormous, golden candelabras, I spent hours simply riding the metro up and down and making stops at all of its stunning stations. I roamed around the city in the Metro at unbelievably low prices. Definitely a must visit places in Tashkent.
6) HAZRAT IMAMI COMPLEX
As the city’s official religious center, this is undoubtedly one of the most popular tourist destinations in Tashkent. The major reason for me to visit Tashkent is the Hazrat Imam Complex, which is made up of mosques with turquoise domes that are similar to those in Samarkand.
The complex consists of the Moʻyi Muborak madrasa, the Qaffol Shoshi mausoleum, the Baroqxon Madrasa, the Hazrati Imam mosque, the Tillashayx mosque, and the Imam al-Bukhari Islamic Institute. The ensemble was built near the grave of Hazrati Imam, the first imam-khatib of Tashkent, a scholar, one of the first Islamic preachers in Tashkent, a poet and an artist.
The Muyi Mubarak Library is the most significant of all the structures since it has the oldest Quran in the world as well as a relic that is purported to be nothing less than a hair from Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
The Imami Complex also has a sizable collection of Qurans in every language, all of which are arranged inside a glass case.
How to get to Hazrat Imam Complex
Get out at the Gafur Gulom Metro Station. Follow Abdulla Qodiriy Street to the left and turn into Qorasaroy Street
7) KULKEDASH MADRASSA
Kukeldash Madrasah is a medieval madrasa in Tashkent, located close to Chorsu Bazaar and Chorsu Metro station. It was built around 1570 by the Shaybanid ruler Dervish Sultan. The madrasah is built of yellow brick, and has a traditional square shape with a big portal and an inner yard. Kulkedash madrassah is one of the most historic buildings in the town; it was severely damaged by earthquakes but was beautifully reconstructed in the middle of the 20th century.
Inside, you will find a colorful courtyard. Built as an old Islamic school in the 16th century, it was transformed into a caravanserai two hundred years later, a fortress, and a place where public executions were held.
Despite serving as an active center of learning, Kukeldash Madrasah in Tashkent remains open to the public. Visitors are welcome to roam its garden, learn its history and legends and admire the traditional-style architecture, which despite having been recently restored still manages to evoke memories of Uzbekistan’s medieval past. There is also a small coffee room inside with self service and self payment. You have coffee and just leave the money in the box.
8) MAGIC CITY PARK
Encompassing 21 hectares, it boasts an aquarium, a laser cinema, a live performance amphitheater, and kid-friendly rides. The park also features a 60-meter-tall castle tower, a massive pond, a year-round indoor amusement park, and smaller attractions like a mirror maze, 10-pin bowling, and virtual reality gaming. You do not need to purchase a ticket in order to enter Magic City, as admission is free. Only the rides, attractions, and activities that guests want to utilize are charged for.
It features everything the eateries one would anticipate from a kid-friendly amusement park: fast-food restaurants serving burgers, pizza, and ice cream in addition to Uzbek specialties like shashlik and plov. Japanese, Armenian, and Turkish cuisines are available at various international eateries on the “backstreet” near the aquarium.
There is a tiny retail area with Turkish and Uzbek clothing, sneakers, and sportswear. The fact that entrance is free and prices for attractions are very reasonable makes it an excellent attraction to visit for at least a couple of hours or even half a day if with children. I made two trips there in two days, one during the day and one at night. My daughter loved that day in Tashkent and still talks about it.
9) MINOR MOSQUE
One of Tashkent’s newest attractions, the Minor Mosque is situated in a newer area of the city. Since its opening it has grown to be a city dweller’s favorite spot for strolls in the evening. A small, beautifully planted space encircles the minor mosque, which is situated on the Ankhor Channel embankment.
The little mosque is separated by an open front area with terraces and a large circular hall with a gold-plated mihrab—a semicircular niche in a mosque wall that denotes the direction Muslims should face when praying—that is decorated with Quranic verses.
Though it is a relatively new sight, don’t pass up the opportunity to see Minor Mosque in all of its white marbled splendor when you are in Tashkent.
10) Museum of Applied Arts
A wonderful introduction to Uzbekistan’s rich cultural legacy is offered by the Museum of Applied Arts, which has a broad collection of handicrafts from the Middle Ages to the present. Thousands of carpets, gowns, skullcaps, ceramics, paintings, and everyday objects are arranged into rooms based on their kind and creation period.
The elaborate palace that has hosted the museum for almost a century is equally remarkable. Built by a Russian diplomat who had a passion for regional architecture, it rivals the exhibits themselves with its elaborate carvings, sturdy pillars, and riotously bright geometric motifs. The Uzbekistan State Museum of Applied Arts is a reasonably sized, easily navigable facility that will enhance your admiration for the dexterity and attention to detail of regional craftspeople..
