Overview
The Tashkent Metro is a rapid transit system serving Uzbekistan's capital. It is the first and oldest metro in Central Asia, having opened in 1977. The network consists of four lines operating across approximately 70 kilometres of route with 50 stations. It is fast, safe, and inexpensive—the obvious choice for getting around the city. Trains run every 3–10 minutes until 23:30. To ride, you buy a ticket at station kiosks (KASSA), pass through fare gates, and travel to your destination; once you enter the system, you can transfer freely between lines with no additional charge (except for one special transfer between the Sergeli extension and another line). Photography is permitted, having been allowed since 2018.
The network
The Tashkent Metro operates four lines, identified by colour and name:
- Chilonzor Line (red): Runs from Buyuk Ipak Yoli (north) through downtown to Quipchoq in the south. It is 23.7 kilometres long with 17 stations. A 7-kilometre extension south to Quipchoq station in the Sergeli district opened in December 2020.
- Oʻzbekiston Line (blue): Crosses the city diagonally from northwest to southeast, passing through Toshkent Railway Station. It is 14.3 kilometres long with 11 stations and opened in 1984.
- Yunusobod Line (green): Runs from Turkiston in the north to Ming O'rik in the south, with 8 underground stations over 10.5 kilometres. The first section opened in October 2001. Extensions were completed in August 2020.
- Circle Line (gold; Halqa Line): An elevated line partly under construction, with the first section of 11 kilometres and seven stations opening in August 2020. Further extensions opened in April 2023 and March 2025. When completed, it will be 52.1 kilometres long with 35 stations.
There are three downtown interchanges involving walks through connecting subways: Amir Temur Hiyoboni (red) with Yunus Rajabiy (green), Alisher Navoiy (green) with Paxtakor (red), and Oybek (blue) with Ming Oʻrik (green). The Circle Line also intersects the red and blue lines at its terminals.
Beyond the metro, the city is served by lime-green buses, which are the main downtown public transport; the tram system was scrapped in 2016. Taxis and shared taxis also operate throughout the city.
Tickets & fares
A single metro fare is 3,000 soums when paid in cash (approximately US$0.25), regardless of distance travelled or number of transfers within the system. This single ticket grants you unlimited travel and free transfers across all four lines. One special transfer point between the Sergeli line's end station (Quipchoq) and another line costs an additional 2,000 soums by cash, or 1,700 soums or less depending on electronic payment type.
Tickets are purchased at station kiosks (KASSA) staffed by cashiers, and fare enforcement takes place only at entry points; once inside the metro, no further checks occur. You may pay by cash or card at the gates.
The ATTO card is a rechargeable smartcard system using NFC technology, fully introduced in November 2020. It replaced tokens and can be recharged at metro ticketing offices, UZPost offices, or opened as a virtual card in a mobile application. The BLUE ATTO card is for general passengers. Discounted cards are available: the GREEN ATTO for school pupils, YELLOW ATTO for university students, and RED ATTO for elderly people—all offering 50% discount on fares when purchased from public services offices. Monthly, daily, and other period tariffs (5-day, 7-day, 3-month, 6-month, and annual) are available only with an ATTO card. For current tariff information and details, see atto.uz. Major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard) and some electronic payment systems also work at the gates.
From the airport
Tashkent International Airport is located 8 kilometres south of the city centre. The metro does not reach the airport directly, but you have several public-transport options:
- Bus: Buses 47, 11 (northbound), and 9 take approximately 40 minutes to reach the city centre. Bus 40 runs to the main railway station, and Bus 67 goes to Oybek metro station and then to the central square. Bus 11 southbound serves the domestic terminal. Buses run from 06:00 to 22:00. Fares are inexpensive, though you will need small change in Uzbek soums.
- Official taxi: The official taxi rank is just outside Terminal 2 (T2). A ride to the city centre takes approximately 15 minutes and costs around 25,000 soums (roughly US$2 in 2025). Use the Yandex Go app if you have a local SIM card or arrange a ride in advance through your accommodation to avoid overcharging by informal touts.
- Airport transfer bus: An "Uzport" transfer bus operates hourly.
Etiquette & customs
The Tashkent Metro is generally safe and orderly. While no explicit local customs are documented in the source material, standard courtesies apply: respect queue order at ticket windows and gates, observe any posted restrictions, and maintain awareness of your surroundings during peak hours. Bag checks by police may occur at entry points, and you may be asked to open your bag for inspection. Eating and drinking rules are not explicitly specified; exercise discretion and follow any posted notices at stations.
Official links
Survival terms
- Metro (Uzbek: metropoliteni, метрополитени): Subway
- Chipta (Uzbek: чиптa): Ticket
- Liniya (Uzbek: линия): Line
- Kirish (Uzbek: кириш): Entrance
- Chiqish (Uzbek: чиқиш): Exit
- O'tish (Uzbek: ўтиш): Transfer
- Bir yo'nalish (Uzbek: бир йўналиш): Single fare
- Kunlik kartachka (Uzbek: кунлик картачка): Day pass
Always keep small change or a payment card with you, as the metro is cashless at many access points and ticket offices may have queues during rush hours.