This modern city in northern Uzbekistan has grown into a regional economic center, with wide boulevards, local markets, and the Al-Khwarizmi Monument honoring the 9th-century mathematician.
Urgench, a city of 145,000 people in western Uzbekistan, serves as the gateway to Khiva's medieval walls and minarets. You'll find unique attractions like the Museum of Khorezm Dance Lazgi and Youth Lake's miniature monuments. The city connects to Khiva via Central Asia's only intercity trolleybus line, letting you travel between the two cities while watching local life unfold along the way.
Getting to Urgench
You can fly to Urgench International Airport from Moscow (daily), Paris (twice weekly), and Milan (weekly) through regular flights. Trains run daily except Tuesdays from Tashkent, with the journey taking about 18 hours. The railway station connects with major Uzbek cities including Bukhara, Samarkand, and Nukus.
Transportation to Khiva
The 35-kilometer trolleybus line between Urgench and Khiva operates from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, with departures every 30 minutes. This public transport option takes you directly to Khiva's ancient walls for 15,000 som, compared to 100,000 som for a taxi. The 45-minute journey passes through small villages and cotton fields between the two cities.
Local Food Scene
Khorezm region's cooking methods and ingredients create distinctive dishes you won't find elsewhere in Uzbekistan. Try shivit oshi, green noodles colored with dill and topped with meat sauce, or tuhum-barak, dumplings filled with raw eggs that cook during boiling. Restaurants near the Amu Darya River prepare fish using traditional smoking and grilling techniques. The regional suzma pilaf uses fewer spices than other Uzbek versions, with an emphasis on the rice's natural flavor.
Museums and Cultural Sites
The Museum of Modern Art, housed in a 1910 merchant's mansion, displays paintings and sculptures by Uzbek artists from 1960-present. Open Tuesday-Sunday, 9:00-5:00. The Museum of Khorezm Dance Lazgi (open daily 10:00-6:00) shows the evolution of this traditional dance through photographs, costumes, and daily performances at 12:00 and 3:00. At Youth Lake complex, walk among 1:10 scale models of monuments from Samarkand, Bukhara, and other Uzbek cities.
Ancient Desert Fortresses
Three desert fortresses lie north of Urgench: Ayaz-Kala (2nd century BC), Toprak-Kala (1st century BC), and Kyzyl-Kala (12th century AD). Reach these sites by taxi (150,000 som round trip) or organized tour, with the journey taking about 1.5 hours each way. Visit between 7:00-10:00 AM or after 4:00 PM when the sun is less intense. Bring at least 2 liters of water per person, as these sites have no shops or cafes.
