Things to Do in Tashkent in October
October weather, activities, events & insider tips
October Weather in Tashkent
Is October Right for You?
Advantages
- Perfect temperature window for exploring on foot - mornings start crisp at 8°C (46°F) then warm to comfortable 21°C (71°F) by afternoon, which means you can actually walk the 2-3 km (1.2-1.9 miles) between major sites without melting into the pavement like you would in summer
- Cotton harvest season brings Tashkent alive with agricultural festivals and bazaars overflowing with fresh produce - you'll see mountains of pomegranates, persimmons, and quinces at prices that drop 30-40% compared to summer tourist season
- Crystal clear skies after the September rains mean the Tian Shan mountains are spectacularly visible from the city - on clear days you can see peaks 80 km (50 miles) away, making this the best photography month of the year
- Shoulder season pricing kicks in after the September rush - hotel rates typically drop 25-35% compared to peak spring and early autumn, and you'll actually get tables at popular restaurants without booking days ahead
Considerations
- Temperature swings of 13°C (23°F) between morning and afternoon mean you're constantly layering and unlayering - that 8°C (46°F) morning requires a jacket, but by 2pm you'll be down to a t-shirt and wishing you hadn't carried the extra weight
- Those 10 rainy days tend to cluster unpredictably, and when it rains in Tashkent it actually rains - not the brief tropical showers you might expect, but steady downpours that can last 2-3 hours and turn the older mahallas into muddy obstacle courses
- Daylight shrinks noticeably through October - by month's end sunset hits around 6pm, which cuts into your sightseeing time and means evening activities start feeling colder than you'd expect from the daytime temperatures
Best Activities in October
Chorsu Bazaar Morning Market Tours
October is harvest season, which transforms Chorsu from a regular market into something genuinely special. The covered dome section overflows with just-picked pomegranates, quinces, and about fifteen varieties of grapes you've never heard of. The 70% humidity actually works in your favor here - it keeps the produce fresh and the dust down. Locals do their serious shopping between 7-9am when vendors are setting up and negotiating, so aim for an 8am start. The temperature at that hour, around 10°C (50°F), is perfect for wandering the outdoor sections without overheating. By late October you'll also catch the first batches of dried fruits being prepared for winter - watch the apricot and mulberry drying process on the upper levels.
Chimgan Mountains Day Hiking
The Chimgan range sits 80 km (50 miles) northeast of Tashkent, and October offers the sweet spot before snow closes the higher trails. At elevations between 1,600-2,200 m (5,250-7,220 ft), temperatures run 5-8°C (9-14°F) cooler than the city, which means crisp mountain air without the summer heat exhaustion. The post-rain clarity makes for ridiculous visibility - on good days you can see into Kazakhstan from the ridgelines. Trails are driest in the first two weeks of October before late-month storms arrive. The yellow-gold aspen groves peak around mid-October, creating that Central Asian autumn look you see in old Soviet mountaineering posters. Most trails require 4-6 hours round trip with moderate fitness levels.
Samarkand High-Speed Train Day Trips
The Afrosiyob train makes the run to Samarkand in 2 hours flat, and October weather is ideal for wandering Registan Square and the Bibi-Khanym complex without the crushing summer heat. You'll catch the morning train at 8am when temperatures are still cool, arrive by 10am, explore through the comfortable afternoon highs of 20-22°C (68-72°F), and return on the 5pm or 6:30pm service. The UV index of 8 is still serious at that altitude, but nothing like the summer's intensity. October also means fewer tour groups clogging Registan - you can actually photograph the madrasas without 50 people in every shot. The autumn light hits the blue tiles differently than summer's harsh glare, creating deeper colors for photography.
Tashkent Metro Architecture Tours
When those 10 rainy days hit, the metro becomes your best friend - and it's genuinely worth experiencing beyond just transportation. October's variable weather makes this the perfect month to dedicate 2-3 hours to the underground palace stations. Kosmonavtlar, Alisher Navoi, and Mustakillik Maydoni stations are essentially free museums with Soviet-era mosaics, chandeliers, and marble that most tourists rush past. The system opened in 1977 and each station tells a specific propaganda story through its design. Photography was illegal until 2018, so this is still relatively undocumented territory. The metro is also heated, which matters on those 8°C (46°F) mornings, and costs just 1,400 som (about 0.12 USD) per ride regardless of distance.
Fergana Valley Multi-Day Trips
October is arguably the best month for the Fergana Valley - the summer heat breaks, the cotton harvest is in full swing, and the mountain passes between Tashkent and the valley are still reliably open before November snow. The valley sits lower and warmer than Tashkent, so you're looking at daytime highs of 23-25°C (73-77°F) in Fergana, Kokand, and Margilan. The silk workshops in Margilan are particularly interesting in October as craftspeople prepare winter inventory. The 5-6 hour drive from Tashkent crosses the Kamchik Pass at 2,267 m (7,438 ft) with spectacular autumn colors. Most visitors do 2-3 day trips, staying overnight in Fergana or Kokand.
Traditional Hammam Experiences
After days of walking Tashkent's spread-out attractions - seriously, the city covers 335 sq km (129 sq miles) with sites scattered everywhere - a proper hammam session makes sense. October's variable weather and those chilly 8°C (46°F) mornings make the heated marble slabs particularly appealing. Traditional hammams in the old city maintain the Central Asian style, which differs from Turkish or Moroccan versions - expect a more vigorous scrubbing experience and less ambient music. Sessions typically last 90-120 minutes including the scrub, massage, and tea afterward. The humidity inside hammams runs near 100%, which might sound intense given the 70% outdoor humidity, but it's a different kind of damp heat that actually feels cleansing rather than oppressive.
October Events & Festivals
Cotton Harvest Festival
Not a single organized event but rather a season-long celebration across Uzbekistan as the cotton harvest reaches its peak. Throughout October you'll see festivals in smaller towns outside Tashkent, particularly in the Fergana Valley and Syrdarya region. These include traditional music performances, cotton-picking demonstrations, and local craft markets. The timing varies by region depending on when specific areas finish their harvest, but mid-October tends to see the most activity. Worth experiencing if you're doing day trips outside the capital.
Tashkent International Film Festival
Typically held in late October at various venues around Tashkent, this festival has been running since the 1960s and showcases Central Asian cinema alongside international entries. The 2026 edition should follow the pattern of late October scheduling, usually spanning 5-7 days. Films screen with English subtitles at major venues including the Ilkhom Theatre and several downtown cinemas. Worth checking if you're interested in Central Asian film culture - tickets are surprisingly affordable at 15,000-30,000 som (1.30-2.60 USD) per screening.