Visiting Tashkent — the Nitty Gritty
The truth of the matter is that not a lot of tourists come to Tashkent on their own; it’s just not a big destination these days. But what it lacks in major tourist attractions, it makes up for in low cost of living, delicious and varied cuisine, and walkable green parks and broad friendly boulevards. If you are about to arrive there, here are some tips.
When to come?
The best time to visit is indisputably late spring. The city bursts with green and fountains are going full blast. The summer is the best season for spectacular fresh fruit but the temperatures regularly reach about 100F and can go significantly higher, so will not be tolerable for many. Late October to November sees most trees lose its foliage and the weather begins to turn gray, so September to October is another good time to visit when the heat of the summer recedes but winter is not yet on the horizon
Where to stay?
Mirabad street and Taras Shevchenko street are the more fashionable areas, with hip restaurants, cafes, shops and bars. If you are staying at a private residence, though, the vast majority in this area is still old Soviet construction, except the new buildings on Mirabad between Rustaveli and Nukuz.
Getting around
Kosmonavtov metro station
Metro is about $.25, has decent coverage, and is an aesthetic experience all its own. For cabs — the Yandex app rules supreme and is very effective, safe, and cheap (rides from center to airport or outskirts are about $5, most rides around the center will be under a $1). But if you want luxuries, like seatbelts and working AC, make sure to order the Yandex ‘business’ class (about a 20% premium).
Internet
Uzbekistan seems to be one of the harder markets for e-sim companies to penetrate. Both Airalo and Holafly had terrible reception there, so you would do well to get a physical sim as soon as possible. On the other hand, Uzbekistan had the cheapest sim cards we encountered in our travels: about $7 for 100G of fast data. As in many countries, you’ll need a passport to buy a sim card, usually the original and not just a picture thereof.
On the other hand, Uzbekistan is also the only country we encountered where our NordVPN was blocked a lot of the time. One day it was working, the next day it would not connect at all. So don’t expect to be able to watch your shows the minute they drop…
Medical system
According to our friend, who is a tour guide, it is still common for visitors to have stomach troubles: “it used to be, tourists would get sick en masse, it is much better now, but still common.” Large hotels regularly call doctors for guests. On the plus side, however, an injection of antibiotics usually clears things up in no time.
Regrettably, I now have more knowledge of the Tashkent medical system than I would like. A week into our stay I managed to get nasty bacterial gastritis. It’s important to time your ailment well because specialty doctors will leave work at arbitrary hours — 4,3, or even 2pm, at which point you have to rely on urgent care.
This can appear challenging, as urgent care facilities are few. Instead, one obtains medical services through a system of private ambulances. Unlike the ambulance in the US, which is generally reserved for trauma and severe cases, here they function as a sort of hybrid of doctor’s house visit and medical taxi and are not very expensive (~$30 for the visit/ride). They may be able to help you on-site, or, if not, take you to a hospital. So, if you need medical assistance that can’t wait, you will need to call these companies until you find one with an available car — and confirm that the car comes with a doctor. Of course, you can call a public ambulance for free, but it will take you to a government clinic which… is better avoided.
Hazrati Imam complex
Tashkent is a growing and rapidly transforming place, with construction seemingly on every block. In many ways, it is becoming more Western, with top notch coffee, escape rooms, karaoke rooms, movie theaters and bustling bowling halls. At the same time, it is also embracing its deep and rich historical identity . Visit and see for yourself!
