This is a complete guide on how to take the train in Uzbekistan. This Uzbekistan railways guide provides information on how to take the Afrosiyob – Uzbekistan’s high-speed rail, and the Uzbekistan Sharq train. You’ll learn how to buy train tickets in Uzbekistan and how much a train ticket costs. You’ll also get an overview of the popular train routes as well as where to find Uzbekistan trains schedules.
Uzbekistan is a fascinating country. It’s a place full of beautiful architecture, colorful bazaars, and great food.
For years, traveling to Uzbekistan was rather complicated. Getting a visa for the country was difficult and the roads and trains connecting the different cities around the country were really bad.
But that has all changed now. Uzbekistan is opening to the world. Traveling around this popular Silk Road country in Central Asia became a lot easier thanks to the improved Uzbekistan railway system.
If you’re planning to visit Uzbekistan, this guide will help you understand the Uzbekistan Railways. You’ll learn what are the different trains in Uzbekistan, where to buy train tickets, and where to find information on the Uzbekistan train schedules.
Tip: See my Uzbekistan Travel Page for a complete overview of all my travel guides and blog posts about Uzbekistan!
Step into the heart of the Silk Road and experience Uzbekistan beyond the guidebooks: from the blue domes of Samarkand to remote desert landscapes and hidden mountain trails.
Join the 14-day Highlights of Uzbekistan Adventure Tour and experience the country in a deeper, more meaningful way!
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Travel Essentials for Train Travel in Uzbekistan
A few things that will make your journey smoother:
- 🏡 Book your accommodation in advance → especially in places like Samarkand and Bukhara, where good stays fill up quickly in high season
- 🚖 Need transfer to and from the airport and train stations? Install Yandex.go or find transfers here→ saves you time and hassle when you arrive
- 🧾 Have your tickets easily accessible (digital or printed) → for smooth boarding
- 📶 Mobile data→ get an e-SIM for checking train tickets, navigating stations, and translating on the go
- 🔋 Power bank → for long journeys and keeping your phone charged
- 💧 Bring snacks and water → especially on longer routes or night trains
- 🎒 Light luggage → easier to handle when boarding trains and moving through stations
- 🛡️ Travel insurance → Get flexible travel insurance for your trip to Uzbekistan
How is it to travel by train in Uzbekistan
Traveling by train in Uzbekistan is the ideal way to travel between the Silk Road cities of Khiva, Bukhara, Samarkand and Tashkent.
I was happily surprised by the cleanliness of the Uzbek high-speed rail when I recently visited the country again. The Afrosiyob train (high-speed rail) rivaled the cleanliness and comfort that you would find in European trains.
Taking the Afrosiyob is more expensive than the other trains in Uzbekistan but it’s the fastest train to reach your destination.
You can travel in 1st and 2nd class and there are USB and power plugs next to the seats. This is very handy if you want to get some work done on your laptop while gliding through the country!
The Sharq is a more old-fashioned train. It is slower than the Afrosiyob and also cheaper (about half the price). The Sharq has a 1st and 2nd.
Traveling on this ‘slow’ train is also very comfortable and there are USB plugs available next to your seat (in 1st and 2nd class) to charge your phone during the train journey (helloo Netflix!).
While you can expect a very smooth ride on the Afrosiyob, the Sharq train will be bumpier.
All these trains sell coffee, tea, and snacks during the trip but it’s cheaper to buy your snacks before your train journey. If you travel with the Afrosiyob, you’ll get a free cup of tea and a small bag with some pastries.
Why should you get around Uzbekistan by train?
Unlike the very mountainous green landscapes of Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan’s landscapes are generally flat barren deserts. There aren’t many interesting sights to see along the road and the journey by marshrutka between cities is quite long and hot.
Getting around Uzbekistan by train is way more comfortable than by shared taxi or marshrutka. You’ll have plenty of leg space and you’ll be able to actually enjoy the ride. It’s also a great way to meet local people and other travelers.
Important tip: Arrive at least 30 minutes in advance at the train station. There might be long queues at the entrance (especially in Tashkent and Samarkand) where luggage and passports get checked.
What are the different Uzbekistan trains?
There are three types of trains in Uzbekistan (and I’ve tested them all!): the Afrosiyob, the Sharq and the overnight train.
With so many train options and train routes to choose from, it’s super easy to create your own Uzbekistan itinerary.
The Afrosiyob train
The Afrosiyob train is an ultra-modern, high-speed train that connects most major cities around the country. You can easily travel between Tashkent, Samarkand, and Bukhara.
The Afrosiyob train is very comfortable and modern and not expensive at all (to Western standards).
This train is very popular and fills up very quickly during the holidays or high season. You should book your tickets a month in advance if you want take the high-speed train during high season. A standard seat in 2nd class is called Sidyachiy (Сидячий).
The Afrosiyob includes:
- USB plugs and power plugs
- A/C in all classes
- free tea and a bag with free snacks and pastries
- vendors selling all types of drinks and snacks
You can take the Afrosiyob to travel directly between the following popular cities:
- Tashkent – Samarkand (2 hours)
- Tashkent – Bukhara (4 hours)
- Samarkand – Tashkent (2 hours)
- Samarkand – Bukhara (1.5 hours)
- Bukhara – Samarkand (1.5 hours)
- Bukhara – Tashkent (4 hours)
- Update: from May 1st, 2026, on: Tashkent – Khiva (7 hours)
Jaloliddin Manguberdi (new high-speed train)
The newest addition to Uzbekistan’s railway network is the Jaloliddin Manguberdi, a modern high-speed train that started operating in May 2026. Named after the legendary 13th-century ruler and military commander Jaloliddin Manguberdi, this train finally provides a fast daytime connection between Tashkent and Khiva.
Before its introduction, the only practical way to travel between Tashkent and Khiva by train was the overnight sleeper (see below), which takes around 14 hours. The Jaloliddin Manguberdi cuts that journey almost in half, reaching Khiva in approximately 7.5 hours while also stopping in Samarkand, Bukhara, and Urgench along the way.
Manufactured by South Korean company Hyundai Rotem and reaching speeds of up to 250 km/h, this train offers a travel experience comparable to the Afrosiyob (see above).
Inside, you’ll find spacious reclining seats, power outlets, climate control, luggage storage, onboard information screens, and accessible facilities for passengers with reduced mobility. The train is available in Economy, Business, and VIP classes, making it one of the most comfortable ways to cross Uzbekistan.
The only downside is that the train doesn’t run every day. At the time of writing, departures from Tashkent to Khiva operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, while return services from Khiva to Tashkent run on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. If you’re planning your Uzbekistan itinerary around this train, make sure to check the schedule before booking your accommodation.
Should you choose the Jaloliddin Manguberdi or the sleeper train (see below)?
If you want to maximize your sightseeing time and prefer not to spend a night on the train, the Jaloliddin Manguberdi is easily the best option. However, I still think the classic sleeper train is worth experiencing at least once. It’s more affordable, has a nostalgic Soviet-era atmosphere, and remains one of the most memorable train journeys in Central Asia.
