Ashgabat

A surreal, nearly empty capital of white marble buildings and gold statues, built on Turkmenistan's gas wealth into one of the strangest cityscapes on Earth.

The Independence Monument and the eerily quiet marble government quarter are best seen at golden hour, when the facades glow. Foreign visitors need a guide and visa sponsorship — it's one of the most tightly controlled capitals in the world, which is part of the draw.