Travel guide
Arriving at Tashkent airport
What to expect when you land at Tashkent International Airport (TAS), and how to get to your hotel — or straight on to Samarkand.
Terminals
International flights use Terminal 2. Domestic flights — to Urgench, Bukhara, Samarkand and elsewhere — use a separate domestic terminal (Terminal 3). The terminals are not connected inside, so allow time and take a car between them if you are changing to a domestic flight.
Money and SIM cards
The currency is the Uzbek som (UZS). You will usually find ATMs and exchange counters in the arrivals area, and mobile operators selling tourist SIM cards — bring your passport, which is needed to register a SIM. Card payments are widely accepted in Tashkent, but carry some cash for markets, small cafés and the road.
Getting into the city
The airport is about 12 km from the city centre — 20–40 minutes by car. You can use a ride-hailing app, a taxi from the rank, or a pre-booked transfer: a private airport transfer to any address in Tashkent costs $25 for a sedan, per vehicle, and your driver meets you at arrivals with a name sign. See Tashkent airport transfer.
Going straight on
Many travellers land in the morning and continue the same day. A private car from the airport to Samarkand costs the same as from the city — $100 for a sedan, 4–4.5 hours — and saves getting to the station. See Tashkent to Samarkand.