Route

Samarkand to Bukhara train

The short hop between the two great Silk Road cities. On Afrosiyob it is about an hour and a half, but most of these seats are sold to people already travelling from Tashkent, so fewer are left for this leg.

Fastest, approx.
1 h 15 min – 1 h 40 minAfrosiyob
Trains
2Afrosiyob, Sharq
Departs
Samarkand station
Arrives
Bukhara-1 station (Kagan)

Check dates Request a ticket

TashkentSamarkandBukharaKhivaUrgenchNavoiKarshiTermezNukusKokandMargilanAndijanNamangan

Seat calendar

Checking…

  • Seats: Seats available
  • Few left: Few seats left
  • Sold out: Sold out
  • Ask us: Unknown, ask us

Indicative only. We check the official system for every request and confirm availability in your quote.

Seat calendar

The seat calendar needs JavaScript. Send a request with your date and we will check it for you.

Seat calendar

Indicative only. We check the official system for every request and confirm availability in your quote.

Trains on this route

  • High-speed

    Afrosiyob

    about 1 h 15 min – 1 h 40 min

    Spanish-built Talgo high-speed train running at up to 250 km/h. The quickest and most requested option.

    Classes: Economy, Business, VIP

  • Conventional

    Sharq

    Journey time: ask us

    Conventional air-conditioned daytime train on the Tashkent – Samarkand – Bukhara line. Slower than Afrosiyob, usually cheaper.

    Classes: Seated classes

Journey times are approximate, based on public timetables. Exact times come with your quote.

Good to know

  • Because the train starts in Tashkent, seats from Samarkand can run out even when the full route still shows space. Book this leg as early as the first one.
  • Bukhara’s station is in Kagan, about 15 km from the old town. Arrange a taxi or transfer before you arrive.
  • A morning train gives you an afternoon in Bukhara’s old town on arrival day.

When to book

This is one of the busiest routes in the country. Book as soon as your dates are fixed, especially for April–May, September–October, Fridays, Sundays and public holidays.

Tickets usually go on sale 45 to 60 days before departure. If your date is not on sale yet, request it anyway and we will tell you when it opens.

Stations

Bukhara-1 station (Kagan)

  • The station is in the town of Kagan, roughly 15 km from Bukhara’s old town. Plan a taxi both ways.
Bukhara station guide

Request a ticket

Takes about two minutes. No passport details needed.

We reply: As soon as possible, via the contact method you choose

We use your details only to answer this request. Passport details are requested later, in chat, after you confirm. Never send them through this form.

Indicative only. We check the official system for every request and confirm availability in your quote.

How should we contact you?

With country code, e.g. +44 7700 900123

Questions about this route

Why is Samarkand to Bukhara sold out when Tashkent to Bukhara is not?

Seats are allocated along the whole route. Sometimes the Samarkand section fills before the end-to-end tickets do. We check both and tell you what is actually possible.

Is Sharq a good alternative on this leg?

Yes. It takes longer but the trip is short either way, and it often has seats when Afrosiyob does not.

How long is the train from Samarkand to Bukhara?

Afrosiyob: about 1 h 15 min – 1 h 40 min. Exact departure and arrival times come with your quote, because timetables change between seasons.

Which stations does this train use?

It departs from Samarkand station and arrives at Bukhara-1 station (Kagan). The station is always printed on your e-ticket, so check it before you set off.

Related routes

Guides for this trip

Request ticket