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Amir Timur Square, Uzbekistan - Things to Do in Amir Timur Square

Things to Do in Amir Timur Square

Amir Timur Square, Uzbekistan - Complete Travel Guide

Amir Timur Square is Tashkent's outdoor lounge. A broad ellipse of fountains and flowerbeds circles the bronze conqueror on his rearing horse. Summer evenings carry grilled lamb and melon on warm drafts from nearby cafés.Kids chase bubbles that catch turquoise floodlights on surrounding façades. Russian and Uzbek mingle with water splash and the hiss of horse-drawn carriages. Winter strips the plane trees and chills the stone. Yet vendors still sell chestnuts whose smoke drifts across frosted grass. The square shows how Tashkent likes to look: orderly, sociable, Soviet boulevards softened by Central Asian welcome.

Top Things to Do in Amir Timur Square

Circle the statue at dusk

Sun drops behind the Uzbekistan Hotel. Timur's bronze cloak glows molten orange. Pigeons wheel overhead. Locals promenade counter-clockwise, an unspoken rule. Marble embankments release stored heat through your soles. Chrysanthemums and diesel mingle into odd comfort.

Booking Tip: No ticket needed. Arrive 30 min before sunset. Watch the flag-lowering squad march in perfect sync from the south side.

Ride the Soviet-era subway to Amir Timur station

Ride the 1970s escalators below the square. Surface inside a marble hall gilded with Timurid battle mosaics. Carriages rattle and wheeze. Ceramic stars on the ceiling glitter like Brezhnev's first day. Listen for the three-tone chime before doors close. It has sounded for forty years.

Booking Tip: Buy a blue token for less than a cappuccino. If the booth is closed, swipe contactless at the turnstile. Fare auto-deducts.

Watch the fountain light switch-on

At 21:00 the central jet switches from white to candy-stripe green and pink. Kids dart through the mist. Cool droplets land on forearms. Stone benches release daytime warmth through thin summer clothes. Musicians set up opposite the Kazakh embassy. Two-chord loops echo under plane trees.

Booking Tip: Take a bench on the eastern arc. Less crowded. Straight sightline for photos. No selfie-stick interference.

Browse the underground art gallery

A small exhibition hall hides beneath the southern traffic circle. Local painters hang moody Fergana landscapes and silk-dye abstracts. Air smells of tempera and old radiators. Footsteps clack on pre-independence parquet. Staff will flip on lights if you linger. Private viewing costs a polite smile.

Booking Tip: Closed Mondays. Other days free. Drop a small bill in the donation box near the coat rack. They appreciate it.

Join the outdoor chess players

Permanent stone tables attract retirees who slam wooden pieces with surprising force. Clack echoes off the Ministry of Agriculture façade. Lean in to watch and you'll hear whispered Russian commentary. Cheap tobacco drifts from nearby benches. On weekends students bring travel boards. Five-minute speed duels draw applause.

Booking Tip: Pack a magnetic set. Borrowers appear instantly. You might leave with new friends insisting on post-match plov.

Getting There

From the airport, board the sleek electric train to Tashkent station. Ride two stops south on the red line to Amir Timur Hiyoboni. From Chorsu, marshrutka 28 crawls along Navoi Street and drops you at the square's northern curb for the price of a European bus ticket. City-center taxis should cost less than a sandwich. Agree first. Yandex Go works with a local SIM.

Getting Around

Pick up a red Tashkent City transport card at any metro kiosk. Ride buses, trams, subway for under a dollar a day. The metro is the star. Stations double as art museums. Trains run every three minutes until midnight. Shared taxis wait by the square's eastern edge. Wave, shout your district, accept the flat fare. Lime-green scooters sit near the fountain. App unlocks for mid-range city pricing. Helmets are clipped under the seat. Few locals bother.

Where to Stay

Mirabad District: tree-lined streets south of the square where old embassies turned into boutique guesthouses.

Shayxontoxur: Soviet blocks converted into hostels behind the Hazrati Imam mosque.

Yunusabad - modern high-rises, cheaper than centre, 15 min by metro

Olmazor - near the old town bazaar, family homestays with rooftop breakfasts

Yakkasaray - quiet residential lanes dotted with courtyard cafés

Chilanzar: utilitarian but wallet-friendly, straight shot on red line to the square.

View Full Accommodation Guide →

Food & Dining

Café-centric Amir Timur Street peels west off the square and bans cars. Smoke from sizzling kazan-kebab drifts above wrought-iron tables. Mid-range Caravan dishes plov with horse-sausage fat that coats your lips in smoke. Budget kholeznyk canteens inside the old Soviet cinema sell pumpkin manti for the price of a metro ride. Splurge at City Grill's rooftop. The statue frames chicken-grill flames. Prices match steak back home. Worth it at dusk when the call to prayer rises from distant minarets.

