World Country Guide

Travel - Internal

Air
Uzbekistan Airways (HY) flies to all the major towns and cities in Uzbekistan on a regular basis. Destinations include Andijan, Karshi, Namangan, Navoi (which is 45 minutes by bus from Bukhara), Nukus, Samarkand, Tashkent and Termez. Tickets can be bought at the Uzbekistan Airways ticket agency opposite the Hotel Russia on Shota Rustaveli in Tashkent or at the departure terminal of the airport. International flights booked in Tashkent should be paid for in US Dollars although some credit cards are accepted. It is preferable to pay for domestic flights in Sum.

Approximate flight times
From Tashkent to Termez is one hour 20 minutes, to Nukus is two hours, to Samarkand is 40 minutes, to Navoi is one hour and to Namangan is one hour 40 minutes.

Rail
There are 3400km (2113 miles) of railways linking Termez, Samarkand, Bukhara, the Fergana Valley and Nukus. There are two railway stations in Tashkent – North and South. The Trans-Caspian Railway traverses the country from Chardzhou in Turkmenistan via Kagan (near Bukhara), Samarkand and Dzhizak, where the railway branches off to serve the capital, Tashkent. Passengers should store valuables under the bed or seat, and should not leave the compartment unattended. Tickets can be bought on the ground floor of the Hotel Locomotif or at the OVIR office at the station.

Road
The Republic of Uzbekistan is served by a reasonable road network. Traffic drives on the right. Bus: Services connect all the major towns within Uzbekistan and are cheap and fairly reliable. Taxi: Taxis and cars for hire can be found in all major towns. It is safer to use officially marked taxis, although many taxis are unlicensed. Travellers are advised to agree a fare in advance, and not to share taxis with strangers. As many of the street names have changed since independence, it is also advisable to ascertain both the old and the new street names when asking directions. Cars can be hired by the trip, by the hour or by the day or week. Documentation: An International Driving Permit will be required when car hire facilities have been introduced.

Urban
Tashkent is served by taxis, buses, trolleybuses, trams and the only underground in Central Asia. The underground network was expanded in 1991, making it 31km (19 miles) long, with 23 stations. Public transport is cheap and generally reliable. There are regular bus services to all major towns in Uzbekistan.