Not sure if I should carry coins for public transport in Uzbekistan or if card payments are common. Advice?
Had a funny moment in Tashkent when I tried tapping my Revolut card on a bus validator - nothing happened, people laughed. Lesson learned. Cash is still essential for public transport in Uzbekistan. Only the Metro has some infrastructure for stored-value cards, but no system takes Visa or Mastercard. Also, the ATTO card machines only take Uzbek cards or bills, not foreign cards. Best tip: exchange a bunch of small notes early and stash them for daily rides.
Public transport in Uzbekistan is great if you’re prepared. I stayed near Chorsu Bazaar and used the Metro almost daily. It’s cheap and efficient, but you need a local transport card or cash - they don’t accept foreign bank cards. I tried using Apple Pay and it didn’t work anywhere. For short rides, marshrutkas (minibuses) cost under 2,000 som, but they stop anywhere and don’t speak English, so it helps to learn a few local phrases.
I use public transport in Tashkent daily - Metro, buses, and shared vans. Everything runs on the local ATTO card or Humo, which you preload with cash at machines or kiosks. No international card works directly at gates. Metro is reliable and safe, especially during rush hours. If you're just visiting, it’s better to keep som in cash for all transport needs. Even taxis on the street won’t take cards unless booked via Yandex Go.
Local buses and marshrutkas in Samarkand and Bukhara are definitely cash-only - I never once saw anyone tap a card. Fares are cheap, like 1,200-2,000 som, but drivers never have change for big bills. I always kept a stack of small notes from shops. Even in Tashkent, the Metro is cash or local transport card (Humo card), not Visa or Mastercard. Don’t expect any NFC or QR code payment like in Europe.