15 Things Nobody Tells You About Traveling in Uzbekistan (From Someone Who Lives Here)

The visa is easy. The trains are excellent. But there's a lot the guidebooks leave out. After years of living in Tashkent and running cultural tours, here's the unfiltered truth about visiting Uzbekistan.

1. Cash is Still King (But It's Changing Fast) International cards work at major hotels and some restaurants in Tashkent and Samarkand, but street vendors, bazaars, and smaller cities are cash-only. The good news? ATMs are everywhere now, and the som is stable. Bring dollars for exchange — crisp, new bills get better rates.

2. Everyone Will Feed You (Prepare to Say No) Uzbek hospitality is legendary — and relentless. Expect to be invited for tea that turns into a full meal. Saying "I just ate" won't work. The polite approach: accept graciously, eat a little, and compliment the plov. Refusing entirely can offend.

3. The Metro is World-Class (And Photography is Now Allowed) Tashkent's metro stations look like underground palaces — Soviet-era chandeliers, marble columns, and mosaic art. For decades, photography was banned for "security." Now? Snap away. A single ride costs about $0.15 and the trains run every 3 minutes.