Tashkent Metro

The Tashkent Metro is one of Central Asia's most remarkable underground networks. Inaugurated in 1977, it was the first metro in Soviet Central Asia. Its stations rival those of Moscow's metro: colorful marble, mosaics, crystal chandeliers, and bas-reliefs celebrate Uzbek history, local culture, and Soviet ideology. Using this metro is as much a journey through an underground art gallery as it is a means of daily transport.

Quick Facts at a Glance

• Access: network of 3 lines (Chilanzar, Uzbekistan, Yunusobod) covering Tashkent's main neighborhoods.
• Fares: inexpensive tickets payable with tokens or rechargeable cards — one of the city's cheapest forms of transport.
• Recommended Duration: allow 1.5 to 2 hours to visit the most decorated stations at a leisurely pace.
• Photography: photography was long prohibited; it has been permitted in virtually all stations since 2018.
• Accessibility: limited — most stations lack elevators for disabled access.

What You'll See

Each station has a distinct architectural theme. The vaults of Kosmonavtlar (Cosmonauts Station) are adorned with ceramics depicting Soviet space exploration. Alisher Navoiy honors the 15th-century Uzbek poet with carved wooden panels and floral motifs. Pakhtakor celebrates cotton, the cornerstone of the Soviet economy in Uzbekistan, through mosaics and gilded reliefs.

History and Context

Construction began following the devastating 1966 earthquake that destroyed much of Tashkent. The metro was designed as a showcase for the city's Soviet renewal. The first line opened in 1977; the network gradually expanded through the 2000s. For decades, photographing the stations was forbidden for national security reasons — a rule lifted in 2018, opening the network to curious travelers.

Highlights of Your Visit

Kosmonavtlar Station

Dedicated to the Space Age, its ceramic ceilings depict Soviet and American astronauts — a nod to the space cooperation of the 1970s. The atmosphere is both solemn and futuristic.

Alisher Navoiy Station

Considered the most elegant on the network, it blends Oriental architecture with Soviet aesthetics. The carved wooden panels illustrate scenes from classical Uzbek poetry.

Pakhtakor Station

Dedicated to cotton, its gilded mosaics and ornate columns reflect the economic importance of this crop during the Soviet era. The name is also that of Tashkent's iconic football club.

Mustaqillik Maydoni Station

Formerly "Lenin Square,