The Sharq train
Sharq trains are older Uzbek trains that have been in use since the Soviet era. A ride in a Sharq train is definitely not as smooth as being onboard the Afrosiyob and you might feel a few bumps along the way.
They are used to reach cities and regions that are farther from the Uzbek capital like Urgench, Khiva, and cities in the Fergana Valley. A standard seat in 2nd class is called Sidyachiy (Сидячий).
The Sharq train offers:
- USB plugs in 1st class, not always in 2nd class -> bring a power bank
- Only A/C in 1st class
- free tea
- vendors selling drinks and snacks
You can take the Sharq train to travel directly between the following popular cities:
- Tashkent – Samarkand (3 hours)
- Tashkent – Bukhara (6 hours)
- Samarkand – Bukhara (2.5 hours)
- Samarkand – Tashkent (3 hours)
- Bukhara – Khiva (6 hours)
- Bukhara – Samarkand (2.5 hours)
- Bukhara – Tashkent (6 hours)
- Khiva – Bukhara (6 hours)
Sleeper trains in Uzbekistan
The overnight train is the slowest train but it’s the only one you can take to travel big distances. It’s called Passenger (Пассажирский). You can book a 2-person private sleeper (Lux / CB), a 4-person private sleeper (Kupe), or a shared sleeper (Platzkartny).
I always have traveled in Platzkartny and it’s really fun as you get some great interactions with local people!
The night train offers:
- clean sheets and pillows -> you can bring a sleeping bag liner if it makes you feel more comfortable
- USB plugs only in 1st class -> bring a power bank if you’re traveling in 2nd or 3rd class
- only A/C in 1st class
- free hot water in a big kettle near the toilets -> bring your own tea bags
- vendors selling drinks and snacks
You can take the night train if you want to travel directly between the following popular cities:
- Tashkent – Khiva (14 hours)
- Khiva – Tashkent (16 hours)
- Khiva – Bukhara (8 hours): although you have to take the night train for this route, you leave Khiva in the afternoon and arrive in Bukhara in the late evening.
Where to find the Uzbekistan Railways Schedule?
You can check the timetables for the trains in Uzbekistan via the train schedule on the website of Uzbek Railways.
While the website automatically translates to English and offers an English section, it’s still a bit difficult to navigate at times as it often shows the names of the cities in Russian.
You might have to use Google Translate in case the names are shown in Russian.
Here are the names of the most popular Uzbek cities in the Cyrillic alphabet:
Tashkent – Ташкент
Bukhara – Бухара
Khiva – Хива
Samarkand – Самарканд
How much does it cost to take a train in Uzbekistan?
Trains in Uzbekistan are very affordable and the best way to travel around the country.
To give you an idea of how much a train ticket costs, I paid 90.000 UZS ($7) for a regular seat from Tashkent to Bukhara on the Sharq train.
I paid 180.000 UZS ($16) for a regular seat from Bukhara to Tashkent on the Afrosiyob train. This was in September 2023, which was during the high season in Uzbekistan.
Here are a few more examples of how much a train ticket costs:
Prices of overnight trains from Tashkent to Khiva (14 hours):
- Platzkartny (Плацкартный): regular seat (converted into a bed) from Tashkent to Khiva: starting from 20 USD
- Kupe (Купе)= standard sleeping cabin from Tashkent to Khiva, shared between 4 people: starting from 30 USD
- Lux (CB) = luxury cabin from Tashkent to Khiva, shared between 2 people: starting from 50 USD
Prices of trains from Tashkent to Samarkand (between 3 and 4 hours):
- Regular seat (sidyachiy) from Tashkent to Samarkand with the Afrosiyob: starting from 20 USD
- Regular seat (sidyachiy) from Tashkent to Samarkand with the Sharq: starting from 8 USD
Uzbekistan Railways Tickets: How to book train tickets in Uzbekistan?
You should buy your train ticket at least a couple of days in advance if you want to be sure of a place. If you’re traveling during the high season (May – October), you should book your train tickets at least a couple of weeks in advance!
The easiest way is to book your tickets via the Uzbek Railways website or via the Uzrailway tickets app.
Note: you can only buy train tickets 45 to 30 days in advance via the website. If you see that the train isn’t available (yet), you’ll have to return daily to check.
The website and app now have an English version and although the dates and places are still mentioned in Russian, you can work it out quite easily.
How to book your Uzbekistan train tickets via the Uzbek Railways Website
- Choose your destinations and travel dates on the home page.
- The website will then ask you to register. I always use my Google account as it seems to be the easiest way. You can also register by using your email, phone number, Facebook or Telegram but I’ve received messages from readers that they’re experiencing difficulties.
- You’ll be directed to a page with an overview of the available trains and the number of seats left per train for your selected travel date:
- Afrosiyob: usually only shows the price for a regular seat = sidyachiy – Сидячий
- Sharq: usually only shows the price for a regular seat = sidyachiy – Сидячий
- Passenger (Пассажирский): this is the overnight train going from Tashkent to Khiva but also stops at the train stations of Samarkand and Bukhara. This one shows the prices for the following options: Platzkartny (Плацкартный) – regular seat/bed, Kupe (Купе) – 4-person compartment and Lux (CB) – 2-person compartment.
- Select which train you want to take on the right and press on the “Continue” button below on the right-hand side of the screen.
- You’ll be directed to a new page where you can select your seat and carriage:
- for the Jaloliddin Manguberdi, Afrosiyob and Sharq: pick the carriage and seat you like. The prices are shown above. The carriages at the front usually have 1st-class seats and are more expensive.
- for the Passenger (night train): you can choose between “top” and “lower” places. I usually book the “lower” seat as it has a seating space. The “top” is just a bed and if you want to sit, you need to ask your “lower” seat buddy to share his/ her space with you. I also choose a seat next to the window as there’s no air-conditioning in Platzkartny. It’s mentioned on the website (next to the price) if your carriage has airco or not.
- Once you’ve selected your seat and carriage, scroll down and enter your personal information. It’s required to enter your passport number. Click on the blue button (continue or Продолжать) to continue.
- Double-check your ticket details and click on the small square mentioning you “agree with the public offer”.
- You then have to select the method of payment. You can pay by credit card (via Stripe) using Visa, MasterCard, Maestro or American Express.
- Fill out the payment details. Before confirming your order, you can buy insurance but it’s not obliged.
Once your payment has gone through, you’ll be redirected to a page where you can download your train ticket. You’ll also receive your e-ticket with the QR code as a pdf document on the account you used to register.
Note: you don’t need to print out the document if you can show the ticket and its QR code on your phone.
Show the document/ QR code together with your passport when entering the train station and boarding the train.
