Circus

Ashgabat


This Soviet-era circus building, which resembles a flying saucer, has been 'Turkmenised' with a coating of white marble. It's definitely worth a look if you're collecting snaps of quirky landmarks, but we don't recommend seeing the circus itself, which features performing animals.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Ashgabat attractions

1. Mosque of Khezrety Omar

1.16 MILES

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

2. Iranian Mosque

1.17 MILES

The angular, futuristic Iranian mosque, illuminated with green neon, is on Görogly köçesi on the western outskirts of the city.

3. Museum of Fine Arts

1.3 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…

4. Statue of Lenin

1.42 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…

6. Independence Square

1.6 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…

7. Majlis

1.65 MILES

Turkmenistan's parliament building is opposite Independence Square.

8. Carpet Museum

2.15 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…