Uzbekistan is already a destination that is easy on the budget, and some of the best things to do in Tashkent also happen to be inexpensive. Here are a few easy things to check out during your visit.
Tashkent Metro
The oldest metro system in Central Asia is known worldwide for its beautifully decorated stations. The system has 3 lines and connects most of the city, and photography was permitted in 2018, allowing you to take plenty of photos of the murals and designs unique to each station. Tokens are 1200 Uzbek Som each, and can be purchased from the window labeled “Kassa”. It is possible to buy multiple tokens if you do not want to always stop by the Kassa. Drop the token in one of the turnstiles to enter. Once inside you can stop off at as many stations as you like on one token, provided you do not exit the station. Some of the more notable stations include; Paxtakor for the colorful cotton-themed murals; Mustakillik Maydoni, Alisher Navoi, and Bodomzor for the ceilings and columns; and Kosmonavtlar for the futuristic walls and portraits of famous Kosmonauts.
In addition to being a work of art, the Tashkent metro is super convenient. Trains come about every 5 minutes. Unlike most Soviet-style metro systems, the stations are also shallow, so they can be reached quickly without a long wait on an escalator. So it is quite likely that this attraction will also be your main mode of transportation for getting around Tashkent.
State History Museum of Uzbekistan
16,000 Uzbek Som entry fee, 10:00-17:00, closed on Monday. Located a short walk from Mustakillik Maydoni Metro station, this museum outlines a chronological history of Uzbekistan on four floors. Explanatory panels are in Russian and Uzbek with some in English. The highlight of the museum is the section on the golden age of Central Asia from 1200 to 1600 AD. It then moves on to extensive coverage of the period of Russian rule. For those who might not know much about Uzbekistan, the museum provides an extensive introduction.
The fourth floor is quite unusual, covering the various departments of the Uzbek government, with a focus on the contributions of Islam Karimov, the President of Uzbekistan from independence until his death in 2016. Fans of propaganda might enjoy this part of the museum best.
Central Park Named for Mirzo Ulugbek
Mirzo Ulugbek is a 15th Century Uzbek astronomer known for his observatory in Samarkand. This park named after him features the much less complicated pleasures of outdoor dining and amusement rides. Several food stalls of varying levels of cost feature the classics of plov and shashlik at reasonable prices. This is a great place to spend an hour or two in the evening, watching locals have a good time. There are carnival rides, making up for what they are lacking in safety with a very low cost. The park is a short walk from the Khamid Almidijan Metro station.
