Ashgabat is Turkmenistan's capital, a planned city of white marble buildings, wide avenues and fountains at the foot of the Kopet Dag mountains. It is one of the most unusual capitals you can visit: gleaming, ordered and quiet. Grand mosques and monuments line the streets.
A full guide to this place is on its way.
Good to know for Muslim travellers
- Turkmenistan is a secular country, most people are Muslim, and halal food is easy to find.
- Alcohol is available in some hotels and restaurants.
- Entry rules are strict and change, so check current visa requirements well before you travel.
- The Türkmenbaşy Ruhy Mosque on the city's outskirts is one of Central Asia's largest.
Best time to visit
Spring from April to May and autumn from September to October; summers are very hot and winters cold.
