Khiva sits in the far west of Uzbekistan, about 1,000 km from Tashkent by road and a long way from any other major city. Its walled old town, Itchan Kala, is small enough to walk across in fifteen minutes, but getting there takes planning. Below are the four realistic ways in: plane, train, bus and rental car, with times and the catches for each.
Flying In
Khiva has no airport of its own. International arrivals land at Tashkent, and from there domestic flights continue to Urgench, 35 km from Khiva. Uzbekistan Airways flies the route daily and the flight takes about 1 hour 40 minutes. Book two or three weeks ahead in spring and autumn, when the planes fill up with tour groups.
Outside Urgench airport, taxi drivers wait for every arrival. Agree the fare before you get in; the drive to the old town takes about 40 minutes. Marshrutka minibuses and trolleybus number 1 also run between Urgench and Khiva, which is slower but costs next to nothing. If you would rather not haggle, a pre-booked transfer from Urgench airport drops you at your hotel gate.
Trains from Tashkent
Overnight trains have linked Tashkent with Urgench for years. Expect 15 to 20 hours in a sleeper carriage, with a stop in Samarkand and Bukhara along the way. Many travellers break the journey in those two cities anyway, so the long ride matters less than it looks on paper. From Urgench station, taxis to Khiva take about 40 minutes.
Since May 3, 2026 there is a faster option. Uzbekistan Railways runs the “Jaloliddin Manguberdi” electric train directly between Tashkent and Khiva, with no change in Urgench.
It leaves Tashkent Central (Northern) station at 07:00 and reaches Khiva at 14:31. The return departs Khiva at 07:20 and arrives in Tashkent at 14:51. Total travel time is 7.5 hours either way.
Tashkent to Khiva runs on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Khiva to Tashkent runs on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Tickets go on sale 45 days ahead on the Uzbekistan Railways site and app, and the cheaper seats sell out first.
Intercity Buses
Long-distance buses and shared taxis connect Khiva with Bukhara, Urgench and Nukus. Bukhara to Khiva is around 450 km across the Kyzylkum desert, roughly 6 to 7 hours by shared taxi. Cars leave from the stands near Bukhara’s bus station once all four seats are sold, so arrive early in the morning to avoid waiting around. In July and August the road crosses open desert with no shade, so take water.
By Car
Self-driving gives you the freedom to stop at the Khorezm desert fortresses north of the Amu Darya, which no train or bus reaches. The downside is the road itself. The Bukhara to Khiva highway has long rebuilt stretches and long broken ones, and fuel stations are far apart. Carry an international driving permit, fill up whenever you see a pump, and avoid driving after dark. Most visitors find a driver with a car for the day cheaper and less tiring than a rental.
Before You Go
- Book early in high season. April, May, September and October are busy. Flights to Urgench and the fast train sell out, and so do the small guesthouses inside Itchan Kala. Reserve a room as soon as your dates are fixed.
- Carry cash. Taxi drivers, bazaar stalls and many guesthouses take only Uzbek som. ATMs exist in Urgench and in Khiva’s new town, but they run empty on weekends. Change money at a bank, not on the street.
- Keep your registration slips. Hotels register foreign guests with the authorities and give you a paper or digital slip each night. Border officers may ask for them on departure.
Once you arrive, give the old town two full days. The entrance ticket to Itchan Kala covers most museums and is valid for 48 hours, and a guided walk through Itchan Kala on the first morning helps make sense of the twenty-odd madrasas and minarets. Our Khiva travel guide covers what to see once you are inside the walls.
