Things to Do in Khiva
50 curated spots from Khiva itineraries
Activities & Attractions
30 curated experiences
Juma Mosque
Step into the cool interior forest of 200+ carved wooden columns, wander quietly through the dim light shafts, and study the different patterns and ages of the pillars.
45m · Included in Itchan Kala ticket or small extra fee
Juma Mosque (Friday Mosque)
Enter the atmospheric hypostyle mosque with its forest of carved wooden columns and filtered light; talk with the kids about how it stays cool and quiet inside.
1h · Included in city ticket
Islam Khodja Complex
See the tall minaret, madrasa, and surrounding lanes, then take your time with photos and the skyline view.
1h 30m · $8-12
Islam Khoja Minaret & Museum
Climb the tall slender minaret (if you’re comfortable) for the best aerial views of Khiva, and visit the nearby museum for artifacts and local history.
1h 30m · $5-7
Kunya Ark Fortress & Watchtower
Explore the former khan’s citadel, including the summer mosque with its deep blue tiles, open courtyards, and small museum rooms. Climb the watchtower for a panoramic view over Kalta Minor, the old town roofs, and a sea of earthen walls stretching into the desert.
1h 30m · $3-6 (included or combined with Itchan Kala complex ticket)
Kunya-Ark Citadel
Explore the royal fortress complex, including the old throne room, mosque, and courtyards; climb up to the viewpoint for panoramic shots over the old town’s mud walls and minarets.
1h 30m · $5-10 (often included in Itchan Kala ticket)
Pahlavan Mahmud Mausoleum
See one of Khiva’s most graceful shrine complexes, especially lovely in late afternoon light.
45m · $5-10
Evening Ramparts Walk in Itchan Kala
Near sunset, climb a section of the mud-brick walls (access points are near the north and west sides) and walk along the ramparts, watching the old town and surrounding desert glow in golden light.
1h · $2-3 or included in ticket (varies by gate)
Free Explore Time in Southeast Itchan Kala Lanes
Stroll the quieter residential alleys, look for ivy-draped walls, local kids playing, and small craft workshops; stop wherever feels inviting.
2h · Free
Free Explore: Central Itchan Kala Lanes
Wander the narrow mudbrick lanes between Kunya Ark, small mosques, madrasas, and artisan workshops; duck into ceramic studios, carpet shops, and quiet courtyards. Use this unstructured time to follow interesting doorways or staircases, take photos, and rest in shaded corners.
2h · Free (beyond city ticket and any shopping)
Free Explore: Night Walk in Itchan Kala
After dinner, stroll the softly lit streets, listening to distant music from cafés, and enjoy the minarets and walls under the night sky with far fewer people. Sit on a low wall or in a quiet square to soak in the atmosphere.
1h 30m · Free
Free Explore: North Itchan Kala Lanes
Wander the quieter mud-brick alleys behind Kunya-Ark; look for vine-covered doorways, small family-run craft shops, and cats sunbathing in courtyards.
1h · Free
Guided Walking Tour of Itchan Kala (e.g., Khiva Old Town Walking Tour)
Join a licensed local guide (such as those from Khiva Silk Road Travel or a GetYourGuide ‘Khiva Old Town Walking Tour’) to cover the main sites in a clear route: Kalta Minor, Muhammad Amin Khan Madrasah, Juma Mosque outer area, Islam Khoja Minaret, and Tash Hauli (Tosh-Hovli) Palace. The tour typically starts at Ota Darvoza and loops through the narrow lanes, madrasas, and city walls with plenty of history and legends.
3h 30m · $30-60 depending on group size and operator
Islam Khodja Minaret & Museum
Visit the small museum and, if you feel up to it, climb the tall, slender minaret for sweeping views over Itchan Kala and the desert beyond. Take your time on the stairs and spend a few minutes at the top enjoying the peaceful panorama.
1h · $2-3 extra for minaret climb
Islam Khodja Minaret & Museum Courtyard
Admire the tallest minaret in Khiva, optionally climb it if you like heights, and linger in the museum courtyard where trees and walls create a sheltered, almost jungle-like pocket.
1h · $2-5
Islam Khoja Minaret & Small Museum
Visit the tallest minaret in Khiva and the attached museum; older kids and adults can climb the minaret’s steep inner staircase for a dramatic view (you can decide if the 8-year-old is comfortable). The museum showcases Islamic artifacts and local history.
