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Capital and largest city of Tajikistan
Photo: Soman, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, is a beautiful city of stark contrasts between the old and the new. Old Soviet-era buildings stand adjacent to new massive state buildings and monuments, and there always seems to be a tension between the demolition of the old and the construction of the new. Even with its massive buildings and endless construction, Dushanbe remains the quaintest of the Central Asian capitals.
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Мечеть Хаджи Якуб
The largest mosque in the CIS cost of US$100 million. It has a crescent-topped minaret and burnished golden dome.
Мечеть Сари Осиё
A new one
Центр Исмаилизма
Свято-Никольский собор
The main Eastern Orthodox church of Dushanbe.
Gurminj Museum, Музей музыкальных инструментов
This small museum has an interesting variety of Central Asian musical instruments as string instruments example: rubab, Pamiri rubab, tanbur, dutor, setor, qashqar, and ghizhak. There are also number of drums such as tabl, daf, and doyra. That alone is worth a peek if you like instruments, but better still is to go when a musical or cultural event is being held, or hope to catch the folk musicians who practice there and can demo many of the instruments in the collection.
Национальный музей древности Республики Таджикистан
This museum offers four floors detailing the history of what is now Tajikistan, primarily through art. The basement covers prehistory, including the geology of the country, while human history starts on the ground floor and increases chronologically as you ascend to the next floors. The ground floor is home to the crown jewel of the museum, the giant Buddha in Nirvana statue found in Ajina-tepe, as well as numerous historical artefacts from each empire to have set foot in the country. The upper floors detail Tajikistan's history post-Russian conquest, while the final floor is a gallery of paintings and sculptures made during the Soviet era, including a display of Soviet films filmed in Tajikistan.
Tajik:Ҳайкали Исмоили Сомонӣ, Russian: Арка и памятник Исмаилу Самани.
A monument to the 10th-century founder of the Samanid dynasty. This statue commemorates the one after whom the currency is named. Apparently, the crown is 10 kg of Tajik gold. Beware: the police at the bottom may ask for money if you take photos, so stand far back and use your zoom. (And don't encourage this bad behaviour.)
It was opened for the Shanghai summit, a new park on Rudaki Avenue that has a huge statue of Rudaki, a new government palace, and enough fountains to drain the whole of Dushanbe. Go at night to see the lights.
The second tallest free-standing flagpole in the world (162 m). This flagpole flies an 1800 sqm flag of Tajikistan, weighing 700 kg.
Palace of Unity, Tajik: Кохи Ваҳдат/Kokhi Vahdat/کاخ وحدت
It is the headquarters of the ruling People's Democratic Party and is also used to host international conferences
Бонки миллии Тоҷикистон
Located in a nice monument building.
Tajik: Donishgohi Davlatii Millii Tojikiston, Донишгоҳи миллии Тоҷикистон, Russian:Таджикский национальный университет (ТНУ)
On Rudaki another nice building at #33 Tajik Academy of Sciences
Ҳисор, Гиссар
Hisor fortress (also spelled Hissor, Gissar, etc.) is a partially-rebuilt Silk Road fortress located not too far from Dushanbe. It was the seat of the Khanate of Bukhara's power in Tajikistan, and was captured by Alexander the Great and Chinggis Khan. Across a square from it is a madrassa and the foundations of a caravanserai, but neither of those have been restored (but they can still be toured).
Аквапарк Дельфин
Здание цирка
Ботанический сад Академии наук Таджикистана
The best place to escape the dust and noise of the traffic for peace and quiet. A small forest with plenty of greenery. Usually the newly married couples have photos taken here.
Dushanbe Zoological Park, Tajik: Боғи ҳайвонот, Russian: Душанбинский зоопарк
The number of animals kept is about 600 on the area: 67000 m². This is the only institution of this kind in the country. Animals are indigenous and foreign species, with the most exotic being lion, jaguar and snow leopard. The local fauna are represented by brown bears, black bears, Bactrian camel, donkey, wolf, jackal, fox, raccoon, and some birds such as owl, vulture, golden eagle, falcon. Also some reptiles, including snakes, caymans, lizards are displayed indoors.
Парк культуры и отдыха имени С. Айни,Tajik:Боғи фароғат ва истироҳати ба номи С. Айнӣ
Парк Победы,Tajik:
Hike to the top for a seasonal tiki-themed beer garden offering views of the city. The truly brave can take the rickety gondola. Also there is the Victory Memorial.
Таджикский академический театр оперы и балета имени С. Айни
Regularly has free or cheap concerts sponsored by embassies and travel companies.
Таджикский академический драматический театр имени А. Лахути
Государственный театр кукол Лухтак
летних амфитеатра
Государственный молодежный театр имени М. Вахидова -
Casual Turkish cafeteria is always packed with students and young locals. Kebabs, pizza, salads, french fries, cakes, coffee and authentic Turkish breakfasts (feta with olives) are all on the menu, but have several choices in mind, as they rarely have everything available at any given time.
A similarly named (and possibly related) restaurant offering a standard selection of Turkish fare. One of the few places in Dushanbe that reliably accepts foreign debit cards, and with English-speaking staff.
The most well-known, and possibly the best vegetarian food in the city, of three local Indian restaurants serves excellent butter chicken and spinach. It also offers private "family rooms."
The only Ecuadorian restaurant for hundreds of miles. It is a reasonable imitation of Latin cuisine and popular with Europeans. It is located just off the north end of Rudaki near Starry Night (Zvezdnaya Noch) billiards.
