Bukhara Airport: Getting to the Old Town and Lyabi-Hauz

Bukhara is one of the few cities where you can get from the aircraft steps to medieval streets faster than it takes to drink a cup of tea. The airport is on the eastern edge of town, and the old centre with Lyabi-Hauz, its madrasas and trading domes is just a few kilometres away. Still, the transfer has its quirks: many guesthouses are tucked away in narrow lanes that cars cannot enter, and taxi drivers at the exit like to inflate their prices. Here is how to get there without stress.

Where the airport is

Important: Bukhara's railway station is not in the city itself but in neighbouring Kogon. If you are flying in and heading straight for a train, allow for this drive.

Taxis

Taxi apps

Taxi apps work in Bukhara, and they are the most transparent option: you know the price in advance and see the route on a map. You need mobile data, so buy a SIM card at the airport or set up roaming beforehand.

Drivers at the terminal

Taxi drivers usually wait at the terminal exit. Their prices are higher, especially in tourist season. If you choose this option:

• agree the fare before you get in and confirm the currency;
• name a specific landmark: Lyabi-Hauz, the Ark, Kalyan or the name of your guesthouse;
• decline extra stops or tours you did not plan.

What it costs

An app taxi to the old town is usually cheap, about the cost of lunch in a simple cafe. Drivers at the exit may quote several times more. Fares change, so check against the app.

Guesthouse transfers

Many guesthouses in the old town offer airport pick-ups. This is handy if:

• you arrive late in the evening or at night;
• you have no mobile data;
• the guesthouse is deep inside a residential quarter and hard to find on your own.

Check the transfer price when you book.

Public transport

Bukhara has city buses and minibuses, and some pass near the airport. This is the budget option, but:

• stops may not be right outside the terminal;
• it is best to check route numbers locally;
• buses do not enter the pedestrian zone of the old town, so you will have to walk;
• do not count on them in the evening or at night.

For backpackers arriving during the day, this works. With a suitcase, a taxi is easier.

Finding your guesthouse in the old town

Old Bukhara is a maze of narrow lanes, many of them pedestrian or too narrow for cars. So:

1. Send the driver a map pin, not just an address, as house numbers in the old quarters are not always obvious.
2. Be ready to walk for a couple of minutes from where the car stops.
3. Call your hosts if you cannot find the entrance; many will meet guests at the nearest junction.
4. Use Lyabi-Hauz as your landmark. It is the heart of the old town, and most guesthouses are an easy walk from it.

If you are moving straight on

Many people fly into Bukhara to continue along the classic Silk Road route.

To Khiva

Khiva is about 450 km from Bukhara. The road crosses the Kyzylkum desert and follows the Amu Darya, taking 6 to 7 hours by car. Your options:

• train: check timetables and availability in advance;
• shared ride: Yo'ldosh lists the Bukhara to Khiva route, where you can book a seat with a driver heading to Khorezm and leave early in the morning to cross the desert before the heat;
• private taxi: convenient for a group, but more expensive.

For the desert road, bring water, a hat and sunglasses.

To Samarkand and Tashkent

In this direction the easiest options are the train from Kogon station or a car. See all routes on the routes page.

Useful tips

• Currency exchange. Change a little at the airport for the ride and the rest in town, where there are more exchange points.
• Passport. Keep it with you, as you need it for a SIM card, currency exchange and check-in.
• Heat. Bukhara is very hot in summer. If you land during the day, do not plan long walks with your suitcase.
• Late arrivals. Let your guesthouse know, as small guesthouses may lock their gates in the evening.
• Going back. The airport is close, but arrive early for international flights.

The trip from Bukhara airport to the old town is one of the shortest in Uzbekistan. Fifteen minutes by taxi, a couple of minutes on foot down a lane, and you are at Lyabi-Hauz. Work out how to find your guesthouse, compare the fare with the app and plan your next stop in advance.

Cover photo: Jamshid Nurkulov, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.