Khiva lies in the Khorezm region of western Uzbekistan and was an important city on the Silk Road. Its historic core, Itchan Kala, is enclosed within high fortification walls that have witnessed at least two millennia of history. Itchan Kala continues to define the experience of visiting Khiva. Inside, major monuments stand alongside traditional dwellings, small lively markets, and narrow cobbled streets, creating a historic setting that is remarkably well preserved.
Is Khiva worth visiting? Yes, especially if you’re interested in the history of the Silk Road beyond Samarkand and Bukhara. Itchan Kala was the last resting place for caravans before they crossed the desert towards Persia.
Khiva Tours
Khiva’s historic centre is easy to explore at a leisurely pace, and seeing it with a local guide can give the city greater context. A tour through Itchan Kala reveals how its different elements fit together, while local knowledge brings some of the less obvious details of the city to life.
Spring and autumn generally offer the most comfortable weather for sightseeing in Khiva, and summer can be very hot. For more advice on planning your trip around the seasons, see our guide to the best time to visit Uzbekistan.
You can also combine a visit to Khiva with tours to other Silk Road destinations. Explore our Khiva tours, including guided city visits and day trips in the surrounding area.
History of Khiva
A settlement existed on the site of modern-day Khiva by the 4th–3rd centuries BC, and the city itself was first mentioned by Arab geographers in the 10th century. Located at the edge of the Khorezm oasis near the Karakum Desert, Khiva received water from the Amu Darya River through one of the region’s major canals. According to local legend, Shem (Sem), the son of Noah, founded Khiva and dug the Kheyvak Well, whose name is traditionally linked to the city’s name. The well is still preserved in Itchan Kala, near its north-western wall.
Arab forces conquered Khorezm in 712, and Islam gradually became the dominant religion in the region, following earlier religious traditions, including Zoroastrianism. The Mongols conquered Khorezm in 1221. Although Khiva remained relatively modest in political and commercial importance for centuries, its position on regional caravan routes connected it with the wider trade networks of Central Asia.
Among the city’s most revered historical figures is Pahlavan Mahmoud (also Pahlavon Mahmud), a 13th–14th-century poet, philosopher, and professional wrestler regarded as Khiva’s patron saint. A mausoleum was built over his grave in 1664, and the site was subsequently expanded into the present shrine complex.
Khiva’s political importance grew in the early 17th century. During the reign of Arab Muhammad-khan I (1603–1622), the city became the capital of the Khiva Khanate, a state ruled by a khan. It also developed as an important religious centre, with numerous mosques and madrasahs (religious schools).
In 1873, following a Russian military campaign, the Khanate of Khiva became a Russian protectorate under the Peace Treaty of Gandemian. The khan remained in power, but the state’s political autonomy was substantially restricted. The khanate came to an end in 1920, when the Khorezm People’s Soviet Republic was established. In 1924, the republic was dissolved during the Soviet reorganisation of Central Asia, and Khiva became part of the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic.
In 1967, Itchan Kala was designated a State Architectural and Historic Reserve, becoming a museum-reserve in 1969. In 1990, it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in recognition of its outstanding architectural and historical significance.
Efforts to preserve Itchan Kala continue today through conservation, monitoring, documentation, and training. In 2026, UNESCO welcomed the development of a new Management Plan for 2026–2031, alongside a comprehensive monitoring and documentation campaign and a database incorporating 3D scans of the architectural ensemble.
Things to Do in Khiva
Khiva is best known for its historic architecture, with its cultural traditions and everyday life adding depth to the city’s character. Museums in former madrasahs and other historic buildings explore the history and crafts of Khorezm, whereas local theatre keeps traditional forms of performance alive.
Landmarks and Attractions in Khiva
A good place to begin exploring Khiva is the western gate of Itchan Kala, where two of the city’s most recognisable landmarks stand side by side. The unfinished Kalta Minor Minaret, begun in the 1850s, is distinguished by its vivid bands of glazed tiles. It was intended to rise much higher, but construction stopped after the death of Muhammad Amin khan. Beside it, the Muhammad Amin khan Madrasah, completed in 1854, was one of the region’s largest religious schools. Nearby, the Kunya-Ark Citadel, begun in the late 17th century, served as a fortified residence for Khiva’s rulers. The Juma Mosque’s prayer hall is supported by 213 wooden columns, many featuring carved decoration.
Further into the old city, the Tash-Khovli Palace, built in the 1830s, reveals the refined craftsmanship of Khorezmian architecture. Its three courtyards served different purposes, from official receptions to entertainment and private family life.
The Mausoleum of Makhmud Pakhlavan is distinguished by its turquoise dome and finely detailed majolica (glazed earthenware) tilework. Developed over several centuries, the complex includes a mausoleum and spaces associated with religious practice. It remains an important place of prayer and pilgrimage in Khiva.