Tip: If some shorter routes, f.eg. Khiva – Bukhara, are sold out or don’t appear on the Uzbekistan railways website, you can always book tickets from Khiva – Tashkent. You’ll have to pay a bit more but your ticket will be guaranteed.
🚆 Book Your Train Tickets in Uzbekistan
Train tickets and timetables are now also available on 12Go! website, and while the prices are slightly higher, it can be easier to book here. Note that you can also only book 45 to 30 days in advance and that the high-speed trains are often already sold out on this platform.
Check the following schedules & book your train tickets here:
How to buy your train tickets on the spot
If for some reason you’re having trouble ordering your train tickets online, you can still go directly to any train station and buy your ticket(s) at the ticket office, which is usually located next to the train station. Most clerks speak English. Don’t forget to bring your passport!
If you have a planned itinerary and you already know the dates during which you want to travel, you can even buy all your train tickets in one go. You can pay cash for the tickets or by credit card.
Things to bring on the overnight Uzbek train
- The cabins could be a bit chilly if you visit Uzbekistan during winter and take a night train. I would recommend bringing a few extra sweaters to stay warm.
- Night trains in Uzbekistan already have pillows and blankets, but bringing your sleeping bag could be a good idea.
- People are going between the different wagons selling snacks and sandwiches but these tend to be a bit pricey so it’s better to bring your own snacks if you want to save some money.
- There are generally no plugs to charge your laptop or phone on the night trains in Uzbekistan so bring a power bank.
- Another good thing to bring on an overnight train is a stainless steel mug, instant coffee, and instant noodles. These trains usually have a hot water dispenser in every wagon so it’s very easy to make a quick coffee or some noodles on the go.
- Last but not least, I would recommend bringing some toilet paper. These trains have toilets but tend to run out of toilet paper quickly.
Traveling the Silk Road by Train
One of the most beautiful things about train travel in Uzbekistan is how effortlessly it connects the country’s highlights.
A classic route looks like this: Tashkent → Samarkand → Bukhara → Khiva → Tashkent
I hope this guide will help you to get around Uzbekistan by train easily.
I want to keep my guides updated and if you notice that something has changed concerning taking the train in Uzbekistan or some important information is missing, let me and other readers know in the comments below so I can update the info accordingly.
| 👉Tashkent City Guide | 👉Samarkand City Guide |
| 👉Bukhara City Guide | 👉Khiva City Guide |
| 👉Shahrisabz City Guide | 👉 Karakalpakstan Guide |
| 👉Fergana Valley Guide |
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Uzbekistan Travel Itinerary (2026): 1, 2, 3 & 4 Week Travel Routes + Tips
Uzbekistan Money Guide (2026) – How much does it cost to live and travel in Uzbekistan?
What are the Best Places to visit in Uzbekistan in 2026?
Hi Cynthia,
I just bought two tickets through the Uzbekistan Railways app, to travel on the sleeper from Bukhara to Khiva on Sunday May 17, 2026 – everything seemed to work smoothly but when I received the tickets by email (immediately) they were for the Saturday May 16 departure. I backtracked in the app and confirmed that I did indeed order tickets for May 17. I just wrote to Uz Railways support (using Google Translate) and am waiting for a reply. Have you ever heard of this happening?
Hi Marc, sorry to hear about this and unfortunately, I can’t help you further. I haven’t heard yet of this happening, it must be a mistake within the app. Let me know when you get a reply!
Uzbekistan Railways customer support did not reply so I requested a refund and purchased new tickets for the correct date on 12go (for a small extra fee) – but believe it or not, this time one of the seats I booked was changed… at least (I guess!) we will get to Khiva even if we can’t sit together on the way there. Thank you for providing this space, Cynthia, it is very helpful to be able to share these tales!
Hi Marc, this is very useful informaton so thank you for sharing! It’s also good to know that it went ok to purchase tickets via 12go (sometimes the extra fee is worth the energy saved :D). Have a fantastic journey!
Hi.. im buying train tix from Tashkent to Samarkand (Sharq) but im concerned about the seating arrangements. i wanted to buy a forward-facing seat but i have no idea the train is going which way as it does not stated on the website.
Hi Cynthia,
Our group of 3 people plans to take a 6-hour, overnight sleeper Sharq train from Khiva to Bukhara in September 2026. The train departs Khiva at 16:25, arriving Bukhara at 22:54.
We would like to book tickets for the 2-person private sleeper. I read on many posts that tickets for the 2-person private sleepers sell out very quickly (sometimes within an hour). I have several questions, and thought that with your vast knowledge about train travel in Uzbekistan, you might be able to navigate me through my concerns.
(1) How many days ahead of the travel date does the reservation window open for the Khiva-Bukhara segment? I have read that the reservation window for Uzbekistan Railways opens anywhere for 30 to 60 days ahead of the travel date, but cannot find the specific time for this segment.
(2) What time of the day does the reservation window open? I want to be sure that I sign on the reservation site right away to ensure securing tickets.
(3) It appears that there are only SIX 2-person private sleepers available on this train, a very limited availability. Is my interpretation of what I am reading on the Uzbekistan Railway ticket-booking site correct?
(4) Can the third person in our group reserve the entire 2-person private sleeper for himself? He does not want to share his sleeper with any strangers.
Enjoyed reading your informative posts.
Thanks
Hi Mj,
1) & 2) Booking specific train tickets during high season in Uzbekistan is a challenge. Usually,the sales open about 60 days ahead of the travel date but is often limited for tour companies. Then it opens around 45 days for the general public. There’s no specific time slot so what I would recommend is trying every day, from 60 days before your travel date, to see if you can secure the tickets… (I know it’s a hassle but it will be the best way).
3) yes, there private sleepers are limited
4) yes, you can reserve the entire private sleeper for yourself if you pay the cost for 2 people
Hope this helps. Best wishes, Cynthia
Hi Cynthia, thank you so much for all this info! Is there a difference with the website
e-ticket.railway.uz and eticket.railway.uz ? I bought a ticket on eticket and then another on e-ticket. Checked the validity of the ticket numbers from both and they’re both valid. Is there a reason for the difference in the websites?
Hi Di, except for the website lay-out, there doesn’t seem to be a difference as they’re both official sites from the Uzbekistan Railway Company.
sometimes website get stocked and railway decide to make it two website, so many people can check and buy tickets online at the same time.
That’s interesting, thanks Sultan!
Hi, I’ll be in Uzbekistan from end of October to November (off-season?). How many days in advance would you need to book? I’ll be in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan too, so unsure on dates – I tend to play things by ear, and may decide to spend more time these countries if I enjoy them.
If it is recommended that I book the tickets now for piece of mind, then I’ll book in the dates I think I’ll be there – but is there an option for refundable tickets so I have flexibility? Is that what the “insurance” option is?
Hi Sash, as you’ll travel during off-season, you should still be able to book tickets 2 weeks in advance. There’s no option for refundable tickets. The insurance option is more for local travelers. Hope this helps!
