Tashkent Metro

The first line opened in November 1977, and the system was built to withstand earthquakes after the disaster of 1966. Each of the older stations was designed around its own theme, from space flight and cotton to poetry and the history of the city.

Good stations to look at include Kosmonavtlar, with blue tones and portraits of cosmonauts; Alisher Navoiy, with domes and panels on the poet's works; and Toshkent, Paxtakor and Mustaqillik Maydoni, each with its own lighting and stone. The newer overground ring line is plainer but useful for reaching the outer districts.

Photography in the metro was banned for many years; the ban was lifted in June 2018, so you can take pictures of the stations today. Trains run often and a single trip is cheap.