Balkanabat

Balkanabat is a city in Balkan Province, Turkmenistan.

Understand

Balkanabat may serve as a stopover on the trip from Ashgabat to Turkmenbashi and as starting point for excursions to Dehistan and the Yangykala Canyon.

Get in

By plane

The city has an airport, but no scheduled flights are made.

By train

Turkmenistan Railways operate two trains per day from Turkmenbashi and two trains from Ashgabat. The railway station is 1 km west of the central Niyaziv Square.

• 1 Balkanabat railway station (Balkanabat Demirýol Meňzili). (updated Feb 2022)

By bus

The trip from Ashgabat takes about 6 hours. Marshrutkas and shared taxis cost US$2-3, taxis approx. US$15. They arrive in front of the train station.

Get around

Balkanabat Airport

See

• Regional History Museum, Gurgteli Annayew köcesi, ☏ +993 222 49126. US$1.25. 
• Russian Orthodox Church. 
• Gozli Ata (135 km north of Balkanabat). Mausoleum of a highly respected Sufi teacher, today a very popular place of pilgrimage 
• Yangykala Canyon. One of the most spectacular natural attractions in Central Asia, 165 km north of Balkhanabat, 160 km east of Turkmenbashi 
• Dekhistan. In medieval times rivalling Merv and Konye Urgench. Today only ruins of two minarets and of the oldest mosque in the country remain. Expect to pay US$50 for the round trip per taxi including waiting time 
• Tarshavat (38 km from Balkanabat). The picturesque ruins of the Tarshavat caravanserai stand on one of the ancient caravan routes on the Silk Road. The caravanserai is a rectangular building with a stone wall and ruins of residential buildings inside. 
• Shir Kabir Mausoleum (6 km from Dekhistan). Dating from the 9th and 10th century, Shir Kabir is one of the oldest surviving mosques on the territory of Turkmenistan. It has a unique mikhrab consisting of three niches one inside the other. 

Do

Monument to Saparmurat Niyazov

Buy

• Balkanabat Carpet Factory, Azady köcesi. M-F 09:00-18:00. 

Eat

• Kafe Ruslan, Kvartal 201 (west of the city center), ☏ +993 222 40740. 

Sleep

• Hotel Nebitchi, Kvartal 198, ☏ +993 222 45335. 5-star hotel, all rooms with satellite TV, excellent restaurants. double US$100. 
• Hotel Balkan, Kvartal 225, ☏ +993 222 43293. US$30 to 60. 

Go next

By train

Turkmenistan Railways operate two trains per day to Turkmenbashi and two trains to Ashgabat. The railway station is 1 km west of the central Niyaziv Square.

By bus

The trip to Ashgabat takes about 6 hours. Marshrutkas and shared taxis cost US$2-3, taxis approx. US-$15. They leave in front of the train station.