Places / Asia / Turkmenistan
Mary
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At a glance
- Country
- Turkmenistan
- Region
- Mary Province
- Population
- 150,000
- Best time to go
- April to May, September to October
- Main airport
- Mary International (MYP)
- Coordinates
- 37.59°N, 61.83°E
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Overview
Mary is a modern oasis town on the Murghab river, and the base for visiting Merv, once among the largest cities in the world and a great centre of the Silk Road.
The ruins spread across a huge area of desert just east of town, with walls, mausoleums and fortresses from many eras. Further north lies Gonur Depe, a Bronze Age site that is older still.
Things to see
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Photo: Kalpak Travel, CC BY-SA 4.0 Merv
A UNESCO site of several walled cities built side by side over two thousand years.
Tickets and tours -
Photo: Peretz Partensky, CC BY-SA 2.0 Mausoleum of Sultan Sanjar
A massive 12th-century Seljuk tomb with a towering dome, the finest monument at Merv.
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Photo: GaiJorayev, CC BY-SA 4.0 Kyz Kala
Two fortified mansions with corrugated mud-brick walls, unlike anything else in the region.
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Photo: David Stanley from Nanaimo, Canada, CC BY 2.0 Mary Regional Museum
Finds from Merv and Gonur Depe help make sense of the ruins before you visit.
Tickets and tours
Things to do
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Photo: John Pavelka from Austin, TX, USA, CC BY 2.0 Day trip to Gonur Depe
A Bronze Age city of palaces and temples deep in the desert, reached by four-wheel drive.
Find tours -
Watch sunset at Merv
Stay late as the low light picks out the ridges of the old city walls.
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Visit the bazaar
A good place for bread, melons and local life in the centre of town.
Where to stay
Town centre
A handful of hotels, usually arranged by your tour agency.
Hotels in Town centreNear the river
Quieter hotels along the Murghab, a short drive from the ruins.
Hotels in Near the river
Getting around
A car and driver, usually with a guide, is essential for Merv and Gonur Depe.
Flights and trains link Mary with Ashgabat; the airport is close to town.
When to go
Spring and autumn are best for exploring the ruins. Summers are scorching and shadeless, and winters can be cold.
Plan your trip to Mary
Guide last checked October 2026. Opening times and prices change, so check before you go.