The best ways to travel around in Uzbekistan

You won’t see many camel caravans in Uzbekistan these days – yet even in a train or a truck, there remains a romantic appeal in setting out to explore this storied country.

Visitors will find many transport options here – from the stunning Soviet-era opulence of Tashkent’s metro to overnight trains across the Central Asian steppe.

Using a combination of trains, shared taxis and even car rentals, you can travel along ancient Silk Roads between Khiva and Bukhara, or follow in the footsteps of Genghis Khan and Alexander the Great en route to such storied places as Bactria or the Fergana Valley. Indeed, getting from A to B in Uzbekistan is half the fun.

Whether you want to join Uzbeks on a train or in a shared taxi or are going it alone with a private tour or even driving yourself, these are the best ways to get around Uzbekistan.

Trace the Silk Road on a train

Crossing Uzbekistan by train is a bucket-list trip in itself for many travelers, especially when combined with an epic trans-Asia rail journey across the Kazakh steppe to the deserts of western China. Train lines run across the breadth of Uzbekistan, from Nukus in the far northwest to the capital, Tashkent, and on to the Fergana Valley or to Termiz on the border with Afghanistan. It’s a superbly romantic way to traverse the country.

You’ll find two principal type of trains here. Modern, high-speed, Spanish-built trains with airplane-style seating run from Tashkent to Samarkand and on to Bukhara; take your pick from fast Afrosiyob trains (2½ hours) and slightly slower Sharq services (3 hours). Modern express trains also run between Tashkent and Kokand, Margilon and Andijon in the Fergana Valley. These services are without a doubt the best way to travel between Uzbekistan’s major Silk Road sights.

The other category of train encompasses the slower, long-distance services, with Soviet-era stock trundling at a more sedate pace. These slower trains are well suited for sleeper services, which run between Tashkent and Bukhara (8 hours), Khiva (14 hours), Nukus (22 hours) and Termiz (15 hours). There’s even a 23-hour Khiva–Andijon service that traverses the full length of the country.

You can choose from two-berth carriages (SV class), four-berth carriages (kupe) or open carriages (platskartny); beds are not deluxe but are comfortable enough. Traveling by kupe is usually the best choice for most visitors, as you’ll save the cost of a night’s accommodation while enjoying at least a bit of privacy. Bring food and drink with you and share it with your new carriage companions before you nod off to the gentle clanking of the train as it crosses the steppe.

Book train tickets as far in advance as you can (up to 45 days), ideally online or via the useful Uzbekistan Railways app (for Android and iOS). Failing that, you can book at the VIP counter at the railway station or more centrally located city train-ticket offices.

Rub shoulders with the locals in a shared taxi

For shorter intercity runs, a seat in a shared taxi is the most convenient way to travel. Groups of drivers hang around designated taxi stands in most cities; as soon as all four passenger seats are occupied, the journey begins, often at hair-raising speeds. For maximum comfort, try to score the front seat. If you’re traveling as a couple, splurge for all three seats in the back.

Speaking a few words of Russian or Uzbek and knowing the approximate fare before you board will reduce the chance of being overcharged. Useful shared-taxi routes link Bukhara to Khiva and connect the cities of the Fergana Valley; there’s also a convenient route from Samarkand over the mountains to Shakhrisabz. Shared taxis are also the best way to get between land borders and the nearest town.

Be wowed by the Tashkent Metro

Tashkent’s wonderful Soviet-built metro system was constructed after the 1966 Tashkent earthquake by the same team that built Moscow’s famously ornate metro system. It’s the best way to get around the sprawling capital – and also an attraction in itself, with stations decorated in an array of stunning schemes. Think psychedelic spacescapes in Kosmonavtlar (Cosmonought) station, or Central Asian motifs at Alisher Navoi. Photographs are now allowed in all stations.

Individual tickets cost less than US$0.15 regardless of distance – meaning you can do a tour of unlimited stations for the price of a single ticket, so long as you don’t exit the system. The three lines intersect at three key stations, with a new fourth line now partially open.

Get around town by marshrutka

The Russian word marshrutka means “route,” and the term is used for any minibus that follows a fixed itinerary, as well as for slightly larger intercity minivans. You’ll see these tiny metal cans zipping around larger cities, where they can be useful for local sightseeing – if you can work out where they run to, that is. The downside is that they are often very cramped.

Use Uzbekistan’s taxi apps to save

Official city taxis are marked by company name or a checkered black-and-white sign on the dashboard, though many private cars also run as unofficial taxis. You’ll need to negotiate a fare before getting in, but in general fares are good value. It’s always a good idea to use official taxis or book a taxi if you are traveling late at night.

If you have a smartphone with a local SIM card, you can download the Yandex Go, Yango or MyTaxi apps once you arrive in Uzbekistan (they can’t be downloaded from abroad), then use these Uber-style services to hail fixed-rate taxis. It’s much easier than negotiating in Russian with a reluctant taxi driver. You’ll see the fixed fare in the app before you get on; payment can be made with a card or in cash.

Buses are a vanishing form of transport

In general, buses are the least pleasant way to get around Uzbekistan. Long-distance coaches are slow and unreliable, if you can even find one these days. Local bus routes within larger cities are more useful; Tashkent has a new fleet of electric buses.

Traveling by bike is for determined cyclists only

While some intrepid long-distance cyclists pedal their way across Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan tend to be much more popular cycling destinations. Intercity cycling can be an ordeal in Uzbekistan thanks to the summer heat and hassles with registration when camping.

Hire your own car and driver for a comfortable private tour...

Private drivers aren’t hard to find for city tours or for day trips, such as the popular journey from Samarkand to Shakhrisabz, or from Khiva to the desert fortresses of Karakalpakstan. Any B&B or travel agency can put you in touch with a reliable driver; multi-day trips are also possible with enough advance notice.

...or get behind the wheel yourself for a proper Silk Road adventure

It’s now possible to rent a car without a driver through companies like RentCar.uz and the international company Sixt, which means you can now drive yourself along the golden road to Samarkand. You won’t need an international driving permit, though you will likely need to leave a large cash deposit.

Strap in for an Uzbekistan Airways flight to save time

Uzbekistan Airways operates a number of routes within the country, and its safety standards are comparable to most international carriers. Most useful are the daily flights from hub Tashkent to Nukus and Urgench. There are also services to Bukhara and elsewhere.

You can buy tickets online through most international ticket sites or at any aviakassa (ticket office) around town. A one-way flight from Tashkent to Nukus or Urgench can cost as little as US$60, and will take less than two hours, compared to 13 hours by road.

Accessible transportation in Uzbekistan

Local operators have limited experience of catering to travelers with disabilities. When combined with the tangled layout of historic cities such as Bukhara and Khiva, this can make Uzbekistan a challenging place to get around for people with limited mobility. Yet the country has made certain accommodations: the modern Afrosiyob train from Tashkent to Samarkand and Bukhara, for example, has a designated space with secure anchorage for wheelchairs in one of the carriages, as well as an accessible toilet nearby.

Beyond that, the best advice is to hire a minivan or taxi (or pay for all seats in a shared taxi) and put your folding wheelchair in the back. At regional airports, passengers usually embark and disembark using moveable stairs, so domestic air travel is not recommended for travelers with mobility issues.