25 Best Things to Do in Tashkent (2026 Local's Guide)

2026-05-21 · 10 min read · City Guide

Tashkent is criminally underrated. Most travelers blow through in 24 hours — here's why you should give it three days, and exactly what to do with them.

Tashkent surprises everyone. It's green, modern, weirdly cheap, and packed with things to do that don't show up in guidebooks. Here are 25 worth your time.

Historic & cultural

• Khast Imam complex — home to the 7th-century Uthman Quran, one of the oldest in the world.
• Chorsu Bazaar — go hungry, eat your way through samsa, non bread, dried fruit and halva.
• Amir Timur Square and the museum opposite.
• Independence Square and Memorial of the Repressions.
• Romanov Palace (Grand Duke Nikolai's exiled residence).

Soviet & modernist Tashkent

• Ride the metro — Kosmonavtlar, Alisher Navoi, Pakhtakor and Mustaqillik are open-air museums.
• Hotel Uzbekistan brutalist facade at sunset.
• TV Tower (375m) — second-tallest in Central Asia, restaurant on top.
• Courage Monument (1966 earthquake memorial).
• Bukhara-style art-deco of Mukimi Theatre.

Food experiences

• Besh Qozon (Central Asian Plov Center) — 1,000 portions a day, ready by noon.
• Sumalak in spring at any neighbourhood mahalla.
• Manti and lagman at Afsona on Shota Rustaveli.
• Coffee at Nordic Coffee or Caffeine Lab (yes, Tashkent has a coffee scene now).
• Wine tasting at Chateau Hamkor (Uzbek wine is genuinely improving).

Modern Tashkent

• Tashkent City Park and the skyscraper district at golden hour.
• Magic City theme park (kitschy in the best way).
• Magic Mall and Compass shopping if you need Western brands.
• Humo Arena for an ice hockey game or concert.
• Yangi Uzbekistan park along the Ankhor canal.

Day trips

• Chimgan mountains (1h drive) — hiking in summer, skiing at Amirsoy in winter.
• Charvak reservoir for swimming and paragliding.
• Zangiata mausoleum for a quiet half-day.
• Day train to Samarkand if you only have one — leaves 8am, back by 8pm.
• Aqua Park Tashkent in summer for kids.

How long do you need?

Two full days for the highlights, three if you want one Chimgan day. Don't make the rookie mistake of giving it 24 hours and bouncing — Tashkent is the city most travelers regret rushing.