They say Tashkent has a beautiful old city – how do I find it? We just arrived yesterday, and it's hard to get oriented. Can you please advise on the city center and the old city – are they in different places? I'm confused about where to stay as a tourist?
"Old city" is kinda a Tashkent-specific term)) The areas around Chorsu bazaar used to be called that. And historically, old Tashkent was the whole perimeter of the city with thirteen gates.
In reality, the city and old city kinda blend together now. You can easily get to the old city by metro ('Chorsu' station). It's better for you to stay in the center. From there, you can walk and check out: Chorsu market, the neighborhoods around it, and so on.
In the old city, right on the market, there are these "eating rows" (obzhorniye ryady), just ask the sellers on the market where they are – anyone will point you there. Basically, it's all the national cuisine with that Uzbek vibe)). It's like a food court but Uzbek-style. BTW, food courts were probably invented by Uzbeks, since this spot's been around since Soviet times and hasn't changed a bit.
After checking out the market, don't forget to visit the Hazrat Imam complex in the old city (Zarkaynar st 107).
Overall, if you wanna see the real old Tashkent, keep in mind it's mostly the private sector in the Chorsu area. You can stroll through the mahallas there. As for buildings – Kukeldash madrasah (Chorsu, up to the 16th century), Kaffal Shashi mausoleum (also near Chorsu), Kamalanskaya chapel (pre-revolutionary, 41.305416, 69.231934, metro Milly Bog, near Kamolon mosque). Plus, Prince Nikolai Romanov's palace, right opposite Mustakillik square.