Uzbekistan
Cards, ATMs and cash in Uzbekistan: what to expect
Cards work in Tashkent hotels, supermarkets and app taxis, but bazaars, small guesthouses, shared taxis and Silk Road town cafés still run on cash. Carry enough som for two or three days, withdraw from a bank ATM inside a branch during opening hours, and treat your card as a backup rather than your main wallet.
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GuideUzbekistan
Key facts
- Where cards work
- Tashkent hotels, supermarkets, larger restaurants, Yandex Go app fares
- Where cash is required
- Bazaars, shared taxis, small guesthouses, many cafés in Bukhara and Khiva
- Cash to carry
- Two to three days of spending in som; more outside Tashkent
- Best ATM
- Bank branch ATM during opening hours; keep the receipt
- Typical ATM fee
- Local bank fee plus your home bank fee; amounts vary by bank
- Card networks
- Visa and Mastercard most reliable; some local machines take UnionPay
- Currency of charge
- Choose som; decline dynamic conversion to your home currency
Details
Uzbekistan has moved a long way from a cash-only economy, but the change is uneven. In Tashkent, cards are normal in hotels, supermarkets, bigger restaurants and on Yandex Go, where the fare is set in the app. Outside the capital the pattern thins: a Samarkand or Bukhara hotel may take a card at the desk, while the plov house, the bazaar stall and the shared taxi to Shahrisabz will not.
Plan your cash around the gaps, not the exceptions. Withdraw in Tashkent or Samarkand at an ATM attached to a bank branch, during the day, when staff are inside if the machine swallows your card. Machines in hotel lobbies and small shops are more likely to be empty, out of service or to charge a fee you cannot see until the receipt prints.
Carry a mix of notes. Large notes are fine for hotels and train tickets, but bazaar vendors and taxi drivers may not have change early in the morning. Keep a folded stack of smaller som for water, metro rides, toilets and tips.
Two cards from different networks, kept in different bags, is the practical setup. Tell your bank you are travelling so a first withdrawal is not flagged, and keep a photo of the card and the bank's overseas number offline. If a machine refuses a card, it is usually the machine, not your account; try another bank before assuming the worst.
| Situation | Card or cash | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Tashkent hotel or supermarket | Card | Chip and PIN usual |
| Yandex Go taxi | Card in app | Street taxis want cash |
| Bazaar stall | Cash | Small notes help |
| Shared taxi between cities | Cash | Agree the price per seat first |
| Small guesthouse in Khiva | Often cash | Ask before booking |
| Afrosiyob train ticket | Card online | Buy at railway.uz or the app |
| Museum ticket office | Often cash | Some take cards |
Summary table
Use this as a quick check before you leave the hotel in the morning.
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| Are cards widely accepted? | In Tashkent yes; in Silk Road towns partly; at bazaars no |
| How much cash should I carry? | Two to three days of spending, more outside Tashkent |
| Which ATM? | Bank branch ATM, daytime, keep the receipt |
| Local currency or mine? | Always som; decline conversion at the machine |
| What if the ATM eats my card? | Go into the branch with your passport and the receipt |
Tips
Withdraw larger amounts less often. Each withdrawal usually carries a local fee plus your home bank's fee, so four small withdrawals cost more than one bigger one. Check your bank's overseas fee before you fly.
Decline dynamic currency conversion. If a machine or terminal offers to charge you in dollars or euros, choose som and let your bank convert. The rate is almost always better.
Keep the receipt until you are back at the hotel and have checked your banking app. If a withdrawal does not appear, the receipt is what the branch will ask for.
Do not rely on a single card. A second card from a different network, stored separately, covers a lost, blocked or swallowed card.
Change money only at banks, official exchange offices or your hotel desk. Street offers are not worth the risk.
Carry a small amount of US dollars as a backup for hotels and guides, but pay in som where you can.
- Withdraw big, withdraw rarely
- Choose som, not your home currency
- Keep every ATM receipt
- Two cards, two bags
- Official exchange points only
FAQ
Questions people ask
Are credit cards widely accepted in Uzbekistan?
In Tashkent, yes: hotels, supermarkets, larger restaurants and app taxis take them. In Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva acceptance is patchy, and bazaars, shared taxis and small guesthouses are cash only. Carry som as your main money and treat cards as a backup.
Which ATMs have the lowest fees in Uzbekistan?
Fees vary by bank and change often, so compare on the machine screen before confirming. Bank branch ATMs in Tashkent and Samarkand are the most reliable. Your home bank's overseas fee usually costs more than the local one, so check that first.
Should I pay in local currency or my own?
Pay in som. If a machine or terminal offers to convert the charge into dollars, euros or pounds, decline it and let your own bank do the conversion. The rate is normally better and the fee is clearer.
How much cash should I carry in Uzbekistan?
Enough som for two to three days of meals, transport and small purchases, and more when you leave Tashkent. Top up at a bank branch ATM in the daytime rather than carrying a large amount at once.
What should I do if an ATM keeps my card?
Stay at the machine, note the bank name and time, and go into the branch with your passport and the receipt. If the branch is closed, call your bank and block the card, then use your second card.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialUzbekistan Railways (official tickets)
- officialCentral Bank of Uzbekistan
- secondaryWikivoyage – Uzbekistan