Public Transport in Uzbekistan: How to Get Around by Train, Shared Taxi and Marshrutka

Getting around Uzbekistan is easier than many travelers expect. Distances between the Silk Road cities are long, but the country has a reliable mix of trains, shared taxis and minibuses that locals use every day. Here is how public transport in Uzbekistan works and when each option makes sense.

Trains: the most comfortable way between cities

If you want comfort and predictability, take the train. The high-speed Afrosiyob connects Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara, covering Tashkent to Samarkand in about 2.5 hours and Tashkent to Bukhara in under four. Carriages are clean, seats are assigned and departures run on schedule.

Slower day and night trains reach destinations beyond the high-speed line, including Khiva, Urgench, Nukus and the Fergana Valley. They are cheaper and take longer, and a sleeper compartment on a night train saves you a hotel night.

What to know before booking:

• Tickets go on sale 45 days before departure and popular routes sell out fast, especially in high season from May to October. Book at least a few days ahead, or before your trip if your dates are fixed.
• You can book online at eticket.railway.uz or through the Uzbekistan Railways app. The website can be glitchy, so if a booking fails, try the app or buy your ticket at any train station, either at a ticket window or a machine.
• You need your passport to buy tickets and to board, so keep it with you.

Shared taxis: flexible travel on routes without trains

Shared taxis are the standard choice where train connections are poor. You find them at bus stations and designated taxi stands in every city, especially for routes between regions. Cars leave when all seats are filled and you pay per seat. Prices are negotiable, so agree on the fare before getting in. If you do not want to wait, you can pay for the remaining seats and leave immediately. Payment is in cash.

Marshrutkas: the local minibus

Marshrutkas are shared minivans that run set routes within towns and between smaller places. There are no advance tickets, you pay the driver in cash and the van leaves when it is full. They are cheap and fast but often crowded. In larger cities they are gradually being replaced by modern buses and the metro, so today marshrutkas are mainly how people get around in the countryside.

Getting around within cities

Tashkent's metro is cheap, frequent and known for its decorated stations, which are worth a visit on their own. City buses cover the rest of the capital and other large cities. For door-to-door trips, the ride-hailing app Yandex Go works in Tashkent and other major cities. It shows the price upfront, so there is no need to negotiate.

Practical tips

• Carry cash in Uzbek som, including small notes. Marshrutkas and shared taxis do not take cards.
• Get a local SIM or eSIM on arrival so you can use Yandex Go and manage train bookings on the go.
• Travel light if you plan to use shared taxis or marshrutkas, since luggage space is limited.
• Confirm the price before any ride that is not booked through an app.

Prefer your own driver or a local guide?

Public transport covers the main routes well, but it has limits. Schedules are fixed, sold-out trains can break an itinerary, and remote places like the Nuratau Mountains, the Kyzylkum desert or the Aral Sea are hard to reach on your own.

On Indy Guide you can book a private driver or local guide in Uzbekistan directly, with no middleman. You message the local provider, agree on the route and price, and pay only a 10 percent deposit online. The rest goes directly to your driver or guide.

Browse local drivers, guides and tours in Uzbekistan on Indy Guide