Ashgabat is the capital and largest city of Turkmenistan. It lies between the Karakum Desert and the Köpetdag mountain range in Central Asia, approximately 50 km (30 mi) away from the Iran-Turkmenistan border. The city has a population of 1,030,063 (2022 census).

thumb|Satellite view of Ashgabat

The city was founded in 1881 on the basis of an Ahal Teke tribal village, and made the capital of the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic in 1924 when it was known as Poltoratsk. Much of the city was destroyed by the 1948 Ashgabat earthquake, but has since been extensively rebuilt under the rule of Saparmyrat Nyýazow's "White City" urban renewal project, resulting in monumental projects sheathed in costly white marble. The Soviet-era Karakum Canal runs through the city, carrying waters from the Amu Darya from east to west.

Today, as the capital of an independent Turkmenistan, Ashgabat retains a multiethnic population, with ethnic Turkmen as the majority. In 2021, it celebrated 140 years of its written history.

Etymology

Ashgabat is called Aşgabat (transliterated as "Ashgabat") in Turkmen, in Russian from 1925 to 1991, and () in Persian. Before 1991, the name was usually spelled Ashkhabad in English, a transliteration of the Russian form. It has also been variously spelled Ashkhabat and Ashgabad. From 1919 until 1927, the city was renamed Poltoratsk after a local revolutionary, Pavel Poltoratskiy.

Although the name literally means "city of love" or "city of devotion" in modern Persian, the name might have been modified through folk etymology. Turkmen historian Ovez Gundogdiyev believes that the name goes back to the Parthian era, 3rd century BC, deriving from the name of the founder of the Parthian Empire, Arsaces I of Parthia, in Persian Ashk-Abad (the city of Ashk/Arsaces).

Geography

Ashgabat is in near proximity, approximately 50 km (30 mi), to the Iranian border. It occupies a highly seismically active oasis plain bounded on the south by the foothills of the Köpetdag mountains and on the north by the Karakum Desert. It is surrounded by, but not part of, Ahal Province. The highest point in the city is the high sandhill upon which the Ýyldyz Hotel was built, but most of the city lies between of elevation. The Karakum Canal runs through the city.

Urban layout

1881 to 1929

Prior to 1881 any buildings other than yurts were made solely from adobe and were limited to one story in height due to the seismic risk. City planning began following the Russian conquest, with "very simple planning schemes". The basic layout of downtown streets "has been preserved to this day and defined the unique character of the city structure combining linear and radial types of layout of blocks". The Russian writer Vasily Yan, who lived in Askhabad from 1901 to 1904, described the city as "a little tidy town consisting of numerous clay houses, surrounded by fruit gardens with straight streets, planted with slim cottonwood, chestnut, and white acacia planned by the hand of military engineers". The water supply was increased by piping water from springs in neighboring Gämi and Bagyr. The city architect's office was created in 1936 but was unable to implement the new master plan "as it implied significant demolition of the existing buildings". A description of Ashgabat published in 1948 just before the earthquake noted, "In Ashgabat there are nearly no tall buildings, thus every two-story building is visible from above...", i.e., from the foothills. The tallest structures were the clock tower of the textile mill, the "round smokestack of the glass factory", two "exceptionally thin minarets" of the "former mosque", and "two splendid towers over the long building of the main city hotel". According to Turkmenistan's official news agency,

: Nearly all one-story residential buildings in the city made of mud brick were destroyed, 95 percent of all one-story buildings made of fired brick, and the remaining structures were damaged beyond repair. The number of inhabitable buildings was in single digits, and at that, only after capital renovation. The city's central avenue, Magtymguly (former Kuropatkin, Freedom, and Stalin Avenue), featured "monotonous and primarily two-story construction of administrative and residential buildings". This reconstruction "preserved the existing network of city streets as it was economically unjustified to redesign them". The plan was updated in 1959.

Among the buildings erected in the 1950s and 1960s were the headquarters of the Central Committee of the Turkmenistan Communist Party, the Council of Ministers Building, the Mollanepes Academic Drama Theater, the former Ashkhabad Hotel (now renamed Paytagt), the Academy of Sciences complex, and the downtown library building. On then-Karl Marx Square stood a monument to the Soviet "fighters for victory of Soviet power in Turkmenistan". The plan was reworked in 1974, and this resulted in relocation of several industrial plants away from the city center, and thus creation of the industrial zones to the northwest, south, southeast, and northeast. Ahmedov's greatest architectural accomplishment during this period is considered the Ashgabat Hotel (today renamed Paytagt Hotel), built between 1964 and 1970, "a harmonious synthesis of architecture and monumental art". Through the mid-1970s, Ashgabat was a compact city, as shown by the 1974 Soviet military's General Staff map J-40-081. The village of Köşi, collective farm "Leningrad", airport, and suburbs to the north were outside the city limits.

Beginning in the 1970s, Ashgabat's boundaries shifted outward, with the aforementioned municipalities annexed, the aerodrome at Howdan redeveloped, and creation of the Parahat () neighborhoods to the south and industrial parks to the east. In 2013, Ashgabat annexed a portion of the then-Ruhabat district of Ahal Province as well as the city of Abadan (previously named Büzmeýin, and renamed that as a neighborhood) plus all land and villages in between. The southern boundary of Ashgabat was extended southward to the foothills of the Köpetdag mountains. Overall, Ashgabat's land area rose by 37,654 hectares. The following municipalities were abolished due to their incorporation into the city of Ashgabat: city of Abadan, towns of Jülge and Ruhabat, villages of Gökje, Gypjak, Birleşik, Magaryf, Herrikgala, Ýalkym, Gurtly, Hellewler, Ylmy-Tejribe bazasy, Ýasmansalyk, Köne Gurtly, Gulantäzekli, Serdar ýoly, Gaňtar, Gyzyljagala, Inerçýage, Tarhan, Topurly, and Ussagulla. A further expansion occurred January 5, 2018, when additional land to the north was annexed, incorporating the Gurtly Reservoir and two greenfield residential construction projects, known today as Täze Zaman. This statute also established the current four boroughs of Ashgabat.

