Hotel Paýtagt

Ashgabat


Ashgabat’s old Soviet standby has recently been given a makeover, and from its exterior it looks like any other modern Ashgabat building. However, the renovations have only made it to selected rooms, and even those that have been redone are small and poorly equipped, with fairly feeble bathrooms (ours didn't have a sink or toilet seat!), and ancient mattresses.

That said, rooms are entirely bearable, given the low price and great location. All rooms have balconies, and those designated lux are made up of two rooms.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Ashgabat attractions

2. Statue of Lenin

0.33 MILES

The statue of Lenin, in a small park off Azadi köçesi, is a charmingly incongruous assembly of a tiny Lenin on an enormous and very Central Asian plinth…

3. Independence Square

0.55 MILES

At the centre of Ashgabat is the enormous Independence Square, on which sits the golden-domed Palace of Turkmenbashi (the place of work of the former…

4. Azadi Mosque

0.77 MILES

More a statement of foreign-policy leanings than a sign of religious awakening, the Azadi mosque, similar in appearance to the Blue Mosque in İstanbul,…

5. Majlis

0.92 MILES

Turkmenistan's parliament building is opposite Independence Square.

6. Museum of Fine Arts

0.94 MILES

The Museum of Fine Arts is located in an impressive building with a big rotunda, two tiers and lots of gold. The collection contains some great Soviet…

7. Carpet Museum

1.38 MILES

While there’s a limit to the number of rugs the average visitor can stand, the central exhibit, the world’s largest handwoven rug, really is something to…

8. Mosque of Khezrety Omar

1.52 MILES

The modern mosque of Khezrety Omar, off Atamurat Niyazov köçesi, is worth visiting for its wonderfully garish painted ceilings.