- Tashkent
- Modern base, metro, easy
- Samarkand
- The postcard, compact
- Link
- Afrosiyob 2h13, UZS 311,000
- Budget
- Samarkand slightly cheaper
- Verdict
- Both: 2 days + 2-3 days
Every Indian family flying into Uzbekistan lands in Tashkent and faces the same question: stay put, or push on to Samarkand? The two cities are genuinely different holidays. Here is the honest comparison, and the split that works for most families.
Pace and feel
Tashkent is a working capital - wide Soviet avenues, a metro that doubles as a sight (UZS 2,500 a ride), the Chorsu Bazaar dome, museums and parks. It is flat, easy and air-conditioned where it counts. Samarkand is the reason Uzbekistan is on your list: the Registan, Gur-e-Amir and Shah-i-Zinda, all within about 2km of each other. Its days are walking days. With senior parents, Tashkent is physically easier hour-for-hour; Samarkand is more memorable sight-for-sight, with the Shah-i-Zinda stairs as the one real obstacle.
Getting there and between
Both start with the same flight - IndiGo and Uzbekistan Airways fly Delhi-Tashkent in about 3 hours, and the e-visa is $20. Between the cities, the Afrosiyob train runs Tashkent-Samarkand in 2h13-2h30, economy UZS 311,000 (about Rs 2,200) per person. It is comfortable, senior-friendly, and has wheelchair spaces with advance notice.
Budget
Samarkand runs slightly cheaper. Mid-range hotels: Tashkent about $30-70 a night, Samarkand $40-90 for the good boutique properties - though Samarkand's sights (~UZS 380,000 per person for the main set) and food (plov UZS 25,000-50,000) undercut Tashkent's restaurant scene. A comfortable 3-day couple budget: Tashkent roughly Rs 45,000-70,000, Samarkand Rs 45,000-65,000, excluding international flights. Details in the Tashkent budget guide and Samarkand budget guide.
The verdict: both, in the right order
For a week or less: fly into Tashkent, spend 2 days (our Tashkent itinerary compresses well), take the morning Afrosiyob to Samarkand for 2-3 days (the Samarkand itinerary), train back, fly home. Only 3-4 days total? Pick Samarkand with one Tashkent evening - the Registan at sunset beats everything else in the country. The transport guide covers the trains.
A Miranda House graduate and lawyer who traded courtrooms for slow travel. Cheshta travels with the batches we host ourselves, with a soft spot for travelling alongside elders.
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