Climate

The Köpetdag mountain range is about to the south, and Ashgabat's northern boundary touches the Kara-Kum desert. Because of this Ashgabat has a cold arid climate (Köppen climate classification: BWk) bordering on a cold semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification: BSk) with mediterranean influences. It features very hot, dry summers and cool, short, somewhat moist, winters. The average high temperature in July is . Nighttimes in the summer are warm, with an average minimum temperature in July of . The average January high temperature is , and the average low temperature is . The highest temperature ever recorded in Ashgabat is , recorded in June 2015.

History

Ashgabat grew on the ruins of the Silk Road city of Konjikala, first mentioned as a wine-producing village in the 1st-2nd century BC and leveled by an earthquake in the 1st century BC. Konjikala was rebuilt because of its advantageous location on the Silk Road and it flourished until its destruction by Mongols in the 13th century. After that it survived as a small village until Russians took over in the 19th century.

The near suburb of Köşi, until 2013 a separate village but in that year annexed by Ashgabat, may have been site of a Parthian fortress constructed to protect the capital city, Nisa, based on discoveries of pottery and other artifacts in the 1970s and as recently as 2020. Other artifacts indicating settlement during the Parthian period were reportedly discovered during laying of telephone cables on the site of the Gülistan (Russian) Bazaar in downtown Ashgabat.

According to Muradov, the first mention of the settlement in modern times is found in Khiva chronicles of 1811.

British Lieutenant Colonel H.C. Stuart reported in 1881 that the Ahal branch of the Teke tribe of the Turkmen ethnic group arrived in the area around 1830 and established several semi-nomadic villages (auls) between what are now the city of Gyzylarbat and village of Gäwers, inclusive. One of these villages was named Askhabad. The first Russian reference to Ashgabat dates to 1850, in a document kept in the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs archives listing 43 Ahal fortresses, "Ishkhabad" among them. It was described as a "typical Turkmen aul". Russian military engineers platted the garrison settlement "on the western edge of the aul (village) of Askhabad on the Gaudan (Howdan) road leading to Persia. The fortress stood on a hill 12 meters high, on which was constructed a citadel-redoubt, and below [it], the residential area, surrounded by walls and a moat." The Transcaspian Public Library was established in 1885, boys and girls high schools were founded in 1886, and the Kuropatkin School of Horticulture and Viticulture appeared in 1890. The first telephone station was installed in 1900.

In 1908, the first Bahá'í House of Worship was built in Askhabad. It was badly damaged in the 1948 earthquake and finally demolished in 1963. The community of the Bahá'í Faith in Turkmenistan was largely based in Askhabad.

By 1915 Askhabad featured branches of the Russian State Bank, Persian Accounting Loan Bank, Russian-Asian Bank, Société Générale, and Askhabat Mutual Credit Union. When the Turkmen SSR was established in 1924, Poltoratsk became its capital. The original name but in the form of "Ashkhabad" rather than "Askhabad" was restored in 1927. (two-thirds of the population of the city), although the official number announced by Soviet news was only 40,000. The earthquake was recorded as one of the deadliest natural disasters in Soviet history.

Independence

thumb|Apartment blocks

In July 2003, street names in Ashgabat were replaced by serial numbers except for nine major highways, some named after Saparmyrat Nyýazow, his father, and his mother. The Presidential Palace Square was designated 2000 to symbolize the beginning of the 21st century. The rest of the streets were assigned larger or smaller four-digit numerical names. Following Nyýazow's death in 2006, Soviet-era street names were restored, though in the years since, many of them have been replaced with names honoring Turkmen scholars, poets, military heroes, and figures from art and culture, as well as celebrating the nation's independence. For example, Karl Marx Square became Garaşsyzlyk (Independence) Square, Ostrovskiy Street became Abba Annaýew (in honor of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow's great-uncle), and Freedom Avenue became Magtymguly.

In 2013, the city was included in the Guinness Book of Records as possessing the world's highest concentration of white marble buildings.

thumb|Southern part of Ashgabat

Ashgabat's "11th Line" project was dedicated on June 29, 2012, including 17 high-rise apartment buildings along 10 ýyl Abadançylyk şaýoly, two secondary schools, two kindergartens, a fire station, and a health clinic. The "12th Line" project was completed October 1, 2014, consisting of a straightening and widening of Atamyrat Nyýazow şaýoly plus construction of 13 high-rise apartment buildings, two secondary schools, two kindergartens, a new headquarters building for the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, the Telekeçi shopping center, and the Development Bank. On that same date, the new Cabinet of Ministers building was also opened.

In preparation for the 2017 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, the city spent $5 billion on residential construction. December 4, 2014, the president issued a decree calling for construction of 60 9-story apartment buildings in the Parahat-7 microdistrict, a greenfield project in the southeast quadrant of the city. On November 10, 2015, the "13th Line" was dedicated, a complete reconstruction of buildings along Oguzhan street west of Garaşsyzlyk avenue. Projects included demolition and redevelopment of the Leningrad kolkhoz neighborhood as the "14th Line", and the Gazha and Vosmushka neighborhoods as the "15th Line".

thumb|Olympic Facilities for the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games

Subsequent to conclusion of the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, the "16th Line" project, a redevelopment of the Köşi neighborhood and extension of Magtymguly Avenue to the west, was begun in 2018. The "16th Line" was dedicated on November 10, 2020; it includes 16 high-rise apartment buildings, the Gül zemin shopping center, and a monument to the Alabay sheepdog. In addition, the Gurtly and Choganly housing complexes, both greenfield projects, were constructed. In May 2021 the government announced plans for the "17th Line", consisting of a resort complex encircling Golden Lake (), the former Gurtly Reservoir, to include 268 vacation cottages plus buildings for public services and amenities.

