CITY TRANSPORT IN DUSHANBE

City Transport in Dushanbe

City Transport

TAXI

Taxis can be found near hotels, bazaars, airports, bus and train stations, and other prominent places. You can flag a taxi down by standing by the side of the road and extending your arm. It is recommended that you only use officially licensed taxis.

Before getting into the car, make sure the driver understands where you want to go, and negotiate the fare. Taxis in Tajikistan do not have meters, so it helps if you have an idea of what the fare should be before you open negotiations.

MINIBUS

The most common way to get around town is by marshrutka, which are minibuses that follow a fixed route. You can get on or get off anywhere along the route. Flag down a minibus by standing by the roadside and extending your arm. After you get on, pay the fare (20 dirams at the time of writing) to the driver or conductor, who usually sits in the front or by the door. When you want to get off, tell the driver to stop. (You can use the Tajik phrase, Haminjo eested!)

Common minibus routes in Dushanbe

• No. 1: Giprozem (south) - Sakovat Bazaar - Circus - War Memorial - Aini Street - Dushanbe Airport
• No. 2: Giprozem - Sakovat Bazaar - Circus - War Memorial - Bokhtar Street (centre)
• No. 3: Dushanbe I Train Station - Rudaki Avenue - Vodanasos Bazaar (north)
• No. 8: Dushanbe Airport - Aini Street - Rudaki Avenue - Ismoil Somoni Street - 102nd microdistrict (west)
• No. 17: 82nd microdistrict - Ismoil Somoni Street - Rudaki Avenue - Vodanasos Bazaar
• No. 29: Giprozem - Circus - Bus Station - 82nd microdistrict - Ismoil Somoni Street - Barakat Bazaar (centre)

BUS/TROLLEYBUS

Buses and trolleybuses (buses which run on electric tram lines) are very cheap, but slow and crowded. Pay the conductor as you enter - the fare is usually stencilled on the window. Crowded buses are ideal places to have your pocket picked - the small saving over the cost of a minibus is usually not worth the additional risk.