Things to Do in Tashkent in January
January weather, activities, events & insider tips
January Weather in Tashkent
Is January Right for You?
Advantages
- Dramatically fewer tourists than spring or fall - you'll have the Registan and major madrasas nearly to yourself on weekday mornings, making for incredible photos without crowds and a more contemplative experience of these UNESCO sites
- Crystal-clear winter air means exceptional visibility for photography and mountain views - the Tian Shan range to the east looks stunning against blue skies, and the pollution that can hang over the city in warmer months is largely absent
- Authentic local experience during the quietest season - markets, teahouses, and restaurants cater primarily to Tashkent residents in January, so you'll see the city as locals actually live it, not the tourist-facing version
- Significant accommodation savings of 30-50% compared to peak season (April-May and September-October) - mid-range hotels that run 80-100 USD in spring drop to 45-65 USD, and you'll have more negotiating power for longer stays
Considerations
- Genuinely cold temperatures that hover around freezing, with occasional drops to -10°C (14°F) on the coldest nights - this isn't the picturesque snow-globe winter many imagine, but rather a damp, gray cold that seeps through layers if you're not prepared
- Shorter daylight hours mean you're working with roughly 9.5 hours of usable light (sunrise around 7:45am, sunset by 5:15pm), which limits how much you can pack into each day, especially for outdoor sightseeing and photography
- Some outdoor attractions and mountain excursions are either closed or significantly less appealing - the Chimgan Mountains ski area operates but conditions are inconsistent, and day trips to places like Charvak Reservoir lack the visual appeal they have in warmer months
Best Activities in January
Tashkent Old City Walking Tours
January is actually ideal for exploring the historic Chorsu Bazaar area, Khast Imam Complex, and the maze of streets around the old city on foot. The cold keeps crowds minimal, and the winter light between 11am-3pm creates beautiful contrast against the blue-tiled domes and honey-colored bricks. The bazaar remains fully operational year-round - locals still need to buy produce and bread regardless of weather - so you'll see authentic daily commerce without tour groups clogging the aisles. The covered sections provide natural breaks from the cold.
Uzbek Cooking Classes
Indoor cultural activities are perfect for January's unpredictable weather, and learning to make plov, samsa, or hand-pulled lagman noodles gives you a genuine connection to Uzbek culture that goes beyond sightseeing. Classes typically happen in residential homes or small culinary studios with excellent heating, and you'll spend 3-4 hours cooking and eating - a welcome respite from the cold. January is actually when many traditional winter dishes are featured, including shurva (lamb soup) and various dumpling preparations that locals favor in cold weather.
Metro Architecture Tours
Tashkent's Soviet-era metro stations are genuinely spectacular - think chandeliers, marble columns, intricate mosaics, and ceramic murals - and January is the perfect time to explore this underground museum since you're escaping the cold anyway. The metro is heated, well-lit, and costs just 1,400 som (about 0.12 USD) per ride regardless of distance. Stations like Kosmonavtlar, Alisher Navoi, and Mustakillik Maydoni are architectural masterpieces. Photography was restricted until recently, so this is still a relatively fresh tourist activity, and you'll mostly encounter commuters, not tour groups.
Traditional Hammam Experiences
Authentic Uzbek bathhouses are a legitimate cultural institution, not tourist attractions, and January is when locals use them most frequently to escape the cold and damp. The experience involves steam rooms, exfoliating scrubs with rough mitts, and relaxation areas where you'll drink tea and warm up thoroughly. This is particularly valuable in January because many budget and mid-range hotels have inconsistent heating, so a 2-3 hour hammam session becomes both cultural immersion and practical comfort.
Samarkand Day Trips
The high-speed Afrosiyob train makes Samarkand accessible as a long day trip (2 hours 10 minutes each way), and January offers the rare advantage of experiencing the Registan, Shah-i-Zinda necropolis, and Gur-e-Amir mausoleum without the crowds that overwhelm these sites in spring and fall. The cold is actually less noticeable in Samarkand than Tashkent due to lower humidity, and the winter light on the blue tilework is genuinely extraordinary between 11am-2pm. You'll need to bundle up, but you'll have these world-class monuments largely to yourself.
State Museum and Indoor Cultural Sites
January is ideal for deep dives into Tashkent's excellent museums, which are well-heated, rarely crowded, and offer genuine insight into Uzbek history and culture. The State Museum of History of Uzbekistan houses extraordinary artifacts from the Silk Road era, while the Museum of Applied Arts (in a beautiful 19th-century house) showcases traditional crafts. These aren't just rainy-day backups - they're legitimately world-class collections that deserve 2-3 hours each. The lack of tour groups in January means you can actually read displays and examine artifacts without being rushed.
January Events & Festivals
New Year Celebrations (Russian Orthodox Calendar)
January 1st remains the biggest holiday in Uzbekistan due to Soviet legacy, with far more public enthusiasm than Navruz (spring equinox). Expect decorated streets in the city center, ice sculptures near Amir Timur Square, and festive markets. While not a tourist event per se, it's a genuine window into local culture. Hotels and restaurants often host special dinners on December 31st-January 1st.
Russian Orthodox Christmas
The Russian Orthodox community in Tashkent celebrates Christmas on January 7th following the Julian calendar. The Assumption Cathedral (Uspenskiy Sobor) holds special services that are open to respectful visitors. This isn't a city-wide event, but it's a meaningful cultural observation for those interested in Tashkent's religious diversity and Russian heritage.