On 23 August 2022 the government announced plans to demolish one- and two-story houses in several microdistricts of central Ashgabat and to replace them with modern apartment buildings. A map of the areas intended for urban renewal was broadcast on national television that day, but no indication of a timeline was given.

The largest current residential project is construction of "Ashgabat-City" () north of the Çoganly residential neighborhood, which is planned to include over 200 buildings on 744 hectares, and for the first time in the city's history to feature some buildings as tall as 35 stories. These will include 180 12- to 35-story residential buildings containing 17,836 apartments intended to house over 107,000 occupants.

Ashgabat milestones:

  • 1882–1918 – administrative center of Russia's Transcaspian Region
  • 1918–1925 – administrative center of the Turkmen Oblast in the Turkestan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic
  • since February 1925 – capital of the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic
  • since October 1991 – capital of independent Turkmenistan

Districts

thumb|Residential buildings at Garyşsyzlyk Avenue in Ashgabat

Boroughs

thumb|The four boroughs of the city

As of January 5, 2018, Ashgabat includes four boroughs (uly etraplar), each with a presidentially appointed mayor ():

  1. Bagtyýarlyk etraby (formerly President Nyýazow, Lenin District, expanded to include former Ruhabat District plus new territory)
  2. Berkararlyk etraby (formerly Azatlyk, Sovetskiy District)
  3. Büzmeýin etraby (formerly Abadan District, expanded to include former Arçabil and Çandybil Districts)
  4. Köpetdag etraby (formerly Proletarskiy District)

This is a reduction from the previous number of boroughs. Arçabil and Çandybil boroughs were merged on February 4, 2015, and the new etrap, named Arçabil, was in turn renamed Büzmeýin in January 2018. At that time the Abadan borough of Ashgabat, created in 2013 by annexing the town of Abadan and surrounding villages to Abadan's south, was abolished and its territory was merged into the newly renamed Büzmeýin borough. The former Ruhabat borough was abolished at the same time and its territory absorbed by Bagtyýarlyk borough.

On 15 June 2020, Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow announced intention to create a fifth borough of Ashgabat, to be called Altyn etraby, centered on the new resort zone created on the shores of the former Gurtly Water Reservoir, recently renamed "Golden Lake" (Altyn köl).

Microdistricts

Ashgabat's boroughs are subdivided into microdistricts (, ). These are administrative units that possess no independent governance structures. They are used for management of utilities and publicly owned housing. Ashgabat includes the following microdistricts:

  • 1 through 11 Etrapça
  • 30 Etrapça
  • Howdan A
  • Howdan B
  • Howdan W
  • Parahat 1 through 8

Demographics

In 1871, a Russian visitor named Strebnitskiy counted over four thousand "nomad tents" (yurts), implying a population of 16 to 20 thousand Ahal Teke Turkmen, many of whom were killed or dispersed in the 1881 Battle of Geok Tepe. The population was 2,500 in 1881, virtually all Russian.

2022 census

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:right"

! rowspan="3" |Ethnicity

|-

! colspan="2" |2022 census

|- align="center"

! style="width:60px" | Population

!%

|-

|Turkmens

|925,656

|89.86

|-

|Russians

|68,188

|6.62

|-

|Azerbaijanis

|10,376

|1.0

|-

|Armenians

|9,761

|0.95

|-

|Uzbeks

|5,179

|0.5

|-

|Tatars

|2,585

|0.25

|-

|Kurds

|2,159

|0.21

|-

|Ukrainians

|1,460

|0.14

|-

|Kazakhs

|703

|0.07

|-

|Persians

|584

|0.06

|-

|Lezgins

|510

|0.05

|-

|Koreans

|164

|0.02

|-

|Balochi

|184

|0.02

|-

|Afghans

|101

|0.01

|-

|Karakalpaks

|31

|0.0

|-

|Other groups

|2,422

|0.24

|- class="sortbottom"

!Total

! 1,030,063

!100%

|}

Architecture

thumb|[[Yyldyz Hotel in Ashgabat]]

thumb|[[Ashgabat Fountain|Ashgabat Oguzkhan Fountain]]

Post-1991

Following independence in 1991, President Saparmyrat Nyýazow began hiring foreign architectural and construction firms, most prominently Bouygues of France and the Turkish firms Polimeks and Gap Inşaat, the latter a subsidiary of Çalık Holding. These firms blended Persian-style domes, which Nyýazow favored, with Greco-Roman architectural elements such as pillars.

Following Nyýazow's death, domes began to go out of fashion for buildings other than mosques, and public buildings began to take on more modernist characteristics, often with a motif reflecting the structure's intended occupant. For example, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building is topped by a globe of the Earth, inside which is a conference center; the Development Bank building is topped by a giant coin; the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry building is shaped like a stylized caduceus, the dental hospital is shaped like a molar and the international terminal of Ashgabat International Airport is shaped like a falcon. The dominant characteristic of new construction since 1991 has been nearly universal facing with white marble. Another recurring motif is the eight-pointed star of Oguz han, the largest of which is on the television tower and has entered the Guinness Book of World Records. The official Turkmen government guide book to Ashgabat refers to the star of Oguz Khan as "...the basic dominant of the whole architectural-art decor..."

