General information:
Capital: Ashgabat
Language: Turkmen (official), Russian (unofficial)
Religion: 93.7% Muslim, 6.1% Christians, 0.2% others
Population: 6 million (2019)
English-friendly: Very few people speak English. It is better to learn a few words of Russian to “communicate” with locals
Wi-fi reliability: Most of hotels do not have Wi-fi and when they have it, it is slow and a lot of websites are blocked. You may want to consider a VPN but internet connections are generally too slow to support it.
Currency: Turkmen Manat. Be aware that you cannot withdraw cash in Turkmenistan. Therefore, you need to plan in advance how much you are going to spend and bring cash with you. The cash can then be converted at the official money exchanges or, at the better rate but it is officially illegal, at the black market
Average cost per day: 15$ – 20$
Visa: Most nationalities need visa to enter Turkmenistan. We requested our visas at the turkmen embassy in Rome (click here). Bear in mind that it takes UP TO ONE MONTH to receive your visa!
Safety: It is safe to travel in Turkmenistan as long as you follow their rules. Click here for some tips
When to go:
Spring (April-May) /Autumn (October – November) : Spring and Autumn are the best periods to travel in Turkmenistan. It will be warm but as hot as in summer making possible a nice walk through the white city of Asghabat. We travelled in Turkmenistan in September and the temperature was constantly over 20°C Average temperature: 10°C – 25°C
Summer (June – September): It can be extremely hot in Turkmenistan in Summer. In July and August the temperature in the capital can rise up to 50 °C, making almost impossible any visit of the city. It will be less crowded but there is a reason for it. Average temperature: 25°C – 40°C
Winter (December – March): Winter months can be very cold but you may also be lucky to find some nice days. Be prepared to a more unpredictable weather and bring warm clothes! Average temperature: -2 °C – 10°C