Turkmenistan
Ashgabat in December
🌤️ Cool seasonCool and mostly dry.
🎒 Pack: warm jacket for evenings
Why December scores 8.0What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort7.7
- !Cool (10°C highs / 1°C lows)
- ✓Comfortable humidity (dew point -2.7°C)
- ✓Mostly dry (~17 mm rain)
- Air quality7.4
- ✓Moderate (PM2.5 ~22 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards10.0
- ·No notable seasonal hazards
- Safety baseline7.0
- ·Increased caution
| Dec | May | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 8.0 Very good | 9.4 Excellent |
| Season | 🌤️ Cool season | ☀️ Warm dry season |
| High / low | 10° / 1° | 31° / 18° |
| Rain | 17 mm | 21 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt -3° | dew pt 8° |
| PM2.5 | 22 µg/m³ | 8 µg/m³ |
Typical-month data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis) 2015–2024 (modelled, not a forecast). Temperatures: Ashgabat weather-station normals. Rainfall: Ashgabat weather-station normals (national met service).
Holidays & crowdsDecember 2026
No long holidaysNo long public-holiday weekends this month. School holidays aren't counted, so check those if you want to avoid family crowds.
Other public holidays: International Neutrality Day (12 Dec)
National holidays only; regional holidays and school breaks aren't included. Source: holidays (open-source public-holiday calendar).
Explore AshgabatEvents, sights, food & souvenirs
Check event dates locallyAshgabat is Turkmenistan's capital, known for its white-marble buildings, grand monuments and wide boulevards. Travellers come for its unusual architecture and as a base for the ancient Parthian site of Nisa.
No major events on our calendar for December.
Coming up later
NowruzEvery year21 March every year
The spring new year is marked with public celebrations, music and traditional food.
Why go: A festive time to visit, though some offices close for the holiday.
Where: Across the city
Independence DayEvery year27 September every year
Turkmenistan's national day is celebrated with official events and decorations.
Why go: Expect closures and tighter security around central areas.
Where: Across the city
Independence Monument
A tall monument set in a large park that marks Turkmenistan's independence.
💡 The city's monuments are lit up at night, so an evening drive is worthwhile.
Ertugrul Gazi Mosque
A large white mosque in the Ottoman style, one of the city's main religious buildings.
💡 Dress modestly; women should bring a headscarf.
Nisa (Old Nisa)
The ruins of an early Parthian fortress on the city's outskirts, listed by UNESCO.
💡 Go with a guide or driver, as there is little on-site information.
Altyn Asyr Bazaar (Tolkuchka)
A huge market on the edge of the city selling carpets, clothing and household goods.
💡 Go early on a weekend morning, when it is busiest.
National Museum of Turkmenistan
The country's main museum, with archaeological finds from Nisa and Merv and displays on Turkmen history.
Palow (plov)
Rice cooked with meat, carrots and onions, the centrepiece of Turkmen meals.
💡 Local restaurants and cafes across the city
Dograma
A dish of torn bread, meat and onion in broth, often served at celebrations.
💡 Traditional Turkmen restaurants
Manti
Steamed dumplings filled with minced meat and onion.
💡 Cafes and restaurants across the city
Chorek
Round flatbread baked in a clay oven, eaten with almost every meal.
💡 Bazaars and bakeries
Turkmen carpets
Hand-knotted wool carpets with deep red tones and traditional gul patterns.
💡 Carpet shops and Altyn Asyr Bazaar; ask about the export certificate needed to take a carpet out of the country
Embroidered textiles
Hand-embroidered fabrics, skullcaps and clothing in traditional designs.
💡 Bazaars and souvenir shops
Airport transfer Kiwitaxi
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