Hi Cynthia
We are planning to travel through Uzbekistan in September and will be taking trains between the cities. We are in our 60s and 70s and not as agile as younger people. Wondering if the train stations accomodate for people with mobility problems (have lifts or escalators) and if there are any services to assist people with mobility issues. Many thanks
Hello! I honestly can’t recall if there were lifts or escalators at the train stations. I’ve seen people with mobility problems before so I would assume that they can assist you. I’m very sorry I can’t give you a clear answer. Best wishes, Cynthia
Hi Cythia, thank you for the information, i have something that i want to ask, is it bearable to ride on 3rd/2nd class sleeper train from tashkent-bukhara for more than 7 hours in July with no Aircon at day, i can’t choose Afrosiyob or Sharq train bcs the timetable didnt match my itinerary, or do you recommend Intercity Bus?
Hi Dhe, I can tell you that it’s hot without airco. I haven’t used the intercity bus yet.
Hello. Thank you for this information. This may help.
I’ve just booked using the Uzbekistan Railways website. A few hints are:
Most importantly – Persist!
1. Set up an account using your email, and log on before you start booking.
2. Practice using dummy data/earlier dates so you know what to expect e.g. it shows the carriage direction, a choice of carriages, seats. Just don’t enter your card details.
3.Currently the website is opening up train bookings at around 7:00 AM UK time so about 12:00 noon. Today is 18 March and booked for 18 May – so *2* months in advance. Start the booking process 15 minutes early, and keep logging in. I think the system only lets a few or maybe one user in at a time so you might get the dreaded swirl, just come out and try again, from scratch.
4. If you find that the website is suspended then that is good news because they are about to release the next batch of tickets.
5. The notice will tell you when it will reopen (it only closes for 30 minutes).
6. You know it has reopened when you see a plan of carriages and so book furiously as it gives you 12 minutes in total I believe. Select class by changing carriages, select seats and direction, then you need names, passport details, etc which you will be familiar with from practicing
7. You can pay by card (I used Mastercard) – I used the second payment box (the first method/bank) bounced and I had to start again, grr.
8. Get them to send you a copy in an email, there is a box to tick for this. Print it.
Hi Scott, this is very helpful, thanks for sharing!
Hi, thanks for the amazing tips. You said that night trains from Tashkent to Khiva departs from north station, but I just bought the ticket and it says south according to google translate (ТАШКЕНТ ЮЖНЫЙ), why is that?
Hi Rute, yes, I’ve always embarked the train at the nothern station. There might be trains leaving or passing at the southern station too.
Hi,
First thanks for your detailed and very usefull information.
I’m trying to book a night train from Tashkent to Khiva (14th june).
There’s 2 options starting at the same hour 22:48. One 076Ф the journey takes 14:50h and the other 125Ф that takes 13:59h. I thinh the second one comes from Andijan. Of course i prefer the one that takes a shorter journey time. But there are other aspects to consider? Quality train? Confort? The fact that one comes from Andijan…?
Thanks
Hi Pedro,
It will be the exact same train. The longer journey time is probably due to extra and/or longer stops.
Hi, I have bought many tickets, but I dont know how to recognize if I am going with Afrosiyob or Sharq, how can I recognize on the ticket? Thank you!
Hello,
thanks for the very detailed guide to Uzbekistan.
I’m starting to plan a trip for next spring.
I know train tickets can be purchased only 45 days before.
I’m puzzled by domestic air tickets, as usually they can be bought several months in advance, while on Uzbekistan Airways this does not seem possible.
I’ve seen another domestic airline Silkavia, but I could reach the web site very slowly and no answer…what’s your experience with domestic air travel in Uzbekistan?
Hi Michele, I always flew with Uzbekistan Airways for domestic flights and find them really good. I don’t have experience with the other domestic airlines.
Hi! I am trying to book the trains but it is actually pretty messy. There are so many options that seem fully booked from months for the end of September, and also no options available for Bukhara to Khiva. Any suggestion on when and how to book trains in an efficient manner? It became quite a nightmare to daily check for availability and only see the longest or inconvenient ones.
Thank you!
Hi Simona, September is one of the busiest months to travel in Uzbekistan so a lot of travel agencies have booked out the train tickets as soon as they’re available. One trick would be to book for a long distance train ride, f.eg. Tashkent to Khiva and board the train in Bukhara.
Hello Cynthia.
Excellent article and valuable information for those of us who are thinking of visiting Uzbekistan soon. Specifically next month.
Could you tell me if there is a luggage storage at the Kokand or Margilan train station?
That information would be very useful to us.
Thank you and congratulations for your blog.
Hi Juanma, I can’t honestly not remember if there’s luggage storage available at Kokand or Margilan station… I know there is in Tashkent but not sure if this is helpful.
Don’t worry. All information is valuable. Now I know that, at the moment, there are three stations that have luggage storage (the one you mentioned Tashkent, Samarkand and Andijan). This makes me think that perhaps most stations in cities have this service.
In a few days I will have my doubts resolved and I will come back to let you know.
Thank you for your help.
Very helpful article! I’m about to travel in uzbekistan in 2 weeks. The train from tashkent to bukhara with the afrosiyob costed 30€, from the official train site.
Great site. Love reading about this type of travel. Wishing everyone safe and wonderful travel.
Thank you Andrew!
Hi, probably you can help 🙂 I am trying tpo book Train #011Ф Sharq from Bukhara to Samarkan on 09 JUly at 05:31 but tickets are not available, neither on Uzbekistan Railway website nor on the app. I tried contacting a local travel agency and they simply said “keep on monitoring”. Do you have any clue why?
Hi Giovanni, I don’t know exacty why but it’s a common issue. With “keep on monitoring”, they mean to try daily. Sometimes it shows availability, sometimes it doesn’t. Have you tried Bukhara to Tashkent? Did it show the same?
Hello,
I’m planning on taking the night train from Tashkent to Shiva.
I’m wondering which trainstation should I use in Tashkent?
Tashkent North aka Tashent Central OR Tashkent South Station (Usman ?
Kind Regards
Hi Yves, the night trains leave from Tashkent North
Hi Cynthia, I’m a bit puzzled because numerous sourcs say it is south.
E.g. https://railway.uz/en/uslugi/turizm/ proposes a trip to Khiva.
ps : can you delete my second name in previous post, thank you
Regards
Yves
Hi Yves, this is the location of the Tashkent train station from where I always took the night train to Khiva.
Hallo, we booked a night train from Urgench to Taskent, how is the SV compartment? Is it like a cabin or it is open? Is there a window? The toilet is common for the all wagon? Thank you! Maria
Hi Maria, there’s a door attached to the cabin and there are windows in the cabin. The toilets are used by the whole wagon.
Hello,
We are a family, two adults and our daughter of 3 years old. I booked the night train from Tashkent to Bukhara , coupe class. I booked two different tickets with two different seats numbers. Does it mean we will have one cabin for us to sleep in or they will put with strangers ?