1h 15m · $3-5
Itchan Kala City Walls & Ota Darvoza Gate Walk
Enter through Ota Darvoza (West Gate) and do a slow loop along the inner streets by the city walls, taking in the first views of Kalta Minor Minaret and the mud-brick fortifications. Spend time photographing the outer wall, gates, and tree-lined paths that give an unexpectedly ‘wild’ feel right where the city meets the steppe.
1h 30m · $2-4 (Itchan Kala entrance ticket; walls area itself is effectively included)
Itchan Kala Main Gate (Ata Darvaza) & Orientation Walk
Enter via Ata Darvaza, buy the combined city ticket, and take an easy loop along the main axis past souvenir stalls, shady courtyards, and the Kalta Minor minaret. Focus on just walking, spotting landmarks, and letting kids get used to the space.
1h 30m · $10 day ticket (covers multiple monuments)
Itchan Kala Main Gate & Kalta Minor Area Stroll
Enter through the West Gate into the UNESCO-listed old town and walk the main street around the iconic turquoise Kalta Minor Minaret and Muhammad Amin Khan Madrasah. Let the kids explore the alleys, take photos of carved doors, and stop at small stalls for local crafts.
1h 30m · $5-10 (Itchan Kala entrance ticket, usually covers main area)
Itchan Kala Main Gate & Kalta Minor Minaret
Enter the walled city through the main gate, admire the short but striking turquoise Kalta Minor Minaret, and let the kids get their first feel for the mud-brick walls and colorful tilework; buy your combined monument ticket here.
1h · $10-15 (combined city ticket)
Itchan Kala Walking Loop
Start with a gentle self-guided loop through the UNESCO old town: walls, gates, madrassahs, and quiet side lanes. Focus on the exterior architecture, carved wood, and tiled facades.
2h 30m · Free or small entrance fees for specific monuments
Juma Mosque and Central Lanes
Visit the mosque’s forest of wooden columns, then wander the quieter streets nearby for slower, more intimate exploration.
1h 30m · $5-10
Juma Mosque and Minaret Area
Visit the mosque’s forest of carved wooden pillars and then continue through nearby lanes for slow, atmospheric wandering.
1h 30m · $5-10
Juma Mosque and Tosh-Khovli Palace
See the forest-like wooden columns of Juma Mosque, then continue to Tosh-Khovli for carved interiors, courtyards, and a slower pace.
2h · $10-20 total depending on entries
Kalta Minor and Islam Khodja Complex
Visit Khiva’s most recognizable minaret, then continue to nearby monuments for views, photo stops, and a compact cluster of sights.
1h 30m · $5-15 total depending on entries
Kalta Minor Minaret
See Khiva’s most recognizable turquoise landmark, then linger for photos from the nearby lanes and open square.
45m · $5-10
Kalta Minor Minaret & Madrasah Courtyard
Admire the famously stubby, vividly tiled minaret from different angles and wander the surrounding madrasah courtyard with artisan stalls.
45m · Free (outside viewing)
Khiva Handicraft Workshops
Browse wood carving, suzani, and ceramics in the old town lanes, and watch artisans at work where possible.
1h 30m · Free to browse; purchases optional
Khiva Local Market Stroll
Explore stalls selling vegetables, fruits, spices, nuts, and everyday goods; observe the rhythm of local life and maybe pick up dates, nuts, or tea as snacks.
1h · Free (plus any purchases)
Kuhna Ark Citadel
Explore the ancient citadel with courtyards, mosques, and a viewing platform over the walls; kids enjoy climbing around and peeking through battlements.
1h 30m · Included in city ticketRestaurants & Food
20 local favorites
Khorezm Art Restaurant
Order green tea, non-alcoholic drinks, eggs, bread, and halal Uzbek breakfast items if available; a calm start inside the old town.
1h · $8-15 per person
Yasavul Boshi Restaurant
Traditional-style restaurant with a shaded terrace and courtyard plants near the northeastern side of the old town. For halal: look for lamb or beef shashlik, grilled chicken, dolma, vegetable salads, and non bread; there is no pork, and you can easily keep it halal by avoiding alcohol and asking to confirm halal meat, which is standard in Khiva.
1h · $8-14 per person
Bir Gumbaz Restaurant
Leafy courtyard with vines and wood beams that echo a wild garden vibe; menu includes plov, shivit oshi (herb noodles), manty (dumplings), shashlik, and salads. Confirm halal meat (standard lamb and beef) and choose grilled kebabs, plov, pumpkin or potato manty, and fresh tomato-cucumber salads; avoid any dubious sausages or dishes cooked with wine.
