Things to Do in Tashkent in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
Low Season · Budget Friendly
December Weather in Tashkent
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
47°F (8°C)
High Temp
31°F (0°C)
Low Temp
2.3 inches (58 mm)
Rainfall
70%
Humidity
⚠ Near-freezing temperatures, pack warm layers
Is December Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + Hotel prices drop 30-40% from October peak. The same Soviet-era rooms facing Alisher Navoi Theatre cost half what they did two months ago. Grab the deal. You'll sleep in identical concrete, pay half.
- + Chorsu Bazaar's winter produce hits its stride. Persimmons the size of tennis balls. Pomegranates that stain your fingers crimson for days. Taste winter. Lick the juice.
- + Metro rides become atmospheric art tours when it's 31°F outside. Each station's mosaics and chandeliers glow against the winter light. Ride slow. Stay warm.
- + You'll have the Registan's sister complex, Tashkent's Khast Imam Square, almost to yourself. December crowds are maybe 15% of September's. Photograph alone. Hear echoes.
Considerations
- − The 70% humidity turns 31°F into bone-chilling cold. That Soviet concrete architecture wasn't designed for insulation. Your homestay might feel like a refrigerator. Pack wool.
- − Afternoon darkness hits by 4:30 PM. This compresses sightseeing into a narrow 6-hour window if you want natural light for photos. Plan early. Shoot fast.
- − Some mountain day trips to Chimgon or Beldersay shut down early. Cable cars stop running when temperatures drop below 28°F (-2°C). Check first. Don't trek for nothing.
Best Activities in December
Top things to do during your visit
Soviet Metro Architecture Tours
December's good for underground exploration when it's 31°F above ground. The marble palaces of Kosmonavtlar station, with its sky-blue mosaics of Uzbek cosmonauts, and Alisher Navoi's turquoise domes are heated to 68°F. You'll ride the red line end-to-end in 45 minutes, hopping off at each station for 5-minute photo stops while locals rush past in thick coats. Stay underground. Stay warm.
Booking Tip: Licensed guides typically run these 2-hour tours starting at 10 AM when rush hour clears. Book 2-3 days ahead through operators who meet at Amir Temur station's bronze statue. They carry official badges and speak English. Arrive early.
Chorsu Bazaar Winter Food Walks
The underground section transforms into a steam bath of boiling kazan pots and sizzling non bread in December. Vendors huddle around coal braziers selling horse meat sausage (kazy) that tastes like smoky prosciutto. The honey stalls crystallize in the cold into chewy, amber chunks. The pomegranate juice vendors add warming spices, cinnamon, cardamom, that you'll never find in summer. Eat hot.
Booking Tip: Food walks typically start at 9 AM when vendors are setting up and temperatures are still manageable. Look for guides who grew up in the nearby mahallas. They'll know which dairy stalls sell the fermented camel milk that locals swear cures winter colds. Drink it.
Tashkent Old Town Mahalla Walking Routes
The mud-brick walls of the 19th-century houses absorb December's weak sunlight and radiate it back as gentle heat during afternoon walks. The carved wooden doors photographed by every tourist in summer? In December, you can stop and study the geometric patterns without sweating through your shirt. Take your time.
Booking Tip: These walks work best 11 AM-3 PM when daylight peaks. Local guides who live in the mahallas typically limit groups to 6 people. Any larger and you can't fit through the narrow archways connecting courtyards. Book small.
Winter Hammam Experiences
The 16th-century hammams near Khast Imam complex become social centers in December when locals escape their cold apartments. You'll alternate between 104°F (40°C) steam rooms and 50°F (10°C) plunge pools while elderly men play chess and discuss politics. The black soap scrub uses local pistachio oil. Your skin will smell like Central Asia for three days after. Embrace it.
Booking Tip: Mixed-gender hours are typically 10 AM-2 PM, but check ahead as schedules change. Bring your own flip-flops. The marble floors are slippery and rental sandals are questionably clean. Pack light.
Uzbek Wine Tasting in Soviet-Era Cellars
December drives tastings underground into 1960s bomb shelters converted into wine bars. The constant 55°F (13°C) temperature is good for sampling kharcho (dry red) and gulyak (sweet dessert wine) made from local saperavi grapes. You'll sit on Soviet-era furniture while sommeliers explain how Uzbekistan was making wine 2,000 years before California existed. Drink history.
Booking Tip: These cellars typically require 24-hour advance booking. They're small, maybe 8 tables total, and fill up with local expats on weekends. English-speaking staff are hit-or-miss, but the wine speaks for itself. Reserve early.
Where to Stay in Tashkent in December
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for December travellers.
Public Holidays in December
Dates that affect opening hours, transport and crowds
Constitution Day
Observed nationwide as a public holiday. Date calculated from the national holiday calendar.
Day off
Observed nationwide as a public holiday. Date calculated from the national holiday calendar.
Constitution Day
Observed nationwide as a public holiday. Date calculated from the national holiday calendar.
Constitution Day
Observed nationwide as a public holiday. Date calculated from the national holiday calendar.
Packing Checklist
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Climate-specific gear, brand recommendations, and what to leave at home.
View Tashkent Packing List →Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
The heating in Soviet-era buildings is centrally controlled and often broken. Your homestay family will offer you their only space heater. Accept it graciously. Say thank you.
Bargaining works differently in December. Vendors are desperate for cash flow and will drop prices 40% from their first offer. But only if you speak some Russian or Uzbek. Learn a phrase. Save more.
The best non (bread) comes out of tandyr ovens at 4 PM when bakers fire them up for evening rush. The line at Minor bazaar forms 15 minutes before. Get in early. Eat hot.
Tashkent's tap water is technically safe but tastes metallic in winter when pipes contract - locals drink bottled water exclusively, follow their lead
Avoid These Mistakes
Assuming December means empty restaurants - wedding season peaks this month, so popular places book solid for 200-guest parties that monopolize kitchens
Wearing jeans in 70% humidity - they take 3 days to dry and feel like wet cardboard against your skin
Trying to photograph metro art during rush hour (7-9 AM, 5-7 PM) - guards will stop you when platforms are crowded
Booking mountain day trips based on Tashkent weather - Chimgon can be 15°F colder with blowing snow when the city is merely chilly
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Top-rated things to do in Tashkent this December
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