Acted Homestay
This simple local home has a pit toilet. Try also the Bactria Centre for other possible homestays.
Tajikistan Hotels, Hostels & Accommodation
Hotel Kayon Ii
Connected to Hotel Kayon, is much the same, but bigger and harder to find.
Adventurer's Inn
Despite a temperamental shower and the occasional grubby sheet, this is still our pick for the best sleeping spot in town.
Hotel Mercury
This privately-run hotel is probably the best value top-end place in town. The 20 spacious modern rooms come with satellite TV, computer and a kettle, and the reception can order in food from a variety of local restaurants.
Hotel Kayon
Live the nouveau riche life in comfortable modern rooms with breakfast, satellite TV and very clean bathrooms. There are two half-lux rooms and six lux. Not much English is spoken.
Hotel Ismoili Somoni
Turkish-built Hotel Ismoili Somoni, further north on Rudaki, is under construction and due to open in 2008
Vakhsh Hotel
During the civil war this hotel was occupied by bands of bearded mujaheddin rebels and peppered with bullet holes, but don't worry it has since been renovated! Rooms are simple but clean and there's hot water.
Hotel Avesto
Old-fashioned and chronically overpriced monster with a dreary Soviet feel, though some rooms have a fine view of the mosque and the suites are big enough to get lost in.
Marian's Guesthouse
Visiting consultants love this comfortable refuge, so reserve a room in advance (there are only eight) or you won't even get past the paranoid security guards.
Hotel Dushanbe
The rooms capture the dubious charms of a 1970s Soviet apartment block but have nice leafy views of Maydani Ayni, at the southern end of Rudaki, and the bathrooms are surprisingly clean.
Hotel Tajikistan
English may be spoken in the reassuring lobby but everything else here is 100% Soviet and horribly overpriced. Rooms are small and come with hot water, a kettle and fridge. Only some rooms have air-con. South-facing rooms benefit from park views.
Grand Hyatt
A Grand Hyatt, located beside Komsomol Lake is due to open in 2008.