One of two Georgian restaurants in the city with some of the best meat dishes in the city, and a substantial wine list. Located behind the opera-ballet, across the park.
the other Georgian restaurant, located about a block north of the Opera Square on Rudaki Avenue. It has simple and tasty dishes, good cheap house wine, and a nice friendly atmosphere. Either book or come early due to its popularity.
The Steakhouse
Despite the name, it is one of the only places in Dushanbe to get sushi. Other meals include steaks, pasta and American style cuisine. Live entertainment nightly.
Western food: sandwiches, soups, chicken dishes. Good place to get coffee or a snack. The salmon is surprisingly good and fresh. Downside: smokers. You will see many foreigners here.
Oshi Samarkand
Local family-run restaurant serving delicious plov and samsa. Helpful English-speaking owner, who seems bewildered but pleased by his restaurant's popularity with foreigners. Don't be deterred by the fact that it's in a basement - it means it stays nice and cool on a hot day.
If, like many travellers in Dushanbe, you have run out of cash and are in danger of starving before you find one of the tiny numbers of ATMs that accept your foreign card, then Dushanbe's several KFC branches are one place that reliably accepts foreign debit cards, even if the machine pretends to only take Visa.
Cozy atmosphere.
Гастробар
Gastropub with sausages and beer and things.
There are about 6 small restaurants selling shashliks, beer and softdrinks in front of the opera. Pick a table in the shade and watch people walk by while sipping your cold beer.
An authentic haunt of Dushanbe day-drinkers. Only one mysterious beer on tap (brewed next door and possibly called 'Pivzavod Dushanbe' according to one local. Friendly locals, and the beer is almost drinkable, ignoring the bartender's strange habit of pouring it straight down. No toilet on the premises but ask a local and they'll show you one. Seems to actually be two establishments, with a larger bar inside the brewery open in the evening and a small building nearby open during the day.
Caters to bicycle travelers. Small courtyard. Differently priced simple dorms and individual rooms.
Rahmon Nabiyev Street, 2nd Passage, Nr. 23
Family-run hostel with 18 beds, free Wi-Fi and free breakfast. 10-20 min drive from the city centre.
Indoor pool and airport transfers.
Just around the corner of the popular "Greenhouse Hostel" this place offers similar style dorms and comfort.
Гостиница Атлас
Very good Tajik Guesthouse.
Sauna & swimming pool, billiards & table tennis, fitness saloon, massage services, conference-room, Wi-Fi, disco-bar with variety of beverages, transport services, dry cleaning and storing the luggage, Reservation and obtaining of tickets
Гостиница Меркурий
Central, across the road from the Opera & Ballet Theatre. 100 meters to Dushanbe main road: Rudai Av. &00 meters to Traditional Market (Green Market).Good mattresses; Kettle for tea or coffee in the room, free tea bags, coffee powder, bottles of mineral water and toiletries provided daily, safe box, aircon and good Wi-Fi, flat screen satellite TV all in your room; transfer from and to the airport; self-service substantial breakfast, discounts for long stays/off-season. Helpful English speaking staff.
Гостиница Сино
Хаятт Ридженси Душанбе
A five-star hotel with 202 rooms and suites. Amenities: floor-to-ceiling windows, sitting area, heated bath floor, wireless internet and free access to pool and health club. Lounge for free continental breakfast and evening cocktails.
Апарт Отель VEFA
24 rooms. Services: air-con; free in-room breakfast with menu; Cable and satellite TV; Free Wi-Fi, Underground Parking; Laundry; Transfer, rent a car; 24/7 presence of the staff, security and video surveillance 24 hours; daily room cleaning; medical care; mini bar.
Гостиница Истиклол
Отель Серена
Asia Grand Hotel, Гостиничный комплекс Тадж-Палас
Гостиница Комрон+П
Гостиница Авесто
Таджикматлубот **
Гостевой дом Комфорт
24-hour room service, breakfast, bar, dinner and conference halls, laundry, transportation, Wi-Fi, telephone services, copying, scanning, printing.
Korvon has a massive indoor clothing and shoes section as well as a smaller food section. It is also the place for rugs, although all of the rugs come from Turkey, not Tajikistan.
Green Bazaar, Зелёный Базар
This is the biggest bazaar in the city centre and has a huge variety of foods (very cheap by Western standards), including dried fruit, nuts, fresh fruits and vegetables, spices, meats and bread, as well as an odd assortment of tools and household products. It is possible to see the entire bazaar in an hour or two. The locals invariably charge foreigners more.
Luggage
If you are flying to Dushanbe from anywhere beyond Türkiye, Dubai, or Kazakhstan, you'll need to make sure your bags are checked all the way through.
Visa at the airport
Most of the European and North American nationals (with the exception of British citizens) can apply for a visa upon arrival in Dushanbe.
By train
The train between Dushanbe and Moscow runs through Turkmenistan for a brief moment.
By bus
There are no international bus services. If you are planning to go to a different town in Dushanbe there are 'terminals' that you can either find a shared taxi or a minibus.
By marshrukta
It is very useful to figure out the marshrukta system (private cars and minibuses), which run on a standard set of routes.50, while private cars are much quicker and cost С7.
By trolleybus
Cheap way of getting around the city. Dushanbe has a few trolleybus lines running.
By taxi
Within Dushanbe it is best to take a taxi, usually it should not be more than С30.
Orientation
Very few streets in Dushanbe are known by their names, so it is important to know landmarks and how to navigate with them.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Dushanbe · International · DYU
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