The Islam Khoja Complex, completed in 1910, brings together a madrasah and a tall minaret. The minaret tapers towards the top, with bands of glazed tile alternating with brickwork.
The city walls provide views across Itchan Kala’s rooftops and narrow streets. Beyond the main monuments, small markets, and craft workshops sit alongside historic buildings and family homes. Often described as an open-air museum, Itchan Kala remains a living neighbourhood, home to around 300 families, many of whom are involved in traditional crafts. Its compact layout makes it easy to explore at a leisurely pace, leaving time to notice the details of everyday life along the way. For more ideas and practical inspiration, see our Things to Do in Khiva guide.
Khiva Museums
Many of Khiva’s museums and exhibitions are housed in historic buildings. The Khorezm History Museum is named after the 9th-century mathematician and scholar Muhammad al-Khwarizmi and the 11th-century Khorezmian scholar Abu Rayhan al-Biruni. It presents the region’s history through archaeological finds from Koykrylgan-kala and Toprak-kala. The displays also include architectural models, fragments of ceramic tiles, and other decorative elements discovered during restoration work in Itchan Kala and Dishan Kala.
The Museum of Applied Arts and Everyday Life of Khorezm focuses on the region’s craft traditions. Its collection includes jewellery, carpets, ceramics, carved woodwork, and copperwork.
A visit to the Museum of the History of Khorezm Musical Art, housed in the Qozi Kalon (also Kazy-Kalyan) Madrasah, introduces visitors to the region’s musical traditions. Its exhibits include Uzbek musical instruments, dioramas depicting scenes of everyday life connected with music, and displays devoted to notable performers from the past and present.
The Khorezm Silk Museum, located in Itchan Kala, explores the region’s silk-making traditions, from extracting threads from silkworm cocoons to weaving and dyeing textiles. Displays of looms, tools, and finished fabrics are complemented by demonstrations and hands-on activities.
Theatres of Khiva
The State Puppet Theatre of the Khorezm Region is a distinctive cultural institution in Khiva. A puppetry hobby group was already active in the city when the theatre opened in 1993 in a historic 1930s building inside Itchan Kala. Its repertoire includes folklore and children’s programmes. The artists make the puppets, costumes, and stage decorations themselves, following the ustoz-shogird tradition of passing skills from master to apprentice. Performances are staged in Uzbek and combine puppetry with music, singing, and dancing. The theatre has also performed internationally, including at the First National Puppet Theatre Festival in Baku (Azerbaijan) in 2011 and in Darmstadt and Frankfurt, Germany, in 2013.
Khorezm has a long theatrical tradition. The regional musical drama theatre named after Ogahi, a Khorezmian Uzbek poet and historian, traces its origins to a troupe established in Khiva in 1922. It moved to Urgench in 1933, when the city became the administrative centre of the region, and continues to operate there today.
Khiva has also been connected with contemporary work based on Khorezm’s traditional arts. In 2019, Canadian choreographer Sashar Zarif developed Lazgi–Transformation, an ethno-contemporary dance project rooted in his research into the traditional Lazgi dance of Khorezm. The project included a creative laboratory in Khorezm, followed by workshops and production work, with presentations in Khiva and Urgench, as well as Tashkent.
Entertainment, Parks, and Shopping in Khiva
Khiva’s parks provide places to sit and spend time away from the historic centre. The city’s markets and craft shops remain part of everyday commerce, while entertainment is closely tied to local cultural life.
Entertainment
Khiva’s cultural calendar includes festivals, concerts, and dance performances. Events take place in the historic city and at newer venues nearby, particularly during the warmer months. The Arda Khiva complex has a 3,000-seat amphitheatre, cinemas, and a large musical fountain and hosts concerts and other cultural events.
The City of Magicians is an option for an evening programme. This newer tourist complex has performance venues, craft workshops, and traditional yurts (round, domed tents). Its programmes have included traditional dance, live music, folklore performances, and fire shows.
Parks of Khiva
Khiva has several green spaces and recreational areas beyond the historic centre. Nurullaboy Recreation Park, near the historic Nurullaboy Palace, is used for public gatherings and cultural events.
Khiva is also expanding its public green spaces. Work on Youth Eco Park (Yoshlar Eco Park) began in 2026 on previously unused land. By August, over 3,000 trees and more than 2,000 ornamental shrubs had been planted across the site.
For families with children, Khiva Lokomotiv has been known as an amusement park with rides set among trees and landscaped grounds. Khiva Park, near the outer wall of Itchan Kala, is another green space, with shade trees, benches, and ponds.
Shopping in Khiva
Shopping in Khiva is closely tied to the craft traditions of Khorezm. Inside Itchan Kala and around its walls, gift shops and craft workshops sell handmade products. The chugurma, a traditional fur hat associated with Khorezm, is one of the region’s notable crafts. Wood carving, ceramics, silk, textiles, and jewellery are among the other traditional crafts found in the city.
