Entry Requirements
Visa requirements for Turkmenistan depend on which passport you hold. Check the Traveller visa tool to see whether your passport needs a visa and, if so, how long you can stay.
Check if you need a visa for TurkmenistanEmergency Numbers
- Police
- 02
- Ambulance
- 03
- Fire
- 01
Currency
- Name
- Turkmenistani Manat
- Code
- TMT
- Symbol
- T
Turkmenistan uses a dual economy — official rate and black market rate diverge significantly. USD is the most useful foreign currency. ATMs unreliable and limited. Cash essential for everything. Note: Turkmenistan requires a visa and typically a guide — independent travel is extremely restricted. Most visitors come on organised tours.
Power Outlets
- Outlet types
- Type C, Type F
- Voltage
- 220V
- Frequency
- 50Hz
Time Zone
TMT (UTC+5) — no daylight saving
Best Time to Visit
March–April and October–November are the mild seasons — best for the Darvaza gas crater (the 'Door to Hell' — a natural gas crater burning since 1971, most dramatic at night), the Silk Road ruins of Merv (one of the largest ancient cities in Central Asia), and Ashgabat (the world's most marble-clad capital city). Summer is extreme heat (45°C+); winter is bitterly cold.
Tipping Customs
| Venue | Typical | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Guides | $10–15 USD per day — most trips require a guide | — |
| Restaurants | 10% | — |
Dress Code
- Modest dress throughout — Turkmenistan is a Muslim-majority country
- Women: cover arms and legs; headscarves not required but respectful
Social Etiquette
- Turkmenistan is one of the world's most closed authoritarian states — it is ranked alongside North Korea in press freedom indices
- The 'Door to Hell' (Darvaza crater) is among the most surreal sights on earth — a 70m-wide gas crater that has been burning continuously since Soviet geologists lit it in 1971
- Ashgabat is genuinely one of the strangest capitals on earth — white marble buildings, gold statues of the former president (Turkmenbashi), and almost no tourists
- Officially, Turkmenbashi (Saparmurat Niyazov) renamed days of the week and months after himself and family members — some still hear these names used
Local Laws
Laws change. Verify current rules with your country's official travel advisory before departure.
- Turkmenistan requires a visa and often a letter of invitation — start the process 4+ weeks in advance
- Independent travel is extremely restricted — most tourists require a government-approved guide
- LGBTQ+ activity is illegal with up to 2 years imprisonment
- Photography of government buildings, military, and presidential palaces strictly prohibited
Common Phrases
| English | Local | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello (Turkmen) | Salam | sah-LAHM |
| Thank you (Turkmen) | Sag boluň | SAHG boh-LOON |
| Welcome (Turkmen) | Hoş geldiňiz | HOSH gel-dee-NEEZ |
| Door to Hell (local name) | Garagum çukury / Derweze | GAR-ah-goom CHOO-koo-ree — the official name; Derweze is the nearest village |
| Peace (Arabic — used in greetings) | As-salamu alaykum | ah-SAH-lah-moo ah-LAY-koom |
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