Find places in Turkmenistan

Must-Haves

• Turkmen Carpet Museum (Gorogly Street)
  Giant hand woven carpets and a clear guide to the tribal gul patterns at the heart of Turkmen identity.
• National Museum of History of Turkmenistan (Archabil Avenue)
  The country's story from Bronze Age Gonur Depe to Parthian Nisa, including famous ivory rhytons.
• Halk Hakydasy Memorial Complex (Southern Ashgabat)
  A moving memorial to the 1948 earthquake and the country's war dead.
• Old Nisa (Bagyr, outskirts of Ashgabat)
  UNESCO listed ruins of an early Parthian capital looking over the plain to the mountains.

Off the Beaten Path

• Museum of Fine Arts of Turkmenistan (Central Ashgabat)
  Turkmen paintings, Soviet era canvases and silver jewellery in a grand modern building.

Must-Haves

• Independence Monument (Archabil Avenue)
  The city's signature monument, set in a vast park of statues and fountains.
• Arch of Neutrality (South Ashgabat)
  The gold topped tripod tower celebrating Turkmen neutrality, with views over the city.

Fun for Everyone

• Monument to the Constitution (Archabil Avenue)
  A soaring white tower and plaza that glows after dark, a classic night photo stop.
• Wedding Palace (Bagt Koshgi, Southern Ashgabat)
  A star shaped marble tower crowned by a globe, often busy with wedding parties.
• Alem Cultural and Entertainment Centre (Southern Ashgabat)
  Home to one of the world's largest enclosed Ferris wheels, with city views at night.

Must-Haves

• Altyn Asyr Bazaar (Tolkuchka) (Northern outskirts of Ashgabat)
  Central Asia's great desert bazaar, busiest on Sunday mornings, for carpets, hats, silk and life.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Gulistan Bazaar (Russian Bazaar) (Central Ashgabat)
  The handy central market for bread, dried fruit, nuts, spices and snacks.
• Teke Bazaar (Central Ashgabat)
  A local food market with fresh produce, dairy and stalls of homemade sweets.

Fun for Everyone

• Berkarar Shopping Centre (Ashgabat)
  A modern mall with cafés and a food court, a cool escape on a hot afternoon.

Off the Beaten Path

• Altyn Asyr Shopping Centre (Central Ashgabat)
  A large state shopping centre where you can see everyday local shopping.

Must-Haves

• Kow Ata Underground Lake (Near Baharly)
  A warm sulphur lake deep inside a cave, a favourite half day swim.

Off the Beaten Path

• Nokhur Village (Kopetdag mountains)
  A mountain village with horned grave markers and a distinct local culture.
• Kopetdag Mountains Viewpoints (South of Ashgabat)
  Dry rocky ridges along the Iranian border with views back over the city.

Fun for Everyone

• Ashgabat Botanical Garden (Central Ashgabat)
  Shady paths and old trees in one of the oldest botanical gardens in Central Asia.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Health Path (Saglyk Yoly) (Kopetdag foothills)
  A long concrete walking trail into the hills, popular with locals at weekends.

Must-Haves

• Sofitel Ashgabat Oguzkent (Central Ashgabat)
  A large international hotel with dependable service, central and easy for first timers.
• Archabil Hotel (Archabil Avenue)
  A large modern hotel on the main boulevard of monuments.

Great for Date Night

• Yyldyz Hotel (Southern Ashgabat)
  A curved glass tower in the hills with sweeping views of the city lights.

Fun for Everyone

• Grand Turkmen Hotel (Central Ashgabat)
  A long established central hotel often used by tour groups.

Off the Beaten Path

• Ak Altyn Hotel (Central Ashgabat)
  A classic Ashgabat hotel near the main avenues with a calm garden feel.

Must-Haves

• Tolkuchka Bazaar Food Stalls (Altyn Asyr Bazaar)
  Steaming plov, shashlik and fresh chorek bread in the middle of the market crowds.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Gulistan Bazaar Somsa Stalls (Gulistan Bazaar)
  Flaky meat somsa straight from the tandyr oven, a cheap and tasty snack.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Bazaar Tea Houses (Altyn Asyr Bazaar)
  Pots of green tea and fresh bread with traders on a Sunday morning.

Fun for Everyone

• Alem Night Views (Alem Cultural and Entertainment Centre)
  The capital's liveliest evening scene, with the Ferris wheel lit in colour.

Must-Haves

• Turkmen Horse Day (Ashgabat Hippodrome)
  Akhal-Teke races and parades on the last Sunday of April celebrate the national horse.
• Turkmen Carpet Day (Across Ashgabat)
  On the last Sunday of May, weavers, exhibitions and carpet displays fill the capital.

Fun for Everyone

• Navruz (Across Ashgabat)
  The spring new year in March with family feasts, music and festive sumelek dishes.
• Independence Day (Across Ashgabat)
  Late September parades, concerts and fireworks mark the country's independence.

Off the Beaten Path

• Melon Day (Across Turkmenistan)
  The second Sunday of August celebrates the country's famous sweet melons with tastings and fairs.

Must-Haves

• Darvaza Gas Crater (Karakum Desert)
  The burning crater known as the Door to Hell, unforgettable after dark.

Off the Beaten Path

• Darvaza Water Crater (Karakum Desert)
  A collapsed crater filled with still blue green water, a quiet stop on the way.
• Darvaza Mud Crater (Karakum Desert)
  A crater of bubbling grey mud and gas that shows the ground's restless side.
• Karakum Night Sky (Around Darvaza)
  Far from city lights, the desert sky is one of the darkest you will ever see.

