Khiva — often written Jiva in Spanish — is a historic city in western Uzbekistan, famous for its walled old town, Ichan Kala, recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walking through its narrow alleys feels like stepping back into the time of camel caravans, silk traders, turquoise-tiled madrasas and tall minarets dominating the Central Asian skyline.
In this guide you will find practical information about tours in Khiva with local Spanish-speaking guides, the history of the former Khiva Khanate, must-see monuments such as the Kalta Minor minaret, tips on traditional Uzbek food, transport inside the city, how to get here from Samarkand, Bukhara or Tashkent, plus safety, language and local culture. It is your reference to plan a trip along the Silk Road in Uzbekistan.
One of the best ways to discover Khiva is with a specialised local guide in Central Asian history and architecture. Inside the walls of Ichan Kala, every building has a fascinating past: religious madrasas, former residences of the khans, minarets that were used both for the call to prayer and to watch over the commercial routes of the Silk Road.
Many travellers book private walking tours of Ichan Kala, night visits to see the illuminated minarets, sunrise photo walks and excursions towards the deserts of Karakalpakstan. These experiences usually include stops at historic minarets, madrasa courtyards, traditional houses turned into museums and the old city gates. You can also combine Khiva + Bukhara + Samarkand in a longer itinerary across Uzbekistan, following the caravan network.
If you prefer a more relaxed pace, ask for a car with local driver: they will take you to key spots in the city and nearby areas, with photo stops and free time. It is ideal if you travel in a small group or as a family.
For centuries, Khiva was the capital of the Khiva Khanate, an oasis state that controlled trade between the Karakalpakstan desert, the Amu Darya valley and the routes linking Bukhara, Samarkand and the lands further east. Power was maintained through caravan tribute, trade in silk, spices, ceramics and, during darker periods, the slave trade.
The walls of Ichan Kala protected not only the elite but also artisans, scholars and clerics. Madrasas (Quranic schools), mosques and minarets were religious centres but also tools for political control. Today walking through old Khiva is literally walking in an open-air museum, where almost the entire old town is recognised as World Heritage.
Some of the spots you simply cannot miss in Khiva:
• Kalta Minor: the unfinished minaret covered in
turquoise tiles that has become the city’s most iconic photo.
• Kunya Ark citadel: former fortified residence of the
khans, where you can see private rooms, audience halls and viewpoints
over the walls.
• Juma Mosque: famous for its hypostyle hall with more
than 200 carved wooden columns, many of them dating back to medieval times.
• Muhammad Amin Khan Madrasah: an impressive complex with
cells for Quranic students and beautiful ceramic details.
Take time to wander through inner corridors, shaded courtyards and rooftops where, at sunset, the orange sky falls over turquoise domes. It is the pure visual essence of the Silk Road in Uzbekistan.
Inside Ichan Kala you will find many genuine craft workshops: hand-painted ceramics, woodcarving, traditional embroidery, tablecloths and susani (embroidered Central Asian textiles). Buying here means directly supporting local artisans who keep ancestral techniques alive.
Towards the evening, many travellers climb up to the rooftops to see the old town from above: turquoise domes, minarets glowing in the sun and adobe walls. Afterwards you can relax in a traditional tea house and try local sweets, nuts and freshly baked bread.
Food in Khiva shares roots with the rest of Uzbekistan, but has its own touches. Do not miss the plov (rice with meat, carrot and spices), grilled lamb skewers, fresh salads with herbs and traditional soups. Green tea is served constantly: it is a real symbol of hospitality.
For something truly authentic, step into a local chaykhana (tea house) where people gather to eat, talk and share tandoor bread. It is an easy way to connect with everyday life beyond the monuments.
The historic core of Ichan Kala is pedestrian, so be ready to walk and wear comfortable shoes. Outside the walls you will find local taxis and cars with drivers that can take you to your hotel, Urgench airport or other nearby points.
To move between Uzbek cities, most travellers combine private transfers, domestic trains and internal flights. A very popular route is Tashkent → Samarkand → Bukhara → Khiva in that order, crossing the Silk Road from east to west.
The most practical gateway is Urgench airport, about 30–40 minutes by car from Khiva. There are domestic flights from Tashkent and also train connections. Another very popular option is to travel by fast train between Samarkand, Bukhara and then connect onwards to Urgench/Khiva.
If you are planning a full route across Uzbekistan, many itineraries start in Tashkent, continue to Samarkand, then Bukhara and finish in Khiva. It is an almost perfect line that lets you see the historic evolution of the Silk Road: from big metropolises to this more intimate walled city.
The official language is Uzbek, but many people also speak Russian, especially for everyday things (transport, prices, logistics). English is growing in the most touristic areas and many licensed guides offer services in Spanish or English to explain the history in detail.
Learn a couple of basic greetings and you will see how people respond with smiles. Uzbek hospitality is not a slogan: it is real, direct and warm.
The official currency is the Uzbek sum (UZS). In Khiva’s most touristic areas, card payments (Visa and MasterCard) are becoming more common, but it is still very useful to carry cash. Exchange money at authorised offices, banks or at the airport and avoid informal street exchange.
Always keep some small notes for taxis, bottled water, souvenirs and entrance fees to monuments. Some viewpoints or small museums still accept only local cash.
Uzbekistan is generally a calm and safe destination for travellers. Even so, use common sense: watch your belongings in crowded areas, ask before photographing people (especially in religious spaces) and respect local dress codes in mosques and madrasas.
The weather in Khiva can be very hot in summer and cold in winter, so bring appropriate clothes, sunscreen, water and something to cover your head in the sun. With these basic precautions you can enjoy the walled city almost as if time had stopped centuries ago.
For more specific questions (visa, insurance, private transfers, Spanish-speaking tours), you can use our contact form and we will help you.
