Guide 03 · Transport

Getting around Uzbekistan

Afrosiyob high-speed trains, domestic flights to Khiva and Nukus, Yandex Go ride-hailing and shared marshrutka — what to book, what to skip, and what it costs.

Last updated 2026

Afrosiyob high-speed trains

The Spanish-built Talgo runs Tashkent → Samarkand (2h 10m) → Bukhara (3h 30m) at 250 km/h. Tickets sell out 30+ days ahead in spring/autumn — book on railway.uz or via your operator. There's also a slower Sharq train.

Route

Economy

Business

Tashkent ↔ Samarkand

$25

$40

Tashkent ↔ Bukhara

$35

$55

Tashkent ↔ Khiva (sleeper, 14h)

$30

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Domestic flights

Use Uzbekistan Airways or Qanot Sharq for the long jumps to Urgench (gateway to Khiva), Nukus (Aral Sea, Savitsky Museum) and Termez. Most routes are USD 50–90 one-way and run on modern A320s.

Yandex Go (the local Uber)

Yandex Go works flawlessly in Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara and increasingly in Khiva. Cash or card. A 15-minute ride is typically USD 1.50–3. Avoid airport touts — order Yandex from the official ride zone.

Shared taxis (marshrutka)

Standard for inter-city hops not covered by Afrosiyob (e.g. Bukhara → Khiva 7h, Samarkand → Shakhrisabz 2h). Found at the city's main bazaar or auto-vokzal. Negotiate; expect USD 10–20 per seat.

Tashkent metro

Stunning Soviet-era stations, fully photographable since 2018. Single ride: ~USD 0.10. Card top-up at any station.

Driving

Possible but not recommended for first-timers. Hire a car with driver instead — typically USD 60–90 per day all-in. Roads to Khiva via the Kyzylkum desert are rough; allow 9 hours.