1h · $10-18 per person
Terrassa Café & Restaurant
Relaxed terrace and indoor seating with plants and wood accents; pick chicken or beef kebabs (confirm halal), vegetarian manty (dumplings) or stuffed peppers, and bread with tea—specify you need halal meat and no alcohol in cooking.
1h 30m · $12-17 per person
Cafe Zarafshon
Cozy spot with indoor and terrace seating, sometimes under vines, known for manty demonstrations and homestyle dishes. Request halal meat manty (lamb or beef), try pumpkin manty, simple soups, and salads; avoid any alcohol-based sauces and double-check meat is halal as usual in Khiva.
1h · $10-18 per person
Khiva Moon Restaurant
Comfortable restaurant just outside the West Gate with indoor and terrace seating, soft lighting, and decorative plants giving a slightly lush feel even off the main tourist strip. For halal: opt for beef or lamb kebabs, chicken dishes, vegetable salads, and soups; the restaurant does not serve pork and you can easily avoid alcohol by choosing tea or soft drinks.
1h 15m · $10-18 per person
Mirza Boshi Restaurant
Choose plov, shashlik, grilled chicken, soups, or salads; halal-friendly options are available and easy to order.
1h 30m · $15-30 per person
Terrassa Cafe & Restaurant
Choose grilled halal meat, rice dishes, fresh salads, bread, and tea; if available, ask for the simplest menu items rather than mixed platters.
1h 30m · $15-30 per person
Cafe Zarafshan
Order lagman, shashlik, soups, salads, and tea; these are straightforward halal-friendly choices with little guesswork.
1h 15m · $12-22 per person
Caravan Khiva
Order plov, shashlik, chicken kebabs, or a vegetable salad; halal-friendly options are standard in Uzbek-style cooking here.
1h 15m · $12-25 per person
Caravan Khiva Restaurant
Rooftop-terrace restaurant with views over Kalta Minor and green courtyards; choose grilled meat kebabs (beef/lamb, prepared halal), vegetable soups, samsa with beef, and fresh salads—ask staff to confirm halal meat and request no alcohol in any marinades.
1h 15m · $10-15 per person
Khiva Moon
Modern, atmospheric restaurant with warm lighting, some plant accents, and indoor-outdoor seating; menu usually features shashlik, soups, samsa, and salads. Ask staff to confirm halal meat (typical lamb and beef) and order grilled kebabs, vegetable soups, samsa with beef or pumpkin, and mixed salads; avoid any non-halal or unclear items.
1h 30m · $10-20 per person
Leila Restaurant
Courtyard and indoor seating with plants and carved details; get an Uzbek breakfast spread with eggs, bread, cheese, jams, seasonal fruit, and strong tea—avoid any pork products (rare) and confirm no alcohol in dishes.
1h · $5-10 per person
Zerafshan Teahouse
Another relaxed courtyard breakfast with eggs, bread, fruit, and tea—all halal by default with no pork served.
45m · $5-8 per person
Arkanchi Hotel Restaurant
Finish with halal kebabs, soups, salads, rice dishes, and tea; keep the meal simple after a dusty desert outing.
1h 30m · $15-30 per person
Bir Gumbaz Chaikhana
Traditional teahouse with a cozy, slightly rustic feel; order non bread with honey or jam, boiled eggs, simple omelettes, and tea—these items are naturally halal and avoid any questionable meats.
45m · $5-8 per person
Bir Gumbaz Restaurant (Return Visit, Light Dinner)
Come back for a lighter meal — share a portion of grilled fish (if available and halal), vegetable salads, and bread; all dishes are prepared in a halal kitchen.
1h · $8-12 per person
Cafe Khiva (Rooftop)
Rooftop dining area with potted plants and views over the main square; order halal chicken or beef kebabs, vegetable sides, and soups, clearly labeled on the menu.
1h 15m · $10-15 per person
Cafe Khiva Moon
Simple, friendly spot with potted plants; ask for halal beef or chicken shashlik, laghman with beef, or vegetarian soups and salads. They confirm using halal meat and have no pork options.
1h · $6-10 per person
Café Zarafshan
Small café with coffee, tea, pastries, and simple egg dishes; choose plain pastries (check they’re free of lard), omelets, and tea or coffee.
45m · $5-10 per person