Ashgabat is the capital of Turkmenistan, with a modern center built around formal marble boulevards and monumental state landmarks. Outside the city core, short trips bring you to major archaeological sites and to hill country near town.
For ancient history, Nisa is a set of Ancient Parthian fortress city ruins near Ashgabat, with Parthian Fortresses of Nisa (Old Nisa) and viewpoints over the remaining walls and mounds. Jeitun adds a deeper time layer as a Neolithic settlement site in Turkmenistan with ancient remains.
In the city and its suburbs, the main draws are big symbolic architecture and museums. The Neutrality Monument and the Independence Monument (Turkmenistan) are among Ashgabat’s best-known monumental landmarks, while the Monument to the Constitution is a large complex tied to national identity. For religious architecture, the Türkmenbaşy Ruhy Mosque is a very large modern mosque complex, and Ertuğrul Gazi Mosque is a prominent city mosque. The Turkmen Carpet Museum focuses on traditional Turkmen carpets and weaving techniques.
