Quirkiest Tourist Attractions in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan

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Turkmenistan is easily one of the most fascinating countries to visit in Central Asia. On the one hand, Turkmenistan is deeply grounded in Silk Road history, with hidden tourist attractions rivaling the great Silk Road cities of Bukhara and Samarkand in Uzbekistan.

On the other hand, you’ll often hear Turkmenistan be described as the ‘North Korea of Central Asia’ for its quirky attractions, strict rules, ostentatious monuments and historic cult of personality. It is for this quirkiness which visitors often flock – or attempt to flock – to one of the world’s most mysterious and unknown countries.

To help you get under the skin of Turkmenistan, here is the ultimate guide to the quirkiest tourist attractions in Turkmenistan’s capital, Ashgabat.

Before You Go: Visiting Turkmenistan in 2025

Turkmenistan is one of the trickiest countries in the world to visit with only about 10,000 visitors annually. We’ve been organizing Turkmenistan tours for many years so there’s no question that will surprise us. For everything you need to know about visiting this mysterious country, don’t miss our Travel Insighter Turkmenistan FAQBook.

Quirkiest Tourist Attractions in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan

Whiteness

Less of an attraction in itself, and more the great overarching theme of Ashgabat, the white city. Under Turkmen law, there are strict construction requirements surrounding the use of the (absence of) color, white. When a second color is used, it is usually the national green.

This law even goes one step further. Only white cars are allowed in Ashgabat. This means that, as you are driving the sparkly, marble-lined roads, you will not see cars on the road painted in other colors. You’ll see checkpoints surrounding Ashgabat which ensure strict compliance with this rule.

World’s largest indoor ferris wheel

Following independence, Turkmenistan’s first president, colloquially known as Turkmenbashi (or ‘Father of the Turkmen’) loved the Guinness World Records and proudly set out to help Turkmenistan obtain a couple. The quirkiest Guinness Record is easily Ashgabat’s very own indoor ferris wheel – and yes, you read that correctly.

Standing at 95 metres high, the Alem Cultural and Entertainment Centre is the world’s largest indoor ferris wheel. You’re probably thinking what is the purpose of an indoor ferris wheel? And I’ll be completely honest – after riding on it, I’m not exactly sure. The ‘indoor’ case of the ferris wheel is often foggy and the view is mostly obstructed by the building structure.

Nevertheless, if you’re lucky enough to be in Turkmenistan – and lucky enough that the ferris wheel is running – this is unquestionably one of the strangest tourist attractions in Turkmenistan.

The Wedding Complex

Across Central Asia, important life moments are a big celebration – and especially weddings. The Wedding Complex is one of the largest buildings in Ashgabat, and on a busy evening you’ll find up to six weddings taking place here at one time.

The building itself is one of the most fascinating tourist attractions in Turkmenistan. It features the ever-present Turkmen star (an ancient pre-Islamic symbol) and a giant ‘world globe’ (in the words of our guide). However, don’t be surprised that the world globe only features a map of Turkmenistan – the beating heart of Central Asia.

If you are traveling around Turkmenistan, you’ll also find large monumental wedding complexes in all major cities.

The Neutrality Monument

In a country full of quirky tourist attractions, this may well be a sensible one. In 1995, Turkmenistan declared it was officially taking a permanent ‘neutral’ stance on foreign policy. This stance was even endorsed by a United Nations resolution. You name a world issue, and Turkmenistan simply has no official position.

To celebrate this foreign policy achievement, Turkmenbashi built a $12 million monument to neutrality. As one of the most recognizable sites of Asghabat, the tall tower features a golden statue of – you guessed it – Turkmenbashi. Previously, this gold statue rotated so that it would always face the sun, but this was halted by the second president.

You’ll see photos of the Neutrality Tower all over Asghabat, including on the currency of Turkmenistan.

Ruhnama Monument

The Ruhnama, or ‘Book of the Soul,’ is the most important book written by Turkmenistan’s first president. Self-described as a code of morality and guide to Turkmen culture and history, the Ruhnama became one of the most symbolic tools of Turkmenistan’s cult of personality.

For many years, tests on the Ruhnama were a compulsory element of all aspects of Turkmen life. From driving tests to job interviews, passing a Ruhnama test was the only way to proceed with your education and profession in Turkmenistan. If you’re curious to have a read, you can find English copies for sale in the Russian Bazaar in Ashgabat.

It’s no surprise that Ashgabat is home to the national monument to the Ruhnama. In a city full of bizarre tourist attractions, the giant book is easily one of the most unique tourist attractions in Turkmenistan.

Türkmenbaşy Ruhy Mosque

You’re probably thinking: in a Muslim-majority country, how can a mosque be one of the quirkiest tourist attractions in Turkmenistan?

However, the Türkmenbaşy Ruhy Mosque is no ordinary mosque. Now that you have the basics of Turkmenbashi and the Ruhnama, the Türkmenbaşy Ruhy Mosque will make a bit more sense. The Türkmenbaşy Ruhy Mosque was designed by Turkmenbashi himself to house his mausoleum and final resting place (which is beside the mosque).

With gold domes, elaborate tile and carpet work, this is truly one of the most beautiful mosques in Central Asia.

What is most interesting is the design of the mosque itself. Under Turkmenbashi, the Ruhnama was elevated to an equal status with the Quran. To celebrate this, the mosque combines both Quranic and Ruhnama scripture in its interior decorations and minarets. If you are familiar with Islamic traditions, it comes as no surprise that the gargantuan mosque is always empty.

Want to visit Turkmenistan?

We’ve been organizing group and private tours to Turkmenistan for years alongside our Fiery Hearts tour agency. For more information on joining a tour to Turkmenistan, contact us with your dates and we will put together an ideal itinerary featuring the quirkiest tourist attractions in Turkmenistan!

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