Best Khiva photography spots and photo opportunities: a complete guide

Discover one of the most beautiful cities in Uzbekistan, and find out the best Khiva photography spots with this guide! With in-location tips, honest reviews and photography FAQs.

Khiva is one of the most visited cities in Uzbekistan, and its old town is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Sometimes the distance between the main cities in the country and Khiva makes first-time tourists question if it’s worth the trip. Yes, Khiva is a must in any Uzbekistan itinerary. Its old town is probably the most compact and beautiful in the country, easy to navigate and with countless historical sites. In this Khiva photography spots guide, you’ll find out all you need to include Khiva in your Uzbekistan itinerary.

If you need help in structuring your (photography) trip to Uzbekistan, schedule a call with me using the link below!

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Khiva photography spots guide: FAQs

Before jumping into the photography spots, as in most of my guides, I have some Kihva FAQs that I would have liked to get answered before my first trip there.

How to get to Khiva?

Getting to Khiva is relatively easy. You can get there by train. If you come directly from Tashkent, it’s a long route, but if you are jumping from Bukhara to Khiva, you can be there in a few hours.

Another possible train route is the one that goes from Tashkent to Urgench, and from Urgench, take a shared taxi (or private one), to Khiva.

These are the easiest ones by public transport. If you are going on an organised tour, you’ll have a private driver. Otherwise, it’s possible to take shared taxis from any nearby city to Khiva.

In my case, I was coming from Nukus and the Aral Sea, and I took 2 taxis, one from Nukus to Urgench, and one from Urgench to Khiva. In all cases, these were shared taxis, and the whole trip cost me around 8$. However, you’ll need to learn how to haggle, or ask a local (or your hotel/accommodation) to help you get a shared taxi at a good price.

From Khiva’s train station to the old town, it’s a 20-minute walk, in a really nice area. If you don’t feel like walking, you can also take a taxi.

Is it worth it to photograph Khiva?

Yes. Khiva is the easiest city to photograph in Uzbekistan. When in Khiva, you will spend 95% of your time in Itchan Khala, the old town. Surrounded by the city walls, most of the tourist attractions are inside it. It’s a very small area, walkable, and (maybe a bit too much) touristy.

The reason why it’s so worth photographing it’s that it’s really beautiful. Although it’s not the Registan Square in Samarkand, the density of madrasahs, mosques, museums, minarets… makes it a must-visit and photograph city in Uzbekistan.

Outside the old town, you can visit much more authentic markets, parks,… although most tourists stay within the city walls.

How many days to visit Khiva?

This is a critical point. You can visit Khiva in 24 hours. It’s very walkable, everything is close… You can see its main spots in just one day. However, if you want to follow this Khiva photography spots guide, you’ll need a bit more time. Sunrises and sunsets are magical in Khiva. I also recommend visiting Khiva after sunset, and instead of just visiting tourist spots, getting lost within the old town, but also outside the city walls.

2 full days (thus, 2 nights) can sound like overkill for the size of the city, but if your itinerary can accommodate it, do it. However, don’t spend too much time. I spent 3 full days (3 nights) in Khiva, and I ended up exploring the surroundings because the Old Town became a bit too small and repetitive for me. Finding the sweet spot is key.

Where to stay in Khiva, Uzbekistan?

Despite the limited tourist infrastructure in the country, Khiva has plenty of accommodation options for all budgets. From very cheap hostels to more luxurious hotels. Pages like booking.com are great for booking your stay.

The most important part, though, is where to stay in the city. If you can, I recommend staying inside the old town, within the city walls. This will make it easier to visit the city, and when it comes to photography, it will allow you to be as close as possible to most attractions.

While during the offseason(when I was there) there are no big crowds, during the peak season months the city can get a bit crowded, and being so small, it’s important to be close to the attractions to get in there the moment they open their doors.

Is Khiva, Uzbekistan, safe?

YES. Really, chances are that regardless of where you come from (including Europe), Khiva is safer than your city. The same applies to Uzbekistan. While the -stan makes people nervous, Uzbekistan has none of the problems that only a few of the -stan countries have.

It’s extremely safe, people are very welcoming (although only a few of them speak English), and while it’s a country with a limited tourist infrastructure, you won’t have any problems. The main safety threat might be the drivers, as driving in Uzbekistan is a real adventure.

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Khiva photography spots: Old Town (Itchan Kala)

All the Khiva photography spots in this guide are from the Old Town of Khiva. Although I also explored the city, its market/bazar, gardens and outer city walls, I decided to limit this article to the old town. If you want to hear about the other possible things to visit (and day trips), feel free to schedule a call with me using the links in this article.

Ichan Kala west gate

No better way to start a Khiva photography spots guide than with the first thing you’ll see when arriving in Khiva. Chances are, this is the main gate you’ll use to access the old town. There are others, but this is the one where most taxis, buses,… will drop you. If you come from the train station, you’ll find another gate, but don’t miss this one.

