The national airline, Uzbekistan Airways (HY) (website: www.uzairways.com), currently flies from London, Athens, Bangkok, Bahrain, Birmingham, Delhi, Frankfurt, Hoshemin, Istanbul, Kiev, Kuala Lumpur, Moscow, New York, Osaka, Paris, Rome, Seoul, Sharjah and Tel Aviv. It also flies to most destinations within the CIS. Flights to Tajikistan have been suspended since the Tajik civil war at the end of 1992.

From Tashkent to London is seven hours (direct), to Bangkok is six hours 30 minutes, to Frankfurt is six hours, to Beijing is five hours 30 minutes, to Tel Aviv is four hours 30 minutes, to Delhi is three hours 30 minutes, to Istanbul is three hours 30 minutes and to Moscow is three hours 30 minutes.

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 (travel time – 30 to 60 minutes). Trains and tolley buses connect the airport with the centre (travel time – 10 to 20 minutes) and taxis are available (travel time – 15 to 20 minutes). Facilities: Bureau de change, duty free shops, restaurants and bars.

US$10.

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. Tickets can be bought at the Uzbekistan Airways ticket agency opposite the Hotel Russia on Shota Rustaveli in Tashkent or at the departure terminal of the airport. International flights booked in Tashkent should be paid for in US Dollars although some credit cards are accepted. It is preferable to pay for domestic flights in Sum.

From Tashkent to Termez is one hour 20 minutes, to Nukus is two hours, to Samarkand is 40 minutes, to Navoi is one hour and to Namangan is one hour 40 minutes.

There are 3400km (2113 miles) of 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. Tickets can be bought on the ground floor of the Hotel Locomotif or at the OVIR office at the station.

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.

Tashkent is served by taxis, buses, trolleybuses, trams and the only underground in Central Asia. The underground network has been expanded making it 47km (19 miles) long. There are now three lines: Chilanzar, Uzbekistan and Yunusabad. Public transport is cheap and generally reliable. There are regular bus services to all major towns in Uzbekistan.

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.