Tourist Attractions in Turkmenistan

The most interesting and beautiful tourist sites in Turkmenistan

Photos, reviews, descriptions, and links to maps

About Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan is a country with great tourism potential. The former USSR republic has followed a completely authentic path, unlike its less fortunate neighbours. In Turkmenistan, ancient traditions are revered, cheerful national holidays in honour of the birth of a child or harvest, and at the same time, modern cities are being built and industry is being developed.

For a tourist who decided to visit Turkmenistan, the country will play with bright colours, show its natural beauties and tell many fascinating stories. Guests will be interested to relax in the tourist zone “”Avaza”” on the shore of the Caspian Sea, look at the vast desert of the Karakum desert, walk at the spring festivals of snowdrops (Chuchmoma Sayili) and tulips (Lola Sayili) or stroll through the city of flowering gardens Ashgabat.

On the territory of modern Turkmenistan ancient civilisations rose to power and collapsed. There you can see the residence of the Parthian kings of Nisa and the ruins of ancient Merv, follow the footsteps of the mighty Achaemenid dynasty and the armies of Alexander the Great. There are many tourist routes along the famous historical sites.

Top-15 Tourist Attractions in Turkmenistan

Karakum Desert

 4.6/5

87 reviews

It covers most of the country and covers an area of more than 3,500,000 km². It is a real kingdom of sand, dunes and camels. Climatic conditions in the desert are very severe, in summer the temperature reaches 63°C in the sun, and in winter there are real frosts up to -30°C. Almost 15 per cent of the population of Turkmenistan lives in the Karakums.

Darvaza Gas Crater - "Door to Hell"

 4.5/5

106 reviews

A flaming fire crater formed as a result of unsuccessful drilling, which has not been extinguished for 40 years. Some tourists compare it to a gateway to the Underworld. When gas burst to the surface in 1971, it was set on fire for the safety of nearby villagers. But the gas reserves have not been burnt out to this day.

Open time

Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours

Old Nisa

 4.2/5

66 reviews

The remains of the capital of the once powerful Parthian kingdom, built around the 2nd century BC. The city was erected at the command of King Mithridates. It housed the tombs of members of the ruling Arsacid dynasty, palaces, temples, numerous warehouses and the royal treasury. Nisa is a UNESCO heritage site.

Open time

Merv

 0/5

This city is the oldest in the whole of Central Asia, it was built in the times of the Margian civilisation (3-2 thousand years B.C.) Later it became one of the centres of the powerful Parthia. After the Arab conquest in the 7th century, Merv became a stronghold for further expansion to the east and north. The city flourished during the Arab Samanid dynasty in the 12th century, and its beauty surpassed even Constantinople.

Dekhistan

 4.7/5

3 reviews

This place is also called the “Martian plain”. The area was once a blooming oasis surrounded by rivers and gardens, but as hundreds of years passed, the waters dried up and Dehistan became a desert. People had to leave for other more fertile lands and abandon their settlements. Centuries later, the ruins of Akga-Kala and Shadur-Kala surrounded by a lifeless plain have come down to us.

Open time

Köneürgench

 0/5

Historical reserve of Turkmenistan, formerly the capital of Northern Khorezm. Mentions of the city are found from the I century. In the 10th century, during the reign of the Samanids, Kunya-Ugrech was renamed Gurganj. The city became a cultural and scientific centre, second after Bukhara, the capital of the empire. The famous Ibn Sina (Avicenna in the European way) lived here.

Oguzhan Palace

 4.4/5

78 reviews

A modern architectural monument built in 1999 in Ashgabat by order of the first Turkmen President S. Niyazov. Niyazov. It is a complex of white marble topped with turquoise domes. The palace is used for conferences, forums, important state events, as well as concerts and mass celebrations.

Open time

Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours

Independence Monument

 4.4/5

135 reviews

A symbol of the country’s independence in the form of a 118-metre column. The structure is located in Ashgabat park, reminding residents and visitors of the formation of a separate and independent state of Turkmenistan. The top of the monument is crowned by a crescent moon with five stars symbolising the unity of the five Turkmen tribes.

Open time

Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours

Ertugrul Gazi Mosque

 4.8/5

232 reviews

One of the most beautiful mosques in Ashgabat, built in the 90s. Elements of Turkish style were used in the construction, the name also has Turkish roots – it was given in honour of the father of the ruler Osman I. The temple can accommodate almost 5 thousand worshippers and is the largest in the capital. Elements of the old Byzantine style can be seen in the courtyard and decoration.

Open time

Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours

Turkmenbashy Ruhy Mosque

 4.6/5

104 reviews

The main Muslim temple of Turkmenistan, a large and pompous building. It was erected on the initiative of Turkmenbashi (S. Niyazov) and named in his honour. The mosque is located not in the capital, but in the village of Kipchak, where the president was born. The construction was carried out by a French company and cost the country more than $100 million.

Open time

Monday: Open 24 hours
Tuesday: Open 24 hours
Wednesday: Open 24 hours
Thursday: Open 24 hours
Friday: Open 24 hours
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: Open 24 hours

Baharly

 0/5

A natural attraction in the south-west of the country. The cave has a large underground lake 16 metres deep and 70 metres long. Turkmen tribes considered this place sacred and for centuries whole caravans and families came here to sacrifice (livestock) and ask for favours from the spirits.

Плато динозавров

 4.5/5

35 reviews

A mysterious and unique place where dinosaur footprints have been preserved. According to local legend, these footprints belonged to the huge elephants of Alexander the Great’s army (in the local dialect Iskander Zulkarnein). More than 3000 footprints of ancient reptiles and more than 30 trails where they went about their business have been recorded on the plateau.

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Repetek Nature Reserve

 3.3/5

3 reviews

This is where the sands of the vast Karakum desert begin. This is one of the hottest places in the country, where the temperature reaches +50°C. Desert fauna and flora are represented in the reserve. There are turtles, lizards, varans, desert acacia and peacock poppy. Many species are endemic to the area.

Open time

Yangykala-Schlucht

 0/5

Translated from Turkmen, it means “fire fortresses”. This is a picturesque and unusual place – rocks of purple, yellow, beige, red colours really seem like castles from some fairy-tale fantasy. During sunset, the rocks are painted in brighter colours, and the tourist’s eye is presented with an unforgettable spectacle. In the canyon you can organise a jeep safari or an overnight camping trip.

Caspian Sea

 4.4/5

3928 reviews

Turkmenistan owns a rather large piece of the Caspian coastline – about 1,200 kilometres. This unique body of water is located at the very junction of Asia and Europe. Quite recently, the Turkmen authorities willed to create a national resort zone Avaza on the coast with boarding houses, hotels, sanatoriums and developed infrastructure for tourists.