In May 2024, a monument dedicated to the 300th anniversary of the birth of Turkmen poet and philosopher Magtymguly Pyragy was unveiled in Ashgabat, near Walk of Health at the foot of the Köpetdag mountain range. The 60-meter sculpture of the poet stands on a 20-meter pedestal, to which a majestic staircase with massive granite bowls leads.

In October 2024, a statue of Kazakh poet Abai Qunanbaiuly was unveiled in Laçyn Park in Ashgabat.

Controversies

Much of the urban renewal since 1991 has involved demolition of traditional single-family residential housing, commonly with allegedly forced eviction of residents, and often without compensation to the homeowners. In particular, private homes rebuilt in neighborhoods flattened by the 1948 earthquake, many of which were never formally registered with the government, were subject to confiscation and demolition without compensation, as were former dacha communities like Ruhabat, Berzeňňi, and Çoganly, which in nearly all cases lacked formal ownership documents.

First Baha'i Temple in the world

thumb|left|First Bahá'í House of Worship 1908

When Ashgabat was under Russian rule, the number of Bahá'ís in the city rose to over 1,000, and a Bahá'í community was established, with its own schools, medical facilities and cemetery. The community elected one of the first Bahá'í local administrative institutions. In 1908 the Bahá'í community completed the construction of the first Bahá'í House of Worship, sometimes referred to by its Arabic name of mašriqu-l-'aḏkār (), where people of all religions may worship God without denominational restrictions.

The House of Worship itself was surrounded by gardens, with four buildings at the four corners of the gardens: a school, a hostel where travelling Bahá'ís were entertained, a small hospital, and a building for groundskeepers. For the decade from 1938 to 1948, when it was seriously damaged by the earthquake, it was an art gallery. It was demolished in 1963.

Other notable structures

The Arch of Neutrality was dismantled and re-erected in its original form in the south of the capital.

Turkmenistan Tower, the television and radio broadcasting tower, at a height of 211 meters is the tallest structure in the country. It was built on October 17, 2011. The former Novofiryuzenskoye shosse (New Firyuza Highway) was rebuilt by Gap Inşaat in 2004.

Economy

The principal industries are cotton textiles and metal working. It is a major stop on the Trans-Caspian railway. A large percentage of the employment in Ashgabat is provided by the state institutions; such as the ministries, undersecretariats, and other administrative bodies of the Turkmenistan government. There are also many foreign citizens working as diplomats or clerks in the embassies of their respective countries. Ashgabat lends its name to the Ashgabat Agreement, signed by India, Oman, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, for creating an international transport and transit corridor facilitating transportation of goods between Central Asia and the Persian Gulf.

In 2019 and 2020, Ashgabat was the most expensive city in the world for foreign expatriates in ECA International's Cost of Living Survey. It was also listed as the second most expensive city in the world overall by the 2020 Mercer Cost of Living Survey. Its high cost of living for foreigners has been attributed to severe inflation and rising import costs.

Industry

Between 1881 and 1921, little industry existed in Ashgabat. Muradov relates that in 1915 the city featured "68 enterprises, mainly semi-handicrafts, with a total of 200-300 workers".

Annexation of the former city of Büzmeýin, which from 2002 to 2018 was known as Abadan, The most important are Ashneftemash, Turkmenkabel, and Turkmenbashy Textile Complex.

Electrical power generation

The Abadan State Power Plant (now Büzmeýin State Power Plant), commissioned in 1957, was the first large power plant in Turkmenistan. Two gas turbine plants with a capacity of 123 MW each currently generate electricity in this plant. The Ashgabat State Power Plant, located in the southern part of city, began operating in 2006. It is equipped with gas turbine generators with a total capacity of 254.2 megawatts. including the modern Berkarar Mall, Arkaç Mall, Ashgabat Shopping and Entertainment Center, Gül Zemin and Paýtagt, as well as the 15 Years of Independence Shopping Centre (), colloquially known as the "Wholesale Market" ().

Local residents tend to shop at traditional bazaars: Gülistan (Russian) Bazaar, Teke Bazaar, Daşoguz Bazaar, Paytagt (Mir) Bazaar, and Jennet Bazaar. The Turkish-owned Yimpaş department store closed as of December 2016.

Transportation

thumb|Streets of Ashgabat

On 18 October 2006, the Ashgabat Cable Car opened, connecting the city with the foothills of the Kopetdag.

Ashgabat Monorail commenced service in 2016, becoming the first monorail in the Central Asia region. It is a loop 5.2 kilometers long and circulates exclusively on the territory of the Olympic Village (). In January 2018, it was reported that black cars had been impounded for weeks in Ashgabat, a result of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow's conviction that black cars bring bad luck. Dirty white cars can lead to fines, leaving the city with clean white vehicles.

Air transport

thumb|left|The falcon shape of the international terminal of Ashgabat International Airport

thumb|Inside the international terminal of Ashgabat International Airport

The city is served by the Ashgabat International Airport, expansion of which cost $2.3 billion and which has a design capacity of 14,000,000 passengers per year. Turkmenistan Airlines is headquartered at the airport. Among the companies that fly from there are Turkmenistan Airlines, S7 Airlines, China Southern Airlines, flyDubai and Turkish Airlines. The destinations mainly European, Southeast Asia and Middle East. Ashgabat also offers air service to and from all the major cities of the Turkmenistan.

Citizens of all countries have the right to visa-free transit through the international transit area of Ashgabat International Airport.

Ashgabat International Airport is connected to the city by a network of public buses.

Autobahn

Ashgabat is linked to Tejen, Mary, Türkmenabat and neighbouring countries by the country's 600 km autobahn network. A six-lane highway is equipped with an advanced traffic management system featuring continuous video surveillance to ensure effective road monitoring. The toll rates range from 0.35 to 0.45 Turkmen manats per kilometer, depending on the type of vehicle.

