A spacious airport terminal with travellers waiting by the windows

Islam Karimov International Airport (TAS) · Uzbekistan

3-Hour Layover in Tashkent: What To Do

By AirConnect Editorial

Things to do in Tashkent

Tours, tickets & day trips

Photo: Atlantic Ambience on Pexels.

Quick answer

Can you leave the airport on a 3-hour layover in Tashkent?

Entry

Uzbekistan visa-free for most Western, EU, US, UK, Canada, Japan, Korea passports up to 30 days. ETA (e-visa) available for many other nationalities at evisa.mfa.uz.

Into town

Bus 67/77 (to centre): 40–60 min, UZS 1,400 (€0.10).

Time outside

Stay airside — 3h is too tight

Times from TAS arrivals. Check entry rules for your passport before you fly.

Top Tashkent: Where to Go

The sights in Tashkent worth leaving the airport for.

Chorsu Bazaar + Old City (Chorsu Bazaar)1

Chorsu Bazaar + Old City

Tashkent's iconic blue-domed Soviet market (1980) — every Central Asian spice, dried fruit, fresh bread, kebabs. Open until 17:00 daily.

Photo: Theklan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

landmark

Khast Imam Complex

Religious complex with the world's oldest Quran (7th century Othman Quran), free to view. Friday Khazrat-i-Imam Mosque + Barak-Khan Madrasah.

Tashkent Metro stations (Sovetskaya, Kosmonavtlar) (Tashkent Metro)3

Tashkent Metro stations (Sovetskaya, Kosmonavtlar)

Tashkent metro is famous for Soviet-era station decoration (now allowed to photograph since 2018). Sovetskaya + Kosmonavtlar stations are the most ornate. UZS 1,400 per ride.

Photo: Sunrise08_181, PDM-owner, via Wikimedia Commons.

food

Plov at Central Asian Plov Center

Visit the Central Asian Plov Center (Besh Qozon) where thousands of plates are cooked in giant qozon cauldrons daily. UZS 30,000-50,000 per plate. The plov experience.

Itinerary ideas for Tashkent

Pick the plan that fits the time between your flights.

Insider tip

TAS is 12km from centre — Yandex Go is the cheapest tourist option (UZS 35,000-60,000 / €2.50-4.50). Cash is preferred at smaller venues. ATMs at airport. The Soviet-era metro is fast, cheap (UZS 1,400 flat fare) and one of Central Asia's prettiest.

Into Tashkent

Getting to Tashkent City Centre

ModeCostTime
Bus 67/77 (to centre)UZS 1,400 (€0.10)40–60 min
Yandex Go ride-shareUZS 35,000–60,000 (€2.50–4.50)25–40 min
Taxi (official airport)UZS 80,000–150,000 (€6–11)25–40 min
Eat like a local

Eat Like a Local in Tashkent

Plov (Uzbek rice + lamb) at the Plov Center (Besh Qozon). Manti (steamed dumplings) at Caravan Restaurant. Samsa (baked meat pastry) at any street kiosk.

3 hours in Tashkent

3-Hour Itinerary

1230h1h2h3h
1. Stay airside and find your departure area2. Eat, rest or use a lounge airside3. Go to your gate
1

0–30 min

Stay airside and find your departure area

With 3 hours, leaving Islam Karimov International Airport is risky: passport control, the trip into Tashkent and security on the way back take most of the time.

2

30–120 min

Eat, rest or use a lounge airside

Check the departures board for your gate before you settle in.

3

120–180 min

Go to your gate

Allow at least 30 minutes for security checks and the walk to the gate.

Your questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a visa for a 3-hour layover in Tashkent?

Uzbekistan visa-free for most Western, EU, US, UK, Canada, Japan, Korea passports up to 30 days. ETA (e-visa) available for many other nationalities at evisa.mfa.uz. Check the rules for your own passport before you fly.

Is 3 hours enough to leave Islam Karimov International Airport?

Stay airside — 3h is too tight. Getting into Tashkent by Bus 67/77 (to centre) takes 40–60 min each way.

How do I get from Islam Karimov International Airport to Tashkent centre?

Bus 67/77 (to centre): 40–60 min, UZS 1,400 (€0.10). Yandex Go ride-share: 25–40 min, UZS 35,000–60,000 (€2.50–4.50). Taxi (official airport): 25–40 min, UZS 80,000–150,000 (€6–11).

Trains & buses from Tashkent

Compare overland routes — often cheaper, more scenic and skip the airport queue.

Also useful for your Tashkent trip

Stay connected abroad — no roaming bills

Buy a travel eSIM before you fly and install it by QR code.

Get eSIM

Airlines that fly to Tashkent

See each airline’s route map: where else it flies from TAS.

Flights to Tashkent from 70 cities: fares and airlines →

Airport lounges at Tashkent Airport

Wait for your flight in a lounge — one membership covers lounges at airports across the country and worldwide.

Tashkent travel deals

Weekly layover, flight + hotel deals. No spam.

How a layover in Tashkent works

Passport and a phone with a booking on a red suitcase

01

Check you can leave

Uzbekistan visa-free for most Western, EU, US, UK, Canada, Japan, Korea passports up to 30 days. ETA (e-visa) available for many other nationalities at evisa.mfa.uz.

Photo: Jacob on Pexels.

A car on a country road heading towards the mountains

02

Head into town

Bus 67/77 (to centre): 40–60 min, UZS 1,400 (€0.10).

Photo: Artem Yellow on Pexels.

03

Back in time for your flight

Allow at least 30 minutes for security checks and the walk to the gate.

Ready for Tashkent?

Tours, tickets and day trips that fit between your flights.

Daylight on the ground

Daylight in Tashkent runs from about 9 hours in Dec to 15 in Jun. Enough of a difference that a winter stopover gives you noticeably less usable time outside than a summer one.