By plane
Turkmenistan Airlines operates three flights per day from Ashgabat. If you are short of time, you can fly from Ashgabat to Mary in the morning, visit Merv, and return to Ashgabat in the same evening. The airport is 5 km out of town on the road to Bairam Ali. A taxi to the city should cost about US$ 2.
By Rail
Turkmendemiryollari Turkmenistan Zeleznice Ashgabat, phone 255545, fax 473858 runs trains from Ashgabat to Turkmenabat via Mary.
Trains to Mary leave Ashgabat at 7.40 daily, arriving at Mary at 5 pm. Train 21 leaves Ashgabat every second day at 10.10 pm, and arrives at Mary at 5.25 next morning.
Train 212 leaves Turkmenabat at 4.20 am daily, arriving at Mary at 10.23 am. Train 196 leaves Turkmenabat at 6.00 pm daily, arriving at Mary at 0.25 am. Train 22 leaves Turkmenabat at 9.55 pm daily, arriving at Mary at 2.51 am.
The railways station is near Hotel Sultan Sanjar.