Tashkent

Uzbekistan’s green, welcoming capital — the gateway for most journeys, with sacred heritage, grand bazaars and mountains on the horizon.

Tashkent is Uzbekistan’s capital and main international gateway, with direct flights from several Gulf cities. Visit the Hazrati Imam complex, home to the Uthman Quran, Chorsu Bazaar, the ornate metro stations and Amir Temur Square. One to two days is ideal, and Tashkent is the starting point for Afrosiyob trains and Amirsoy mountain trips.

Tashkent is where most journeys through Uzbekistan begin. It is a modern, leafy capital of wide avenues, parks and fountains, yet it holds some of the country’s most sacred treasures, above all the Mushaf of Uthman, one of the oldest surviving Qur’an manuscripts, kept at the Hazrati Imam complex.

Beyond the mosques and madrasas, Tashkent rewards curiosity: the great blue dome of Chorsu Bazaar with its mountains of bread, spices and dried fruit; metro stations decorated like palaces; and generous platters of plov served at midday, as tradition demands.

We usually plan a gentle first day in Tashkent to rest after the flight, then continue by Afrosiyob train to Samarkand and Bukhara — or head into the mountains of Amirsoy and Chimgan, less than two hours away.

Good to know

Role: Capital and main international airport
Getting there: Direct flights from several Gulf cities
Days to spend: 1–2 days
Best season: April–June and September–October
Onward travel: Afrosiyob trains to Samarkand and Bukhara; flights to Urgench for Khiva