[2025 Khiva Attraction] Travel Guide for Itchan Kala (Updated Mar)

• Before you go: • Visa: Chinese citizens can enjoy visa-free entry to Uzbekistan, but please note the visa-free stay period and entry/exit methods. • Equipment: Bring lightweight clothing, a windproof jacket, comfortable walking shoes, and sunscreen to cope with the changeable climate of Central Asia. • Language: The official languages of Uzbekistan are Uzbek and Russian. English is not widely spoken, so we recommend downloading a translation app. • Transportation: • Plane: Urgench International Airport has international flights to Tashkent and other places, providing convenient air transportation. • Train: Urgench Railway Station is located on the Turkmenabad-Beyneu Railway Line and is an important hub for land transportation. • Must-see attractions: • Khiva Old Town: A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is one of the best-preserved ancient cities in Central Asia, with ancient city walls and exquisite buildings. • Turebek-Khanym Mausoleum: Of great historical and cultural value, with a unique architectural style. • Urgench Bazaar: Experience local customs and buy handicrafts. • Food recommendations: • Grilled lamb: One of the most popular local delicacies, with tender and juicy meat. • Lagman: Traditional noodles made of handmade noodles, meat, vegetables, and spices, with a rich taste. • Accommodation suggestions: • Choose a hotel in the city center, which is convenient for transportation and has complete facilities. Prices vary according to the season and conditions.

I’d be willing to offer a bag of gold in exchange for just one look at the ancient city of Khiva. This Central Asian saying speaks amply to Khiva’s historic status as one of the most beautiful and storied cities along the ancient silk road in Uzbekistan. And having spent almost two days there, I would say Khiva lives amply up to its good name. We woke up to brilliant rays of the morning sun. The plan of the day was simply walk around the Ichon Qala (also Itchan Kala), as it is a well-defined, enclosed area with an endless number of heritage mosques, madrassas and defense fortifications. Khiva is, in many ways, distinct from Samarkand and Bukhara. Known as an “open air museum,” Khiva’s Ichon Qala envisions itself as a place for the tourists. Whereas both in Samarkand and in Bukhara there were opportunities for us to take but a glimpse of the local residents’ lives there, in Khiva tourism is the very life itself for Khiva’s people. You do pay for this, as a result – the first thing to note is the (comparatively) costly entrance fee for the Ichon Qala. It costs 100,000 Som (about US$8) to enter and tour the city, and at key sites they will check your ticket. For as long as the existence of the ancient Silk Road Khiva had been the very last stop on the Central Asian segment of the trade route. For the caravan traders Khiva was a water stop for their fleet through the vast aridity of the Kyzylkum Desert, which was wedged between the Amu Darya and the Syr Darya rivers. According to legends, Shem, one of Noah’s sons, found sweet water here (“Khey-vakh”), thus began the name of this city as Khiva. It is believed that Khiva was founded around the 5th or 4th century B.C. Khiva was known to the Arabs as early as the 10th century. It must be noted that, like so many ancient cities in now Uzbekistan, Khiva was not spared from the brutality of the Mongol invasion in the 13th century. The Mongols razed down Khiva and therefore some of the ancient structures had to be rebuilt in the 18th and 19th centuries. #khiva #uzbekistan #unescoworldheritage #itchankala #historicallandmarks #history #silkroad #历史古迹#世界遗产

One of the three Extra Tickets, and the one I actually bought and was extremely satisfied with, is the City Walls🏹🎠🪽 You can climb up and walk along the walls surrounding Ichankala😆 The view of Ichankala from above is uniquely beautiful, and the minarets and mosques that appear small in the distance look as cute as if you were peeking into a toy box🥹🫶🏼 The walls are so prominent that you can see them no matter where you walk in Ichankala, but the only place you can buy this Extra Ticket and find stairs to the walls is the somewhat distant North Gate👀 This is a bit inconvenient, but compared to other tickets, it was quite affordable and there were very few people, which was great☺️🤍 Note that the walls have gates in the north, south, east, and west, but the walls are interrupted at the west and east gates, so you can't make a full circle😎✍️

