Bazaars, historic ensembles and museums give Tashkent several distinct cultural highlights. The city also offers the Botanical Garden and go-karting. If you choose Tashkent as a travel destination, you might first ask whether bazaars, architectural history, collections or nature will shape your stay. These differences also provide a useful starting point when looking for a hotel in Tashkent: first consider which discoveries in the city interest you.

Bazaars and historic cityscapes

Chorsu Bazaar is located in the Old Town and has been known since the Middle Ages. Its range of goods includes ceramics and pottery, skullcaps, traditional clothing and scarves made from traditional fabrics. There are also oriental sweets, spices, fruit and vegetables, as well as books, gifts and handmade souvenirs. Textiles, household items and food are found side by side as distinct product groups. This makes the bazaar a cultural highlight in its own right and offers a different way to experience the city than a museum visit.

The city’s buildings also reflect different periods. The Ko‘kaldosh Madrasa was built in the 16th century and is one of Tashkent’s notable architectural landmarks. Its entrance portal is almost 20 metres high and flanked by corner towers. The Abulqosim-shayx Madrasa, by contrast, was built in the first half of the 19th century in the Eastern Renaissance style. The difference in age and architecture can thus be seen in two specific buildings.

The Shaykhontohur Ensemble, which includes the mausoleum of Shaykh Hovandi at-Tahur, is located in the old part of Tashkent. The Hazrati Imam Complex, also known as Hast-Imam, is a religious cultural heritage ensemble comprising the Tillashaykh Mosque, the mausoleum of Abu Bakr Kaffol Shoshiy, the Baroqxon Madrasa and the Imam al-Bukhari Islamic Institute. Its visitor library preserves Eastern manuscripts, including the Quran associated with Caliph Uthman. The two ensembles offer different points of reference: one is an ensemble with a mausoleum; the other brings together a mosque, mausoleum, madrasa, institute and library.

Museums: history, culture and nature

The State Museum of the Timurids opened on 18 October 1996 and displays archaeological, ethnographic and numismatic materials. The Tashkent Museum focuses on something different: it presents the city’s ancient history and the customs of its residents, as well as examples of the art and culture of the ancient region. More than 1,000 ancient objects are kept there. When choosing between the two museums, you can therefore distinguish between a focus on the Timurids and a presentation of the city’s history, its customs and the wider region’s past.

The State Museum of Nature of Uzbekistan is one of the oldest museums in Central Asia. Its four departments cover animal and plant life. At the G‘afur-G‘ulom House Museum, the second floor has been converted into a memorial area. It includes G‘afur G‘ulom’s study, reception room and sitting room. Natural history and the rooms of the memorial area thus represent two further, clearly distinct museum interests.

Garden and leisure

The Tashkent Botanical Garden has a collection of more than 6,000 plant species. Visitors can take part in educational tours there; if you plan to join one, it is advisable to check the current arrangements in advance. The garden offers a different thematic experience from museums with historical, cultural or natural history exhibitions.

Another leisure option is go-karting at Anhor-Lokomotiv Park. The area is listed as more than 12,000 square metres. This activity is quite different from visiting the historic ensembles, museums and Botanical Garden. If go-karting is part of your plans, it is best to check in advance whether it is available on your preferred date.

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Go to the main travel overview: Tashkent.