Tashkent · Itineraries
Tashkent itinerary: one, two and three days
Hour-by-hour plans for one, two and three days in Tashkent, combining the old town, the metro, museums, parks and a mountain day trip, with tips on getting around.
With one day in Tashkent, see the Khast Imam complex and Chorsu bazaar in the morning, ride the metro to Amir Timur and Independence squares, and end at the Minor mosque or Broadway. With two days, add the history and applied arts museums, the TV tower and the opera. With three, spend a day in the Chimgan mountains.
Before you start
These plans assume you are staying in the centre near a metro station. Tashkent is large, so the plans group sights by area and use the metro and ride-hailing taxis to move between them:
- The old town in the west: Khast Imam, Chorsu bazaar, the Kukeldash madrasah.
- The centre: Amir Timur Square, Independence Square, the main museums and the Navoi Theatre.
- The north: the TV tower, the Japanese garden, the Botanical garden and the Minor mosque.
Check museum opening days: most close one day a week. Religious sites may close briefly at prayer times, especially on Friday at midday. In summer, plan indoor visits for the hottest part of the day.
One day in Tashkent
09:00 – Khast Imam complex. Start with the Uthman Quran in the Muyi Muborak library, the Barak Khan madrasah and the Hazrati Imam mosque. Allow an hour.
10:30 – Walk through the old town to Chorsu. Take the lanes south through the old mahallas, or a short taxi ride.
11:00 – Chorsu bazaar and the Kukeldash madrasah. Taste and shop under the blue dome, then climb to the madrasah above the market.
12:30 – Lunch: plov. Eat plov in a teahouse near the bazaar or at a plov house.
14:00 – Metro tour. From Chorsu, ride the metro, stopping at Alisher Navoi, Paxtakor, Mustaqillik Maydoni and Kosmonavtlar to admire the stations.
15:30 – Independence Square. Walk through the park to the stork arch and the Mourning Mother memorial.
16:30 – Broadway and Amir Timur Square. Stroll along the pedestrian street to the statue of Timur, the Chimes and Hotel Uzbekistan.
18:00 – Minor mosque at sunset. Take a taxi to the white mosque on the Ankhor canal.
19:30 – Dinner in the centre, with shashlik or modern Uzbek cuisine.
Two days in Tashkent
Day 1: follow the one-day plan.
Day 2 – museums, views and the opera
09:30 – State Museum of History. Begin with the history of Uzbekistan, from Buddhist sculpture to the Timurids.
11:15 – Amir Timur Museum. The blue-domed museum on Amir Timur Square.
12:30 – Lunch in the centre.
14:00 – Museum of Applied Arts. The decorated diplomat’s house with suzani, ceramics and jewellery; browse its crafts shop.
15:30 – Holy Assumption Cathedral. Take a taxi to the Orthodox cathedral with its golden domes.
16:30 – TV tower and Japanese garden. Go up the TV tower for the view, then walk in the Japanese garden next door.
19:00 – Opera or ballet at the Navoi Theatre, if there is a performance; otherwise dinner and an evening walk in the park of Tashkent City.
Three days in Tashkent
Days 1–2: as above.
Day 3 – the mountains (full day by car).
08:30 – Drive to Chimgan. About 1.5 hours north-east, through the Chirchik valley to the western Tian Shan.
10:00 – Chimgan or Amirsoy. Ride a chairlift or cable car for mountain views, walk on the slopes, or hike towards the Big Chimgan peak. In winter, ski at the resorts.
13:00 – Lunch with a view, often fresh trout or shashlik.
14:30 – Charvak reservoir. Stop at the turquoise lake for views, a swim in summer or a boat ride.
17:30 – Return to Tashkent.
Alternatives for day 3: a day trip to Samarkand by fast train; the Sufi shrine of Zangiata and the Sheikhantaur tombs; or a long day to the Fergana Valley. See day trips from Tashkent.
Arriving and leaving
Many international flights arrive in Tashkent at night or early in the morning. If you arrive early in the morning after a night flight, rest for a few hours before starting the one-day plan in the afternoon, leaving the old town for the next morning. If you have an evening flight home, the museums, Broadway and a final plov lunch make a good last day. The airport is close to the centre; see how to get to Tashkent.
How Tashkent fits a wider trip
Tashkent is usually the start and end of a trip through Uzbekistan. A typical route: Tashkent (1–2 nights) → Samarkand (2–3 nights) → Bukhara (2–3 nights) → Khiva (1–2 nights) → flight back to Tashkent (1 night). See our 7-day and 10-day itineraries, how many days to spend in Uzbekistan, and the itineraries for Samarkand and Bukhara.
If you have more time, the Fergana Valley, east of Tashkent over the Kamchik pass, makes an excellent 2–3 day extension, with silk weaving in Margilan, ceramics in Rishtan and the palace of the khans in Kokand.
With kids or in winter
Travelling with children? Swap a museum for the amusement parks or the zoo; see Tashkent with kids. In winter, the days are short and cool: start a little later, spend more time in the museums and the theatre, and consider a ski day in the mountains instead of the Charvak lake.
Tips
Buy a metro card or use QR tickets; carry small notes for entry fees; keep your passport with you for the TV tower and occasional checks. Dress modestly for Khast Imam and other religious sites. In summer, carry water and plan indoor visits in the afternoon. Use ride-hailing apps for fair taxi fares. A guide for the first day helps you understand the city’s layers, from the old town to the Soviet capital.
Frequently asked questions
Is one day enough in Tashkent?
One day covers the old town, the metro and the main squares. Two days let you add the museums, the TV tower and an evening at the opera.
What should I see first in Tashkent?
The Khast Imam complex and Chorsu bazaar in the morning, when the old town is most lively.
Can I visit the mountains from Tashkent in a day?
Yes. Chimgan and the Charvak reservoir are about 1.5 hours away and make an easy day trip by car.
Rules, timetables and prices change. We check this page regularly, but always confirm entry requirements with official sources before you travel.
