If you are a first-time visitor, the best thing would be to read up beforehand about the transport facilities in and around Tashkent to avoid any surprises.

Tashkent has always been an important international transport hub, and is therefore easy to get to. You can use our Tashkent Transportation Guide below for information on getting to the city, as well as getting around Tashkent once you are there. Also check out our Tashkent tour options for more ideas of getting around and seeing the sights. Our Uzbekistan Transportation Guide provides handy information for getting to and around the country.

Tashkent Transportation Guide

Getting To Tashkent

By plane

Tashkent airport is conveniently located not too far from the centre of the city. Aeroflot, airBaltic, Asiana, Uzbekistan Airways and Turkish Airlines are some of the airlines that will get you there.

After reaching the airport, you will have to pass through Customs. Make sure you have with you two copies of the Customs Declaration Form duly filled out. These forms are often given out by the airline or are available at stands in the baggage claim area. One copy is handed over to the Customs officers and you get to keep one stamped copy. Do keep this form carefully, as you will need to produce it when you leave the country. All money and valuables like laptops and cameras should be declared and you may not be allowed to take undeclared items out of the country when you leave. Getting your baggage and completion of Customs formalities might take up to 2 hours.

To get to the city centre from the airport, you can take a taxi priced very reasonably at 2 to 3 USD a ride. Be sure to haggle, as you will be mobbed by a number of taxi drivers as soon as you exit the international terminal. Most taxis are old, beaten-up Ladas and the drivers will attempt to charge as much as they can. It might be best to have someone meet you at the airport, especially if you cannot understand Russian or Uzbek. Also, make sure that you have the right change!

While leaving, allow for a time-consuming check-in, customs and passport control, and budget time accordingly, especially when travelling during peak season.

Visit our partner Air Valid for Airline Reviews and Information about Uzbekistan or visit Cheapflights.co.uk for flights to Tashkent!

By train

Tashkent is the central point for railway services in Central Asia and is connected to Ashgabat (Turkmenistan) in the west, to Samarkand and on to Dushanbe (Tajikistan) towards the south, to Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) and Almaty (Kazakhstan) in the east and to Moscow (Russian Federation) in the north.

The Saratov-Syr Darya line connects Tashkent and Moscow via a journey of three days. A spur line leads to Fergana Valley in the east and from there onwards to Osh in Kyrgyzstan. Tashkent is connected to China via Almaty and to the Middle East via Turkmenistan. Extensive rail networks connect Tashkent with Samarkand and Bukhara.

Tickets are available at the railway ticketing office near the North Station in Tashkent. Tickets are reasonably priced and need to be paid for in cash, preferably local currency, soum. Tourists are warned to keep a close eye on their personal belongings on the trains.

By car

By road, Tashkent is well connected to its neighbouring countries, but borders may not always be open, and also have security issues. The Afghanistan border, for example, is often closed or is closed to non-Uzbek /Afghan nationals. Land mines pose a risk in some border areas. The passage from Kazakhstan near Saryagash is considered safe, even though it might take up to the better part of two hours to get through.

Getting Around Tashkent

A number of taxis, buses, trolleybuses, trams and the only underground network in Central Asia make it easy for a tourist to get around in Tashkent.

Tashkent Metro (Underground, Subway)

The metro/underground system is unique to Tashkent and is the only one of its kind in Central Asia. The system boasts of large and impressive stations in the distinctive old Soviet style that uses engraved metal, glass, plastic, granite, marble, arty ceramics and carved alabaster for decoration, but is actually quite modern. The Tashkent Metro has 36 stations and each differs from the other in distinctive theme and décor, and facilities provided. Each station is uniquely designed with art as the focus, and a central theme to distinguish it.

The Tashkent Metro has three lines: Chilonzor (colour code red; runs from southwest to northeast), Uzbekistan (colour code blue, runs from northwest to southeast), Yunusobod (colour code green; runs from north to south); it is the favourite mode of transport for the locals in Tashkent. Trains arrive and depart at 240-second intervals. Based on the line, the names of the crossings stations may vary, but the colour code makes it easy for a tourist to know where to get down or where to go next. All names are displayed in Uzbek. Tickets (in the form of small blue tokens in the shape of a coin) are pretty low-priced for any one trip.

Warning: Taking photographs is not allowed in the stations. Policemen present at the station platforms and security cameras are used to enforce this rule. It's a good idea to have all your documents with you wherever you go, in case of police checks.

Public Transport

A good public transport system is in place in Tashkent, with modern buses and trams being added to the fleet in 2008. Taxis are easily available, too, and are fairly safe to use, in spite of embassy warnings against their usage. They can be hired either from taxi ranks or simply flagged down on the street. Be sure to negotiate the fare in advance and to state your destination before you get in. Tourists must keep in mind that taxi drivers may not recognise an address, preferring to use a landmark to zero in on the destination instead. That presents an entirely new challenge as many landmarks have been renamed and drivers may not recognise the new names of a street or hotel. If you don't speak the language, it is good to have a map or directions written down in Russian as most taxi drivers don't speak English.

Traffic is typically disorderly and unpredictable, and taxi drivers often smoke while driving - so expect things to be different from back home. It is advisable for tourists to use officially marked taxis, rather than the unlicensed ones. Shared taxis and cars for hire, with a driver, are also available. However, tourists are advised to exercise caution, especially when sharing with unknown passengers.

If you choose to drive yourself around, then keep in mind that traffic drives on the right in Tashkent. All documents such as an international driver's licence, insurance and the registration papers of the car must be in order to prevent penalties, which are exorbitant. The roads are not always well lit. There is no such thing as car rental in Uzbekistan.