Top-Rated Restaurants in Tashkent

Highly-rated dining options based on Google reviews (4.5+ stars, 100+ reviews)

Pro.Khinkali

4.8 /5
(1103 reviews)
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Syrovarnya

4.6 /5
(822 reviews)
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Roni Pizza Napoletana

4.8 /5
(703 reviews)
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RONI Pizza Napoletana

4.7 /5
(620 reviews)
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Yuzhanin

4.7 /5
(515 reviews)
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QUADRO

4.5 /5
(277 reviews)
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When to Visit

Late April and early October hit the sweet spot. Daytime temps sit in the low twenties Celsius. Fountains run full. Roses peak. July turns benches into frying pans by noon. Long daylight brings locals back after 19:00 with iced kvas carts. Winter is crisp and often empty. Great for moody photos of Timur in snow. Wind picks up, you sprint for the metro. Navruz on 21 March brings dancers and free plov. Crowds swallow every spare patch of granite.

Insider Tips

The bronze relief behind the statue lists Timurid conquests. Locals touch Samarkand's spot for luck. Join in. Remove gloves first. The metal warms under fingertips.
Public toilets hide under the northeast stairs. Bring 1000 som in exact change. The attendant won't budge otherwise. Knock twice if the door sticks.
Free Wi-Fi covers the whole ellipse. It logs you out every 30 min. Time your uploads between fountain resets. The splash masks the screen glare.

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Itineraries

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Getting Around

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Where to Stay

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Frequently Asked Questions

What Is Amir Timur Square?

Amir Timur Square is Tashkent's central public square, centered around an equestrian statue of the 14th-century conqueror Timur (Tamerlane). The square sits at the intersection of five major streets and is surrounded by landmark buildings including the Hotel Uzbekistan, the Forum Palace, and the State Museum of Timurid History. It's both a popular meeting point for locals and a starting point for exploring downtown Tashkent.

What Can You See at Amir Timur Square in Tashkent?

The centerpiece is a bronze statue of Amir Timur on horseback, set among landscaped gardens with fountains and benches. The square itself is beautifully lit at night, making evening visits pleasant. Surrounding the square you'll find notable architecture including Soviet-era administrative buildings and the blue-domed State Museum of Timurid History, which houses artifacts from the Timurid dynasty.

How Do You Get to Amir Timur Square?

The square is easily accessible via Amir Timur Hiyoboni metro station on the Uzbekistan Line, which exits directly onto the square. It's also within walking distance of several other central attractions, about 10 minutes from Broadway Street and 15 minutes from Independence Square. Taxis and ride-hailing apps readily serve the area since it's one of the city's most recognizable landmarks.

Is Amir Timur Square Worth Visiting?

It's worth a brief stop if you're exploring central Tashkent, as an orientation point or meeting spot. The square is pleasant for a 15-minute stroll through the gardens and to see the statue, but it's not a destination that requires significant time on its own. Combine it with nearby attractions like the Museum of Timurid History or the Sayilgoh Street shopping area to make the most of your visit.

What Is the Official Tourism Information for Amir Temur Square?

The square is managed as public space by the Tashkent city administration and is free to visit at all times. For historical context, the adjacent State Museum of Timurid History (open Tuesday-Sunday 10am-5pm, entry around 20,000 UZS) provides official exhibits about Timur's legacy. The Uzbekistan Tourism Committee's website and local tourism offices near the square can provide maps and walking tour suggestions for the surrounding area.

When Is the Best Time to Visit Amir Timur Square?

Early evening between 6-8pm is ideal, April through October, when the square's lighting is on and temperatures are comfortable for walking. Late morning (9-11am) also works well for photography with good natural light. Avoid midday in summer (June-August) when temperatures regularly exceed 35°C (95°F) and there's limited shade in the open square.

Who Was Amir Timur and Why Does He Have a Square in Tashkent?

Amir Timur (1336-1405), also known as Tamerlane, was a Turco-Mongol conqueror who founded the Timurid Empire and made Samarkand his capital. Though he never ruled from Tashkent, he's celebrated in modern Uzbekistan as a symbol of national heritage and military prowess. The square was redesigned and the statue erected in 1993 after independence, replacing a Soviet-era statue of Karl Marx that previously occupied the site.

What Else Is Near Amir Timur Square?

Broadway (Sayilgoh Street), a pedestrian avenue with street artists and cafes, is a 5-minute walk north. Independence Square, the country's main ceremonial plaza, is 10 minutes west on foot. The Chorsu Bazaar, Tashkent's largest market, is two metro stops away. Several hotels, international restaurants, and the upscale Samarkand Darvoza shopping center are within a few blocks of the square.

Can You Take Photos at Amir Timur Square?

Yes, photography is freely allowed in the square and around the statue, it's one of Tashkent's most photographed landmarks. The best angles are from the western side looking east toward the Hotel Uzbekistan, or from the gardens framing the statue with fountains. Just avoid photographing government buildings directly adjacent to the square, as this can occasionally draw unwanted attention from security.