The beauty of this gate is two-fold:

On one hand, the gate itself is really beautiful, with its towers, and plenty of activity during the day.

On the other hand, behind the gate, there’s the Kalta Minor minaret. From outside the gate is where you can get one of the most iconic photos of Khiva, with the city walls and the blue minaret behind.

I will mention it multiple times in this guide, and I even have a specific point for this, but check it out at night, as it’s possible to take amazing photos both during the day and at night.

Kalta Minor minaret

This is the most iconic minaret in Khiva. An unfinished blue structure unique in the country. It was supposed to be a 70-80 meter minaret, but construction was interrupted, and it now stands at 29 meters.

The colour and structure make it one of the best Khiva photography spots. Either as the main element, focusing on its details, or as part of the scene. There are endless photo opportunities of the Kalta Minor minaret. Spend some time admiring it, look for different angles, and shoot it at different times of the day.

The sunrise and sunset light give it a unique touch, and the night lighting makes it even more impressive.

Mohammed Amin Khan Madrassah

There are plenty of Madrassahs in Khiva. In this guide, I am listing two of them as Khiva Photography spots, but I encourage you to visit any that you find in the Old Town. While to the tourist eye they can all look the same, after visiting some of them, you start seeing the differences in the tones, the structure,…

The Mohammed Amin Khan Madrassah is the one next to the Kalta Minor minaret. One of my favourite angles for taking photos of it is using the entrance arch framed by the gates to the Madrassah. Another great photo opportunity is using locals or tourists in front of the arches that were once rooms for students.

Some of the Madrassahs are hotels, restaurants, museums,… but during your trip across Uzbekistan, if you have the chance, enter some of them. They are equally beautiful and interesting from the outside.

Mohammed Rakhim Khan Madrassah

Opposite the Kuhna Ark (see below), there’s the Mohammed Rakhim Khan Madrassah. Equally beautiful, this was one of the largest ones in Central Asia. Photo opportunities in the Madrassah are similar to those you can find in other Madrassahs.

However, this can be a bit less popular than the one immediately next to Kalta Minor, so it might be a bit less crowded, making it easier to take specific photos.

Toshhovli Palace

This was one of the Khiva photography spots that surprised me the most. After arriving in the city and unpacking, I went for a random photo walk, without any goals or specific destination, and I encountered the Toshhovli Palace.

I didn’t even know if it was a public place, if I had to pay,… but I entered its main square, and I found a very special place. A mix of blues and yellows, interior stances, and almost no tourists, making it a perfect spot to take photos. While it’s not the most impressive building in the city, it is not that common, and is very worth visiting.

Streets of Khiva

Khiva has many little alleys and side streets that are not common among tourists. Although the old town is small, the main attractions are located quite close to each other.

Thus, if you want to find different Khiva photography spots, get lost in the old town. An easy way to do it is to follow the city walls, first in a clockwise direction and then counterclockwise. Especially early in the morning or before sunset, the light is perfect, and it’s possible to take photos that don’t look like everyone else’s.

Islam Khoja Minaret

This is the tallest minaret in Khiva. Although it’s not blue like the Kalta Minor minaret, it is also a great photography opportunity. The minaret alone is interesting. Depending on the moment of the day and the type of light, it will look very different. However, the location of the minaret is also important.

I am listing a specific viewpoint over the minaret below, but the square where the minaret is located is perfect for photography. Don’t take the main obvious photo, and look for other angles.

It is possible to climb to the top of the Minaret. However, the problem of being there is that you are in the tallest structure, which is what makes the “skyline” interesting. Instead of climbing there, check the Kuhna Ark (see below), from where you can get a great view over the Minaret and other important structures.

View over the Islam Khoja Minaret

One of the best Khiva photography spots for sunset is the view over the Islam Khoja Minaret. Head towards Matrasulboy Mirzaboshi Madrassah (don’t trust Google Photos, people get confused with other madrassahs), and there look towards the minaret. Both the horizontal and vertical shots are worth it, including the Pahlavan Mahmoud Mausoleum, which I will also mention next.

Even (or especially) at nighttime, when this area is almost deserted, the photo is impressive.

Pahlavan Mahmoud Mausoleum

The Pahlavan Mahmoud Mausoleum is one of the most important buildings in Khiva. Besides the historical and religious significance, it is a great photo spot. The inside is beautiful, although you need to get a ticket to access it. However, the reason I mention it in the Khiva photography spots guide is because of the colored domes.

Khiva is a yellow/orange city, with the desert and the orange and sandy tones. Structured like the Pahlavan Mahmoud Mausoleum, or the minarets, madrassah,… with their unique blue tones, add a very different touch to the photos you can take. If you get a bit lucky with the sunset tones, it’s possible to create a great composition of the domes and colored clouds like the one below.

