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After exploring Bukhara’s charming old town, the next stop for most travellers is Samarkand — and the easiest way to get there is by taking the Afrosiyob train from Bukhara to Samarkand.
The Afrosiyob is Uzbekistan’s high-speed train — fast, modern, and by far the most comfortable way to travel between cities. Here is everything you need to know about travelling with the Afroyisob train from Bukhara to Samarkand.
And if you are wondering how to even get to Bukhara, check out this guide on how to take the Afroyisob from Tashkent to Bukhara.
Where to book the Afrosiyob from Bukhara to Samarkand
You can buy your ticket directly through the official Uzbekistan Railways website or via the Uzrailswaystickets app. Both have English versions and are fairly easy to navigate.
If the website doesn’t work for some reason (I have had some issues not being able to pay), you can also book tickets via Bookaway. I’ve used it several times when the official site didn’t cooperate, and booking via Bookaway also worked perfectly fine.
How long does the train from Bukhara to Samarkand take?
The Afrosiyob train from Bukhara to Samarkand takes roughly 1 hour and 43 minutes. It’s a quick and easy journey, and before you know it, you’ll be stepping off in Samarkand ready to visit the famous Registan square.
If you take the slower Sharq train instead, expect a journey of about 2 hours and 24 minutes. So your travel time also wouldn’t be too much longer, so either train is perfectly fine.
How much does the Afrosiyob train from Bukhara to Samarkand cost?
Ticket prices vary slightly depending on where and when you book, but here’s an idea of current rates on the official Uzbekistan Railways site:
- Business Class: around 289,000 UZS (~€20.5)
- Economy Class: around 196,000 UZS (~€13.2)
I travelled in economy class when travelling with the Afroyisob from Tashkent to Bukhara. When travelling from Bukhara to Samarkand, it was actually the first time (in my entire life) that I travelled in the business class. That was pretty nice because there were single seats that I could book, which is always great as a solo traveller in Uzbekistan.
But economy class is perfectly comfortable for this short trip — the seats are spacious, clean, and air-conditioned.
Afrosiyob train times from Bukhara to Samarkand
There are usually around 4 Afrosiyob trains per day from Bukhara to Samarkand, though times can vary depending on the season.
Here’s the general schedule:
- 🕘 The very early train: departs around 03:15 AM, arrives around 04:58 AM
- 🕒 Afternoon train: departs around 03:03 PM, arrives around 04:46 PM
- 🕒 Afternoon train: departs around 16:16 PM, arrives around 18:05 PM
- 🕒 Evening train: departs around 06:00 PM, arrives around 07:43 PM
You can check the exact times and availability directly on the Uzbekistan Railways website when booking. And there are also a couple of sleeper trains which depart later at night.
When to book your train tickets in Uzbekistan
Tickets for the Afrosiyob tend to sell out fast, especially in peak seasons. They typically go on sale 45–60 days before departure, so I’d recommend checking daily once you’re within that window.
Where does the train leave and arrive
The train departs from Bukhara railway station, which is about a 20-minute taxi ride from the old town, where you will most likely be staying. You can easily order your taxi through the Yandex Go app, which is super easy to use and the cheapest way to travel by taxi in Uzbekistan.
In Samarkand, you’ll arrive at Samarkand railway station, located roughly 10–15 minutes from the Registan area.
Also planning to visit Uzbekistan’s capital? Check out how spend one perfect day in Tashkent!
How Early to Arrive at Bukhara Station
Plan to arrive at the station at least 40–50 minutes before departure. There’s a quick security check at the entrance where your bag will be scanned, and you’ll need to show your passport and ticket before boarding. Technically, you don’t need to be there that early, but just to have some extra time in case there is traffic on the way.
But also, boarding already usually starts around 30 minutes before the train leaves, so it doesn’t hurt to be there early.
Other Useful Travel Tips for Uzbekistan
📱 Must-have apps:
- Uzrailswaystickets – to book train tickets.
- Yandex Go – for taxis (works like Uber).
- TripBFF – to meet other travellers (use code BECKSPLORE to try the premium version for free).
🌐 Staying connected:
If you want mobile data as soon as you land, I’d recommend getting an Airalo eSIM. It’s super easy to set up before your trip, so you can go online immediately after arriving. My internet wasn’t the fastest to be honest, but it was enough for maps and messages, which was all I needed.
🏨 Where to stay in Bukhara and Samarkand:
I stayed at Saidkasim with a terrace in Bukhara and loved it — great location and friendly owners. In Samarkand, I stayed at ANNUR Boutique hotel, which was about a 15-20 minute walk away from the Registan.
Want to visit Tajikistan as well?
You can easily visit the seven lakes in Tajikistan as a day trip from Samarkand. I did this with an organised tour, and it was one of the best day trips I have been on, I would highly recommend it!
And that’s everything you need to know about taking the Afrosiyob train from Bukhara to Samarkand. It’s fast, comfortable, and by far the best way to travel between the two cities.
If you have any questions about train travel in Uzbekistan or planning your Uzbekistan itinerary, feel free to leave a comment below. I’m happy to help!
