The Tashkent metro is one of the most ornate in the world (like of those of Saint Petersburg, Moscow or Kiev) Its stations, built in the 70s and 80s are a real journey back in time! After the earthquake of 1966, architects, workers and craftsmen from all over the Soviet Union rebuilt Tashkent with large boulevards, parks and squares that could accommodate large military parades. It was built to be able to resist an earthquake with a magnitude of 9 on the Richter scale. Since June 2018, it is possible to take photos of the stations. It used to be illegal because the statuions were considered military installations due to their secondary role as bomb shelters.
The blue and red lines, built in the 70s and 80s are the most interesting. Many stations, whose names had a Communist reference, were renamed after independence in 1991 and the decorations evoking the Soviet past were replaced.
Price
As of January 1, 2025, the Tashkent Metro no longer uses on the traditional “zheton” token system. The fare for a single journey has been officially set at 3,000 Uzbekistani soms. However, passengers using electronic payment methods (transport or bank cards), benefit from a reduced fare of 1,700 soms per ride.
Architectural highlights and iconic stations
Don’t hesitate to embark on a journey through the metro, getting on and off to explore the most fascinating stations listed below:
Kosmonavtlar
The station is famous for its portraits of cosmonauts. The ceramic wall panels mimic the atmosphere of Earth. Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman in space.
Alisher Navoi
The philosopher and poet gave his name to this magnificent station. The station is adorned with panels representing scenes from his collection of poems “Khamsa”.
Paxtakor
The word “Paxtakor” means “cotton grower” in Uzbek. This is why the station design incorporates cotton-themed motifs.
Tashkent station
Here again, the large emblem at the entrance (see photo below) features sun rays, cotton, and industrial elements. It combines elements central to Soviet-era identity. It isn’t the most ornate station but is interesting because you can see both the soviet design legacy and hints of Uzbekistan’s national identity.
Other stations
- Mustaqilliq Maidoni
- Gafur Qulom