Railway

thumb|left|Ashgabat Railway Station

thumb|Turkmenistan Railways Diesel locomotive CKD9A in Ashgabat

Ashgabat has a single central railway station. In May 2009 the restoration of the Ashgabat railway station was completed. The railway station is made in Soviet-style architecture with its long point on the building roof.

The Trans-Caspian Railway (Türkmenbaşy–Balkanabat–Bereket–Ashgabat–Mary–Türkmenabat) runs through Ashgabat from east to west. Since 2006 there is also a train line from Ashgabat to the north, the Trans-Karakum Railway.

As of June 2025, the following railway routes are scheduled from and to Ashgabat:

  • Ashgabat-Türkmenabat
  • Ashgabat-Daşoguz lines cover a total range of more than with 700 buses running on urban routes. In the 1990s, Iran Khodro O457 (Mercedes-Benz) buses were used in Ashgabat. In the 2000s, they were replaced by korean Hyundai New Super Aero City. buses. Since September 2025, 700 chinese Yutong ZK6128HG buses have been delivered to the city. This buses are equipped with a spacious interior, soft seats with armrests, an air conditioning system, USB charging ports, three doors, video surveillance, GPS, cameras, and a digital fare payment system.

Bus timetables and detailed schematic map of the route are at every stop. Distances between stops are about 300–500 meters.

In Ashgabat, travel on city public transport requires a fare. Passengers can either pay in cash by placing money in a box next to the driver (with change provided for large bills) or use the Ýol karty electronic payment system, which has been in full operation since September 20, 2017. The fare is 50 Turkmen tenge for city buses and 1 manat for route taxis (marshrutkas). Electronic transport cards, valid for four years, are available in three types: general, student, and pensioner. When boarding through the front door, passengers validate their cards using a special device.

Information about bus routes and stops in Ashgabat is available in the mobile application Duralga and Ýolagçy.

The new International Passenger Bus Terminal of Ashgabat was inaugurated on September 5, 2014. It offers intercity service to Bäherden, Türkmenbaşy, Daşoguz, Türkmenabat, Arçman, Köneürgenç, and Mollagara, as well as points in between. The main intracity bus terminals serving Ashgabat are near the Teke Bazaar and at the domestic airport terminal. Intercity lines are operated by Hyundai Universe Luxury, Iran Khodro SC 0457, Sahab Renault and Yutong ZK6129H.

Also, suburban communication has been established with Ýaşlyk, Gökdepe, Gorjaw, Yzgant, Babaarap, Bugdaýly, Änew, Gämi, Orazow, Watan, Hurmantgökje, Öňaldy, Gämi Dacha, Kasamly jülge, Gäwers, Ýaşyldepe, Akdaşaýak, Nyýazow, Süýtçilik, Parahat. PAZ 32054 buses and Volkswagen minibuses operate on suburban routes. Some intercity buses also stop at various other points in Ashgabat, including the airport and railway station.

From October 19, 1964, to December 31, 2011, the city also had the Ashgabat trolleybus system. At the beginning of the twentieth century a narrow-gauge steam railway connected the city with the suburb of Firýuza. As of 2011, there were 7 routes in the city. As of 2011, the Ashgabat trolleybus fleet had 47 trolleybuses (Škoda 14TrM) on its balance sheet. In 2000, the last obsolete trolleybuses of the JuMZ-T2 model were written off.

Taxi

In Ashgabat and Turkmenistan, taxicabs are mostly white or yellow coloured. Taxis have a small green illuminated cylinder-like "TAXI" sign on the roof of the car.

Typically the taxicabs are Toyota Corolla, JAC J7 and Hyundai Elantra along with other, mainly Asian, brands. Taxicabs are either sedans, station wagons, or MPVs. Most taxicabs are automatic transmission, and some have navigation systems on board.

In Ashgabat taxis are available at any time of the day or night. Passengers may also hire taxicabs via mobile apps. Other hailing methods, such as telephone based calls or raising one's hand on the street, are also common as well.

Telecommunication

As of 2025, Ashgabat has two mobile phone service providers:

  • Altyn Asyr is a Turkmen national state company for the provision of communication services, established in 2004. In 2010, the company launched a 3G network of UMTS standard, covering all districts of Ashgabat and the Ashgabat International Airport . On September 18, 2013, the 4G network was put into operation using LTE technology.
  • Ashgabat City Telephone Network provides CDMA communication services (over 55 thousand subscribers). The network was created and put into operation by the company for the first time in 2003.

In addition to the mobile network providers, Turkmentelecom provides internet services.

As of June 2025, there are six Turkmentelecom internet cafés operating in Ashgabat. Despite the widespread availability of high-speed internet and devices in Turkmenistan, these cafés remain popular as multifunctional spaces for work, study, and cultural activities. They offer modern equipment and various digital services, such as scanning, printing, and online conferencing.

Turkmenpochta is the official national postal operator of Turkmenistan. Based in Ashgabat, it currently operates through 38 postal offices in city.

Media

Notable newspapers published in Ashgabat include the daily newspapers Türkmenistan and Neytralny Turkmenistan.

thumb|[[Turkmenistan Tower]]

Television

The main offices of 7 television channels are located in Ashgabat: Altyn Asyr, Yashlyk, Miras, Turkmenistan Sport, Turkmen Owazy, Ashgabat and Turkmenistan TV.

Ashgabat TV is main city channel. The channel tells about the events of social, cultural, economic life, the activities of scientific and educational institutions of the Ashgabat.

Almost 136 international TV channels are available in the IPTV playlist for subscribers of the Ashgabat City Telephone Network. Most of them are thematic channels: news, sports, scientific and educational, TV channels for children, channels of various genres of cinema, music.