Fun for Everyone

• Karakum Desert Dunes (Around Darvaza)
  Rolling dunes and saxaul trees for sunset walks near camp.

Must-Haves

• Darvaza Yurt Camp (Near the gas crater)
  Sleeping in a felt yurt with the crater's glow on the horizon.

Great for Date Night

• Darvaza Tent Camping (Near the gas crater)
  Campfire dinner and a sky full of stars beside the flames.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Erbent Village (Karakum Desert)
  A herders' settlement where you can see desert life, camels and traditional wells.

Fun for Everyone

• Sunrise at the Crater (Darvaza Gas Crater)
  Dawn turns the crater from glowing orange to pale smoke as the desert wakes.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Desert Camp Shashlik Dinner (Darvaza camps)
  Skewers grilled over the fire and eaten under the stars.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Roadside Chaikhanas (Ashgabat to Dashoguz road)
  Simple tea houses where drivers stop for tea, bread and soup.

Must-Haves

• Ancient Merv (Bayramaly)
  A UNESCO listed oasis of walled cities spanning more than two thousand years.
• Mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar (Ancient Merv)
  The great double domed Seljuk tomb that survived the Mongol invasion.
• Great Kyz Kala (Ancient Merv)
  Corrugated mud brick walls that glow at sunset, Merv's most photographed scene.

Off the Beaten Path

• Erk Kala (Ancient Merv)
  The oldest fortress at Merv, with views over the whole oasis from its walls.
• Gyaur Kala (Ancient Merv)
  The Sasanian city with traces of a Buddhist stupa and an early mosque.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Mary Bazaar (Mary city centre)
  Fresh bread, dried fruit, melons in season and everyday local life.

Must-Haves

• Hotel Margush (Mary)
  A long established central hotel often used by tour groups visiting Merv.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Mary Bazaar Plov Stalls (Mary Bazaar)
  Hearty lamb plov cooked in huge kazan pots at lunchtime.

Off the Beaten Path

• Melon Stalls of Mary (Roadsides around Mary)
  Some of Central Asia's sweetest melons, sold from roadside piles in late summer.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Mary Tea Houses (Mary city centre)
  Simple chaikhanas for green tea and fresh bread after the ruins.

Fun for Everyone

• Murgab River (Mary)
  The river that created the Merv oasis, lined with trees and evening strollers.

Great for Date Night

• Sunset at Kyz Kala (Ancient Merv)
  Golden light on the fluted walls makes this the perfect end to a day at Merv.

Off the Beaten Path

• Bayramaly Town (Bayramaly)
  The small town beside the ruins, with a tsarist era feel and a quiet bazaar.

Must-Haves

• Kutlug Timur Minaret (Konye-Urgench)
  The tallest medieval minaret in Central Asia, wrapped in bands of patterned brick.
• Torebeg Hanym Mausoleum (Konye-Urgench)
  A breathtaking mosaic dome of stars and flowers in blue, turquoise and gold.
• Tekesh Mausoleum (Konye-Urgench)
  The tomb of a great Khwarezmshah with a distinctive turquoise conical dome.

Off the Beaten Path

• Il Arslan Mausoleum (Konye-Urgench)
  A small tomb with a ribbed tiled dome, among the oldest buildings on the site.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Kyrk Molla (Konye-Urgench)
  A sacred hill and cemetery where pilgrims pray for health and children.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Dashoguz Bazaar (Dashoguz)
  A lively northern bazaar with Khwarezm style bread and dried fruit.

Fun for Everyone

• Pilgrim Rolling Hill (Kyrk Molla)
  Watch pilgrims roll down the slope for good fortune, a joyful local custom.
• Dashoguz to Khiva Border Crossing (Dashoguz Province)
  The short hop into Uzbekistan that links this trip with the old town of Khiva.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Dashoguz Bazaar Food Stalls (Dashoguz)
  Plov, manty dumplings and tea where the market traders eat.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Konye-Urgench Pilgrim Teahouses (Konye-Urgench town)
  Simple tea and bread spots near the shrines that serve pilgrim families.

Must-Haves

• Avaza Beach (Avaza National Tourist Zone)
  A long sandy Caspian beach that fills with Turkmen families in summer.
• Yangykala Canyon (Balkan Province)
  Layered cliffs in red, pink and white that glow at sunset, the country's most beautiful landscape.

Fun for Everyone

• Avaza Artificial River (Avaza National Tourist Zone)
  A landscaped canal with promenades and evening boat rides.

Great for Date Night

• Avaza Promenade at Sunset (Avaza National Tourist Zone)
  A seafront walk as the sun drops into the Caspian.

Off the Beaten Path

• Balkanabat (Balkan Province)
  The oil town at the foot of the Balkan mountains, a base for canyon trips.

Fun for Everyone

• Avaza Resort Hotels (Avaza National Tourist Zone)
  A row of large seafront hotels and sanatoriums, busiest in summer.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Turkmenbashi Bazaar (Turkmenbashi)
  Fresh fish, bread and produce in the port city's busy market.

Off the Beaten Path

• Dehistan (Misrian) (Balkan Province)
  The ruined caravan city with two minaret stumps standing alone in the desert.
• Gozli Ata (Balkan Province)
  A peaceful Sufi pilgrimage site in a hollow among the canyons.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Caspian Fish at Turkmenbashi (Turkmenbashi Bazaar)
  Smoked and fried Caspian fish, a coastal taste you will not find in the desert.

Fun for Everyone

• Avaza Beach Cafés (Avaza National Tourist Zone)
  Seasonal cafés selling shashlik, ice cream and cold drinks by the sand.