How to get around Uzbekistan: plane, train, bus and taxi

By plane

Domestic flights are operated by the national carrier Uzbekistan Airways, which covers virtually all major cities: Bukhara, Samarkand, Urgench, Nukus, Fergana, Andijan, Karshi, and others. Tickets can be purchased on the official website:

• Ticket purchase: uzairways.com
• Direct booking system: book.uzairways.com

It is worth noting that online check-in for domestic flights is not usually available — check-in takes place at the airport only. The airline periodically runs promotions, when the price of a flight can be comparable to the cost of a train ticket — it is worth checking the website in advance, especially if you are planning long-haul flights such as Tashkent–Nukus.

In addition to the national carrier, two other airlines operate on the domestic market:

• Centrum Air — a private low-cost carrier flying both domestically (Bukhara, Samarkand, Fergana, Namangan, Urgench, Termez) and on international routes. Tickets are usually cheaper than Uzbekistan Airways, but there is no business class or extended in-flight service.
• Silk Avia — a regional low-cost carrier operating ATR 72 turboprop aircraft, flying only within Uzbekistan and specialising in short hops between regional centres — Samarkand, Bukhara, Urgench, Fergana, Termez, Navoi, and others. A handy feature is that its Tashkent flight schedules are synchronised with the arrival of the high-speed Afrosiyob train. An additional advantage is that it serves hard-to-reach, sparsely populated destinations that are difficult to get to by other means — for example, the mountain town of Zaamin or Moynaq in Karakalpakstan. For such places, the plane is often the only fast option.

By train

The railway in Uzbekistan is one of the most comfortable ways to travel: trains are modern, run on schedule, and the high-speed Afrosiyob operates on the Tashkent–Samarkand–Bukhara route. Tickets are sold by the national operator O'zbekiston Temir Yo'llari, and it is most convenient to buy them online in advance:

• Official ticket sales: e-ticket.railway.uz
• General information and timetables: railway.uz
• The Uzrailway tickets mobile app (App Store / Google Play) — allows you to buy a ticket directly from your smartphone and pay by card.

On the most popular routes — Tashkent–Samarkand and Tashkent–Bukhara — several trains of different classes and speeds operate:

• Afrosiyob — the fastest option, reaching Samarkand in around 2.5 hours;
• Nasaf and Sharq — slightly slower, around 3.5 hours, but also quite comfortable and reasonably fast;
• slower and cheaper trains with open-plan and compartment carriages — longer journey times, but noticeably more budget-friendly.

The range of prices is wide, so it is worth checking the current timetable and fares on the website before your trip — they change periodically.

If buying a ticket online in advance is not possible, you can always purchase one at the station ticket office, but be prepared for queues — especially on popular routes and during peak season.

By bus

Scheduled buses also run between cities in Uzbekistan — generally cheaper than taxis and trains, but slower. The main transport hub in Tashkent is Tashkent Bus Station (Almazor metro station), from which both domestic and international services depart (to Moscow, Bishkek, Almaty, Astana, and other cities).

• Online ticket purchase: avtoticket.uz
• Current timetables and bus station information: tashtrans.uz
• Tashkent Bus Station enquiries: +998 71 207-87-00

Tickets can also be purchased directly at the station ticket offices — they operate around the clock.

By taxi

The most flexible way to travel around the country is the shared intercity taxi. This is not a private hire car on demand, but a shared-ride service: several passengers travelling in the same direction share a vehicle, and the fare is calculated per person, not per trip.

The key difference from a conventional taxi is bargaining. The starting price is almost always inflated, and as the driver sees that you know the going rates and mean business, the price comes closer to the real market rate.

Where taxis depart from in Tashkent

Each direction has its own departure point ("pyatak"), and it is worth knowing this in advance so you do not have to search at random:

• Almazor metro station (near Tashkent Bus Station) — taxis to Syrdarya, Gulistan, Jizzakh, Samarkand, Navoi.
• Abu Sakhiy Market, "Palmy" stand — taxis to Andijan, Bukhara, Namangan, Nukus, Fergana.
• Abu Sakhiy Market, "Monitor" stand — taxis to Zarafshan, Karshi, Navoi, Termez, Urgench, Shakhrisabz.
• Kuylyuk Market (building materials) — taxis to Angren, Akhangaran, Andijan, Namangan, Fergana.
• North Station (near the Railway Technology Museum) — taxis to Andijan, Namangan, Fergana.

Departure points and routes change from time to time, so it is best to check current information with your driver, at your hotel, or on the ground before your trip — for example, via the Tashkent transport reference resource tashtrans.uz.

Shared taxis are also convenient in that on long journeys the driver usually stops at a trusted roadside café — you can grab a shashlik wrap along with the other passengers. And in older-model cars you may well encounter a cassette player with a playlist of 1990s hits.

For those who want something different: by helicopter

If getting from A to B is not the main point and you are after an experience, Silk Avia has a dedicated division — Uzbekistan Helicopters (flyhelicopters.uz). This is no ordinary flight — it is a tourist and charter service operating Airbus H125 and Airbus H130 helicopters.

What you can book:

• Scenic sightseeing flights over the country's most picturesque locations — a true bird's-eye view.
• VIP and private charters — tailored to a specific occasion: a business meeting, a wedding, a family celebration, or a private trip.
• Transfers to hard-to-reach areas that are inconvenient or time-consuming to access by ground transport.

The Airbus H130 is positioned as the option for VIP travel and premium tourism — a spacious, quiet cabin for 5–6 passengers with an enclosed tail rotor. The Airbus H125, in turn, is more versatile and well suited to flights over mountainous terrain.

It is a niche format and noticeably more expensive than a regular plane or taxi, but ideal for those looking not just for a way to get somewhere, but for a memorable experience in its own right. You can submit a flight request directly on the company's website.

Which to choose

• Plane — if time is more valuable than money and the route is long (e.g. Tashkent–Nukus or Tashkent–Urgench).
• Train — the optimal balance of comfort, speed, and price on popular tourist routes: Tashkent–Samarkand–Bukhara.
• Bus — the most budget-friendly option if you are in no hurry.
• Shared taxi — flexibility and speed without being tied to a timetable, especially where there is no direct train or convenient bus.

When planning your trip, check current prices and timetables on the carriers' official websites — fares and routes change periodically.