How to get to Khiva

Khiva has no airport of its own. The nearest is Urgench International Airport, about 30–35 km north-east of Khiva. There are several daily flights from Tashkent, taking about 1.5 hours, as well as some international routes, mainly to Moscow and other Russian cities and, seasonally, to other destinations. Schedules change, so check current flights.

From the airport to Khiva takes about 35–40 minutes by taxi or transfer. Ride-hailing apps work in Urgench. For details, see our guide Urgench airport to Khiva.

Flying is the best option if your time is limited: a common plan is to travel Tashkent → Samarkand → Bukhara by train, Bukhara → Khiva by train or car, and fly back from Urgench to Tashkent at the end.

Since the railway reached Khiva in 2018, the town has its own station, a short walk or taxi ride from Ichan-Kala, with a building styled after the old city. Trains link Khiva with Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara, and some services continue via Urgench, the regional capital with its own station.

• From Bukhara: about 6–7 hours, across the Kyzylkum desert, with views of the desert and the Amu Darya.
• From Tashkent: overnight trains take around 14–15 hours; sleeper compartments make this a practical option. Faster services have been introduced on parts of the route; check current timetables.
• From Samarkand: around 9–11 hours, depending on the train.

Book tickets well in advance in spring and autumn, as there are fewer departures than on the Tashkent–Samarkand–Bukhara line. Bring your passport.

The road from Bukhara to Khiva is about 450 km and takes around 6–7 hours by car. It crosses the Kyzylkum desert, running for long stretches beside the Amu Darya river and the border with Turkmenistan. The road has been greatly improved, but services are few: there are a handful of roadside cafés and fuel stations, so bring water and snacks. The drive offers wide views of the desert, dunes, saxaul shrubs and occasional camels.

A private car with a driver is the most comfortable option; shared taxis are cheaper but less flexible. Leave early in summer to avoid the midday heat.

Nukus, the capital of Karakalpakstan and home of the Savitsky Museum, is about 200 km north-west of Khiva, around 3 hours by car. Many travellers combine Khiva with Nukus, the desert fortresses of ancient Khorezm and the former Aral Sea port of Muynak. Nukus also has an airport with flights to Tashkent.

The Shavat–Dashoguz border crossing lies about an hour north-west of Khiva. It is used by travellers combining Uzbekistan with Turkmenistan, the ruins of Kunya-Urgench and the Darvaza gas crater. Turkmenistan requires a visa or a letter of invitation for most nationalities, arranged through a licensed agency. There is a neutral zone between the border posts. Check the current status of the crossing before planning.

Ichan-Kala is small, about 400 by 650 metres, and entirely walkable; cars are restricted inside the walls. Most guesthouses are inside or just outside the walls. Taxis are cheap for the station, Urgench, and day trips. See where to stay in Khiva, Khiva itinerary and day trips from Khiva.

Khiva is usually the westernmost stop on a route through Uzbekistan. Because it is far from Tashkent, it makes sense to arrive overland from Bukhara and leave by air from Urgench, or the reverse. Allow at least one full day and two nights in Khiva. See also how to get to Bukhara, our 7-day and 10-day itineraries. We can arrange flights, train tickets, cars and drivers for every leg.