It might not be top of your vacation bucket list (or even in the top half!) but Dushanbe is a fascinating city with lovely parks, museums, markets and galleries, and it shouldn’t be overlooked.
To show you, here’s our pick of the best it has to offer:
1. Rudaki Park
Every city needs a great park, and Rudaki Park is one Dushanbe’s best. It has lakes, fountains, wonderfully mature trees, flower gardens and a large statue of its namesake, Rudaki, known as the “Adam of Poets”. The poet is one of Tajikistan’s most famous and revered countrymen and as such, is celebrated with a huge statue in the park which sits under a rainbow of blue mosaic stars and is one of the most popular things to see in Dushanbe.
Address: Rudaki Avenue, Dushanbe, Tajikistan
Opening times: Daily, 24 hours
Entry: The park is free to enter
2. Dushanbe Ethnography Museum
This small-ish museum has a wonderful collection of exhibits that give a good glimpse into traditional Tajikistani life. As well as clothing and jewelry, its pièce de résistance is probably the collection of fabric used in the traditional gowns worn by Tajikistani women. The fabric – known as atlas – is still dyed and weaved in Tajikistan using traditional processes and materials which create incredibly colorful results, but is under serious threat from cheaper foreign imports.
Address: Ak Rajabov 7, Dushanbe, Tajikistan
Opening times: Tuesday through Sunday 10am – 5pm. Closed Mondays
Entry: Entry for adults cost 10TJS (Dh4)
Search cheap flights to Dushanbe3. Green Bazaar
A visit to this central market is one of the more unusual things to do in Dushanbe but not to be missed. It’s held right in the center and there’s more dried fruits and nuts than seems possible! You’ll also find spices, meat, dairy, teas and fresh fruits and vegetables. It’s not the place to go to buy souvenirs but if you’re looking for something the locals do, shopping at this market is it.
Address: Lohuti St, Dushanbe, Tajikistan
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4. Ayni Opera & Ballet Theater
The imposing looking Anyl Opera & Ballet Theater house dates back to 1942 but underwent a total refurbishment in 2008 – 2009. It’s set in beautiful landscaped gardens and is one of the city’s most attractive sights. You can pick up a program and book tickets at the front desk (there is no English website).
Address: Rudaki 28, Dushanbe, Tajikistan
5. Hissar Fortress
If you fancy taking a day trip on your Dushanbe vacation, add Hissar Fortress to your itinerary. Situated about 30km west (a 30-minute cab ride) of the city you’ll find the few remains of an 18th-century fort that was damaged by the Russians in 1924 but once served as the home of Bek, a deputy to the Bukhara emir. The only remaining part of the fort is the two connected towers that mark the entrance to the site, but it’s still a very popular place to visit, particularly with locals. There’s a small museum on site, and some great little shops selling handicrafts and souvenirs.
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6. Tajikistan National Museum
Tajikistan’s national museum opened in 2001 and is housed in one of the city’s more unusual-looking buildings. The contents is split into three categories – contemporary fine arts, archaeology and nature. It’s a rather eclectic collection with everything from suits of armor to a stunning wooden mehrab used to show the qibla, believed to date back to the 10th century. Everything has English labels so it’s easy to navigate your way around.
Address: Ismoil Somoni Avenue, Dushanbe, Tajikistan
Opening times: Tuesday through Saturday 11am – 5pm, Sunday 11am – 4pm. Closed Mondays
Entry: Adult tickets cost 25TJS (Dh10), and camera use is 10TJS (Dh4)
7. Nurek Reservoir
Nurek Reservoir, one of the highest dams in the world, is the stuff vacation selfie goals are made of! Its turquoise waters are in stark contrast to the jagged mountains surrounding them, and understandably are popular with locals who can afford to keep their private houseboats moored there. It’s around 80km southeast of Dushanbe, and takes a couple of hours to reach by car. The general public are not allowed access to the reservoir without a permit, but if you’re really keen to explore it up close, spend the day or night at the Dushanbe Aqua Club.
8. Noor Art Gallery
Dushanbe has a growing number of modern art galleries, many of them showcasing the best of Central Asian talent. One of the more established is the Noor Art Gallery which is small but jam-packed with interesting pieces. It is, however, targeted at tourists so you’ll likely pay a slight premium for anything you decide to puchase. As well as paintings and prints it also sells jewelry, furniture and traditional crafts. Other popular galleries include the Tajikistan Gallery of Modern Art (Dustii Khalkkho Street) and the Artists’ Colony (off Mirzotursonzode Street) which contains lots of artists studios and artists happy to chat about their work.
Address: Ismoil Somoni Avenue 26/1, Dushanbe 734026, Tajikistan
Opening hours: Monday through Friday 8am – 8pm. Saturday and Sunday 10am – 8pm
9. Statue of Ismoil Somoni
This is one of the most recognizable monuments in Dushanbe and depicts Ismoil Somoni (or Ismail Somoni), founder of the Samanid dynasty in the 10th century. He’s known as a very strong ruler and has huge cultural significance across Central Asia. The Tuajikistan currency – Somoni – is named after him, as is the country’s highest mountain – Ismoil Somoni Peak.
Address: Ismoili Somoni Monument, Jalol Ikromi Street, Dushanbe, Tajikistan
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10. Botanical gardens
This large botanical garden is a very popular thing to do in Dushanbe on weekends and holidays, especially with families and couples. The mature trees are labelled in Latin, but even if you’re not a tree enthusiast it’s a refreshing change of pace from the museums and monuments. We recommend you pop along on a Saturday afternoon when local musicians perform on the garden’s wooden pavilions.
Address: Samadi Gani, Dushanbe, Tajikistan
Opening times: Daily, 7am – 7pm
Entry: Free to enter
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*Content published in June 2018. Information correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change and/or availability.
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