Radio

As of 2008, Ashgabat has 4 FM stations: Owaz, Char Tarapdan, Miras and Watan. These stations can additionally be streamed through Turkmentelecom's website.

Human resources

Science and education

thumb|Turkmen State Institute of Culture campus

thumb|[[Turkmen State Medical University]]

thumb|Turkmen Institute of Economics and Management in Ashgabat

Ashgabat is the most important educational center of Turkmenistan with several institutions of higher education. Magtymguly Turkmen State University was founded in 1950. The main university building is located on Beýik Saparmyrat Türkmenbaşy şaýoly. Turkmen State Medical University is situated in Ashgabat as well. It is subordinate to the Ministry of Health and Pharmaceutical Industry of Turkmenistan. Other prominent institutions are the Turkmen State Institute of Economics and Management, a main business school founded in 1980, as well as the Turkmen State Institute of Architecture and Construction, Turkmen Agricultural University, and The National Institute of Sports and Tourism of Turkmenistan. In 2016, the English- and Japanese-medium Oguz Khan University of Engineering Technologies was opened with support of the Japanese government. The International University of Humanities and Development is another English-medium institution of higher education. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs' training ground is the Institute of International Relations.

In 2025, the International University of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs opened in Ashgabat. The first private university in the country. It offers paid 5-year programs in fields like construction, agriculture, IT, business, and trade, with instruction in Turkmen and English.

Ashgabat is home to five military academies: the Military Institute, the Naval Institute, the Border Guards Institute, the Institute of National Security, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs Institute. In 2020 the Military Institute began accepting applications from women.

Four international secondary schools operate in Ashgabat. The Russian Embassy sponsors the Russian-medium A.S. Pushkin Russo-Turkmen School, the French construction company Bouygues sponsors a French school for children of its Francophone employees, the Turkish Embassy sponsors the Turkish-medium Turgut Ozal Turkmen-Turkish School, and the American Embassy sponsors the English-medium Ashgabat International School.

Prior to establishment of Soviet authority in Turkmenistan, Ashgabat had only 11 schools and no scientific or research centers. Prior to founding of the Turkmen Academy of Sciences, local scientific-research institutes, all located in a single two-story building, were subordinate to the USSR Academy of Sciences.

The Directorate of International Medical Centers in Ashgabat includes International Center Ene mähri (maternity hospital), International Center of Endocrinology and Surgery, International Center of Head and Neck Diseases, International Center of Eye Diseases, Ashgabat Dental Center, International Center of Cardiology, International Center of Internal Medicine, International Center of Neurology, International Diagnostic Center, International Education and Science Center, International Diagnostic Center, and International Burn Center. The main medical centers are located along Professor Hans Meissner Avenue in the south of Ashgabat. In 2024, they were opened International Health and Rehabilitation Center, and the International Scientific and Clinical Center of Physiology.

Medical and preventive institutions in Ashgabat include: Scientific-Clinical Center of Oncology, Scientific-clinical center for Maternal and Child health, Treatment and Consultative centre named after S.А.Nyýazow, Hospital with Scientific Clinical Centre of Cardiology, Emergency First Aid Center, Central Bureau of Pathologic Anatomy, Central Bureau of Forensic Medicine, Central Medical-Recovery Hospital, Medical Diagnostic Center.

The Directorate of Infectious Disease Centers is located in the Choganly residential complex in the north of Ashgabat, which includes Central Dermatovenerological Hospital, Treatment and prevention Center for infectious diseases, Blood Center, National AIDS Prevention Center, Center for Treatment and Prevention of Tuberculosis and Centralized Laboratory.

The central office of the State Sanitary and Epidemiological Service is located in Ashgabat. The Center for Public Health and Nutrition and the Center for the Prevention of Particularly Dangerous Infections operate in Ashgabat.

As of 2018, there are 16 outpatient clinic's operating in the Ashgabat.

Medical education

The following higher and secondary medical educational institutions operate in Ashgabat: Turkmen State Medical University named after Myrat Garryev, Indira Gandhi Secondary Medical School of Ashgabat. The following were established at the Turkmen State Medical University: in 2011 – the Scientific and Clinical Center for Eye Diseases, in 2013 – the Educational and Industrial Center for Dentistry, and in 2015 – the Educational and Scientific Center for the Protection of Maternal and Child Health.

Medical industry

The city pays great attention to the development of the pharmaceutical industry. The following medical industry and pharmaceutical supply institutions operate in Ashgabat: Turkmendermansenagat Association, Main Pharmacy Association, Center for Drug Registration and State Quality Control, Institute of Medicinal Plants, Saglyk Pharmaceutical Enterprise, Türkmen Ajanta Pharma Limited Joint Venture, Tenekär Pharmaceutical Enterprise, Berzengi Mineral Healing Water Enterprise, Disinfectant Solutions Production Enterprise.

Sanatoriums

The Berzeňňi Sanatorium is located at the foothills of the Kopetdag mountains, 7.5 kilometers south of center of Ashgabat. Operating since 1967, a new building was inaugurated in 2012. The sanatorium features a unique mineral water source from a 1,600-meter-deep well. This water has a distinct hydrochemical composition, including magnesium sulfate, potassium, and low mineralization, and has various therapeutic properties. It is used to treat conditions such as digestive system diseases, hypertension, cardiovascular issues, and joint diseases. The sanatorium operates year-round, offering both outpatient and spa treatments.

Culture

Ashgabat is the cultural heart of Turkmenistan. Ashgabat enjoys numerous theatres, museums, galleries, concert halls, cinemas and foreign cultural institutions.

