Navigating the New Silk Road: How to Get Around Uzbekistan with Ease and Efficiency

Uzbekistan has transitioned from a remote Central Asian destination to a hub of modern travel. This is thanks largely to its rapidly improving transportation network. The Silk Road is no longer a dusty trail of caravans. High-speed trains now connect it. These trains make travel between ancient cities surprisingly fast and comfortable.

For the global traveler, understanding the local transport system is key. It unlocks the country’s full potential. It maximizes sightseeing time and keeps costs low. This comprehensive guide breaks down all your travel options. These options range from the pride of the nation—the bullet train—to the intricate metro system and the convenience of ride-hailing apps. Mastering local transportation in Uzbekistan ensures your journey is smooth, efficient, and deeply connected to the local way of life.

1. The Backbone of Travel: Uzbekistan’s High-Speed Afrosiyob Train

The Afrosiyob high-speed train is the jewel of local transportation in Uzbekistan. It is the absolute best way to travel between the major historical cities. This modern, Spanish-built bullet train service connects the capital, Tashkent, with Samarkand and Bukhara. It often moves at speeds up to $250 \text{ km/h}$. For instance, the journey from Tashkent to Samarkand takes just over two hours. This saves immense amounts of time compared to road travel. Other popular routes, such as Samarkand to Bukhara, take less than two hours.

Travelers must prioritize booking Afrosiyob tickets well in advance. This is especially true when traveling during the peak seasons of spring and autumn. Tickets are typically released 45 days before departure. They sell out quickly due to high demand from both tourists and locals. Booking online via the official Uzbekistan Railways website or a trusted local agency is highly recommended. For a more traditional but slower intercity journey, options like the Sharq or standard sleeper trains are available. These connect cities like Khiva and Urgench with the main network.

2. Urban Wonders: The Tashkent Metro and City Buses

The Tashkent Metro makes getting around the sprawling capital of Tashkent easy and fascinating. This is the only underground system in Central Asia, and it is a tourist attraction in its own right. Many of its stations feature elaborate Soviet-era mosaics, chandeliers, and marble. This turns a simple commute into an architectural tour. The metro is clean, safe, and incredibly cheap; a single ride token costs mere cents.

The metro’s three main lines connect most of the city’s major attractions, including the Khast-Imam Complex (via the Chorsu Station) and Amir Temur Square. Travelers can easily purchase a token or use the new local transport card, ATTO, for even greater convenience. Furthermore, a vast network of public buses complements the metro. While bus routes may be confusing due to a lack of English signage, asking locals or using apps like Yandex Go for navigation helps travelers get around efficiently.

3. Taxi Tactics: Using Apps and Negotiating Fares in Cities

Taxis serve as the most flexible and widely available form of local transportation in Uzbekistan within and between cities. Visitors should learn the essential distinction between official taxis and ride-hailing apps. In major cities like Tashkent and Samarkand, the mobile app Yandex Go (and sometimes local equivalents like MyTaxi) has revolutionized urban travel. These apps provide fixed fares, eliminate the need for bargaining, and are generally the cheapest and most reliable option.

When using a street taxi outside of the ride-hailing system, especially in smaller cities like Khiva or at train stations, you must always agree on the fare before the ride begins. Taxi drivers rarely use meters. Knowing the approximate local price beforehand—by checking a translation app or asking your hotel—helps you avoid overpaying.

Always carry small denominations of the local currency, the Uzbekistani Som (UZS), for ease of payment, as many drivers do not carry enough change for large bills.

4. Intercity Alternatives: Shared Taxis and Domestic Flights

For journeys where the high-speed train network doesn’t run, or when train tickets are fully booked, the shared taxi (often simply called “taxi” or marshrutka for minivans by locals) is an essential form of intercity travel. These vehicles depart when they have four paying passengers, often from designated taxi stands near bus stations or bazaars.

The shared taxi is the most common way to cover long distances such as the Bukhara to Khiva route. This journey takes about six to eight hours, depending on road conditions. While cheaper than a private transfer, shared taxis are less comfortable than the train, and the drive can be intense. For a slightly higher price, you can hire a private car for the journey, which offers greater flexibility and comfort.

Alternatively, Uzbekistan Airways operates affordable domestic flights between major cities like Tashkent and Urgench (the gateway to Khiva), which significantly reduces travel time for those with limited schedules.

5. Safety, Custom, and Preparation for Travel

Traveling around Uzbekistan is generally considered very safe, but being prepared makes the experience seamless. For all rail travel, you must present your physical passport when purchasing tickets and again when boarding the train. Security checks at train stations and the Tashkent Metro are common, similar to airport security, so allow extra time before departure.

Language Tip: While many younger locals speak English, Russian is still widely understood by taxi drivers and older generations. Having your destination name written in Cyrillic script—the official alphabet of Uzbekistan—on your phone will significantly help when communicating with taxi drivers or asking for directions at a bus station.

By combining the speed of the Afrosiyob, the convenience of ride-hailing, and the local touch of shared transport, you unlock the country’s full accessibility.

Start Exploring: Ready to map out your routes? Download the Yandex Go app and secure your first train ticket to seamlessly navigate the ancient Silk Road! Also explore our “Cheap Flight Ticket” guide.