Tashkent Airport to the City Centre: Taxi, Bus and Metro

Tashkent International Airport is Uzbekistan's main air gateway, and most foreign visitors start their trip here. The good news is that the airport sits in the south of the city, just 6 to 8 km from the centre. The bad news is that after a night arrival, with a suitcase and no local SIM card, it is easy to feel lost and accept the first inflated price you are offered. Here is how to reach the centre calmly and without overpaying.

The airport in brief

• International flights use a dedicated international terminal, while domestic flights use a separate domestic terminal. They are in different parts of the airport, so if you are connecting to a domestic flight, allow time to get between them.
• It is about 6 to 8 km from the airport to Amir Timur Square. Without traffic the drive takes 15 to 25 minutes.
• Many international flights land at night or early in the morning, so factor that in when choosing transport.

What to do as soon as you land

1. Change a little money. The arrivals area has currency exchange desks and ATMs. A small amount is enough for the ride and first expenses; you can change the rest in town.
2. Get a SIM card. Mobile operators have desks in the arrivals hall, and you need your passport to buy one. With mobile data it is much easier to order a taxi through an app and follow your route on a map.
3. Save your hotel address. Ideally in Uzbek or Russian, plus a pin on a map, as many drivers navigate by landmarks rather than house numbers.

Taxis

A taxi is the simplest way to get to the centre. Your options:

App-based taxis

If you have mobile data, order a car through one of the taxi apps popular in Tashkent. The price is fixed before the trip and the route is shown on the map. Check where the pick-up zone is: drivers often collect passengers not at the terminal door but in the car park or at the airport exit.

Official taxis

Official taxis wait outside the terminal. They cost more than an app, but they are reliable: the car is right at the exit and you can confirm the price in advance.

Private drivers in the arrivals hall

In the arrivals hall and at the exit you will almost certainly be offered a taxi by private drivers. If you do accept, agree on the price before you get in and check which currency it is in. Do not hand your luggage to strangers until you have agreed terms.

What it costs

An app taxi to the centre usually costs about as much as lunch in an inexpensive cafe. Official taxis and private drivers charge more. At night, in rain and at times of high demand, prices go up. We do not quote exact figures because fares change, so check the price in the app or confirm it with the driver.

Bus

City buses run from the airport. This is the cheapest way into town, though not the most convenient:

• the stop is on the airport grounds or at the exit, so you will need to walk a little with your luggage;
• check route numbers and frequency at the airport information desk or in public transport apps;
• Tashkent buses take payment by transport card or bank card, and you may not be able to pay in cash;
• buses run during the day and evening, but do not count on them at night.

The bus works if you are travelling light and arrive during the day.

Metro

The Tashkent metro is beautiful and cheap, and many stations look like underground palaces. But there is no station at the terminal itself, so you need a bus or taxi to the nearest one. This makes sense if your hotel is close to a station and you want to save money.

Note that the metro runs from early morning until around midnight, so it is no use after a night arrival.

Arriving at night: what to do

If your plane lands at 2 or 4 am, your choice effectively comes down to a taxi:

• the easiest option is to order a car through an app once you have mobile data;
• without data, use an official taxi at the exit;
• you can book a transfer through your hotel in advance, as many hotels offer this;
• do not agree to a ride where the driver wants to pick up extra passengers along the way.

If you are heading straight to another city

Many people fly into Tashkent to travel straight on to Samarkand, Bukhara or the Fergana Valley. Your options:

• train, from one of Tashkent's stations, which are not far from the airport;
• shared ride: on Yo'ldosh you can find a driver heading to your city in advance and book a seat. It costs less than a long-distance taxi, and drivers are verified. See all routes on the routes page and how booking works on the for passengers page.

Useful tips

• Keep your passport handy: you need it for a SIM card, currency exchange and hotel check-in.
• Do not keep all your money in one place.
• If a driver offers a shortcut for an extra fee, politely decline and ask them to follow the navigation app.
• Going back to the airport: arrive early for international flights, as document and security checks take time.

The trip from Tashkent airport to the centre is short and easy once you know your options. By day a bus or app taxi works well; at night, take a taxi or hotel transfer. And for travel around the country after you land, it helps to find a shared ride to your next city in advance.

Cover photo: w0zny, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons.