Address: 174 Babur Street, Tashkent
Telephone: (+998 71) 205-20-50
Opening hours: daily, 10:00–23:00
Admission: free
Location: Google Maps
Magic City in Tashkent is one of the largest theme parks in Central Asia. Opened in 2021, the complex covers 21 hectares (52 acres) and includes an aquarium, amusement rides, interactive museums and colourful streets designed for leisurely walks.
The park’s architecture draws inspiration from famous cities around the world, while a fairy-tale castle at its centre adds a touch of magic. Its resemblance to Disney’s famous castles has earned Magic City the informal nickname “Tashkent Disneyland”.
Practical Information
Prices
Admission to Magic Aquarium costs around 100,000–120,000 UZS (approximately $8.50–10) per person, while a visit to the AYA Project multimedia space costs about 100,000 UZS ($8.50).
For a two- to three-hour visit with one or two paid attractions, allow at least 240,000 UZS ($20) per person, including a snack but not shopping. A visit to Magic City is also included in Advantour’s Uzbekistan Family Tour.
Location and How to Get There
The main entrance is about 900 metres (0.6 miles) from Xalqlar Do‘stligi (Friendship of Peoples) metro station. Another entrance can be reached through Alisher Navoi National Park, around 1 km from Milliy Bog‘ station. The walk takes about 15 minutes from either station.
When to Go and How Much Time to Allow
Magic City is open throughout the year. Many of its walking areas and some attractions are outdoors, so in summer it is more comfortable to arrive towards sunset. Evening is also popular for the musical fountain shows, which run from spring to autumn. The shows take place every day except Monday, although the schedule may vary depending on the season. It is worth checking the latest schedule before your visit.
Allow one to two hours to walk around the park’s streets and neighbouring Alisher Navoi National Park. If you plan to visit several attractions, you can easily spend most of the day here. Note that weekends and public holidays are generally busier than weekdays.
What to See at Magic City
The park’s themed streets feature buildings inspired by London, Barcelona, Moscow and other cities. One particularly interesting section is dedicated to Samarkand, where all three madrasahs of Registan Square – Ulugbek, Sherdor and Tilla-Kari – have been recreated on a smaller scale.
At the centre of the park, next to a large musical fountain covering 8,500 m², stands a fairy-tale castle with towers reaching up to 60 metres. Its design draws on Germany’s Neuschwanstein Castle, which also served as one of the architectural models for Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle in California. Despite the resemblance, Magic City has no connection with Disney.
The park’s buildings house a variety of attractions, including Magic Aquarium, Magic Cinema, the AYA Project multimedia space, the interactive Magic Museum and the Magic Park entertainment centre, along with other play areas.
Cafés and restaurants serve Uzbek and international food, while clothing shops include brands such as Li-Ning and LC Waikiki. You can also find craft shops selling clothing, bags and accessories decorated with traditional Uzbek patterns, as well as other souvenirs.
Things to Do at Magic City
Visit Magic Aquarium. Magic Aquarium opened in 2022 and was the first large aquarium of its kind in Uzbekistan. It is home to more than 3,000 animals representing over 100 species, including sharks, rays, moray eels, piranhas and penguins.
The aquarium has several themed zones designed to resemble coastal and underwater environments. One features a recreation of a sunken ship, while another is a darkened room where jellyfish swim under colourful lighting. Some areas also have interactive screens with information about marine life.
The most unusual part of the aquarium is a 20-metre transparent tunnel running through one of the tanks. Sharks, rays and other fish swim alongside visitors and directly overhead.
Magic Aquarium also has a touch pool with rays, although visitors should interact with them only with permission from staff. Fish feeding is available for an additional fee, as is access to a separate area with capybaras and otters.
At the exit, a souvenir shop sells soft toys and other marine-themed gifts.
Explore the interactive Attractions. Three of Magic City’s indoor attractions are Magic Museum, the Mirror Maze and the Upside-Down House.
Magic Museum is located near the central fountain. Its exhibits include an interactive room, a space-themed hall, a natural history section and a room devoted to optical illusions.
The Mirror Maze is closer to the entrance, inside a building with mirrored façades resembling a castle. Multiple reflections create the illusion of endless corridors, and visitors have to find the correct route out.
In the Upside-Down House, an ordinary home interior is turned upside down. Visitors can take photographs that make them appear to be standing on the ceiling or floating in mid-air.
Experience AYA Project. AYA Project is one of Magic City’s most visually striking attractions, with a concept similar to AYA Universe in Dubai. Its name, AYA, can mean “miracle” in Arabic. The multimedia space has seven themed rooms combining digital projections, mirrors, light installations and music. In the Bloom zone, artificial plants and lighting effects create a magical landscape, while Oasis features a pool filled with white balls.
Watch a film at Magic Cinema. Magic Cinema has six screens, including two VIP auditoriums with comfortable reclining seats. Its programme features Hollywood releases, international films and recent Uzbek films. Both 2D and 3D screenings are available.
Visit Magic Park. Magic Park is an indoor family entertainment centre housed in an Egyptian-themed building. It has carousels, a small bumper car track, arcade games, bowling, a modern VR zone and a children’s play area. Elsewhere in Magic City, visitors can try games offering soft toys and other prizes.
Take the park train. A train departs from near the fairy-tale castle and travels through part of Magic City, passing the lake. The ride lasts around 10 minutes and is particularly popular with children, who can ride on their own or with their parents.
Try Magic Slide. For an adrenaline rush, try Magic Slide, a zipline near the fairy-tale castle that takes visitors above the park for a different view of Magic City.
Watch the evening fountain show. After sunset, the fairy-tale castle and surrounding buildings are illuminated. The musical fountain shows add to the evening scene, with jets of water moving in time to music and colourful lighting effects.
History of Magic City
Magic City opened on 1 June 2021 next to Alisher Navoi National Park, on land that had previously formed part of the recreation area around the former Komsomol Lake. The decision to redevelop the area was made in 2017. Companies from Italy and Belgium were among those involved in designing the park, its rides and multimedia attractions.
The park continued to expand after its opening. Magic Aquarium followed in 2022, along with further interactive spaces and entertainment venues in subsequent years.
Magic City also hosts festivals, concerts and holiday celebrations. Past events have included Pepsi Dance Fest and Pepsi Magic Fest, featuring performances by popular Uzbek singers. The park also organises entertainment programmes for Independence Day, New Year and other holidays. Many of these events take place outdoors and are free to attend.
What to See Nearby
Immediately next to Magic City is Alisher Navoi National Park (Milliy Bog‘), with a large lake, walking paths, a pier and waterside cafés. Visitors can hire pedal boats, while the Palma & Chilla beach area opens in summer.
The park also includes the Alley of Writers, with monuments to prominent Uzbek writers and poets, including Zulfiya and Hamid Alimjan. On a raised area nearby stands a monument to Alisher Navoi beneath the dome of an open rotunda.
About 500 metres from Magic City, Seoul Mun is a Korean-themed pedestrian area with cafés and shops.