6 Tourist Scams in Tashkent

You exit Tashkent Airport's arrivals hall and are immediately swarmed by unofficial taxi drivers ...

You exit Tashkent Airport's arrivals hall and are immediately swarmed by unofficial taxi drivers quoting $10-15 for the 5km ride to the city center -- a trip that should cost $3 or roughly 40,000 UZS. They're persistent, following you across the parking lot, grabbing at your luggage, and insisting the 'official rate' is what they're quoting. A 2024 blog post from The Foodie Nomad documents being followed relentlessly until pre-booked transport arrived. Tripadvisor threads confirm drivers start high and drop to $5, but the real price through Yandex Taxi is under 30,000 UZS.

You sit down at a restaurant near Amir Timur Square and order from a menu with clearly marked prices.

When the bill arrives, it's 50% higher than expected. The waiter explains that a 'service charge' was added, or that today's prices are different from the menu, or that your dish was the 'large portion.' If you ordered something priced per 100 grams, you now owe for the full 400-gram serving you were brought. Redditors report restaurants near tourist sites adding phantom charges and giving incorrect change, knowing most visitors won't argue.

You buy a local SIM card from a small kiosk near the airport or Chorsu Bazaar.

The vendor sells you a 'monthly unlimited' plan for 50,000 UZS. A week later, the SIM stops working entirely. It turns out the vendor didn't properly register your passport with the network, so the carrier deactivated the line. Or worse, they sold you a recycled SIM with only a few days left on a prepaid plan. Backpackers on r/travel report losing connectivity mid-trip with no recourse since the kiosk vendor has no accountability.

You're exploring the magnificent domed Chorsu Bazaar, distracted by the mountains of spices and dried fruits.

In the crowded covered sections, someone bumps into you or a vendor creates a diversion by aggressively offering samples. Meanwhile, an accomplice lifts your phone or wallet from your pocket or open bag. Travel guides note that while the bazaar is perfectly safe to visit, pickpocketing cases have been reported in the tightest, most crowded sections where tourists are most absorbed in the sensory experience.

You're walking near a metro station when someone ahead of you 'finds' a wad of cash on the ground ...

You're walking near a metro station when someone ahead of you 'finds' a wad of cash on the ground and excitedly shows you. They suggest splitting it -- but first you need to put up some of your own money as a 'good faith deposit.' Once you hand over your cash, a third person appears claiming the money is theirs. In the ensuing confusion, both your money and the 'found' cash disappear with the scammers. This confidence trick surfaces near Tashkent's metro stations where foot traffic is heaviest.

You sit down at a mid-range restaurant near Amir Timur Square and order plov and tea.

The bill arrives at 150,000 som when the items on the menu should total 50,000 som. When you question it, the waiter points to a 'service charge' and 'tourist menu' that was not the one you saw. Reddit users on r/Uzbekistan confirmed this practice: 'Some shopkeepers tend to overcharge me — even in a mid-range restaurant the bill was supposed to be 50,000 but came to much more.' The markup targets visible foreigners, especially those who do not speak Russian or Uzbek.