Ashgabat - Post Report Question and Answers
What are some typical ways to socialize, either with local people or with other expatriates? Are there groups or clubs that you can recommend?
This is not a post where it's easy to make friends with locals as locals who associate too much with foreigners will get harassed by the government. Other people in the expat community do social events with some regularity, usually dinners at someone's residence. - Jan 2024
This is a find your own fun kind of place. Lots of house parties, some going to to restaurants. - Dec 2020
Mostly socialize with expats. Make your own entertainment, invite people over, etc. Occasional concert to go to. Travel outside city limits together. - Mar 2019
I go on embassy CLO trips/tours/events and joined the local expat book club. All are great ways to meet others. - Jun 2018
Extremely limited. There are some shopping centers with children's arcades, ice skating rinks, small bowling alleys, billiards hall etc. There are many parks in the city but the playgrounds are pretty small and not always the safest. There are a bunch of restaurants and bars but they are all virtually the same and with a local curfew of 10-11pm, they aren't wildly exciting. - Feb 2016
The American residential compound was probably the closet thing to the center of social life for the expat community. BBQs and events at the pool would spring up frequently. Going out to dinner, tasting the latest batch of home brew and camping out at the fire crater were other popular choices. - Jul 2014
This is a closed society and they don't care for Westerners. - Oct 2012
There are many people that have really made a great life for themselves and in return made positive impacts on the people they met along the way. This is a closed society, but if handled correctly, hobbies and activities can be a major source of enjoyment. - Mar 2012
