Dushanbe
The Tajik capital, named after a Monday market, lies in the Hisor valley with the mountains close on two sides.
- Arrival
- Dushanbe International · DYU
- To the city
- About 5 km from the centre
- Private jets
- Same airport, VIP facilities
- Best time
- May · September to October
The city
A Monday bazaar that became a capital.
Records first mention a village market here in 1676, and the name, Persian for Monday, comes from the day it was held. The Soviets made it a capital in 1924 and called it Stalinabad from 1929 to 1961; in 1991 it became the capital of independent Tajikistan. More than 1.2 million people now live along the Varzob, which runs north to south through the city.
At 823 metres the city has proper seasons. July afternoons average 35 °C with almost no rain, and the wet months are winter and early spring. May, and September into October, bring days in the twenties.
- National Museum Founded in 1934, with more than 15,000 square metres of halls and Hellenistic finds from Takht-i Sangin, a satyr among them.
- The flagpole At 165 metres, the second-tallest free-standing flagpole in the world.
- Komsomol Lake Made in 1938 by members of the Komsomol, the Soviet youth league, and now beside the city park.
Arriving
Five kilometres from the centre.
Dushanbe International lies about 5 km from the city. A new international terminal opened in 2014, and the single runway is 3,112 metres long.
- Almaty 1 h 30
- Delhi 2 h 05
- Doha 3 h 10
- Bangkok 5 h 45
- Hong Kong 6 h 20 long-range jet
When to go
May, and September to October.
Hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. March and April are the rainiest months, at more than 100 mm each, and from June to August the heat climbs to 32 to 35 °C. May, September and October are the gentle months, with highs from 22 to 29 °C.
- 7° J 67
- 9° F 75
- 14° M 108
- 21° A 106
- 26° M 69
- 32° J 7
- 35° J 4
- 34° A 1
- 29° S 3
- 22° O 31
- 16° N 45
- 10° D 60
Where to stay
By the lake, and in the centre.
Shown for information. We have no arrangement with any of these hotels.
- Dushanbe Serena Hotel A glass front patterned with suzani flowers, an entrance modelled on a caravanserai, and 1.2 hectares of gardens.
- Hyatt Regency Dushanbe A Z-shaped tower opened in 2009, looking across the lake to the Hisor range, with an indoor pool in the Sayohat spa.
- Hilton Dushanbe The former Sheraton, reopened under the Hilton name in 2019, with Zaitoun and In Asia for dinner and an indoor pool.
Where to dine
Dinner at the Hyatt.
No MICHELIN Guide or other restaurant guide covers Tajikistan. The one table we list is the main restaurant of the Hyatt Regency, with a wood-fired show kitchen.
- Focaccia Grill Signature restaurant, Hyatt Regency Dushanbe International and Mediterranean Hyatt Regency Dushanbe, Ismoili Somoni Avenue
Elsewhere in Tajikistan
More reasons to come.
Flying to Dushanbe?
Choose how you arrive.
A Business or First Class seat on a scheduled airline, or an aircraft of your own. Tell us the date and how many are travelling, and we reply with one final price, our margin included.