Turkmen Carpet Museum

Located at 5 Görogly Street in Ashgabat, the Turkmen Carpet Museum (or National Carpet Museum) opened on October 24, 1994, and houses the largest collection of Turkmen carpets in the world. When you visit, you will explore a rich historical tapestry spanning from the medieval era through the 20th century, featuring over 1,000 carpets from the 18th and 19th centuries alone, alongside traditional woven items like chuvals, khurjuns, and torba.

On the first floor, you will encounter Teke and Saryk carpets, including massive display pieces that showcase incredible craftsmanship. Look out for a 193-square-meter carpet weighing a tonne—crafted in 1941 by around 40 people for Moscow's Bolshoi Theatre—and a record-breaking 301-square-meter piece from 2001 recognized by Guinness World Records as the world's largest hand-woven carpet.

You will also see two-sided carpets with different designs on each side, a 1968 piece uniting all tribal styles, and carpets dedicated to President Nyýazow. Recognized by the government as the official authority on Turkmen carpets, the museum also serves a vital administrative role: if you purchase a carpet anywhere in the country to take home, museum experts must inspect it to grant export permission.

What to see at Turkmen Carpet Museum

• Guinness World Record hand-woven carpet measuring 301 square meters
• Massive 1941 Tekke carpet made for Moscow's Bolshoi Theatre
• Rare two-sided carpets featuring a different design on each side
• Over 1,000 historical carpets from the 18th and 19th centuries
• Specialized first-floor displays of Teke and Saryk carpets

Visiting tips

If you purchase a carpet in Turkmenistan, bring it to museum experts for inspection to receive an official export receipt confirming it holds no historical value.

How long: 1-2 hours · Best time: Morning

How to get there & what’s nearby

Turkmen Carpet Museum is easy to reach on Ashgabat’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Arch of Neutrality and Ertuğrul Gazi Mosque. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Ashgabat travel guide.