Samarkand International Airport guide

For years almost every visitor arrived in Tashkent. Today, Samarkand International Airport is a real alternative: its terminal has been modernised, and airlines fly in directly from several countries. Starting your trip in Samarkand, the city of the Registan, Gur-Emir and Shah-i-Zinda, saves time and lets you plan a route without backtracking.

International: routes have included flights from Istanbul and other Turkish cities, Moscow and other Russian cities, the Gulf, and seasonal or charter flights from Europe. The network changes every season, so check current schedules with airlines and booking sites.

Domestic: flights from Tashkent take under an hour, but the Afrosiyob high-speed train, about 2–2.5 hours from city centre to city centre, is usually just as quick. See Tashkent to Samarkand. Domestic flights between Samarkand and other regional cities are limited.

The airport is small and arrival is usually quick. After passport control, collect your luggage and pass customs. Have your visa or e-visa ready if you need one; see Uzbekistan visa and entry rules. Your hotel will register your stay.

Money: there are ATMs and exchange counters, though fewer than in Tashkent. Withdraw or change a small amount for the taxi.

SIM cards: mobile operators may have counters at the airport; otherwise, shops in the city centre sell SIM cards. You need your passport. See SIM cards and internet.

• Ride-hailing: apps such as Yandex Go usually work in Samarkand and give fair prices.
• Taxi: taxis wait outside; agree the fare before you get in.
• Pre-booked transfer: the easiest option for late arrivals or families with luggage. See our transfer service.

The drive to the Registan and most hotels takes 15–20 minutes. Some hotels in the old town are on pedestrian streets; your driver will stop at the nearest point.

Most visitors stay near the Registan and the pedestrian street that leads to Bibi-Khanym and the Siab bazaar, within walking distance of the main monuments. Larger hotels are also found along the modern avenues of the Russian-era city, and in the new Silk Road Samarkand tourist complex on the eastern edge of the city, with its hotels, restaurants and the Eternal City cultural park. If you land late, a hotel within a short drive of the airport avoids long journeys at night.

Arrive at least 2.5–3 hours before international flights and 1.5 hours before domestic flights. There is a security check at the entrance to the terminal. Facilities after security are limited; have a meal in town before you leave. Keep your hotel registration slips in case they are requested.

Flying into Samarkand opens up efficient itineraries:

• Samarkand → Bukhara → Khiva → fly from Urgench to Tashkent (or home via Tashkent). See Samarkand to Bukhara and Bukhara to Khiva.
• Samarkand → Shakhrisabz → Termez, then fly to Tashkent. See Samarkand to Termez.
• Open-jaw: fly into Samarkand and out of Tashkent, or the reverse, to avoid retracing your steps.

The Penjikent border crossing to Tajikistan is less than an hour from Samarkand, useful for combining Uzbekistan with the Fann mountains. See how to get to Samarkand.

• Check whether your international flight is seasonal; some routes run only in spring and autumn.
• Book the first night’s accommodation and a transfer if you land late.
• Samarkand is busiest in April–May and September–October; book flights and hotels early.
• Keep small banknotes; not all taxis accept cards.
• If you continue by train, Samarkand railway station is about 15–20 minutes from the airport by car.