Museums and galleries

thumb|The State Museum of the State Cultural Center of Turkmenistan in front of [[Ashgabat Flagpole]]

On March 17, 1899, the official opening of the Trans-Caspian Regional Museum took place in Ashgabat. On November 12, 1998, the opening of the National Museum of Turkmenistan took place. Its primary goal is to chronicle Turkmenistan's history in various forms from the earliest periods using historical and archaeological collections. Since 2013, the museum began to be called The State Museum of the State Cultural Center of Turkmenistan. The total area of the museum is 165,323.21 m<sup>2</sup>. On the ground floor of the main building there is a department of Turkmenistan Independence, a department of Turkmen carpet and temporary exhibitions, on the second floor there is a department of Ancient History, Margush, Parthia and two halls of the history of the Middle Ages. The Museum of the President of Turkmenistan of the State Museum of the State Cultural Center of Turkmenistan was commissioned in June 2009. The main objective of this museum is a thorough study of information about the domestic and foreign policies of Turkmenistan. The Museum of Ethnography and Local History of the State Museum of the State Cultural Center of Turkmenistan opened in May 2009. The exhibition on the first floor of the museum is dedicated to the nature of Turkmenistan. On the second floor there is an exhibition concerning the ethnography of Turkmenistan. The exhibition of the Museum of Nature consists of 11 sections.

Museums include the Turkmen Fine Arts Museum and Turkmen Carpet Museum, noted for their impressive collection of woven carpets as well as a Turkmen history museum and the Ashgabat National Museum of History, which displays artifacts dating back to the Parthian and Persian civilizations.

The Watan Mukaddesligi Museum is located in the southwest of Ashgabat, within the Halk Hakydasy Memorial Complex. Opened in 2014, the museum focuses on preserving and showcasing the historical and cultural heritage of Turkmenistan. It features four thematic halls dedicated to events such as the Battle of Geoktepe, World War II, the 1948 Ashgabat earthquake, and the modern development of Ashgabat. The museum houses over 1,000 exhibits.

Since 2024, a private art gallery ART-bazar has been operating in Ashgabat. ART-bazar is a creative space in Ashgabat showcasing works by artisans from various regions of Turkmenistan. It features a range of traditional crafts, including ceramics, paintings, felt tapestries, leather items, and handmade paper, offering visitors an introduction to the country's artistic and cultural heritage.

Performing arts

thumb|[[Turkmen State Circus]]

Ashgabat's major theaters are:

  • Alp Arslan National Drama Theatre
  • Magtymguly National Musical and Drama Theatre
  • Main Drama Theatre named by Saparmurat Turkmenbashi
  • Mollanepes Students Theatre
  • Mukams Palace
  • Pushkin State Russian Drama Theatre
  • Theatre "Art Ist"
  • Turkmen State Puppet Theatere
  • Turkmen State Circus

Each of several former municipalities annexed by Ashgabat also features local a "house of culture" .

Cinemas

Ashgabat has six cinemas. In 2011, Aşgabat Cinema, the first 3D cinema in Turkmenistan, opened in Ashgabat. The Watan and Turkmenistan theaters were reconstructed. Additional cinemas are located in the Berkarar Mall, the Gül Zemin Mall and Arkach Mall.

Libraries

The State Library of Turkmenistan was founded in 1892 and has undergone several name changes since then. In 1976, a new building was constructed for the library, and in 1992, it was granted national status. Since 2007, it has been part of the State Culture Center of Turkmenistan. The library houses over 6 million items and actively develops electronic resources.

The State Children's Library of Turkmenistan named after Bazar Amanov was established in 1935. It serves as the national repository of children's literature and a methodological center for children's and school libraries. The library includes specialized sections for book storage, cataloging, and services for different age groups, from preschool children to high school students, as well as an arts department. Since 2016, the library has been operating an integrated electronic library system. The library's collection consists of over 250,000 items.

Main sights

thumb|right|Horse racing at the [[International Equestrian Sports Complex]]

Ashgabat was home to the Arch of Neutrality, a 75&nbsp;m (250&nbsp;ft) tall tripod crowned by a golden statue of late president Saparmyrat Nyýazow (also known as Türkmenbaşy, or head of the Turkmen). The 15&nbsp;m (50&nbsp;ft) high statue, which rotated in order to always face the sun during daylight hours, was removed on August 26, 2010, after Nyýazow's successor, current President Berdimuhamedow, made clear earlier in the year that the statue was to be taken out of Ashgabat's Independence Square. In 2011 a Monument to the Constitution was built, its total height of 185&nbsp;m (607&nbsp;ft) makes it the second tallest structure in Turkmenistan.

Alem Cultural and Entertainment Center was recognised by Guinness World Records as the world's tallest Ferris wheel in an enclosed space. The Ashgabat Flagpole is the fifth tallest free–standing flagpole in the world, standing at tall. The Ashgabat Fountain has the world's greatest number of fountain pools in a public place. Ashgabat also features Turkmenistan Tower which is the tallest tower in Turkmenistan, the decorative octagonal Star of Oguzkhan is recognized as the world's largest architectural image of the star and entered in the Guinness World Records.

Palaces

  • Oguzhan Presidential Palace, the official presidential headquarters.
  • Ruhyýet Palace, a place for official state events, forums, meetings, inaugurations.
  • Wedding Palace, a civil registry building.

Parks and squares

Ashgabat has many parks and open spaces, mainly established in the early years of the Independence and well maintained and expanded thereafter. The most important of these parks are: the Botanical Garden, Güneş, Turkmen-Turkish friendship, Independence. The oldest city park, Ashgabat, was founded in 1887 and is colloquially known as First Park. In the center of Ashgabat is the Inspiration Alley, an art-park complex which is a favorite place for many locals. The amusement park World of Turkmenbashi Tales is a local equivalent to Disneyland. Squares: 10 Years of Turkmenistan Independence, Magtymguly, Eternal Flame, Zelili, Chyrchyk, Garashsyzlyk, March 8, Gerogly, Dolphin, 15 years of Independence, Ruhyýet, 10 ýyl Abadançylyk, Ylham and Tashkent.

