What currency is used in Tashkent?

Tashkent uses the Uzbekistani som (UZS).

What is the emergency number in Tashkent?

In Tashkent, call 102 for police, 103 for ambulance, 101 for fire.

How much does a day in Tashkent cost?

Roughly $25-40 a day in US dollars on a backpacker budget (a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport), and $60-110 mid-range (a private room and restaurants). These are broad estimates, last reviewed October 2026.

Is Waypacker free to use in Tashkent?

Yes. Joining is free and stays with hosts carry no nightly rate or booking fee.

Are Waypacker hosts ID-verified?

Every host's ID and selfie are checked by hand by a real person before they can host. Nothing is sent to an AI service.

Can I meet locals in Tashkent without staying with anyone?

Yes. You can join meetups and city groups, or ask locals for tips, without booking a stay.

Will anyone see my exact location?

No. Hosts and meetups appear as a neighbourhood-sized area about a kilometre wide, and exact addresses are never stored.

Tashkent travel guide

Uzbekistan

Central Asia's largest city, rebuilt with broad Soviet boulevards after the 1966 earthquake. Tashkent is greener and calmer than you might expect, with a busy old bazaar, ornate metro stations and very good plov.

Essentials

Language: Uzbek; Russian is widely spoken, and English mainly in hotels and among younger people
Currency: Uzbekistani som (UZS)
Plugs: Type C and F, 220 V
Emergency number: 102 for police, 103 for ambulance, 101 for fire
Tipping: Many restaurants add a service charge to the bill; where they do not, leaving around 10% or rounding up is appreciated.

Rough daily budget

Approximate spend per person per day, in US dollars:

Backpacker: $25-40, with a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport.
Mid-range: $60-110, with a private room and restaurant meals.

Last reviewed: October 2026

Where to stay in Tashkent

Old City: the domed Chorsu Bazaar, mud-brick lanes and the Hazrati Imam mosque complex.
Amir Timur Square: the leafy centre, close to the main museums, hotels and the Broadway walking street.
Mirabad: a quieter central district with good restaurants and an easy walk to the main railway station.

Getting around Tashkent

The metro is cheap, clean and covers most sights, and its Soviet-era stations are worth seeing in their own right. For everything else, ride-hailing apps such as Yandex Go are inexpensive and avoid haggling with street taxis.

Best time to visit Tashkent

April to May and September to October, when it is warm but not the 40°C heat of high summer.

Top things to do in Tashkent

Wander the domed hall and spice stalls of Chorsu Bazaar in the morning
See the early Quran manuscript kept in the library at the Hazrati Imam complex
Ride the metro and stop off at decorated stations such as Kosmonavtlar and Alisher Navoi
Visit the State Museum of Applied Arts, set in a house of carved wood and painted plaster
Look round the Kukeldash Madrasa, a 16th-century religious school beside the bazaar

What to eat in Tashkent

Plov: rice slow-cooked in a huge cauldron with carrots, lamb and spices
Somsa: a flaky pastry filled with meat and onion, baked against the wall of a clay oven
Lagman: hand-pulled noodles in a rich broth with meat and vegetables
Non: round, stamped bread from the tandoor, served at every meal

Day trips from Tashkent

Samarkand: the Registan and Timurid-era monuments, about two to two and a half hours by high-speed train
Chimgan and Charvak: mountain walks and a turquoise reservoir, about one and a half to two hours by car

Local etiquette

Dress modestly at mosques and madrasas, covering shoulders and knees, and take your shoes off when you enter a home. Bread is treated with respect, so never put it upside down or throw it away in front of your hosts.

Staying connected

Prepaid SIMs from operators such as Beeline and Ucell are sold on showing your passport, and Wi-Fi is common in hotels and cafés.

Staying safe

Street crime is low, but keep an eye on your phone and wallet in the crowds at Chorsu Bazaar. Use a ride-hailing app rather than unmarked cars to avoid overcharging, and take care at crossings, where drivers do not always stop.

A local tip

Plov is a lunchtime dish here, so head to one of the big plov centres before about 1pm, as the cauldrons are often empty by mid-afternoon.

Visas:rules depend on your nationality and change often – check your own government's official travel advice before you go.

Meet people in Tashkent on Waypacker

Waypacker is a free travel community: stay with ID-verified local hosts, join meetups and city groups, and ask people who live in Tashkent for advice. We are new here, so if you live in Tashkent, you could be one of the first hosts.

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Questions about Tashkent

What currency is used in Tashkent?: Tashkent uses the Uzbekistani som (UZS).
What is the emergency number in Tashkent?: In Tashkent, call 102 for police, 103 for ambulance, 101 for fire.
When is the best time to visit Tashkent?: April to May and September to October, when it is warm but not the 40°C heat of high summer.
How much does a day in Tashkent cost?: Roughly $25-40 a day in US dollars on a backpacker budget (a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport), and $60-110 mid-range (a private room and restaurants). These are broad estimates, last reviewed October 2026.
Is Waypacker free to use in Tashkent?: Yes. Joining is free and stays with hosts carry no nightly rate or booking fee.
Are Waypacker hosts ID-verified?: Every host's ID and selfie are checked by hand by a real person before they can host. Nothing is sent to an AI service.
Can I meet locals in Tashkent without staying with anyone?: Yes. You can join meetups and city groups, or ask locals for tips, without booking a stay.
Will anyone see my exact location?: No. Hosts and meetups appear as a neighbourhood-sized area about a kilometre wide, and exact addresses are never stored.

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