Ýyldyz Hotel

Standing where the white-marble city meets the foothills of the Kopet Dag, the star-shaped Ýyldyz is a landmark in its own right — its curved, mirrored façade catching the desert sun and visible from across the capital.

Its elevated position is the real luxury: the upper-floor rooms and restaurants look out over the whole of Ashgabat, luminous by night against the dark mountains behind. Guests enjoy a summer outdoor pool and a winter indoor pool, a spa and fitness centre, several restaurants and a bar, and banquet and conference halls.

A ten-to-fifteen-minute drive from the centre, it trades downtown bustle for calm, atmosphere and one of the finest views in the city.