I recently spent three wonderful nights in Khiva and wanted to share some insights for those planning a visit.
We took a flight from Tashkent to Urgench with Uzbekistan Airways, which lasted about 1.5 hours. Upon arrival at Urgench airport, we took a taxi to our bed and breakfast located in Ichan Qala, a journey that took nearly an hour. One thing to note is that our luggage took quite a while to arrive at the airport. Before our trip, we had already purchased a SIM card and exchanged some money in Tashkent, so I didn’t pay much attention to the availability of these services at Urgench.
For our transfer from Urgench airport to our accommodation in Khiva, we opted for a pre-arranged taxi through Islambek Tours and Travels, which cost us $15. However, there were plenty of taxis available outside the airport, and we later realized that pre-booking wasn’t necessary, as we could have easily found a ride without the hassle of negotiating a fare.
We stayed at the Khiva Bibimaryam, a charming family-run guesthouse conveniently located near the Kalta Minor and the western gate of the old city. Since our accommodation was inside the walled city, we didn’t need tickets to enter or exit.
The entry fee for Khiva is UZS 200,000 per person, which is valid for two days. However, keep in mind that certain attractions require separate fees: the Islam Khodja minaret (UZS 100,000), the tower near the Ark (UZS 100,000), walking the city walls (UZS 20,000), and the Pahlvun Mohammed Mausoleum (UZS 25,000). We felt that the views from the Islam Khodja Minaret and the city walls weren’t worth the price, especially if you’re on a budget. The tower near the Ark offers better views of the city and the sunset, plus it remains open later than the other attractions.
Khiva truly comes alive in the evening when the monuments are beautifully illuminated. We spent two leisurely days exploring the city, including a visit to the Nurullaboy Palace just outside the walls, which offered a delightful contrast to our experiences in Bukhara.
Before our trip, we exchanged some USD for sums at Tashkent airport at a great rate (1 USD = 12,700 sum). We found that many places, including entrance fees and the Gastronom supermarket, accepted credit cards. Additionally, souvenir vendors were more than happy to take USD at a rate of about 12,500 sum.
Getting around Ichan Qala was easy; it’s a small area, and we walked everywhere. The only time we needed a taxi was to get to the Khiva railway station for our train to Bukhara. Our guesthouse arranged a metered taxi for us (you can call 1262 or 1504), and the fare to the station was just 12,500 sum.
Thank you for sharing such an informative report! We're planning to visit Khiva in mid-May, and I have a few questions:
Thanks in advance for your help!
We picked up a Ucell SIM card at Tashkent airport for 60,000 sum. It was valid for a month and came with 22GB of data. There was also a Beeline counter, so you might want to compare the options available. I paid for the SIM with my card, but do keep in mind they added a 1.5% surcharge. If you want, you can exchange some currency first and then buy the SIM.
As for the airport transfer, I’d recommend taking the $15 offer instead of dealing with the hassle of negotiating a taxi fare. For instance, when we arrived in Bukhara, the taxi drivers at the railway station were quoting outrageous prices to take us to our hotel in the old city. Luckily, I had the Yandex Go app installed, and I managed to get a taxi for just 28,000 sum.
The Khiva railway station is only about 2-3 kilometers from Ichan Qala, which is why the fare was much lower. Additionally, there’s a local taxi service that operates on a meter. Just so you know, Urgench airport is about 40 kilometers from Ichan Qala.
Thank you so much for the information! I’m really looking forward to our trip in mid-May.