Travel guide
Transportation in Uzbekistan: how to get between the cities
Trains, flights, shared taxis and private cars — what works best for each part of a typical Uzbekistan trip.
Most trips to Uzbekistan follow the same line across the map: Tashkent in the east, then Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva in the west — or the reverse. The distances are real (Tashkent to Khiva is over 1,000 km by road), so how you move between the cities shapes your whole itinerary.
The main options
High-speed and regular trains
The Afrosiyob high-speed train links Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara and is the fastest way between them. Trains also run to Khiva. They are comfortable and good value, but tickets for popular dates sell out, and stations are outside the historic centres — so you still need a ride at each end.
Domestic flights
Flights between Tashkent and Urgench (for Khiva) or Bukhara save a long day on the road if you're short of time. From Urgench airport, Khiva is a 30–40 minute drive.
Shared taxis
Shared taxis leave from stands in each city when all seats are full. They are cheap but unpredictable: you wait for other passengers, share the car, and luggage space is limited.
Private transfers
A private car with a driver goes door to door, leaves when you want and stops when you ask. It is slower than the high-speed train on the Tashkent–Samarkand–Bukhara section, but the price is per vehicle — so for families and groups it is often better value, and it removes the station transfers entirely.
What each leg looks like
| Leg | By road | Private sedan |
|---|---|---|
| Tashkent → Samarkand | 4–4.5 hours | $100 |
| Samarkand → Bukhara | 3.5–4 hours | $100 |
| Bukhara → Khiva | 6–7 hours | $100 |
| Urgench airport → Khiva | 30–40 minutes | $25 |
Prices are per vehicle. See all routes and prices for SUVs, minivans and microbuses.
Getting around inside the cities
Ride-hailing apps work in the main cities and are the easiest way to make short hops. For a full day of sightseeing across a big city like Tashkent, a car with driver for the day is simpler than booking a dozen short rides.
A simple plan
- Arrive in Tashkent. Take the train or a private transfer to Samarkand.
- Samarkand to Bukhara by train or car — by car you can stop at Gijduvan's ceramic workshops.
- Bukhara to Khiva by car across the desert, or by train on the days it runs.
- From Khiva, visit the desert fortresses, then fly out of Urgench.