Travel guide
How to get from Tashkent to Samarkand
There are four ways to make the most popular journey in Uzbekistan. Here is how they compare in time, money and hassle, and when each one makes sense.
Short answer: the Afrosiyob high-speed train is fastest station to station (around 2 to 2.5 hours). Since 1 February 2026 an economy seat costs UZS 311,000. A private car takes 4–4.5 hours door to door and costs $100 for the whole sedan, which works out at $33 each for three people.
The four options at a glance
| Option | Time | Cost | Door to door? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Afrosiyob train | ≈ 2–2.5 h station to station | UZS 311,000 economy, 455,000 business, 709,000 VIP, per person | No: add taxis at both ends | Light luggage, a ticket booked early |
| Regular train (Sharq and others) | Longer than Afrosiyob; check the timetable | Lower than Afrosiyob, per person | No | When Afrosiyob is sold out |
| Shared taxi | 4–5 h plus waiting to fill | Per seat, agreed in som | Usually not | Tight budgets, flexible plans |
| Private car | 4–4.5 hours | $100 sedan, $255 minivan, per vehicle | Yes, including Tashkent airport | Arrivals, families, heavy bags, stops on the way |
By Afrosiyob high-speed train
The Afrosiyob is the fastest way between the two cities and very comfortable. It is also the most popular train in the country: tickets go on sale in advance and often sell out, especially in spring and autumn. Book on the Uzbekistan Railways site or through an agency, and bring your passport: tickets are checked against it. Add the time to reach Tashkent station, the security check at the entrance, and a taxi from Samarkand station to your hotel. Sold out? See what to do when the Afrosiyob is full.
By regular train
Slower trains such as the Sharq run on the same line. They take longer than the Afrosiyob but are a good fallback when it is full. Check the current timetable for your date before you plan around a train.
By shared taxi
Shared taxis leave from stands in Tashkent when every seat is filled. They are cheap, but you wait for other passengers, share the car with strangers and have little room for luggage. Agree the price per seat, in som, before you get in. More in shared taxi vs private transfer.
By private car
The road is about 300 km on the M39 highway, 4–4.5 hours, with a café stop around Jizzakh. A private transfer collects you at your hotel or at Tashkent airport and drops you at your door in Samarkand. The price is per vehicle, so it costs the same for one person or three. See Tashkent to Samarkand private transfer for every vehicle.
What the car costs per person
| People | Vehicle | Per vehicle | Per person |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sedan | $100 | $100 |
| 2 | Sedan | $100 | $50 |
| 3 | Sedan | $100 | $34 |
| 4 | SUV | $130 | $33 |
| 5 | Minivan | $255 | $51 |
| 6 | Minivan | $255 | $43 |
| 7 | Minivan | $255 | $37 |
| 10 | Microbus | $285 | $29 |
| 16 | Microbus | $285 | $18 |
Which should I choose?
- Travelling light, with a ticket: the Afrosiyob.
- Straight from the airport, with children or heavy bags, or the train is sold out: a private car.
- Three or four people: compare the car's per-person price above with four train tickets plus two taxis. The car is often close or cheaper.
- On a tight budget and flexible: a shared taxi or a regular train.
For every leg of a typical trip, read train vs private transfer, leg by leg.
Updated 4 October 2026. Sources: Kun.uz, train fares from 1 Feb 2026, Uzbekistan Railways (tickets).