TashkentCapital
Uzbekistan · Country profile
Tashkent is the huge, dynamic capital of Uzbekistan, the elegant Central Asian metropolis that spreads its spacious boulevards, its fountains and its Soviet-planned quarters across the fertile plain of the Chirchik river, at the crossroads of the historic trade routes of the Silk Roads. One of the great cities of the region since the ancient world, when the oasis settlements of the crossroads fed the caravans of the merchants, it was reshaped into the modern capital after the devastating earthquake of the 1960s, and today it balances the wide avenues of the Soviet era with the restored monuments of the old town, the bazaars and the mosques. The old city quarter with its timber houses, the great bazaar of the Chorsu, the panorama of the modern centre and the museums of the city anchor the essential visits, while the metro stations, the theatres and the parks carry the daily life of the metropolis. Bulky, refined and endlessly energetic, Tashkent is the beating heart of the modern Uzbekistan.
About Tashkent
Tashkent is the capital of Uzbekistan. The city's documented population is around 2,950,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the Uzbekistani Som (UZS) and Uzbek is spoken; the dialling code is +998. It is served by 1 airport in our guide: Islam Karimov Tashkent International Airport.
The Bazaar of the Chorsu and the Old City of the Town
Tashkent is a spacious, ordered metropolis where the essential circuit moves between the old city with its bazaar and its monuments, the modern boulevards of the centre and the magnificent metro stations of the city, with the museums, the parks and the theatres distributing the cultural life of the capital. The enormous market of the Chorsu, with its great blue dome and its overwhelming stalls, runs the commercial soul of the town, and the medresseh, the mausoleum and the restored old streets of the historic quarter give the depth of the ancient crossroads. The day trips of the region reach the mountain valleys of the east and the historic cities of the Silk Road beyond, and the whole dynamic capital moves to the confident, ambitious pulse of the new Uzbekistan.
The Metro of the City and the Stations of the Underground
The climate of the city is crisply continental, with the hot, dry summer, the cold, sunny winter with its occasional snow, and the mild, flower-filled springs that are the most pleasant season of the year. The som is the currency, with the Uzbek the language of the town and some Russian and English in the official and the tourist life. The old city, the bazaar and the metro make the core circuit, and the mountains and the historic cities of the region lie within the easy reach of the capital. Light summer clothing, warm winter layers and modest dress for the religious sites complete the practical essentials of the Central Asian metropolis.
The Parks and the Boulevards of the Modern Capital
The great market of the Chorsu, the enormous covered bazaar crowned by the turquoise dome that stands at the edge of the old city, is the commercial heart of the capital and the great spectacle of its trade, its inner galleries piled with the dried fruits, the nuts, the spices and the handwoven crafts of the whole country. The metro of the city, the celebrated underground system with its station halls carved and gilded like the palaces of plenty of the Soviet era, carries the visitor through some of the most beautiful public interiors of the former union, and the old town around the bazaar, with its timber mosques and its shaded courtyards, preserves the pre-modern soul of the crossroads. The central parks and the fountains of the capital, the opera and the theaters of the city and the newest skyscrapers of the modern centre complete the essential, multifaceted portrait of the great capital of the Uzbekistan.
Report an error or suggest an update
- Country
- Uzbekistan
- Population
- 2,950,000
- Coordinates
- 41.2579, 69.2812
- Capital
- Tashkent
- Region
- Asia
- Currency
- Uzbekistani Som (UZS)
- Languages
- Uzbek
- Calling code
- +998
- Country code
- UZ
Entry requirements for Uzbekistan
Visa status for travellers from common origins visiting Uzbekistan for tourism.
Getting to Tashkent
Airports we list for Tashkent:
Frequently asked questions
Is Tashkent the capital of Uzbekistan?
Yes — Tashkent is the capital of Uzbekistan.
What currency do I need in Tashkent?
The local currency is the Uzbekistani Som (UZS). Languages spoken in Uzbekistan include Uzbek.
What is the dialling code for Uzbekistan?
The international dialling code for Uzbekistan is +998.
Which airport should I fly into for Tashkent?
Islam Karimov Tashkent International Airport (TAS) is the airport we list for Tashkent.
Do I need a visa to visit Uzbekistan?
It depends on your passport. Among the origins we track, travellers from Australia, Canada, France, Germany and Italy currently enter Uzbekistan visa-free for tourism. Use the entry requirements tool to check your own nationality and purpose of travel.
Flying out of Tashkent? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.