The Ashgabat Botanical Garden was founded on 1 October 1929, and is the oldest botanical garden in Central Asia. It covers a territory of approximately 18 hectares, and contains a live exhibition of more than 500 different species of plants coming from various parts of the world.

Halk Hakydasy Memorial Complex

thumb|[[Halk Hakydasy Memorial Complex]]

Halk Hakydasy Memorial Complex was opened in 2014 in remembrance of those killed in the Battle of Geok Tepe in 1881, during World War II, and to commemorate of the victims of the 1948 Ashgabat earthquake. It is located in the southwestern part of the city on Bekreve street.

Magtymguly Pyragy Cultural and Park Complex

In 2024, monuments dedicated to 24 foreign writers and poets were erected in the Magtymguly Pyragy Cultural and Park Complex in Ashgabat. These statues honor renowned figures such as Sayat-Nova, Yanka Kupala, Du Fu, Honoré de Balzac, Shota Rustaveli, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Sándor Petőfi, Rabindranath Tagore, Hafez Shirazi, Dante Alighieri, Yasunari Kawabata, Kurmangazy Sagyrbayuly, Chingiz Aitmatov, Raja Ali Haji, Adam Mickiewicz, Mihai Eminescu, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Juan Jiménez, , Yunus Emre, Hryhorii Skovoroda, William Shakespeare, Langston Hughes and Alisher Navoi. Each sculpture captures the essence and unique spirit of the artist's work.

Mosques

thumb|Interior of Artogrul Gazy Mosque

Major mosques in Ashgabat include:

  • Türkmenbaşy Ruhy Mosque
  • Ärtogrul Gazy Mosque, a gift from Turkey, was inaugurated in 1998 and resembles the Blue Mosque in Istanbul.
  • Hezreti Osman Mosque in the 8th microdistrict
  • Hezreti Omar Mosque in the Parahat 7 microdistrict
  • Azadi Mosque on Zarpçi street
  • Martyrs () Mosque on Görogly street
  • Shia Mosque near the Iranian Embassy

There are also several mosques in former towns and villages annexed by Ashgabat and thus now neighborhoods within the city limits.

Churches

Ashgabat has five operating Christian churches. Four are Russian Orthodox churches:

  • Saint Alexander Nevsky Church, founded in 1882 as parish church of the Russian military garrison, consecrated in 1900, located in the 30th Microdistrict ()
  • Temple of Saint Nicholas the Miracle-Worker, located inside the Khitrovka Cemetery ()
  • Temple of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, located near the Ruhnama School ()
  • Temple of the Holy Equals to Apostles Cyril and Methodius, located in Büzmeýin ()

The Roman Catholic Chapel of the Transfiguration operates on the grounds of the Apostolic nunciature.

Other Christian denominations exist but as of 2019 only two were registered with the government and thus able to operate legally. The U.S. Department of State reported that Turkmen authorities "scrutinize or obstruct religious

groups attempting to purchase or lease buildings or land for religious purposes".

Sports

thumb|Ashgabat Olympic Complex

thumb|[[Saparmurat Turkmenbashi Olympic Stadium|Olympic Stadium in Ashgabat]]

The main sporting venues in Ashgabat are the Olympic Stadium, Ashgabat Stadium, the National Olympic ice rink, Sports complex for winter sports and the Ashgabat Watersports Complex.

Ashgabat was chosen as the host city of the 2017 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games. Between 2010 and 2017 an Olympic Village was built by the Turkish firm Polimeks south of the city center, at a cost of $5&nbsp;billion.

In October 2017 a Jack Nicklaus Designs Signature 18-hole golf course opened in Ashgabat. It features 82 sand traps and covers 70 hectares.

Ashgabat was the host of the 2018 IWF World Weightlifting Championships and 2023 World Kurash Championships.

The city's professional football clubs Altyn Asyr FK, FC Aşgabat and FK Köpetdag Aşgabat play in the Ýokary Liga, the top league of Turkmenistan.

Ashgabat is home to several professional ice hockey teams. Galkan, Merdana, Nesil, Shir, Oguzkhan, Watanchy play in the Turkmenistan Hockey Championship. Ashgabat annually hosts the President of the Turkmeinistan Cup ice hockey tournament. There are three ice arenas in Ashgabat: Winter Sports Complex Ashgabat (10,300 seats capacity), Ashgabat Ice Palace (1000 seats) and Galkan Ice Palace (630 seats).

Inha Babakova, 1999 World High Jump champion, was born in Ashgabat.

Born in Ashgabat weightlifter Polina Guryeva captured Turkmenistan's first Olympic medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics, taking silver in the women's 59&nbsp;kg.

International relations

Diplomatic missions

The city hosts 32 foreign embassies and serves as the headquarters for the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea and United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA).

Twin towns – sister cities

Ashgabat is twinned with:

  • Aktau, Kazakhstan
  • Albuquerque, United States (1990)
  • Ankara, Turkey (1994)
  • Astana, Kazakhstan (2017)
  • Athens, Greece
  • Bamako, Mali (1974)
  • Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (2018)
  • Dushanbe, Tajikistan (2017)
  • Kyiv, Ukraine (2001)
  • Lanzhou, China (1992)
  • Tashkent, Uzbekistan (2017)
  • San Bartolomé de la Torre, Spain (2025)
  • Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (2025)

<!--Tokyo, Yerevan - not twinning-->

Partner cities

Ashgabat cooperates with:

  • Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia (1997)