The Tashkent Metro: stations, art and practical guide

Tashkent began building its metro after the great earthquake of 1966, as part of the reconstruction of the city. Engineers had to design tunnels and stations able to withstand strong earthquakes, and the first line opened in 1977. Like the metros of Moscow and other Soviet cities, it was conceived as a showcase: each station was decorated by artists and architects with marble, granite, ceramics, carved alabaster (ganch), mosaics and chandeliers, combining Soviet monumentalism with Uzbek ornament.

For decades, photography in the metro was forbidden because it was considered a strategic facility. The ban was lifted in 2018, and the stations have since become one of Tashkent’s most popular sights.

• Kosmonavtlar (Cosmonauts): a deep blue station dedicated to space exploration, with round ceramic medallions portraying cosmonauts, including Yuri Gagarin and Vladimir Dzhanibekov, who was born in Uzbekistan. The blue glass walls suggest the depth of space.
• Alisher Navoi: named after the 15th-century poet, with domed ceilings decorated in blue and gold ornament and ceramic panels showing scenes from his poems. Often considered the most beautiful.
• Mustaqillik Maydoni (Independence Square): white marble columns and sparkling crystal chandeliers.
• Toshkent: the station for the main railway station, with carved alabaster panels.
• Pakhtakor: decorated with cotton flower motifs in mosaics, a reminder of the importance of cotton in Uzbekistan.
• Gafur Gulom, Bodomzor, Chorsu and Amir Temur Hiyoboni are also worth a look, each with its own theme: poetry, almond blossom, the old bazaar and Timur’s history.

Newer stations on the extensions and the overground circle line are more modern and simpler in style.

The network includes three underground lines, the Chilonzor line (red), the Uzbekistan line (blue) and the Yunusobod line (green), crossing in the city centre, plus a newer overground circle line around the outskirts. Trains run from early morning until around midnight, frequently at peak hours. Station names are written in Uzbek (Latin script) and announcements are in Uzbek; signs increasingly include English.

Because Tashkent lies in an active seismic zone, the metro was designed with special care. Stations and tunnels were built to withstand strong earthquakes, and most lines run at a relatively shallow depth. The design was tested by experience: the 1966 earthquake that destroyed much of the city happened only a few years before construction began, and engineers took its lessons into account.

Fares are low and flat for any distance. You can pay with a transport card, sold and topped up at station counters, with a QR ticket bought from machines or by app, or, at many stations, by contactless bank card. Ask at the counter if unsure. There are security checks at station entrances, with bag screening; keep your passport or ID with you, as police may occasionally ask to see it.

Trains are clean and safe. Escalators can be long and steep; stand on the right. Some stations have only stairs, which can be difficult with heavy luggage.

A self-guided tour of the best stations takes 1–2 hours. One option: start at Alisher Navoi, change to Paxtakor, take the Chilonzor line one stop to Mustaqillik Maydoni, continue to Amir Temur Hiyoboni, then change to the Uzbekistan line for Kosmonavtlar. Get off at each station, look around and take the next train. Avoid rush hours (8–9 am and 5–7 pm) for photos. Use the metro to reach Chorsu bazaar, Amir Timur Square and Independence Square, and the railway station for trains to Samarkand and Bukhara.