Dushanbe

Good to know

1. 1The name Dushanbe means Monday in Tajik and Persian, after the market that once took place in the village here on that day.
2. 2Tajik is a form of Persian, closely related to the Persian spoken in Iran and Afghanistan, though it is written in the Cyrillic alphabet. Russian is still widely understood in the city.
3. 3The currency is the somoni, and the city has a good number of large, busy bazaars, with Mehrgon the best known, where fruit, nuts, bread and dried goods are sold.
4. 4Rudaki Avenue is the main boulevard, named after Rudaki, the 10th-century poet who is regarded as a founder of Persian literature.
5. 5Tea houses, called chaikhona, are a central part of social life, and the national dish is plov, rice cooked with meat, carrots and onion.
6. 6The city sits in a valley and is known for its many parks, roses and plane trees, which give welcome shade in summer.

Tips for a first visit

• Try plov, fresh flatbread, samsa pastries and the tea house habit of sitting for a long time over green tea.
• Carry some cash in the local currency, as small shops, bazaars and taxis generally prefer it over cards.
• Learn a few words of Russian or Tajik, since English is not widely spoken outside hotels and among younger people.
• Dress modestly, especially when visiting mosques or going outside the centre, and remove your shoes when entering a home.
• Accept offers of tea or bread graciously, as hospitality is important, and greet people with a handshake or a hand on the heart.
• Drink bottled or boiled water and wash fruit from the bazaars before eating it.

When to go

Spring and autumn are the most pleasant times, with mild weather, blossoming trees in spring and plentiful fruit in autumn. Summers are very hot and dry, so days are best spent in the shade or in the nearby mountains. Winters are cool and can bring some snow, and it is a quieter time to visit.

From the airport

Dushanbe International Airport lies close to the city, only a few kilometres from the centre, so the journey by taxi usually takes around 10 to 20 minutes depending on traffic. Taxis are the easiest option, and buses and minibuses also run along the main roads. Within the centre, many sights along Rudaki Avenue can be reached on foot.