General information about Tashkent

Food in Tashkent

Tashkent’s numerous cafes and restaurants offer a wide range of cuisines including European, Russian, Asian (such as Korean, Chinese, and Indian), Middle Eastern, Caucasian, and, of course, Uzbek.

Uzbek cuisine

On almost every street there are teahouses and cafes (“Milliy Taomlar”, which means “national dishes” in Uzbek) serving traditional dishes  like shashlik, shawarma, samsa, plov, naryn, manti, lagman, and shurpa. These venues offer high-quality, delicious, local foods at reasonable prices.

At the Chorsu Bazaar are another gastronomic highlight on the map of Tashkent: many food stalls serving all the famous Uzbek dishes at very low prices.

The most delicious plov (pilaf) in Tashkent is served at the Central Asian Plov Centre (Osh Markazi). People from all over the city come here to eat, and in just a couple of hours the huge cauldrons become empty.

Vegetarian restaurants

Tashkent does not have any dedicated vegetarian restaurants, but several restaurants serve vegetarian dishes such as delicious salads, vegetable dumplings, samsa, pizza, and pasta.

Coffee houses, bakeries, and patisseries

Recently, Tashkent has become a very comfortable city for coffee lovers: there are now many western-style coffee shops in the capital.  Café-bakeries where customers can buy freshly-baked bread, baguettes, croissants, cakes, and pastries, are also flourishing.

City transport in Tashkent

Tashkent’s transport infrastructure is quite well-developed.

Public transport

Buses and minibuses are the cheapest way to move around Tashkent, with routes to almost all parts of the city. For now, there is no convenient, complete system or website for tracking routes and bus schedules in Tashkent.

Tashkent’s metro system is a fast, affordable, and comfortable way to travel. However, the existing network is limited mainly to the central areas of the city. Trains depart from the stations every 3-4 minutes during rush hour and about every 20 minutes in the evenings.

All public transport in Tashkent operates until 22:00.

Taxis

Taxis are also a popular way to travel around Tashkent. It is easy to flag down taxis on the road or order them through one of the official taxi services. Smartphone apps such as Yandex or MyTaxi are very convenient.

Car rental

Car rental services exist in Tashkent. Cars should be ordered at least a day in advance. It is advisable to book further in advance during the peak tourist season, when there may be a shortage of cars.

Other modes of transport

Bicycles can also be rented, but there is no system of bicycle lanes yet.

How to get to Tashkent

Flying is the most convenient way to get to Tashkent from other countries. The city is served by several international airlines, such as Aeroflot, Air Astana, Asiana Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Korean Airlines, Nordwind Airlines, Somon Air, and Turkish Airlines. The national airline, Uzbekistan Airways, offers regular flights to many European, Asian, and North American cities including Bangkok, Beijing, Delhi, Frankfurt, Istanbul, Kuala Lumpur, London, New York, Paris, Seoul, and Tel Aviv. It also flies to many CIS countries, as well as within Uzbekistan.

Although most international visitors arrive by air, Tashkent can also be reached by train from Russia or Kazakhstan. Trains are mainly used for travel within Uzbekistan, with regular trains between Tashkent and Samarkand, Bukhara, Urgench, Nukus, and other cities.

Languages spoken in Tashkent

Uzbekistan’s national language is Uzbek, with Russian used in Tashkent for international communication. Maps, tourist information, restaurant menus, and signs in Tashkent are mainly in Russian, and guides in museums are Russian-speaking. 

English is not as common as Russian, although more and more people, especially young people, are learning it. Most hotels, restaurants, and other tourist sites in Tashkent have someone who can speak at least basic English.

Currency in Tashkent

The main currency used in Tashkent is the Uzbek som. The most popular foreign currency is the US dollar, and the second most popular is the euro. The Russian ruble is less widely-used and may suffer from a poor exchange rate.

Foreign exchange bureaus operate at hotels, as well as in all banks. Many ATMs accept Visa and Mastercard.

Security in Tashkent

Tashkent is a peaceful, welcoming, and safe city for travelling alone, as well as for family or group holidays. Nevertheless, all visitors should take standard security precautions and avoid leaving belongings unattended.

In busy public areas, such as metro stations, parks, shopping centres, and bazaars, there are many law enforcement officers. Be prepared to be stopped by police on the street and asked for your passport and registration documents (although such requests are now less frequent than they used to be).