Istanbul – Urgench flights on monthly payments

When to visit Urgench

April to May and September to October are the easiest periods, with daytime temperatures of 22C to 28C and comfortable visits to the desert fortresses. From June to August the desert heat reaches 38C to 42C by day and the stone lanes of Khiva empty at midday, so sightseeing shifts to early morning and sunset. November to March is cold and dry; January days hover around freezing and nights fall well below, but Itchan Kala is uncrowded.

Things to do in Urgench

Itchan Kala, Khiva

Khiva's inner city, ringed by 10 metre mud brick walls, covers 26 hectares and holds more than fifty monuments and hundreds of houses from the 18th and 19th centuries; in 1990 it became Uzbekistan's first UNESCO site. Entry is by the west gate and a single ticket covers most of the monuments. The walls can be walked, and at sunset the mud brick turns copper coloured; caravanserai hotels inside the walls take guests.

Kalta Minor Minaret

Just inside Khiva's west gate, the stubby minaret of 29 metres and 14 metres across, covered top to bottom in turquoise and green tile, was begun in 1855 as an 80 metre tower meant to be seen from Bukhara; it was left unfinished when the khan died in battle the same year. The name means short minaret in Uzbek and it is the most photographed structure in Khiva. The Muhammad Amin Khan Madrasa beside it is now a hotel.

Islam Khoja Minaret

Built in 1910 by Islam Khoja, the reforming vizier of Khiva, the 57 metre minaret is the tallest structure in the city; its tapering shaft is wrapped in bands of turquoise and brown tile. The 118 narrow, dark steps can be climbed, and from the top the inside of the walls, the rooftops and the desert beyond are all in view. The madrasa beside it holds the museum of Khorezm crafts.

Kunya-Ark Citadel

Built in the 17th century as the fortress palace of the khans of Khiva, the Kunya-Ark leans against the western walls; the throne room, the tiled summer mosque and the harem courtyard are on the visit. The Akshikh Bobo watchtower at the northeast corner of the citadel can be climbed, and all of Itchan Kala and the Kalta Minor are in view from there. It is Khiva's best known sunset spot, with a separate entry fee.

Tash Hauli Palace

Built in eight years in the 1830s for Allah Kuli Khan, the palace in the eastern half of Itchan Kala carries the richest tilework in Khiva across its 160 rooms and three courtyards. The five iwans of the harem court are tiled in blue and white to the ceiling, with carved wooden columns on marble bases. The round platform in the reception court was the site of the khan's tent. The courtyards are best seen in morning light.

Ayaz Kala Fortress

Eighty kilometres northeast of Urgench, in the Kyzylkum desert across the Amu Darya, the remains of three mud brick fortresses dating back to the 4th century BC stand on a hill; it is the grandest of the chain of desert fortresses of Khorezm. The ramparts give a panorama of the desert and the lake below. A yurt camp nearby takes overnight guests; it is visited on the same day as Toprak Kala and the drive by taxi is an hour and a half.

Istanbul – Urgench flight prices by month

The cheapest month on this route is November: return fares start at 19,822 TL (cheapest day: November 30). In the most expensive month the same route sits around 36,714 TL, so picking the right month is the decision that actually sets the price here. Data scanned as of 2026-09-21 and subject to change.

Istanbul → Urgench: search the cheapest day, November 30

Which city is cheaper to fly to Urgench from?

Departing from Istanbul is the cheapest option for this destination: 19,822 TL in November. Each price below is the floor for that origin’s own best month; click a price and the search opens with that origin and date.

Airlines on the Istanbul – Urgench route

Türk Hava Yolları flies Istanbul – Urgench direct. Suso pulls live flights through Google Flights; pick the best option and spread the cost over monthly payments.

About Urgench

Urgench is a popular route for Uzbekistan (Asia). For more travel guidance, when to go and things to do, see our Urgench destination page.

Istanbul – Urgench FAQ