Foreign tourists arriving in Uzbekistan by air are met by Samarkand International Airport. In 2004, it received worldwide recognition as one of the best airports in the former CIS countries in its class.
A bit of history
Samarkand airport received its first passengers in the distant eighties of the XX century. Over more than thirty years of successful operation, the air gates of Uzbekistan have undergone repeated reconstruction. The last modernization that Samarkand Airport survived happened in 2009.
Every year, the air complex receives more than three hundred thousand local and foreign passengers. Currently, Samarkand Airport is capable of accepting all types of civilian vessels. It fully meets the established international standards and requirements.
Transport accessibility
The air gate is located about ten kilometers from the historic city. The airport and Samarkand are connected by updated highways, which ensures optimal transport accessibility of passenger terminals.
The first buses depart from the airport at about six in the morning. The movement of public transport ends at twelve in the morning. The bus stop is called “Samarkand Airport”. The photos clearly illustrate the high quality of comfort and the level of security offered by the second largest air gate of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Taxi services will cost five times more than a trip on a regular bus.
Currency market
Money is exchanged at the airport’s currency exchange office. In general, Uzbekistan is considered the only country in the post-Soviet space on whose territory there is a black currency market.
The unofficial exchange rate of the dollar and the euro is significantly higher than that set at the state level. That is why experienced travelers recommend not exchanging the entire amount of foreign cash immediately upon arrival in Samarkand.
For a trip to the city, it is enough to exchange fifty or one hundred dollars, and the rest of the amount on the black market of Samarkand. It is noteworthy that the price of air tickets in Uzbekistan is comparable to the cost of travel documents for a train.
The fact that air communication between the settlements of the country is established very, very well, is indicated by the board of the Samarkand airport. Flights depart hourly. Most of them enter the air gates of Tashkent, the state capital of the republic.
Using taxi services, it should be remembered that the driver often takes several passengers at once, not considering it necessary to notify those who got into the car first. Therefore, bargaining is not worth it, but it is necessary! By the way, travelers from Russia do not need a visa to cross the border of Uzbekistan, but a passport will still be required.
Filling out a declaration
When filling out the declaration, pay attention to the item called “Goods for temporary importation”. Here you must specify all personal flash cards, cameras, tablet computers and laptops, smartphones and other mobile equipment. All this will be checked several times before departure. Be extremely careful!
At the airport, each employee serving passengers knows not only Russian, but also English. In Samarkand, the situation with the Russian language is similar. For all questions arising, it is better to contact the police directly. If you are in Uzbekistan for more than three days, registration at the place of stay is required. It is issued by the lion's share of officially operating hotels and hotels.
City attractions: how to explore
If you are not familiar with the city itself, feel free to hire a guide. Their services are indecently cheap, but the benefits are enormous. Never tell the true amount of cash that you have with you. It is best to limit yourself to mentioning a hundred, maximum, one hundred and fifty dollars. Do not talk about the price of a mobile phone. Just say you took it from you.