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Turkmenistan Ashgabat travel guide
13 things to do in Ashgabat. Pick places on the map and get a day-by-day walking route from your hotel with steps, kilometres and minutes.
Top things to do in Ashgabat
- Ertuğrul Gazi Mosque — mosque in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Turkmen Carpet Museum — Museums in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan (visit ≈ 120 min)
- Oguzhan Palace — residential and principal workplace of turkmenistan's president, built in 1997 (visit ≈ 90 min)
- Independence Square, Ashgabat — square in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan (visit ≈ 15 min)
- World of Turkmenbashi Tales — theme Park in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan (visit ≈ 45 min)
- Turkmen Museum of Fine Arts — art museum in Turkeministan (visit ≈ 120 min)
- St. Alexander Nevsky Church, Ashgabat — church in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan (visit ≈ 30 min)
- Presidential Palace of Turkmenistan — building with three golden domes, in Turkmenistan, built in 2011 (visit ≈ 90 min)
- Fountain — fountain complex in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan (visit ≈ 15 min)
- Saparmurat Turkmenbashi Theatre — drama theatre in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan (visit ≈ 20 min)
- Ashgabat Park — park in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan (visit ≈ 45 min)
- Mollanepes Theatre — student theatre in Ashgabat, formerly seat of the Makhtumkuli drama theatre (visit ≈ 20 min)
- Turkmen Puppet Theatre — puppet theatre in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan (visit ≈ 20 min)
3-day Ashgabat walking itinerary
Starting point: City centre. The top 8 places at a normal pace (up to ~10 km of walking a day), in this order. Change places or your hotel on the map and the route is recalculated; distances are estimates with a street allowance.
- Day 1 (≈ 9.4 km · 12,730 steps · 2 h 5 min on the way): Oguzhan Palace → Independence Square, Ashgabat → Turkmen Museum of Fine Arts → World of Turkmenbashi Tales → Turkmen Carpet Museum
- Day 2 (≈ 7.3 km · 9,860 steps · 1 h 37 min on the way): Presidential Palace of Turkmenistan → Ertuğrul Gazi Mosque
- Day 3 (≈ 7.0 km · 9,460 steps · 1 h 34 min on the way): Fountain
Football stadiums in Ashgabat
- Köpetdag Stadium: Home of FC Altyn Asyr, Köpetdag Aşgabat
Day trips
- Nisa — 15 km from the centre
Good to know before visiting Ashgabat
- Fine: Smoking in public places is banned.
- Fine: Photographing government buildings, police or soldiers is prohibited.
- Warning: Tourist visas need a letter of invitation, and many areas require a licensed guide.
- Warning: Foreigners must register within 3 days.
- Warning: Foreign cards rarely work; bring cash in US dollars.
- Warning: Internet access is restricted; many sites and apps don't work.
- Emergency: police 02, ambulance 03, fire 01
- Plugs: C/F, 220V
- Tap water: Don't drink tap water; use bottled.
- Tipping: Tipping is optional.
Sources: UK FCDO — Foreign travel advice: Turkmenistan, Wikivoyage — Turkmenistan, T.C. Dışişleri Bakanlığı — Türk vatandaşlarının tabi olduğu vize uygulamaları · For information only; rules change, check official sources before you go. Last checked: 2026-10
Ashgabat travel FAQ
- How many days do you need in Ashgabat?
- The top 8 places in the centre take about 3 days at a normal pace on a walking route from your hotel. Allow 4 days for the top 11 places within walking distance. Add extra days for day trips (Nisa).
- What are the top things to do in Ashgabat?
- Highlights: Ertuğrul Gazi Mosque, Turkmen Carpet Museum, Oguzhan Palace, Independence Square, Ashgabat and World of Turkmenbashi Tales. The map has 13 things to do in total.
- What is the emergency number in Ashgabat?
- Emergency: police 02, ambulance 03, fire 01.
- Do you tip in Ashgabat?
- Tipping is optional.
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