Kuhna Ark (Khiva photography viewpoint)

The Kuhna Ark is the citadel of Itchan Khala, the Old Town. A ticket is required to visit the interior, and an extra ticket is required to climb the “tower”. It’s one of the few places I think it’s worth paying to visit, together with the Juma Mosque.

This point is dedicated to the viewpoint from the Kuhna Ark, as it is one of the best Khiva photography spots. Especially at sunset (it’s closed at sunrise), the views over the minarets and mausoleum, or over the city and the walls, are amazing.

A very simple way to get a nicely framed photo is to use the holes on the citadel walls to capture the main entrance gate, or other minarets on the horizon. It requires a few steep stairs, but the view is really worth it.

Kuhna Ark (interior)

However, the Khiva photography spots at Kuhna Ark don’t finish after the viewpoint. The interior of the citadel is equally beautiful. The most beautiful part has to be the main square, with the decorated buildings and the wooden columns. When I visited it, I made the mistake of visiting the viewpoint first and then exploring the building. However, this meant that I had no direct light to photograph the citadel.

Thus, explore the citadel first and then climb to see the view from the top of it.

Juma Mosque

This is the most underrated Khiva (photography) spot. This mosque is different from all the mosques I’ve seen in my life. The mosque dates back to the 10th century, but it’s been reconstructed many times, and what makes it unique is its structure. 212 wooden columns, with a central opening, and a minaret. That’s all.

The best moment to photograph this mosque is right when it opens. Not only because of the lack of other tourists, but also because of the light. The central opening and the early morning light combine perfectly. The dust of the nearby desert, with the beams of light, creates beautiful scenes.

If you have a model (or anyone) with you, it will be easier to create really good images. Otherwise, look for other tourists or locals, and try to capture them in your shot.

Cats

Yes, cats. Uzbekistan, in general, is a country with many stray cats (and some dogs). I had to list them as Khiva photography spots, because they are everywhere and because they are perfect elements to add to your photos.

They can be a bit shy, but, unlike dogs, they feel like they belong to this place (and I’m a dog person!). I took many cat photos in Uzbekistan, and the ones in Khiva are my favourite ones.

Souvenir markets

I can see myself reading this in a couple of years and thinking: Who would recommend souvenir markets as a photography spot? However, inside the walls of Khiva, you will not find many authentic shops or stores. All of them sell tourist items, but I took some photos I was happy with early in the morning and late into the night.

Keep an eye out for the little stands, the carpet shops,… Luckily, there are no “out of place” stores; everything matches quite well the vibe of the old town, and this is what I liked about it.

City walls

no matter where you access the city from, the first thing you will see from Ichan Khala are its city walls. They are imponent, impressive, and have a unique shape and structure.

My first thought when I saw them was that they would fit in a Prince of Persia or Assassin’s Creed video game.

Thus, they are a must-visit Khiva photography spot. You have multiple photography options:

First, the walls themselves, both during the day and at night. Second, the silhouette of the walls from any elevated point. The Kuhna Ark is a good place to take such photos. And finally, details of the walls, from the construction materials to views from its openings.

Other city accesses

The first item on this list is the Ichan Khala west gate. However, it’s not the only photo-worthy gate. As a walled city, Khiva has 4 main entrances, and all of them are interesting. While exploring the city walls, why not go on a walk around them and see the different entrances?

They are quite different from each other, as you can see those used more by locals or services and those used by tourists.

Khiva photography spots: night photo opportunities

I was not expecting Khiva to be a city with great night photo opportunities. It’s not New York, Tokyo, or any of these metropolises, but I really enjoyed photographing the city at night, as it had a mix of great lighting and silent streets. In this short section of the Khiva photography spots guide, I will mention a couple of night photo opportunities at spots that I have already mentioned above.

Main sights

Most of the main sights of Khiva are well-lit after sunset. Including the city walls, the main minarets, and even some of the madrassahs. Thus, they are perfect to capture a different view of the city, with fewer people, and at night.

What’s great is that without sunlight, the orange tones of the walls are less dominant, and the blue/green tones of the decorations in the minarets or madrasah take even more significance in the photos.

Street life

Although I said that after sunset, the streets of Khiva are quite empty, they are not completely empty. Thus, in side alleys and less frequented areas, it’s possible to take great photos that are almost impossible to take during the day.

Moreover, with most of the stands and shops closed, the vibe of the city is quite different.

This concludes the best Khiva photography spots guide. More Uzbekistan photography guides are available in the carousel at the end of this page. If you need help organising your trip to Khiva and Uzbekistan, you can schedule a call with me using the link below! And if you like travel and photography, you can follow me on Instagram.

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