Shopping in Tashkent: what to buy and where

Tashkent is a good place to shop for crafts from all over Uzbekistan, especially at the end of a trip, when you can fill gaps:

• Ceramics: blue Rishtan pottery from the Fergana Valley, brown and green Gijduvan ware, and painted plates and bowls.
• Textiles: ikat silks and cottons from Margilan, suzani embroidery, scarves and robes.
• Skullcaps (duppi) and embroidered hats.
• Carved wood: boxes, Quran stands, chess sets.
• Miniatures and lacquered boxes.
• Spices, dried fruit, nuts and sweets, vacuum-packed for travel.
• Soviet souvenirs: badges, banknotes, postcards and household objects from the flea market.
• Cotton and silk clothing in modern designs by Uzbek fashion designers inspired by traditional patterns.

Chorsu bazaar in the old town is the most famous: under its blue dome you will find spices, dried fruit, nuts, halva and dairy, with bread, fruit, vegetables, skullcaps, ceramics and textiles in the surrounding rows. Many stalls vacuum-pack purchases.

Alay bazaar, in the centre, is smaller and tidier, known for high-quality fruit, dried fruit, nuts and flowers. It is convenient if you are staying near Amir Timur Square.

Bazaars are open most days from early morning; mornings are busiest. Some sections close on Mondays.

• The Barak Khan madrasah at the Khast Imam complex has craft shops in its former student cells, selling ceramics, woodcarving, textiles and miniatures.
• Broadway, the pedestrian street near Amir Timur Square, has stalls with souvenirs, paintings and crafts, especially in the afternoon and evening.
• The shop of the Museum of Applied Arts sells good-quality crafts at fixed prices, useful as a benchmark before bargaining elsewhere.
• Craft centres and design shops in the centre sell modern products inspired by traditional crafts: ikat clothing, ceramics and accessories.

On weekends, the Yangiobod flea market on the outskirts of the city is a sprawling open-air market where people sell everything from tools and car parts to Soviet medals, old cameras, vinyl records, porcelain, carpets and antiques. It is chaotic and fascinating, best for treasure hunters who enjoy browsing. Go early, bring cash and be careful with valuables. Remember that genuine antiques need export documents.

Tashkent has several large modern shopping malls with international brands, supermarkets and food courts, including one in the new Tashkent City district. They are useful for everyday needs, electronics and clothing, and offer fixed prices, air conditioning and card payments. Supermarkets are also a good place to buy local wines, brandy, sweets and tea to take home.

Many crafts sold in Tashkent are made elsewhere in Uzbekistan. If your trip continues, you may find a wider choice and lower prices at the source: ikat silk in Margilan, blue ceramics in Rishtan, suzani and carpets in Bukhara and Samarkand, woodcarving and fur hats in Khiva. But Tashkent is convenient for last-minute shopping before your flight, and its museum shop and craft centres offer reliable quality at fixed prices.

Food makes some of the best souvenirs from Tashkent. Good choices are dried apricots and golden raisins, roasted apricot kernels, pistachios and almonds, halva and navat (crystallised sugar), spice mixes for plov, and green or black tea. In the bazaars, ask sellers to vacuum-pack your purchases so they keep for weeks. Check the rules of your home country for bringing in food.

In bazaars and souvenir stalls, bargaining is expected: ask the price, offer less and settle in the middle with a smile. Compare a few stalls before buying. In shops, malls and museum shops, prices are fixed. Cash in soum is easiest in bazaars; cards are widely accepted in shops and malls. Many vendors in the centre accept QR payments.

Uzbekistan restricts the export of antiques and cultural property. Old carpets, suzani, jewellery, coins, manuscripts and items that look old may require an export certificate. Ask the seller for documents showing that an item is new, and keep receipts; without documents, items may be confiscated at customs. Knives must go in checked luggage. See our Uzbekistan visa and entry guide, and compare with shopping in Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva, where many crafts are made.