Turkmenistan’s capital, Ashgabat, has become a hotspot for dark tourism, drawing visitors intrigued by its surreal, authoritarian atmosphere. Built with $14 billion of white marble under dictator Saparmurat Niyazov’s orders, the city features bizarre landmarks like a rotating gold statue of Niyazov and the world’s largest indoor Ferris wheel. Despite its opulence, Ashgabat feels hollow—its vast plazas sit empty, and its underused $5 billion Olympic complex serves just 100,000 annual passengers despite a 14-million capacity.
Strict rules govern the city: black cars are banned as “bad luck,” photography near government buildings is prohibited, and guides restrict tourists’ movements. Documentarian David Farrier, who visited for Netflix’s *Dark Tourist*, described it as a carefully controlled facade. Nicknamed the “city of the dead,” Ashgabat’s gleaming marble veneer hides an unsettling reality, making it a magnet for travelers seeking offbeat, authoritarian-era curiosities.