The area surrounded by a double wall of outer and inner walls, about 6 km long, is called "Ichan Kala" and contains many palaces, mosques, and minarets (tall towers attached to mosques)😆🙌🏻 You need to pay an entrance fee to enter, and if you purchase a ticket, you can also enter some of the mosques and museums inside👀✨ However, there is actually a secret trick: guests staying at accommodations inside Ichan Kala can explore without paying the entrance fee🫢 (However, if you enter the building, you will need to purchase an entrance fee❕⚠️) We arrived at the accommodation at around 1am from Khiva airport by shuttle bus without going through the ticket office or gate check, and were able to explore freely from the next morning☺️ It seems that no matter what time you arrive, the flow will be the same if you are staying at an accommodation inside Ichan Kala😌💭 #0 yen trip January 2025 #overseas travel #Uzbekistan

There are many things to see in Khiva, Uzbekistan 😻 You can see a certain number of sights with the common ticket (200,000 UZS) to enter Itchan Kala, but you can also go to even more wonderful places for an additional fee ♪ 《Itchan Kala Walls》 The common ticket cannot be used for the walls, and there is a separate fee of 20,000 UZS (about 230 yen *rate as of November 2024) There are gates to climb the walls on the north and south. The first three photos are the north side, and the ones after that are the south side. The view is a little different~😃 There are not many people who climb the walls, so I didn't meet many people 🚶 It's a hidden gem, so if you go to Khiva, please visit this place as well 🍀 khiva/Itchan Kala #Overseas travel record #Uzbekistan #Khiva #khiva

Most travelers to Uzbekistan visit four main cities, but Khiva is the only one without a high-speed rail connection. To get there, you either have to fly or take a regular train. My trip to Uzbekistan was a spur-of-the-moment decision, and by then, all the plane tickets were sold out, so I took an overnight sleeper train to Khiva. The train station is a 20-minute walk from the old city. Since there are no taxi apps available in this city, you have to hail a cab, and like in all tourist cities, the drivers tend to charge higher fares. I arrived in Khiva's old city early in the morning before most tourists had arrived, so I was lucky to capture photos of the nearly empty ancient city. Although I knew it had been renovated, the restoration was beautifully done. Walking through the old city felt like being in a movie scene, with myself as one of the characters. The city's predominant earthy tones and its remote location made it feel like an ancient city in the middle of a desert. While you can explore the entire old city in half a day, there are so many unique items for sale that taking your time to stroll and browse is very enjoyable. Initially, I suspected that some of the souvenirs were mass-produced, but I saw artisans painting and embroidering items on the spot to prove they were handmade. Many tourists buy clothes to take photos because the designs perfectly match the scenery. By the afternoon, I noticed that almost the entire old city was filled with souvenir vendors, but the unique items they sold were not annoying at all. The food in Uzbekistan is quite similar across the country. My favorite is grilled lamb, which is delicious and affordable at any restaurant. It's worth mentioning that I visited during Ramadan. Initially, I was worried, but after reading online that Uzbekistan is a relatively secular country, I felt reassured. Since I mostly dined at tourist spots, Ramadan had no impact on my trip. Khiva is divided into the inner and outer old city. Most tour groups stay outside the old city, but I stayed at a guesthouse inside. From the guesthouse's rooftop, you can see the city walls, the entire old city, and the sunrise and sunset. You can enjoy a cup of tea or coffee while taking in the view. Uzbekistan is very safe, so there's no need to worry. Most places are very clean, with restrooms and handwashing facilities readily available. The overall experience was excellent. Most people in the tourism industry speak basic English, and if not, you can use Google Translate or hand gestures to communicate.

This time, we will introduce Khiva in Uzbekistan🇺🇿. Even today, people still live within the city walls, and the entire Ichan Kala is registered as the first World Heritage Site in Uzbekistan. It was the capital of the Khiva Khanate, which existed from the 16th to 20th centuries, and is affectionately known as the "Holy City." The best season to visit Uzbekistan is June to September. Why not visit? ? ⏰24 hours You can enter Ichan Kala at any time 🚗About 2km from Khiva Station (no buses available) 🚃Use the Uzbekistan Railway to travel between cities such as Samarkand and Bukhara. 💰The highlights (numerous mosques and madrasas within the inner walls) can be seen with a combined admission ticket of 200,000 soums, so you can be sure to see everything in half a day🙆♀️ (Some attractions incur additional fees.) ⚠️It's hot in the summer, so souvenir shops and other places become busier from 8pm. #0yentravel