This post will tell you how to book your train tickets in Uzbekistan online, what to expect from the train journeys and give you all the necessary tips on travelling by train in Uzbekistan. We visited Uzbekistan during our trip to Central Asia in June 2022. Therefore all information is updated post-pandemic style. First, let us explain why you should even travel by train around Uzbekistan.

The distances in Uzbekistan are huge, and it only makes sense to travel by train. Not only it is fast, but also comfortable and gives you a chance to meet chatty locals, watch the desert scenery from the train window and if you try, and yes! You must try to ride an old Soviet train; it will give you an adventure of a lifetime. First, let us explain why you should even travel by train around Uzbekistan.

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Why travel by train in Uzbekistan?

Travelling by train in Central Asia is not just a means of transportation; it’s a lifestyle, and you soon realise why. Taking the train allows you to spend hours with local families, who are the most common type of passengers on trains. Most likely, you will chat with them, and they might invite you for a drink or let you try their homemade food. 

The views from the train window are absolutely epic. We remember our first ride between Nukus and Bukhara, on 9 hours ride in the old Soviet train, through the endless desert, watching the sunset from bed and feeling like the main characters in the Orient Express movie. Have to say, it was probably our favourite moment from our travels through Uzbekistan. 

Travelling by train in Uzbekistan is a really easy, convenient and quite fast process that allows you to visit all popular places around the country. 

Most of the country is flat, and the view is mostly over the desert, so travelling by shared taxis and Marshrutkas, being an option, barely makes any sense. In summer, it’s utterly hot and uncomfortable to be squeezed with fellow travellers. Therefore we really recommend you to travel around by train. You will have a lot of space, you can relax, and you actually will be able to enjoy the ride. 

Read: 25 Tips on how to travel in Uzbekistan

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Trains in Uzbekistan/types

There are three types of trains in Uzbekistan, and luckily, we had a chance to test them all. They connect the most popular places in Uzbekistan: Khiva, Nukus, Bukhara, Samarkand, Tashkent and others. 

High-Speed Trains

The high-speed train, known as the Afrosiyob train (Афросияб), is pretty much compared to the trains in Europe, or maybe even better quality. You can choose from 1st or 2nd class. Both of them have air conditioning and power plugs. The dining room is on the train too, and the possibility to buy snacks. You also get a free coffee & tea during your journey.

You can easily travel between major cities such as Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara. 

Note: They are the first ones being sold out. We travelled in June 2022, and even though we booked 4 days in advance, it was sold out for the next 10 days on the route between Samarkand and Tashkent. So make sure you book it in advance if you want to experience it. 

Price & Times example: We travelled on a fast train between Bukhara – Samarkand. Price starts on SUM 65000 ($6)

• Bukhara – Samarkand (1,5 hours, from $6)

• Tashkent – Samarkand (2 hours, from $9)

• Bukhara -Tashkent (4 hours, from $15)

Sharq train

The Sharq train (Шарк), which is a regular train, as we know from Europe. So we would say it is pretty good quality and comfortable ride. Just the arrival times are double of the high-speed trains. You can choose from 1st, 2nd or 3rd class, with all of them being good quality. We travelled in a 3rd class and were nicely surprised by how good the train was. Price is not much cheaper, so the high-speed trains are always sold out quickly. 

The Sharq train operates the same routes as the high-speed train. Approximate times and prices are the following: 

• Bukhara – Samarkand (2,5 hours, from $6)

• Tashkent – Samarkand (4 hours, from $7)

• Bukhara – Tashkent (6,5 hours, from $9)

The Soviet train

Old and nostalgic, the Soviet train sends you back in the time, it’s slow, but the ride is charming. We enjoyed this train the most, as we spent a beautiful 9 hours travelling between Nukus and Bukhara (price from $10). Wish we could do more overnight rides on this train. 

The Soviet train (054Щ, or [xxx]Щ; where [xxx] is a number) is an authentic travel experience that allows you to interact with locals and enjoy what travelling by train in Uzbekistan is about.

