Whilst in Samarkand, travelling by bus is the cheapest option but it takes time and is very uncomfortable. Taxis are more expensive than buses but guarantee you a comfortable ride and access to places that are not on the bus route.

Use our Samarkand Transportation Guide for hints and tips on getting to and around the city. A great way of getting around is taking one of our interesting Samarkand tours. For general information about travelling to and within Uzbekistan, see our Uzbekistan Transportation Guide.

Samarkand Transportation Guide

Getting to Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva

By Air

Tashkent is the biggest airport in Uzbekistan and is linked with Middle Eastern and European cities via direct flights operated by Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, Transaero, and Aerofloat. Connecting flights from Tashkent to Los Angeles and New York pass through Moscow. Uzbekistan Airlines, known as Uzbek Havo Yollari, is the national airline. Apart from flying to all the important cities and towns of Uzbekistan it flies mostly within the old Soviet Union on a regular basis. Overbooking and shortage of fuel are the main factors that cause delays in flights. It is compulsory to get your ticket stamped at the airport by the Ovir (the police emigration department) before you commence your journey. The preferred currency for airfare is the Euro.

Tashkent Domestic Airport makes regular flights to Samarkand, Bukhara and Urgench (from where you can get to Khiva). The flight time from Tashkent to Samarkand is around fifty minutes, an hour and twenty minutes to Bukhara and an hour and a half to Urgench. There is also a regular flight on route Urgench – Bukhara. The cost for a one way trip is around 30-55 Euros depending on the destination point. 

Tickets can be bought at the ticket agency of the Uzbekistan Airways that is located in the Shota Rustaveli Street opposite Hotel Russia.

Visit our partner Air Valid for Airline Reviews and Information about Uzbekistan.

Flights to Uzbekistan

By Rail

The Fergana valley, Samarkand, Nukus, Termez and Bukhara are connected by 3400 km (2,113 miles) of railway lines. The Trans-Caspian railway runs through the country from Dzhizak, Samarkand and Chardzhou in Turkmenistan through Kagan (near Bukhara). Here the railway lines change course and head toward Tashkent. Trains run regularly from Urgench, Bukhara, Charjou and Samarkand and from Moscow through Samara across the Kazakhstan border. The train journey between Moscow and Tashkent takes 56 hours.

By Road

The Republic of Uzbekistan has a reasonably good road network. All the important towns inside Uzbekistan are well connected by buses. Traffic in Uzbekistan drives on the right side of the road. Uzbekistan is now a member country of the Asian Highway Network, which comes under the United Nations. Several national roads and highways have been constructed in Uzbekistan as part of this network.

Getting Around Samarkand

By Air

Domestic flights in Uzbekistan provide just basic services and are nowhere close to international safety standards. A ‘no-frills' flight in Uzbekistan means you do not get anything to eat or drink on the flight. So be prepared to pack a lunch.

By Bus

Buses, Trolleys, Trams: All important towns of Uzbekistan have standard bus services. The fares for trams, buses and trolleys are generally 400soums to 500 soums, with variations depending upon the route taken.

By Taxi

All major cities have taxi services and provide cars on rent. Quite a few of the taxis are unlicenced. Therefore it is safe to use taxis that are officially marked. Travellers should exercise caution and not ride with unofficial taxis. Fixing the taxi fare in advance is also advisable.

By Marshrutnoe

The best way to travel between cities for short distances is by ‘marshrutnoe'. These are generally Daewoo minivans where the cost is shared by all passengers. If you want to travel to Samarkand from Tashkent and other places then it is best to travel by train.