In Tashkent there's a sight almost everyone passes through without realising it's a museum. Here the metro isn't merely a way to get from A to B: it's one of the cheapest and most underrated tours in the city. Every station is decorated differently, and the halls themselves carry an almost detective-story history of secrecy. Let's unpack which stations to step out at and why it's worth heading underground.
Is the Tashkent metro really a sight?
It's part of the same story as all of Tashkent: a city rebuilt after the 1966 earthquake invested meaning and beauty not only in its surface architecture but underground too (more in our guide to Tashkent). Riding through a few stations is one of the best experiences in the capital, and it costs next to nothing: a single ride runs to about fifteen cents.
Why was the Tashkent metro forbidden to photograph?
It's this history of secrecy that makes the Tashkent metro such a compelling story. For decades it was a "declassified underground" — a beauty seen by millions of passengers but which almost no one could capture. After 1991 some stations were renamed and "decommunised": the present Amir Temur Square station, for instance, was formerly called "October Revolution Square," and Soviet symbols were removed from the bas-reliefs.
For half a century millions saw this beauty, but almost no one could photograph it. Some architecture is a secret — and Tashkent built it underground.
Which stations are worth seeing?
If you pick one station, make it Alisher Navoi: it's compared to the most beautiful stations of the former USSR outside Moscow, its vaults recalling the ceilings of ancient iwans. Kosmonavtlar is the most "photogenic" by theme: space and stars against the backdrop of an Eastern city look unexpected and striking. Both are among the stations recognised as cultural-heritage objects.
How to make a mini-tour of the metro?
- Route: link Alisher Navoi → Kosmonavtlar → Pakhtakor into one chain with a transfer.
- Photography: allowed since 2018, but without flash or tripod, and without obstructing passengers.
- Navigation: Pakhtakor and Alisher Navoi have updated wayfinding with numbered exits — easier to navigate.
The metro fits neatly into a day in the centre: you can also ride it to Amir Temur Square, Chorsu Bazaar (the Chorsu station) and other points from our guide to Tashkent.
Frequently asked questions about the Tashkent metro
When did the Tashkent metro open?
In 1977. It was the first metro in Central Asia. The network was expanded over time; some stations opened later — Kosmonavtlar and Alisher Navoi, for instance, entered service in 1984.
Can you photograph the metro now?
Yes, photography has been officially allowed since 1 June 2018. Before that it was banned from the opening in 1977, since the metro served as a bomb shelter and was treated as a military object. Shoot without flash or tripod and without obstructing passengers.
Which stations are the most beautiful?
The ones most often named are Alisher Navoi (majolica domes inspired by Navoi's poetry), Kosmonavtlar (space mosaics) and Buyuk Ipak Yuli (Great Silk Road). Pakhtakor and the deepest station, Yunus Rajabi, are also fine.
How much does a ride cost?
About 1,200 som — roughly US$0.15 for a single ride regardless of distance. It's one of the cheapest "tours" in the city.
Is it easy for a tourist to navigate?
Broadly, yes: the network is small and lightly branched. The catch is that since 1992 station names are announced only in Uzbek and not duplicated in Russian or English. Several stations have recently gained updated wayfinding with numbered exits.
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