CraftnCultureThis field guide’s editorial content is in English.
Old City markets meet a changing creative capital
Tashkent brings together Old City courtyards, functioning bazaars, modernist public buildings and contemporary culture. Choose a few areas and use the metro between them. The Islamic Civilization Center, reopened History Museum and new contemporary-art programme add current experiences to the familiar city route.
Photo: Panpanchik · CC BY-SA 4.0. Display resized and cropped.
Start with the domed food market, then explore bread, produce and household stalls. Chorsu is useful for understanding everyday Tashkent as well as its modernist architecture. The market’s public spaces connect the monumental blue dome with the rhythm of ordinary shopping.
More photos and visiting notesPhoto: Bobonorova Hulkar · CC BY-SA 4.0. Display resized and cropped.
Textiles, ceramics, jewelry and other decorative arts provide a compact introduction to the regional styles encountered later in the trip. The decorated historic house matters as much as the objects: look at its carved and painted surfaces before moving between the collections.
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Photo: Oqsaqol · CC BY-SA 4.0. Display resized and cropped.
Archaeology and historical collections help place Uzbekistan’s monuments in a longer timeline. The modernist building is significant in its own right. Reopened after renovation in July 2026, the museum gives a useful introduction to the histories encountered across the rest of the journey.
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Photo: Tim Adams · CC BY 4.0. Display resized and cropped.
The equestrian monument, surrounding buildings and green square introduce the ceremonial center of modern Tashkent. Travelers particularly interested in the Timurids can add the nearby museum, while the outdoor square provides a natural orientation point for the central city.
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Photo: Шухрат Саъдиев · CC BY-SA 4.0. Display resized and cropped.
A performance gives the theatre a purpose beyond an exterior photograph. Its regional foyers draw on different Uzbek decorative traditions, making the building an especially relevant stop for travelers interested in architecture and craft.
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Photo: National PR-Center / Uzbekistan Travel · Tourism-use permission. Display resized and cropped.
White marble and a turquoise dome give Minor a different character from the Old City’s brick monuments. Opened in 2014, it is a contemporary mosque rather than a medieval survivor. Its canal-side setting makes it a useful quieter stop.
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Photo: Akobir abdimuminov · CC BY-SA 4.0. Display resized and cropped.
Opened to the public in September 2026, the Centre for Contemporary Arts brings exhibitions, conversation and contemporary artistic practice into a former industrial building. Its changing programme offers a different perspective on Uzbekistan alongside the journey’s historic monuments. Check what is on during your visit.
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Photo: Xkmvch · CC0. Display resized and cropped.
The museum and memorial address political repression and the people whose lives it changed. This is a place for historical understanding and remembrance, with the landscaped grounds forming part of the experience.
More photos and visiting notesThis smaller gallery, shop and courtyard introduces contemporary makers and design rather than another monumental sight. Exhibitions, textiles, clothing and occasional cultural events make it useful for travelers interested in how Uzbek decorative traditions are used today.
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Photo: Farangiz0123 · CC BY-SA 4.0. Display resized and cropped.
The memorial provides a short, focused introduction to the earthquake that reshaped Tashkent. It works best alongside the city’s modernist buildings, giving the reconstruction a human and historical context.
More photos and visiting notesYandex Go operates in Uzbekistan and shows a fare and estimated journey time before you request a ride. Check the pickup pin, destination and available payment method in the app. At the airport or station, follow the designated pickup instructions. If arranging a ride directly, agree the fare and destination before setting off rather than relying on a printed fare estimate.
Use the guide’s map links as starting points and confirm the actual entrance with your venue. In 2GIS, download the city database before going offline; some navigation features still need an internet connection. Keep your hotel address and a few useful landmarks saved separately. A map listing is not confirmation that a venue is open or that an entrance is accessible.
Check the current exchange rate and fees with the bank or exchange counter you use. Carry some Uzbek sum for purchases where your card is not accepted, and confirm the payment method before ordering or setting off. Keep a second way to pay and avoid depending on a single ATM or card. Count change and check the quoted currency carefully.
Compare current SIM, eSIM and roaming options for the length of your stay. Check your phone’s compatibility and the operator’s identification and activation instructions. Ucell provides a self-registration process for foreign visitors; operator requirements and packages can change. Test mobile data and important messages before leaving the service point, and save essential addresses offline.
Tashkent’s metro is both transport and a chance to see distinctive station architecture. Use the current network map to plan transfers and check the fare, payment options and operating hours at the station. Leave enough time to walk between a station and your destination. Follow staff instructions and keep entrances and platforms clear when stopping to look or take photographs.
Ask your hotel or host to confirm your accommodation registration and keep the records for your trip. Private accommodation and camping may require different arrangements. Check the current official guidance before arrival and after changing accommodation; do not assume that a booking confirmation is a registration record.
Check the entrance guidance, dress modestly and ask where visitors may go. An active mosque may restrict visits during worship. Follow instructions about shoes and head coverings, and ask before photographing people or religious activity. Do not assume clothing is available to borrow at the entrance.
Bazaars are places to talk as well as shop. Ask about materials, how a piece was made and its care before discussing the price. Bargaining may be part of a sale; keep the conversation friendly and respect a seller’s decision. Compare the item itself, not only the price, and agree the total and payment method before buying.
A few words make a useful beginning: salom means hello and rahmat means thank you. Keep addresses written down and use a translation app when a conversation needs more detail. Confirm dates, prices and meeting points clearly rather than relying on a friendly nod. The language available at a particular venue can vary, so ask in advance if you need an English-speaking host or guide.
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