Modern Tashkent: A 6-Hour Sightseeing Adventure

Tashkent is where most trips to Uzbekistan begin, and many travellers give it only a night between the airport and the train to Samarkand. That is a pity: the capital is a good place to understand modern Uzbekistan, from its religious heritage to Soviet planning and today's building boom. Six to seven hours are enough for a first, well-rounded look at the city.

Key facts

• Where: Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan and its largest city.
• Time needed: 6–7 hours for the main sights, at a relaxed pace.
• Route: old town (Khast Imam, Chorsu Bazaar, Kukeldash Madrasa) → modern centre (Amir Timur Square, Independence Square) → a ride on the Tashkent Metro.
• Getting around: by car between districts, on foot at each stop, and by metro for part of the route.
• When to go: all year; spring and autumn are the most pleasant for walking.
• Good for: first-time visitors, travellers with a free day before or after the train to Samarkand, anyone interested in architecture and city life.
• Book with: see the Modern Tashkent tour page or contact us; prices depend on group size and season.

Why Tashkent looks so modern

On 26 April 1966 a strong earthquake struck right under the centre of Tashkent. It destroyed much of the city, including more than half of the old town with its adobe houses. Workers from all over the Soviet Union came to rebuild it, and the new Tashkent was planned with wide avenues, large squares, parks and apartment blocks. Since independence in 1991 the city has kept changing, with new government buildings, business districts and green spaces. That is why a day here is less about ancient monuments and more about how a capital has been rebuilt and reinvented.

The old town: Khast Imam and Chorsu

Khast Imam complex

The religious heart of Tashkent is the Khast Imam (Hazrati Imam) complex in the old town. It is named after Kaffal Shashi, a scholar buried here, and brings together madrasas, mosques and a mausoleum around a large square. The Barak Khan Madrasa dates back to the 16th century; today craftsmen work and sell in its courtyard. The library of the Muyi Mubarak Madrasa keeps an early Qur'an manuscript that tradition links to Caliph Uthman — one of the most important objects in the country.

Chorsu Bazaar and Kukeldash Madrasa

A short drive away is Chorsu Bazaar, under its big green dome. This is where Tashkent families buy bread, spices, dried fruit and fresh produce, and it is a good place to watch everyday life. Next to the bazaar stands the Kukeldash Madrasa, a 16th-century building that makes a good photo stop.

The modern centre

Amir Timur Square

From the old town the route moves to the centre built after 1966. Amir Timur Square is a round park with an equestrian statue of Timur in the middle, surrounded by some of the city's landmark buildings. It is a good place to see how Tashkent presents itself today.

Independence Square

Mustaqillik (Independence) Square is the city's main ceremonial space, with government buildings, fountains and long shaded alleys. It is quiet on most days and pleasant for a walk.

The Tashkent Metro

The Tashkent Metro opened in 1977 and was the first metro in Central Asia. Many of its older stations are decorated like small palaces, each with its own theme: Kosmonavtlar is dedicated to space flight, Alisher Navoi to the poet and his works. Photography in the metro was forbidden for decades; the ban was lifted in 2018, so you can now take photos of the stations. A ride of a few stops is part of the day and shows you the city the way locals travel.

Practical tips

• Wear comfortable shoes — you walk at every stop, and Chorsu is large.
• Dress modestly for the Khast Imam complex: shoulders and knees covered, and a scarf for women inside mosques.
• Carry some cash in small notes for the bazaar.
• In summer, start early and save indoor stops such as the metro for the hottest hours.
• The route is flexible: tell your guide what interests you most, and the day can be adapted.
• If you arrive by plane in the morning, a city day works well before an evening train to Samarkand.

Plan it with TravelBliss

Our private Modern Tashkent tour picks you up at your hotel and follows this route with a local guide and a car. According to the tour page, transport, the guide, hotel pick-up and drop-off and metro tickets are included; entrance fees, lunch and drinks are not. If you continue to Samarkand, see our day tour from Tashkent to Samarkand and the Afrosiyob high-speed train guide. Prices depend on the number of travellers and the season — contact us for a quote.