Yandex Go in Uzbekistan for tourists: setup, payment, prices and tips (2026)

Set it up before you land

1. Install Yandex Go and register with a phone number. A local or eSIM number works; see our SIM and eSIM guide.
2. Add a payment method, but keep cash as a backup.
3. Save your hotel address in Latin and in the local spelling if you can, and drop a pin on the map.
4. Yandex Go covers Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva (in Khiva and Urgench since 2024); Tashkent has the widest range of ride classes.

Paying: cash or card

Cash always works: choose it before you confirm the ride and pay the driver in som. Visa, Mastercard, Uzcard and Humo cards can be added in the app, but foreign cards are sometimes rejected, so do not rely on a card alone. Tipping is optional and can be added in the app.

What a ride costs

Fares depend on demand, traffic and route, so always check the estimate in the app. As an upper-limit tariff example (March 2026), the basic Start class in Tashkent has a 4,600 som minimum plus 1,050 som per km and 500 som per minute. City rides are cheap by Western standards, and the price you see before ordering is the price you pay.

Airport and station rides

• Order from inside the terminal and meet the driver at the pickup point shown in the app.
• For arrival at night, order by app rather than accept offers from touts.
• For Khiva from Urgench airport, a taxi costs about 100,000–120,000 som; see our Khiva guide.

Intercity rides

In May 2026 Yandex Go launched an intercity option on 23 routes of about 50 to 340 km. Compare it with the train for door-to-door time and luggage; for Tashkent–Samarkand, read our train guide.

Safety tips

• Before you get in, check the plate number, car model and driver name in the app.
• Sit in the back seat and share your route with a friend if you like.
• If the pickup or route looks wrong, cancel and rebook.
• Alternatives: MyTaxi works only in Tashkent and accepts cash; WB Taxi works in several cities.