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Why visit Ashgabat?

Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan, is one of the most unusual cities in Central Asia. Rebuilt after the 1948 earthquake and transformed since independence, it is a city of white marble buildings, golden domes, wide quiet avenues and grand monuments, especially striking when lit at night. It lies between the Kopetdag mountains and the Karakum Desert, near the Iranian border.

In the city, visit the Independence Monument, the Neutrality Monument and the Carpet Museum, home to the famous handwoven Turkmen carpets. The huge Altyn Asyr market on the edge of town, still often called Tolkuchka, sells carpets, clothes and household goods. Outside Ashgabat are the UNESCO-listed ruins of Nisa, an early Parthian capital, and stables where you can see Akhal-Teke horses, the country's prized breed. Many visitors drive several hours north into the desert to the Darvaza gas crater, a burning pit best seen after dark. Most travellers arrive by air at Ashgabat's international airport. The best time to visit is April to May and September to October, as summer is very hot. Tourist visas usually require a letter of invitation arranged by a travel agency, and travel is often organised as a guided tour. Before you travel, check your government's current travel advice, visa rules and whether foreign bank cards work there.

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