I’m really confused
Thanks in advance for your reply.
Bouchra
Hi Bouchra, a cabin fits 4 people so if you booked 2 places, there will very likely be 2 more people in the cabin.
Hello, I am planning my trip to Uzbekistan but it seems it is a bit late to get Lux cabin for two of us. Can I book the entire coupe even we are two travelers? What might be an option that Lux cabin would be still available when buying at the train station (trip: Tashkent-Khiva)?
Hi Dariusz, you can book the entire coupe if you pay for all the 4 beds available 🙂 You can always inquire at the train station in Tashkent but if you’re planning to travel soon to Uzbekistan, chances are high it will be sold out (it’s high season now).
Hi, I just tried to book an entire coupe for two of us but the railways website demanded 4 different names and passport numbers. Is there a way around this?
Hi Anne, have you tried entering your name and passport number twice or did this not work?
Amazing information. I will save the article. Thank you.
Thank you 🙂
Hello! Thank you for the extremely helpful guide!
We want to go from Bukhara to Khiva with the night train, but it seems that there are no free seats. Could we instead book tickets from Navoi to Khiva and get on board in Bukhara?
Hi Dimitris, if the train has a stop in Bukhara then yes, you can do that.
Thanks for this guide, it helped me a lot!
Hello, and thanks for your blog. Do you know if there is luggage storage at the railway in Tashkent? Thanks!
Kris
Hi Kris, yes, there should be luggage storage at the railway station in Tashkent
Hello Cynthia,
Thank you for such a complete blog…
My name is Rima, from Malaysia.
I will be travelling to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan starting 21/5/24 – 31/5/24. Based on your experience & knowledge, what is the best route from Central Asia for me to reach Moscow by train?
Thank you,
Rima
Hi Rima, I haven’t traveled from Central Asia to Moscow by train but your best option would be via Kazakhstan. I hope this helps.
O tried to buy tickets but now only Uzbek credit card is supported. I can’t use my Visa or MasterCard. Anyone experiencing the same?
Experiencing the same. Incredibly frustrating. I am about to fly in at Saturday and hope that there are still some places left for the next day. I think I will have to buy it at the spot.
Paying with Google Pay works now, at least most of the time and with multiple tries.
Cynthia, I booked on 12go.asia, including for Business Class, and it was painless apart from the rather hefty credit card charge (we are not used to this since credit card charges are illegal in the UK). Our e-tickets both showed ’33’ in front of our passport numbers so I assume this a way of identifying foreigners. Best wishes, Crispin
Hi Cynthia,
Thanks for the wealth of information.
We are 4 people travelling to the beautiful country in January, I wanted to know if the time is good & also, if the bullet trains would be available that time. you also mentioned, “Afrosiyob: usually only shows the price for a regular seat = sidyachiy – Сидячийthe”, is there a way I can check the price and book other class tickets too?
Hi Kalyan, it will be cold in January but it’s a good time to visit as there won’t be many travelers around 🙂 I haven’t found a way yet how to book the other class tickets for the Afrosiyob.
I think I found some other website tutu that has tickets by class as well…
And thank you.
Which website is it? And does it work? Let me know as this can be useful to others 🙂
Hi Cynthia,
Thank you again for all the great information! I am trying to book my trip for may 2024 and I am facinga a lot of issues right now. I am trying to go from Urgench to Tashkent. My first idea was to go by plane, however now at the uzbekistan airways you can only find tickets until march 30 2024 for this route. Do you have any idea if they cancel this route by plane? Do you recommend any other option? I have already sent countless messages to the airline but with no sucess.
Best,
Lia
Hi Lia, you’ll have to be patient as you can only book 5 to 6 months in advance for plane tickets and 4 to 6 weeks in advance for train tickets. There’s no other option.
Best wishes
Hi Cynthia, thanks for the excellent information about how to book train tickets. I’m aware that there are no wheelchair spaces on the Sharq trains but I was wondering if there is sufficient luggage space to stow a folding wheelchair (for a passenger who can walk a short distance to a seat)? Also, I see on the Uzbek Railways website that passengers are limited to 15kg of luggage each – is there an option to pay for extra luggage? Do you think they would count a wheelchair in the luggage allowance?
Thanks for your help!
Hi Helen; I don’t have any experience with traveling with a wheelchair (and I haven’t met people in a wheelchair in Uzbekistan so far) so I’m not sure if I can help. What I can tell you is that they never weighed my luggage when boarding the train. The luggage is usually stored at both ends of the carriage and each carriage has an assistant so I’m pretty sure, knowing how helpful the Uzbek people are, that they will help stowing the wheelchair. I can’t tell you tho if you’d have to pay extra for it… If you’re deciding to go on this trip, please let me know how it went as this could be very useful information for other travelers!
Hi! Very helpful guide! Just wanted to say that when I booked my ticket on the website for the Afrosiyob train, where you enter your name it says 1) Surname 2) Name {first} 3) Name of Father. When the E-ticket was generated it appears that “Name of Father” is actually for your middle name. Will do that for the next trains!
Hi William, thank you for this info! While this didn’t appear when I booked my train tickets, it might for other people so useful to know! Have a great trip!
Hi,
Thanks for the information really helpful.
I don’t know if you know the answer to this but I am trying to book a train ticket from Khiva to Bukhara and for the date selected ‘no seats are available’ however for the same date seats are available from Khiva to Samarkand. Is it the case that the train will stop a Bukhara and I could just get off there?
Thanks
Hi Tom, yes, this seems to be a “hack” to get train tickets. It will cost you a bit more but at least you’ll have a seat 🙂
Hi! again, thank you for the very usefull information! Do you think thta the 2reverse of oyur trivck is possible? i mean i have to go form Bukhara to Nukus but tickets aren’t on sale yet. May i buy a samarkand- Nukus ticket? I’m afraid they will not allow me to enter in the the Bukhara station.
Thank you so much again! Your guide is the best! greetings from Italy
Hi Angela, if you buy a Samarkand – Nukus ticket and you decide to get off in Bukhara, that won’t be a problem at all. Just know that you can’t use the same ticket anymore to continue your journey to Nukus (if that’s your plan) at a later time/date.
Dear Cynthia,
Thank you so much for all this information – the website is a gold mine!!
I am going to Uzbekistan at the end of this month and would actually would like to go back to Angela’s question, as I have the exact same issue and did not really understand your answer.
I will need to take a night train from Bukhara to Nukus, but both the public railway website and the Tutu.travel website say that it is not possible to book (saying no seats are available – but it says the same thing for every date I look at so that must be some sort of error). But if I use the hack described above and search for Samarkand-Nukus overnight, it shows availability. I would like to know if I can book this Samarkand-Nukus train (although it will be more expensive than a ‘normal’ Bukhara-Nukus), but actually join the train only in Bukhara. Like Angela, I am worried that I may not be allowed to board the train in Bukhara if my ticket says my journey should start in Samarkand.