For everyday shopping and a feel for local life, explore Khiva’s local bazaars, including the Khiva Buyum Bazaar in the Sangar neighbourhood, where you can find food and other everyday goods.
Food in Khiva
Khiva’s cuisine is closely tied to the food traditions of Khorezm, which are known for their own dishes and cooking methods. Most local restaurants serve familiar Uzbek dishes alongside those regional specialities.
Uzbek Cuisine
Khorezm cuisine has several dishes that are particularly associated with Khiva. Shivit oshi is made with bright-green noodles prepared with dill-infused dough and served with a meat and vegetable stew and a fermented-milk sauce. Tukhum barak consists of thin parcels of dough filled with an egg mixture and briefly boiled. Both are traditional Khorezm dishes commonly found in Khiva.
Khorezm-style plov, known locally as chalov, is another regional speciality. In December 2025, Khiva hosted an international festival dedicated to Khorezm plov, reflecting the importance of the dish in the region.
Restaurants in the city also serve other Uzbek staples, including lagman (noodles with meat and vegetables), samsa (baked savoury pastries, often filled with meat), and shashlik (grilled skewers of meat).
Vegetarian Cuisine
Vegetarian and vegan dishes are available at several restaurants in Khiva, although the choice varies from one place to another. Khiva Moon, for example, has a separate vegetarian section on its menu with several vegetarian and vegan options. Some other restaurants can also prepare meat-free dishes on request, although it is worth checking the ingredients when ordering, particularly for vegan meals. Please refer to our vegetarian food in Khiva page for more information.
Coffee Shops and Boulangeries
Khiva now has several cafés and coffee shops serving coffee and pastries. AIM Coffee is a dedicated coffee shop east of Itchan Kala. For something sweet, try Khorezm-style halva, a flour-based confection made with sugar, or, in summer, gurvak, a juicy and particularly sweet local variety of melon.
City Transport in Khiva
Khiva is easy to explore on foot, especially within the walled Itchan Kala, where most sights are close together. Taxis generally drop passengers at one of the old city’s gates, as they do not operate within the historic centre. For journeys beyond Itchan Kala, taxis and public transport are available, including connections with Urgench. Taxis can also be used to reach Khiva railway station.
Buses
Buses and route taxis connect Khiva with Urgench and nearby areas, providing a convenient option for getting around outside Itchan Kala. Current routes and departure times are best confirmed locally, as services may vary.
Trolleybuses
The Urgench–Khiva trolleybus provides a convenient connection between the two cities and is the only remaining trolleybus system in Uzbekistan. In August 2026, ten new Yutong trolleybuses were introduced on the approximately 33-kilometre (20.5-mile) route, with a journey time of around 50 minutes. The service also connects Khiva with Urgench railway station and airport.
Taxi
Taxis are widely used in Khiva, particularly for journeys between the historic centre, the railway station, and other parts of the city. Yandex Go operates in Khiva, with both the more affordable Start tariffs and the more convenient Comfort tariffs. Local taxis are also available, although fares and payment arrangements may vary.
How to Get to Khiva
Planning your journey to Khiva? Khiva can be reached by air via Urgench International Airport (UGC), approximately 30 kilometres (18.6 miles) away, as well as by train or road from other parts of Uzbekistan.
Since September 2026, an electric passenger train has connected Urgench Airport with Urgench and Khiva. According to the published timetable, the journey from the airport to Khiva takes approximately 42 minutes.
For travellers going from Bukhara to Khiva, the new high-speed electric service provides a direct rail connection. The same service can be used for journeys from Khiva to Bukhara. Trains from Khiva to Bukhara operate daily except Tuesdays, and trains from Bukhara to Khiva operate daily except Mondays. We recommend you check the current timetable when planning your journey.
For convenient onwards travel, see our Khiva transfers page for airport and railway station transfers.
Languages Spoken in Khiva
Uzbek is the main language spoken in Khiva and the official language of Uzbekistan.
Russian is also widely understood, particularly among people working in tourism and other services. English is increasingly spoken in hotels, restaurants, museums, and other places that welcome international visitors.
Security in Khiva
Khiva is generally a peaceful and comfortable city for travellers to explore. The historic centre is small and easy to navigate, making it simple to move between the main sights without relying on transport. As elsewhere, it is sensible to keep an eye on personal belongings in busy areas and take care when crossing roads outside Itchan Kala. With these usual precautions, visitors can comfortably explore Khiva during the day and in the evening. Once the practicalities are out of the way, Khiva is there for you to discover.
As your first day draws to a close, traditional music drifts through the streets of Itchan Kala, the light settles over the old brick walls, and from a high vantage point the city unfolds below in a succession of emerald and teal domes, tall minarets, shaded courtyards, and rooftops. After seeing Khiva up close, this wider view puts the whole historic city into perspective.