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Get your 5% discount with IATI Insurance here.

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What to expect in a Soviet train in Uzbekistan

All overnight train connections in Uzbekistan are operated by the Soviet train. There are again three classes to choose from. You can book 2 person sleeper (Люкс), 4 person sleeper (Купе) or a shared sleeper (Плацкартный). We recommend you to choose Плацкартный, the shared wagon sleeper, which is an open wagon that brings the most adventure and interactions with locals.

Facilities on the Soviet Train

You get clean linen for your bed, pillow and towel. There are two rows of beds; we recommend the first floor as it is more accessible and comfortable. However, you have to count on locals who sleep above you occasionally sitting on your bed. 

The toilet was relatively clean when we travelled. You also find a boiler with hot water in every wagon you can use for a whole ride. 

Food 

People frequently walk around with a tray of snacks, drinks, cold water bottles, and some basic food such as somsa or dried fish. All for a very good price. 

In our experience, most people brought canisters of their own water and food. Many people use hot water for their food, and we recommend you do the same. Bring some instant noodles or porridge, coffee and tea to make your journey more enjoyable.

What to bring with you to the train

• There are no power plugs, so make sure your devices are charged and have a power bank if you need it. 

• Bring your cup/mug for food, as well as cutlery. 

• Toilet paper. It’s a must on the Soviet Train. 

• Bring warm clothes in winter as we imagine it gets pretty chilly. 

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How to book train tickets in Uzbekistan

We always booked the train online using the app of the official Uzbek railway. It is an easy and straightforward process; the only thing is it is all in the Cyrillic alphabet, so make sure you know the names of the cities in Russian. 

Useful tip: Uzbekistan’s city names in Russian

• Khiva – Хива

• Nukus – Нукус

• Kungrad – Кунград

• Bukhara – Бухара

• Samarkand – Самарканд

• Tashkent – Ташкент

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How to book your train ticket online

Make sure you book your tickets in advance; the tickets sell out quickly. Especially if you want a specific train on a particular route, it could mean booking a week or two in advance in the main season. The biggest issue we found was booking a fast train between Samarkand and Tashkent, which was fully booked for the next two weeks, so we had to take a Sharq train. Otherwise, booking the trains 2-4 days in advance was enough. We travelled everywhere by train, except for our trip to see the forgotten city Muynaq and the Aral Sea. 

1. Go to the official webpage of Uzbek railways (or we recommend you to download their app, we booked tickets only through the app) and register. You need your e-mail address, name (Имя), surname (Фамилия) and password (Пароль) and then confirm the password. After that, you receive an e-mail that you need to confirm. 
2. In the app or the web page, simply choose the destination (Куда), from where you want to go (Откуда) and what date (Когда). Then search for your train (Найти).
3. Now you see all the available trains on the day you choose. Click on the one you want to go with, then select the wagon and seat. (Выбрать вагон и место). Choose your seat. 
4. Once you have done that, enter your personal information. Have your passport handy as you need to enter the passport information. Confirm.
5. On the next page, you can add insurance, but we never did that.
6. Agree with the terms and conditions and process to the payment, where you add your card information. 
7. You will receive your e-ticket in your mail and also in your app account.

Note: The app is in Russian. The web page has an option to translate to English, but it sometimes doesn’t work. Therefore it’s better to book it in the Russian version. 

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How to book the train tickets personally

If it’s more comfortable for you to buy your tickets in person, you can do so at every train station (вокзал – vokzal). The ticket station is usually just outside the main train station building. As only people with a valid tickets can go inside the building. Make sure you have your passport with you. 

Hopefully, you find this post helpful, and we wish you an unforgettable train journey through Uzbekistan! If you need more tips, read our 25 tips on travelling in Uzbekistan.

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Where to go NEXT in Uzbekistan

Visit ship cemetery in Moynaq and Aral sea

Top places to visit in Uzbekistan

25 things to know before you go to Uzbekistan

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