Otherwise, I was wondering whether the fact that the websites say the trains are not bookable is just an online issue and that it would be just fine to book on-site once I arrive in Uzbekistan (I would just prefer booking before I arrive, just to be sure I have a spot for the overnight, as I will have an Aral sea trip starting the following morning in Nukus).
Thank you so much for your help 🙂
Best wishes from Belgium
Leopold
Hi Leopold,
I probably misunderstood Angela’s question. But yes, you can book a seat from Samarkand to Nukus and get on the train in Bukhara. You’ve paid for that seat so it will be there for you, even tho you get on the train at a different station. There are some glitches and errors in the system. It sometimes will show suddenly that seat would be available so you need to keep trying or using this hack 🙂
Hi Cynthia, I have a question regarding road conditions. My family of 4 needs to go from Bukhara to Khiva on a wednesday. We are considering two options: 1) by plane, taking a flight that also stops at Tashkent or by 2) by cab/taxi. We know it is a 7 hour drive, but my main concern is regarding bathroom condition in the road. Is there any decent place to stop in the road?
Hi Lia, I’ve always traveled this route by train so I wouldn’t know. Sorry that I can’t help you with this information.
No problems, your website is already helping us a lot. Another question: What are the main agencies to buy railroad tickets since it´s hard to book by myself? Final question: do you know any tour agency that might be able to answer my question on road conditions.
You can contact Advantour for train booking services (they’ll ask for a service fee). They might be able to answer your question about the road conditions as well.
First of all, this is an excellent guide.
I am going to Uzbekistan in October, and looked into buying train tickets (right now still outside the 45 day limit).
Tried to register / login: It only accepts an Uzbek phone. If you put in a fake number, next they want to send an SMS to this number!
But at the bottom of the login site you have the option to log in via social networks. I used my gmail and it worked!
Best regards & safe travels,
Heiner
Hi Sylvia, thank you for such a great guide. I’m travelling solo and planning to overnight Nukus-Tashkent in early September. I know platzkart has no a/c – do the windows open? And can you see out the window on the top bunk? If that’s where the window opens for fresh air that’s where I want to be 😉 Thank you!
Hi Rebecca, the windows open on the top bunk and you can see out the window on the top bunk so it’s a good spot 🙂 Have a great time in Uzbekistan!
Hi Cynthia,
thank you so much for providing all the really useful information and for even updating it regularly – that’s really very helpul for planning our trip to Uzbekistan for this November!
It’s still to early to book the train tickets, but as to the Uzbekistan railway website I made a strange observation when trying to check the timetables: not regarding whether I log in via the account I created or via my Google account, whether I use Chrome or Edge – for all dates which should be available now within 45 days and for all directions the result for all trains is always “no seats available” . This has be going on during the last 7 days. This worries me a bit, because I’d like to pre-book our accomodations what means we are not flexible as to travel dates when we’d be able to buy the tickets only in Taschkent driectly.
Maybe you might have you heard anything about this? Or maybe it would be a good idea to book the tickets via advantour once we are within the 45 days (do you know how much they charge extra)?
Cheers from Germany, Katrin
Hi Katrin, yes, I’ve had many reports on this issue and dealt with it myself. You should check DAILY and refresh the page often. Know that the Afrosiyob trains are probably already sold out for September as this is a very popular month to travel. Travel agencies have priority for booking train tickets (unfortunately). Best wishes
I contacted a travel agent in Tashkent that I am using for other arrangements.
Asking her to purchase train tickets for, here is her response. Sheds light at the challenges to buy train tickets:
We purchase the tickets from the same railway web-site. Officially the sale opens 45 days prior to the date.
Unofficially, their management may block the sale on some routes and dates without announcing the real reason. For example, they can withhold the seats in speed trains for some dates expecting the requests from the governmental structures. It happens if any international level summit or conference is expected in Samarkand. Or, for example, when they plan to provide the group tickets upon request of schools for children excursions, etc. If in the end the tickets were not requested, they release them for common travelers. Thus we can suddenly see some tickets appearing in the system, sometimes even prior to the date of travel. All this makes tickets purchase a sort of hunting. Last few days I have been hunting for 2 tickets for September 29th for the tour, and though sales opened yesterday, all speed trains shown there were sold out. Well, I will patiently monitor the system until a miracle happens:)
It may seem highly illogical. However, it is just a regular fact of our life and we used to deal with it. And this is the main reason why we in general stopped offering tickets purchase, having no guarantee of successful service.
Hello,
Thank you for this very helpful guide!
We have two questions:
Are there train connections between Kasachstan and Usbekistan (or bus)?
Is it possible to take bicycles on the trains in Usbekistan?
Best regards
Elena & Vincent
Hi Elena, yes, there are bus and trains traveling between Tashkent (Uzbekistan) and Shymkent and Almaty (Kazakhstan). I’m not sure if you can take your bicycles on the trains, there isn’t much storage space but I think it should be possible. Best way would be to inquire directly at the train station(s).
hello,
thank you for all information, it was perfect to learn something from you about Uzbekistan. We will go there with our baby. I would like to take night train from samarkand to hive ı check the website. However there are just 4 bed rooms. I couldnt see 2 bed room(first class). I checked too many days all of them just start from 4th train cabin(wagon) do you know how ı can solve it?
Hi Anil, it seems that there are no 2 bed room cabins are available. You can always pay for the whole cabin, but this means you’ll pay for 4 people…
HI thanks, I just wonder about OVIR in Uzbekistan. Do tourist still to register every time they are changing cities and hotels? Thanks
Hi Taufik, yes but nowadays, in most places, this happens online and is linked with your passport.
Very informative and nice article. I wished to know if its possible to travel by train from Tashkent -> Samarkand -> Dushanbe (Tajikistan). And how to book such a journey?
Hi Ankit, you can’t travel by train to Tajikistan. You can take a (shared) taxi from Samarkand to Penjikent (Tajikistan) or a bus from Tashkent to Khujand and from there another bus to Dushanbe.
Hi Cynthia,
after my last pretty pessimistic comment – good news! I managed to buy the ticket easily with the help of my son and his Italian Visa card. I suppose it’s just a matter of trial and error with different cards.
All the best, Dave
Hi Dave, thanks for the update and fantastic news that it worked! Have a great trip to Uzbekistan!
Hi, great information! I’m taking the train from Samarqand to Khiva next month and I’m just curious if the train stays entirely within Uzbekistan? I wouldn’t need a transit visa for Turkmenistan or anything?
Hi AJ, you don’t need to worry about any transit visas. The train journeys remains in Uzbekistan.
Hi Cynthia,
firstly, congratulations on such an informative and useful site!
I have travelled by train in the past in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Kyrgyzstan, so I’m not completely useless at these things, but for the last 24 hours I have been battling the Uzbek trains site unsuccessfully.
I’ve used an Italian Visa, and a British MasterCard, with three different browsers, and the problem is always at the point where the card security kicks in and the card supplier is supposed to send me an SMS to check that the transaction is genuine – and at this point the transaction is cancelled. Even worse, the British MasterCard lists the transaction as “transaction pending” even though the operation crashed and I got no ticket, although presumably that might get cancelled in a couple of days.
Do you have any suggestions?
I’m going to try tomorrow with my son’s and my neighbour’s cards, but if this continues, do you by any chance know of an agent in Uzbekistan who could book me the tickets with cheap commission?
Last problem. When I write in my passport number, say 123456789, it is recorded as 33123456789 as presumably Uzbek or Russian passports have 11 digits. Do you have any idea if these fictitious digits would cause problems when boarding the train (presuming I ever manage to book a ticket!)
A lot of questions!
Any help would be very welcome. Thanks in advance.
All the best, Dave
Hi Dave, I’m sorry to hear that your experiencing issues when trying to book train tickets. The system doesn’t always work 100%. You can contact Advantour as they offer booking services. I also can’t really help you concerning the passport number, I haven’t encountered this problem so don’t know how to fix this. Sorry that I can’t be of any more help.
Beste Cynthia,
Ik heb nu 2 treintickets via de link gekocht. Het hele proces verliep vlot, de betaling staat ook gereserveerd bij mijn credit card, maar ik heb geen tickets ontvangen, ook niet doorgestuurd geweest naar een link. Moet ik mij nu zorgen maken?
Hoi Silvio, heb je er een mailtje van gekregen?
Hello!
Do you know if trains heading from Tashkent/Samarkand/Bukhara to Urgench or Khiva are completely suspended after June 1st ?
We were checking on different days of the week for June 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th (that is, less than 45 days away), but there’s nothing for sale. Can’t be sould out neither, we were checking every day from the theoretical beginning of the ticket sale.
On the other hand, there is no information to be found on suspension, construction works or whatsoever…
Thanks 🙂
Hi John, the trains aren’t suspended. The system seems to have some issues these days – an overload of bookings, I assume, noticing how many people are contacting me concerning booking train tickets :D. I would keep trying. You might be able to book them closer to the dates.
Hi Cynthia!
Thank you for the useful info on Uzbek Trains. QQ: I am looking to book the faster Afrosiyob train in mid-May, the website says there are no tickets available. Is that due to them being sold out? Or have they yet to release the tickets (its about 36 days out from when I would be booking them, which falls in the 45 day window you mentioned above). Do the seats sell out that quickly? Or is there something I’m missing?
Appreciate your intel! It’s most helpful 🙂
Lizzie
Hi Lizzie, I’m currently in Uzbekistan and asked my local partners and yes, the Afrosiyob trains are selling out extremely fast at the moment. You might still be able to book seats on the Sharq train.
Hi,
Do you think I’ll be able to get fast-train tickets day before departure or on the departure day? It’s not possible to get them on-line (neither 45days before planned trip date).
Anyone in Uzbekistan now and could get me tickets from the train station?
#help #please
Hi Kris, I’m afraid you won’t be able to book the Afrosiyob the day before or on the departure day. These trains are very popular and selling out fast. Some people check the website daily to see if seats become available and are sometimes lucky. You can try this or book the Sharq train instead.
Hi Lizzie, I bought an Afrosiyob ticket a few days ago for the 24th of May, but I experienced the same thing and I found out some of the “not available” just weren´t available yet. So I´d refresh the website every day until the day I wanted, went on sale. Nevertheless, I could see they sell very fast and there were only a few left later on.
Hey Cynthia! I love your guide, it’s so detailed! Unfortunately, there are no trains available from Samarkand to Khiva for when I am traveling next week. I was wondering if you were aware of buses and how often they travel from Samarkand to Khiva.
Thanks for your help!
Zobeideh
Hi Zobeideh, there are no buses going from Samarkand to Khiva, only sleeper trains. Lots of trains are indeed sold out already…
Hi Cynthia, thanks for a great website and source of information. I truly hope you will be able to help me. I want to buy a Afrosiyob train ticket from Tashkent to Bukhara for two people on May 12th but it only says No Seats. I’ve checked other days too, but I can’t find a single available train on Afrosiyob in any class. I know they sell out fast, but not a single seat on any train between tomorrow until end of May, regardless of destination seems a bit odd. Am I missing something here?
Thanks Kristina
Hi Kristina, the Afrosiyob train tickets are selling out extremely fast. I’ve checked with my local guides (I’m currently in Uzbekistan) and May will be a very touristic month… Your best chance will be the Sharq train.
Hi Cynthia,
My sister and I are coming in the coming weeks to Uzbekistan for a few days but with poor planning! Your page has been our go-to for information. We’ve tried accessing the railways website and navigating. When selecting a route (e.g., Tashkent – Bukhara on 29Apr), there are only 2 options available (other options are greyed out). Are the greyed out options truly not available? Should we try our luck and buy the tickets in Tashkent on the day (or 1 day before?)? Thanks!
Hi Iva, if you’re looking for the Afrosiyob train, I’m afraid that those are sold out… Uzbekistan is expecting a lot of tourists in May… Your best chance will be to book seats on the Sharq train.
Hi Cynthia,
Thank you so much for all the details! My family and I are travelling to Uzbekistan late may and June. We will take the overnight train from Tashkent to Khiva, we know it’s long but it will be an experience.. Our 2 sons are 3 and 4,5 year old, do we have to buy a separate ticket/bed for them as well? We will probably sleep next to them on a bed anyway. I was thinking of the lux cabin with only 2 beds for the 4 of us but not sure if that works out with 2 adult tickets. If not the cabin with 4 beds.
Love to hear your thoughts!
Regards
Susanne
Hi Susanne, I’m not sure if it would work with 2 adult tickets but I assume it would as you pay per seat/bed. However, know that the beds are very small so it might not be so comfortable sharing one bed with 2.
Best wishes,
Cynthia
cythia,
thx for all the tips! i have a few questions
1-looks like tix dont open up until 60 days before…correct?
2-If i take the “night train” from Khiva to Bukhara…..what time does it leave and how to I get AC please
3-do you know which is the best train station on the Almaty toTash line tranfer from Bishkek to Tashkent
4-do they sell beer in 1st class and if not can i bring any alcohol on the train. It made my Trans Sib adventure more fun esp when i bought a round
Btw I am going in July 2023, my plan is 2 days each Tash, Khiva, Buk, Sam
thoughts
Hi Joe,
1. Yes, you can only book 2 to 3 months in advance.
2. This train leaves in the early morning or late afternoon from Khiva. You can find the time table on the train website. AC is only possible in 1st class.
3. Not sure what you mean here? I have a post about how to get directly from Bishkek to Tashkent (only possible by bus), which you can read here. The info you’re looking for might be in there.
4. They don’t sell alcohol on the trains but you can bring some yourself. Just be discreet about it.
Your plan sounds good, you can visit the highlights of all cities in 2 days. Have a good trip!
