Backpacking in Uzbekistan: Staying at Gulnara Guesthouse in Tashkent (the Capital)

My final stop on my Uzbekistan overland trip was in the capital city. It was here that I finally felt at ease with the Uzbeks when I arrived in their glamorous, northern swanky hub of Tashkent. The capital seemed to like me and I liked it too. It was nice to finally find a really cool city to tour without endless police and border checks. And with no lazy, time wasters. Well, not as many as the overbearing lunatics in Urgench, Termiz, Karshi, Denau, Samarkand and Bukhara…

I did the famous old Tashkent to Shymkent overland route but first I had a great day and night exploring Tashkent. I found out about the Gulnara Guesthouse and I checked in here. Hospitality was superb. My room was cosy and warm and I was within walking distance of the Chorsu Bazaar, Chorsu Metro and the famous Qoran of Caliph Uthman. Here are the best five personal reasons to stay here at Gulnara Guesthouse.

1.Huge Breakfast
At breakfast time, I was treated to a full omelete here, home cooked to perfection as well as good cheese, tea and yoghurt and bread. Feast for a backpacker before exploring the city.

2.Gulnara’s Welcome
It was only when I was checking out that I realised who Gulnara was! She was the lady that welcomed me on arrival, showed me to my room and even sorted my taxi out on my departure. I was heading north to the Chernayevka border crossing into Zhibek-Joly in Kazakhstan. Gulnara’s hospitality is second to none. Gulnara is an endearing lady, hard working and with a great smile and welcome.

3.Warm Winter Room
Tashkent was colder than most of the other Uzbekistan stops I made but here my room had a radiator, it was warm and cosy and I even had warm water (not hot, but warm! – standard in Uzbekistan).

4.WiFi
I’m not going to keep promoting WiFi in Uzbekistan as it is excruciatingly slow, it’s just the way it is in this country but at least Gulnara’s was a place I could get online.

5.Quiet Courtyard
If you think Tashkent is just a big busy city, then you could be right. But Gulnara Guesthouse is away from the business scent. Located near the Chorsu Bazaar on a quiet Street, Gulnara gives you relaxation.

A special thanks to Ravshan and Gulnara for helping me enjoy my short stay here in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Here are the details for booking Gulnara Guesthouse in Tashkent, Uzbekistan:

GULNARA GUESTHOUSE , 40, Ozod str. , Olmazor district, Tashkent, 100002, Uzbekistan
Telephone: +998 98 3600774, +998 71 2402816
E-mail: [email protected]

Here are my videos from my stay at Gulnara Guesthouse in Tashkent, Uzbekistan: