How to spend a memorable day in Khiva Uzbekistan

Discover what to see and do in Khiva, Uzbekistan: detailed 1-day travel guide including top sights, hotels, restaurants, & other practical tips.

When we first planned our Uzbekistan trip, Khiva wasn’t a place that immediately came to mind.

If Bukhara was a major historical point on the Silk Road trade route, and Samarkand had a Mecca-like status that only certain mythical places possess, Khiva was almost feeling like a third wheel. But it didn’t take a lot to convince us to change our mind, once we stepped foot there.

We could say that Khiva is the most scenic place in Uzbekistan and one of the prettiest places we’ve been. It doesn’t have the monumental grandeur of Samarkand, nor the historical depth and authenticity of Bukhara, but as far as visual impact is concerned, Khiva is aesthetically perfect.

It is small and it could appear almost artificial at times, but it would be a great mistake to not include it if you are in Uzbekistan, or anywhere in Central Asia as far as we are concerned, even just for a short visit.

Also, you can visit the highlights in a single day, unless you get out of the centre or do day trips.

In this curated guide, you find a detailed plan on what to see and do in Khiva for 1 day, the most romantic place in Uzbekistan!

Tucked away in the Karakalpak region on the border with Turkmenistan sits Khiva, the most charming town in Uzbekistan.

While being somewhat overshadowed by Samarkand and Bukhara’s prominence, Khiva has its own rich history to tell. According to archaeological evidence, the city existed as early as the 6^th century CE, although only raised to prominence in the 16^th century as the capital of the Khanate (kingdom of Khan rulers) of Khiva, when it started to become an infamous slave market hub.

In the early 1800s, millions of Persians and Russians were enslaved and transported there before being sold. Many of them were working on the construction of the Itchan-Kala (Royal Court), the walled inner town and most picturesque part of the city.

After the Khan was overthrown (1920), Khiva was incorporated into Soviet Uzbekistan and gradually lost its political and trading significance. This was until the 60s, when the government started to recognize its national importance which culminated in the inclusion of the Itchan-Kala in the UNESCO World Heritage Site in the 90s.

Today, Khiva is a peaceful and tranquil town with a distinct cultural identity. The Itchan-Kala is an open-air museum, with various gated entrances and daily tickets (which you can buy directly at the West Gate), although there are still a limited number of residents that live within its walls.

The closest airport is in Urgench which is only 34km from Khiva.

The airport is small but well served by domestic flights from Tashkent, while there are more limited international options.

If you are visiting Uzbekistan, it is a good idea to land in Tashkent and leave from Urgench (or vice versa), to avoid taking another domestic flight.

If landing in Urgench, there are many taxis for Khiva (30 min) costing no more than SOM 150k (about $10). Alternatively, and if you don’t want to bargain, we recommend scheduling a transfer from your hotel at a flat rate.

If starting in Tashkent, Khiva is likely to be the last destination you visit, and you will coming from Bukhara. This is a much longer journey but you have various options at your disposal:

If you want peace of mind and don’t want to think about the logistics, this is the most flexible option. You speak with your hotel in Bukhara and they are more than happy to organize this for you. This is the premium alternative, and we spent about $70 for the 9-ish hour journey although we stopped for lunch and also included a visit to the ancient Khorezm Fortresses along the way. Apart from the fortresses, the journey is not particularly exciting and the road conditions are pretty abysmal in certain parts, so we do not recommend that you drive by yourself.

Since 2018, the government built a new train station, which made things easier. This is a sweet option on paper, if it wasn’t for the slow and infrequent train (unlike Tashkent to Samarkand / Bukhara). You can check for tickets here, but we found the website to be a bit un-cooperative when booking from abroad. Alternatively, you can use a third-party agency to take care of the booking for you. We used Advantour to book us the Afrosiyob (fast train) from Tashkent to Samarkand and from Samarkand to Bukhara and were very satisfied with the service.

Irrespective of how you book your tickets, this will be a more economical option than a private transfer.

Update: 2026 is the year of change! A new high-speed rail line will launch connecting Khiva directly to Bukhara and Samarkand, making things a lot easier!

The cheapest and most spontaneous option, but not the most indicated for the faint of heart or the neat freaks. Everything here is unplanned and extremely local, but if that fits with your travelling style you can go for it.

If you are in Bukhara, you can get a shared taxi at the Bukhara bus station, north of the centre. Brush up your bargaining skills and wait for other people to come on board – the taxi will leave when 4 passengers come together. Prices can vary but factor a $20 per person average as a guiding point.

Just joking…But you can always set a precedent!

The first thing to choose is to whether you should stay inside or outside the Itchan Kala walls.

The Itchan Kala has most of Khiva’s historical landmarks, and there are dozens of small boutique hotels to stay.

Some good options include:

• Khiva Siyovush Hotel – Authentic Uzbek charm in the heart of the Itchan Kala
• Ulli Oy Boutique Hotel & Terrace – Panoramic views from a newly refurbished hotel with traditional design
• Arkanchi Hotel – Neat and clean accommodation in perfect location

However, as long as you are staying within reasonable distance from the walled city, it doesn’t make much difference. As a matter of fact, staying outside the Itchan Kala gives you the opportunity to explore an area outside of the key touristy hub, and could also provide more options in terms of types of accommodation, being either more standard hotels or old madrasah (ancient Islamic schools) converted into boutique hotels.

Some good options include:

• New Star Boutique Hotel – Tastefully-decorated historic madrasah with beautiful internal courtyard and comfortable rooms (10 min from Itchan Kala)
• Polvon Qoriy Boutique Hotel – A beautiful XIX-century madrasah just outside the East Gate of the walled city
• Farovon Hotel – If looking for an upmarket modern hotel with the best facilities, this is the place to stay

Shoulder seasons (March – May and September-October) for the most pleasant temperatures. We visited in May and while being hot, it was quite manageable.

If you just want to walk around the Itchan Kala, you do not need a ticket. However, it is required for majority of sites inside the citadel. You can purchase the ticket just outside of the West Gate, which includes access to all buildings except the Pahlavan Mausoleum and the Islam Khoja Minaret, which are purchased separately onsite. The cost is SOM 250k (approximately $20) at the time of writing and entirely worth it in our opinion.

Opening hours for most of the sites within the city walls is between 09:00 – 18:00, so make sure to cover all the ones that interest you within this timeframe!

Ok you have a full day in Khiva. Not much, but enough to make it just right and soak up the special atmosphere of the place.

With only one full day at your disposal, you must dedicate it to Itchan-Kala, the enchanting old citadel of Khiva. It’s an inhabited open-air museum, making it a “real place” and not a Disneyland with a Central Asian theme. Having said that, the place is so beautiful that you would be excused to think that it has been built with the sole objective to please the human eyes.

Each time we were strolling on its narrow lanes, we were astonished by the uncountable riches unfolding on our path. A staggering mosque here, a teal-tiled palace there, a perfectly kept madrasah whose courtyard has been converted into a carpet-weaving workshop, an intricately-carved wooden door leading to a ceramic studio.

There are more than 50 ancient monumental structures, 250 old houses and multiple caravanserais and markets in the Itchan Kala, which is pretty remarkable if you consider the size of the citadel.

Firstly, head to the West Gate and buy your day ticket. You can enter how often you want, given that the Itchan Kala never closes (except for most sites inside).

Start admiring the Kalta Minor as you enter, a stunning XIX century minaret built to overshadow the rival city of Bukhara. While left unfinished, its glazed majolica tiles in various shades of green and turquoise make it one of the symbols of the city (if not Central Asia).

Next to it you find the Kuhna-Ark citadel, which is one of the major palace complex here. The 17^th century fortress was the personal universe of the Khan and expanded over time to house multiple buildings including a beautiful blue-tiled mosque with a wooden ceiling in shades of brown, orange and gold. Spend an hour here, and make sure you return at sunset for the panoramic photo from its terrace.

Leave the Ark and start meandering around the picturesque alleys in the town. You can spend hours doing that, but there are a few other must-sees worth checking.

One of these is the unique Juma Mosque. We’ve seen a lot of pretty buildings, but never one resembling something between the Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba and a Japanese temple. Among the dense forest of wooden pillars, some columns date back to the X century, with beautiful carvings representing a testament to ancient craftsmanship. This is also an oasis of tranquillity, and a great opportunity to cool down from the outside heat.

Next, head to Khiva Moon for lunch, a local restaurant with nice indoor/outdoor spaces just outside the city walls. You can have traditional dishes like plov (traditional pilaf rice), manti (uzbek dumplings) and shashlik (uzbek meat skewers).

But since you are in Khiva, try Shivit Oshi a dish exclusive from this city. It consists of dill-infused green noodles, topped with a hearty stew of beef, potatoes and carrots and served with yogurt. You won’t regret it!

Spend the rest of the afternoon exploring the rest of the town. Apart from the aimless, yet gratifying, act of wandering without an objective, there are still a few sites to visit.

Start with the Pahlavan Makhmud Mausoleum, dedicated to the revered 14^th-century Iranian poet, writer and patron saint of Khiva. If you are captivated by its distinctive blue dome, expect to be mesmerized by the interior. Thousands of intricated majolica tiles with geometric and floral motifs bedeck the walls and ceiling, leaving the visitors in awe. We visited the mausoleum during a religious function and this further added to the mystical atmosphere. This was one the best site to see in Khiva, competing with the more emblazoned monuments in Bukhara, Samarkand and the rest of Uzbekistan. You will require a separate tickets to get inside the mausoleum.

Next in line is the Toshhovli Palace. Tucked away in a corner near the northern gate, we almost discovered this by chance. Together with the Pahlavan Mausoleum, the palace represented one of the top things to see in Khiva, and perhaps all of Uzbekistan. Our favourite part was the Harem, but the whole complex deserves your attention having some of the most exquisite decorations found anywhere in Khiva.

By now you will be overwhelmed by artistic beauty, but as the sun descends the city unveils its final gift. If you have energy and will, climb the Islam Khoja Minaret (separate ticket). This is the tallest building (57m) in the Itchan Kala, offering a spectacular panoramic view of the city and surroundings.

After that, make sure to go back to the Kuhna-Ark citadel for sunset (closing is at 6PM), for the best views of the city washed in golden hue.

As the sun sets, head for the Terrassa Café and Restaurant for drinks and dinner. Conveniently located just a few steps away from the Ark, this restaurant is perhaps the best place to appreciate the ancient skyline views in a relaxed environment, witnessing the incredible minarets and madrasahs as they light up once the sun goes down. The menu is traditional Uzbek with a slight upmarket twist to attract the Western crowds, but it is the rooftop view and ambience that are the real deal. Make sure you book it in advance as the place can get quite full.

And that’s it, a beautiful day in Khiva done!