Hello Cynthia,
I love your pages (and photos) which I am devouring as I plan our holiday in Uzbekistan.
I am looking to book the Khiva to Bukhara train for my wife and me and don’t see any 2-berth cabins. I know you like to share but is it possible to book all 4 berths in a cabin for just the two of us?
Failing that, do you recommend booking two lower bunks or one upper and one lower?
Thanks
Hi David, you can normally book all 4 berths for the two of you. If this wouldn’t work out, I recommend booking an upper and lower one. Hope this helps. Have a great holiday!
Hi Cynthia, I read your post and would like to thank you very much for your all the information about Uzbekistan. Do you know how I can get to Turkmenistan from either Bukhara or Khiva. By Rail or Bus or Shared Taxi. Any issue crossing the Border? Thank you and kind regards. KK Yap
Hi KK Yap, unfortunately, Turkmenistan is still closed to travelers and it will stay like this for the unforeseeable future.
Hello Cynthia,
Would we need to book our Sharq and Afrosiyob train tickets 60 days in advance for travel in mid August? Even though August is very hot in Uzbekistan, is that month still considered high season?
We are flying into Khiva and heading out south to the other Silk Road cities from there to avoid backtracking.
Hi Hansle,
The Afrosiyob train sells out quickly, even when it’s not high season, so I would book in advance (it’s 45 days instead of 60).
Best wishes,
Cynthia
IT IS OPEN only w a tour and lots of hassle
Hi Joe, yes, that’s indeed the latest update. Apparently Turkmenistan opened its doors to tourists again but one can only go there by organized tour.
Hi Cynthia,
You have provided such a detailed information on Uzbekistan that my wife and I are planning a travel there this year. Should we need any further information, we will surely send a message. Thanks!
Hi Barin, I’m so happy to hear this, thank you!
Hi,
I am referring to:
“How to book your Uzbekistan train tickets online
[…]
You then have to register via your email, Google, Facebook, or Telegram account.”
I seem not to be able to register:
– entering my e-mail address results in: “Email or phone number is not valid.”
– clicking on Google under “Login under social networks” brings back the same page as the one seen before clicking.
Any hints?
Hi Willem,
I was able to register and book my tickets via my gmail address. Not sure how to solve your problem… Maybe try another email address? Worst case, you can always book all your tickets at the train station in Tashkent…
Hi Cynthia and thank you for all the great information…Do you happen to know if there are cash machines at the train station at Khiva? I don’t arrive in Tashkent…
Also can I just clarify there is only one train station in Samarkand but two train stations at Bukhara and Tashkent? Do you know which ones are that connect the cities between them (e.g. Samarkand-Tashkent, or Khiva-Bukhara? Many thanks
Hi Maria, if I remember well, there should be an ATM machine at the train station in Khiva. If not, you’ll find plenty of them in and around the city.
Bukhara has only one train station for passengers (the other one is for freight trains), located in Kagan, a 30-minute drive from the old city of Bukhara. All trains from Samarkand or Khiva arrive there.
As for Tashkent, there are indeed 2 train stations. The one you need to travel to Samarkand f.eg. is the Northern train station, also called Stantsiya Tashkent. I hope this helps!
Hi Cynthia,
Thanks for typing all this up, it’s been very useful. I checked out the Tashkent-Khiva night trains and in the listing I saw either “reserved seat/Плацкартный”, “Купе (which I think is the 4 berth)”, and “SB (СВ in Russian)”. I’m guessing SB is the 2 berth, but strangely there was only ever 1 place available if it was ever listed. Reckon this is accurate? The private berths of night trains in Turkey has become very popular and I’m wondering if it’s happened here too, or are there just very few places to begin with.
FWIW the prices I saw listed for this were 148,510; 223,240; and 405,540 som.
Hi John, maybe they have been booked already? I’ve never booked the SB, I always booked the “reserved seat” or the Kupe. And yes, the prices might have changed over the last few months, especially now that it’s high-season in Uzbekistan.
cynthia,
$40 for the private a/c 2 bed is what you estimated.
Yes but prices tend to change. You can find the current price on the train website 🙂
Hi Cynthia: i will be going to Uzbekistan October 3-13. i’m still working on the train tickets today, but i quickly realized that from Khiva to Bukhara leaves around 4 pm, and arrives at 12:15 am in Bukhara which is somehow inconvenient travelling at night but i read is not dangerous if i take a taxi to my hotel in the middle of the night. I would prefer to arrive during the day. Is there any other transportation like mini vans leaving from khiva or Urgench during the day?
Hi Richard,
You should be able to take a shared taxi from Urgench to Bukhara but know that it will be a long (and possibly uncomfortable) journey.
It is indeed not dangerous to travel at night. Install the taxi app if you can so you can easily order a taxi upon your arrival in Bukhara.
Hi Cynthia,
Thank you for your guide about Uzbekistan.
Please give me 4 informations:
1.
I have a MasterCard. Are there some ATMs in main towns like Urgench, Samarkand, Taschkent that accept it ?
2.
In September is it possible to have train tickets in the train stations for the next day ?
3.
Many trains arrive in the night. Is it safe at 01:00 in the train station ? and taxi at night ?
4.
In booking.com most accomodations are rooms in a private house. Is it certain to get a registration slip there ?
Thank you for the responses
Hi Philippe,
1) There are ATM’s in Tashkent and Samarkand that will accept your MasterCard. However, don’t rely on it too much and take out cash in Tashkent before continuing your trip in Uzbekistan.
2) Yes, it is possible but you can also easily book your train tickets online nowadays.
3) Yes, it is safe in Uzbekistan, even at night.
4) You don’t need a registration slip anymore so no worries about that 🙂
Hope this info helps! Have a great trip in Uzbekistan!
Do you know if there is luggage storage at the Tashkent train station? Arriving from Samarkand and have to cover a few hours before a flight. Thanks. Love the blog
Hi Chad,
I can’t tell you for sure but I would assume that they offer luggage storage at the train station in Tashkent. If you’re going there and ask, can you let me know in case other travelers would have the same question? Thank you!
Hi there. Just got back from Uzbekistan last week. With regards to luggage storage at Tashkent train station, yes, there is one on the B1 floor. There is a sign “YUK SAQLASH XONASI”. Costs 3,000 soms per bag/24 hours. You will need to present your train ticket and passport, and the guy will give you a plastic square token. You need the token to get your luggage back of course, but also need to show it to the gate officers to get back into the train station when you pick up your luggage. Cheers!
Thanks for the info Simon!
Hi Cynthia, thank you for all the great information on central Asia! We’re just about to plan our Usbekistan journey. As we’ll be travelling in July: do you know if night trains have reliable air conditioning? I read in a blog this might be problematic at times… Any recent experience?
Hi Nik, when I took the night train, there wasn’t much air conditioning, at least not in the 2nd class…