Top places to visit in Khiva

• Itchan Kala (Inner Walled City)

  walled ancient city · 4.9 rating · about 4 h · check the fee at the gate

  A UNESCO World Heritage Site and the most completely preserved ancient city in Central Asia — an 8-hectare walled urban island with 50 monuments including palaces, mosques, minarets, and madrasas, all within walls dating to the 10th…

• Kunya-Ark Citadel

  royal citadel · 4.6 rating · about 1.3 h · check the fee at the gate

  The ancient royal citadel of the Khivan khans — a complex of audience chambers, harems, throne rooms, mosques, and a mint contained within high mud-brick walls. The summer mosque's wooden columns and carved ceiling are exquisite examples…

• Islam Khodja Minaret & Madrasa

  historic minaret · 4.7 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  Khiva's tallest minaret at 57 metres, built in 1910 — the last major monument erected in the Khanate before Russian conquest. The minaret's tapering brick shaft is decorated with colourful tilework bands; climbing the internal staircase to…

• Juma Mosque

  mosque · 4.7 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Unique hypostyle mosque with 213 carved wooden columns, several dating to the 10th century, and no domes.

• Tosh-Hovli Palace

  palace · 4.6 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  19th-century "Stone Palace" of the Khiva khans, with lavishly tiled courtyards and a harem wing.

• Pahlavan Mahmud Mausoleum

  mausoleum · 4.8 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Turquoise-domed mausoleum of Khiva's patron saint, poet and wrestler, one of the city's most sacred sites.

• Kalta Minor Minaret

  minaret · 4.8 rating · about 0.3 h · check the fee at the gate

  Squat, vividly tiled unfinished minaret intended to be the tallest in the Islamic world, Khiva's icon.

• Muhammad Amin Khan Madrasah

  madrasah · 4.4 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Largest madrasah in Khiva, now partly converted into the Orient Star heritage hotel.

• Allakuli Khan Madrasah

  madrasah · 4.3 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  19th-century madrasah with a fine tiled portal, part of a larger complex including a caravanserai and bazaar.

• Ata-Darvoza Gate

  city-gate · 4.3 rating · about 0.3 h · check the fee at the gate

  Restored western gate of Itchan Kala, the main tourist entrance into the walled inner city.

• Nurullaboy Palace

  palace · 4.2 rating · about 0.7 h · check the fee at the gate

  Late 19th-century palace outside the inner walls, blending Khivan and European reception-hall styles.

• Khiva City Wall Ramparts Walk

  city-walls · 4.5 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  Walkable stretch of Itchan Kala's 10m mud-brick ramparts, offering sunset views over the walled city.

Things to do

• Itchan Kala Full-Day Heritage Walk Heritage · 5 h · from UZS 112,000 per person
• Khiva Sunset Walk on the City Ramparts Sightseeing · 1 h · from UZS 25,000 per person
• Traditional Khorezm Music & Dance Performance Entertainment · 1.5 h · from UZS 74,900 per person
• Khiva Silk Carpet Weaving Workshop Cultural · 1.5 h · from UZS 100,000 per person
• Khorezm Folk Music Evening at Tosh-Hovli Entertainment · 1.3 h · from UZS 80,000 per person
• Khiva Old Town Bicycle Tour Sightseeing · 2 h · from UZS 90,000 per person
• Ichan-Kala Sunrise Photography Tour Sightseeing · 1.5 h · from UZS 70,000 per person

Day trips and tours

• Khiva Itchan Kala Full Immersion Tour 9 h · from UZS 399,000

Where to stay in Khiva

• Itchan Kala about UZS 70 per night

  Sleeping inside the ancient walled city is one of the great travel experiences in Central Asia — at dusk and dawn, after day-trippers leave, Khiva's 2,000-year-old lanes are almost entirely yours. Only a handful of…

• Dishan Kala (Outer City) about UZS 25 per night

  Budget guesthouses and small hotels just outside the Itchan Kala walls — still within easy walking distance of all attractions but at lower prices.

Hotels

• Orient Star Hotel Khiva 4-star · UZS 800,000 to UZS 1,600,000 per night
• Hotel Bankir Khiva 4-star · UZS 550,000 to UZS 950,000 per night
• Meros B&B Khiva 2-star · UZS 150,000 to UZS 280,000 per night
• Hotel Arkanchi 3-star · UZS 400,000 to UZS 750,000 per night
• Malika Khiva Hotel 3-star · UZS 350,000 to UZS 650,000 per night
• Zukhro Boutique Hotel 3-star · UZS 400,000 to UZS 700,000 per night

Where to eat

• Orient Star Restaurant Uzbek, Central Asian · about UZS 100,000 per person
• Terrassa Cafe Uzbek, Café · about UZS 50,000 per person
• Zarafshon Restaurant Khiva Uzbek, Khorezm · about UZS 70,000 per person
• Khiva Silk Road Restaurant Uzbek · about UZS 80,000 per person
• Bir Gumbaz Restaurant Uzbek, Khorezm · about UZS 75,000 per person
• Khorezm Osh Markazi Uzbek · about UZS 25,000 per person
• Yasavul Boshi Restaurant Uzbek · about UZS 65,000 per person
• Zerafshan Chaikhana Uzbek · about UZS 30,000 per person

Getting to Khiva

Airport: Urgench (UGC)

How visitors arrive in Khiva

• Flight to Urgench By air from Tashkent · common

  Urgench airport, the regional gateway, has flights from Tashkent and Samarkand; onward road transfer to Khiva. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Train to Khiva By train from Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara · common

  Trains from Tashkent via Samarkand and Bukhara reach Khiva station near the old town; book ahead. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Shared taxi or bus via Urgench By road from Bukhara, Urgench · common

  Buses and shared taxis come from Bukhara and Urgench, the nearby regional hub. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the airport to the centre

• Taxi from Urgench airport

  Khiva is served by Urgench airport, some distance away. Taxis wait there but airport fares are inflated; agree the fare before you set off. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Via Urgench bazaar by shared taxi

  Go from the airport to the Urgench bazaar area by taxi or bus, then take a shared taxi or bus to Khiva. Shared taxis leave when full and drop at the Northern Gate. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the railway station to the centre

• Khiva railway station

  The station lies east of the Itchan Kala old walled town, within walking distance of it. Trains sell out, so book ahead. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Getting around

• Taxi limited to a few areas

  There are no taxis inside the walled Ichon-Qala; informal taxis serve the rest of town, and Urgench is reached by shared or private taxi.

• Walking

Safety and scams to avoid

• Entrance Ticket Resale

  Itchan Kala west gate (Ota Darvoza)

  Touts offer "discounted" Itchan Kala tickets outside the gate — tickets are counterfeit or previously used.

  How to avoid it: Buy the unified ticket only at official booths inside the gate. Ticket has a QR code scanned on entry.

• Overpriced Horse-Carriage Rides

  Itchan Kala main street

  A short 10-minute carriage ride is quoted at 100,000–200,000 UZS. Standard rate is 30,000–50,000 UZS.

  How to avoid it: Agree on the price and duration in writing (or show on a calculator) before boarding.

Best time to visit Khiva

• Jan 2°C
• Feb 6°C
• Mar 14°C
• Apr 23°C
• May 31°C
• Jun 37°C
• Jul 39°C
• Aug 37°C
• Sep 30°C
• Oct 21°C
• Nov 10°C
• Dec 4°C

More in Uzbekistan

• Samarkand
• Bukhara
• Tashkent
• Shahrisabz
• Fergana
• Nukus

Frequently asked questions about Khiva

How many days do you need in Khiva?

A typical trip to Khiva is 1-2 days.

What are the top-rated places to visit in Khiva?

The highest-rated places in our Khiva guide are Itchan Kala (Inner Walled City), Pahlavan Mahmud Mausoleum, Kalta Minor Minaret, Islam Khodja Minaret & Madrasa, Juma Mosque.

Where should I stay in Khiva?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Khiva: Itchan Kala, Dishan Kala (Outer City).

How do I get around Khiva?

Ways to get around Khiva covered in our guide: Taxi, Walking.

What scams should I watch out for in Khiva?

Scams reported to us for Khiva include Entrance Ticket Resale; Overpriced Horse-Carriage Rides. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in Khiva?

Average daytime highs in Khiva run from 2°C in Jan to 39°C in Jul.

Which airport is nearest to Khiva?

The nearest airport to Khiva has the code UGC.