The national airline is Uzbekistan Airways (HY) (website: www.uzairways.com).

None.

Tashkent International Airport (TAS) is in the south of the town, about 11km (7 miles) from the centre. To/from the airport: Buses run frequently to the city centre (journey time – 30 minutes to 1 hour). Trains and tolley buses connect the airport with the centre (journey time – 10-20 minutes) and taxis are available (journey time – 15-20 minutes). Facilities: Bureau de change, duty-free shops, restaurants and bars.

Tashkent is the nodal point for rail services from Central Asia. Lines lead west to Ashgabat (Turkmenistan), south to Samarkand and on to Dushanbe (Tajikistan), east to Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) and Almaty (Kazakhstan) and north to Moscow (Russian Federation). From Tashkent, along the Saratov-Syr Darya Line, the journey to Moscow takes nearly three days.

There is also a spur line to the Fergana Valley in the east of the country, which leads to Osh in Kyrgyzstan. It is possible to connect to China through Almaty; and to Iran and the Middle East (via Turkmenistan). Foreigners have to pay for rail tickets in hard currency, preferably US Dollars, but it is still a cheap option by Western standards.

Uzbekistan has road connections to all its neighbours. The border between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan is closed to all except Uzbek and Afghan nationals. Travellers should exercise caution around the Kyrgyz–Uzbek border as some violent incidents have occured. It is not advisable to bring your own car. Contact your local embassy for details.

Bus: There are services to all the neighbouring countries, although the occasional border closures between Uzbekistan and Tajikistan make this route unreliable. Long-distance buses leave from the Tashkent bus station near the metro station. Foreigners have to pay for tickets in hard currency.

Car hire: It is possible to hire cars with drivers for long journeys; they will normally ask to be paid in US Dollars. The best place to look for these is at the long-distance bus and train stations.

Uzbekistan Airways (HY) (website: www.uzairways.com) flies to all the major towns and cities in Uzbekistan on a regular basis. Destinations include Andijan, Karshi, Namangan, Navoi (which is 45 minutes by bus from Bukhara), Nukus, Samarkand, Tashkent and Termez.

There are railways linking Termez, Samarkand, Bukhara, the Fergana Valley and Nukus. There are two railway stations in Tashkent – North and South. The Trans-Caspian Railway traverses the country from Chardzhou in Turkmenistan via Kagan (near Bukhara), Samarkand and Dzhizak, where the railway branches off to serve the capital, Tashkent. Passengers should store valuables under the bed or seat, and should not leave the compartment unattended.

The Republic of Uzbekistan is served by a reasonable road network. Traffic drives on the right.

Bus: Services connect all the major towns within Uzbekistan and are cheap and fairly reliable.

Taxi: Taxis and cars for hire can be found in all major towns. It is safer to use officially marked taxis, although many taxis are unlicensed. Travellers are advised to agree a fare in advance, and not to share taxis with strangers. As many of the street names have changed since independence, it is also advisable to ascertain both the old and the new street names when asking directions. Cars can be hired by the trip, by the hour or by the day or week.

Documentation: An International Driving Permit will be required when car hire facilities have been introduced.

Note: Visitors wishing to travel to Termez and other areas of the Surkhandarya region require a permit from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tashkent. They usually take five days to process.

Tashkent is served by taxis, buses, trolleybuses, trams and underground. Public transport is cheap and generally reliable. There are regular bus services to all major towns in Uzbekistan.