Trains — The Best Way to Travel
Uzbekistan's rail network is the most convenient and exciting way to travel the country. The star: the Afrosiyob — a Spanish Talgo high-speed train that connects the main cities.
Afrosiyob (High-Speed)
| Route | Duration | Price (Economy/Business) |
|---|---|---|
| Tashkent → Samarkand | 2h 10 Min. | 7–12€ / 15–20€ |
| Tashkent → Bukhara | 3h 30 Min. | 9–14€ / 18–25€ |
| Samarkand → Bukhara | 1h 30 Min. | 5–9€ / 12–18€ |
The Afrosiyob is clean, punctual, air-conditioned, and comfortable. Economy is completely sufficient. Book tickets 10–14 days in advance online at railway.uz or via the Uzrailway app. The trains are popular and quickly booked out — especially in high season!
Sharq & Regional Trains
Slower and cheaper alternative on the same routes. Sharq (Tashkent–Samarkand: 3.5h, 3–5€) is a good budget option. For the Bukhara–Urgench/Khiva route, there is no Afrosiyob — here a night train runs (8–10h, sleeper from 5€).
Buying Train Tickets
- Online: railway.uz or Uzrailway app. Payment with international credit card possible. Ticket is displayed as an e-ticket on the smartphone.
- At the station: At the counters, with passport. Often long queues — online is better.
- Important: Bring your passport! It is checked during train control.
💡 Tipp
Be sure to book the Afrosiyob in advance — the trains are often fully booked 3–5 days beforehand. It's best to buy tickets for the entire journey immediately upon arrival. The website railway.uz works well, the Uzrailway app even better.
