How to Get from Dushanbe to Hissar Fortress?

I was there today. I got to the Zarnisor market by taxi along route 8, boarded on Rudaki Avenue (10 somoni per person)… then right there they transfer you to a taxi to Hissar for another +10 somoni per person… in Hissar there’s another transfer to a taxi to the fortress for +4 somoni per person… entrance to the fortress is 20 somoni.
On the way back — the same sequence. With 7 people it will be even more convenient, no need to wait for the taxi to fill up. Everything should go smoothly.

I was in Tajikistan last summer. Basically, Hissar Fortress. I got to the western bus terminal (Zarnisor, on the way out of the city) for 2.5 somoni. Lots of transport goes to Zarnisor — minibuses for 2.5 somoni, trolleybus for 2 somoni, and taxis as well.
There I took minibus number 270 and went to the Hissar bus station. At the bus station, taxi drivers asked 25 somoni to get to the fortress; I walked about 10 meters to the road and got there for 4 somoni, there were 4 passengers in the car.
On the way back everything was the same. Total transport budget round trip — 23 somoni. The fortress itself is rather empty in terms of relics and exhibits, but the views and the history are impressive. Walking around in silence, enjoying the scenery and feeling the vibrations of history is just right. I didn’t regret going.

Hello, could someone tell me — if traveling from Dushanbe to Hissar Fortress by taxi for about 5 hours, would that be enough? That is, if we leave around 8 a.m. by metered taxi, see the fortress, could we get back to Dushanbe by about 1 p.m.? Will there be any problem finding a taxi near the fortress for the return trip?

@tolik The place itself takes максимум an hour, maybe an hour and a half. If it’s hot, even less. You go inside, look at the stalls with local goods, walk up the stairs and back down, look at the horses. You can visit the veeeery small museum section, that takes about 15 minutes. It’s an hour’s drive from Dushanbe. If you’re going to ride horses, add another 20 minutes or so.

Got it, thanks. And about the taxi price on the meter from Dushanbe — I checked, it seems to be around 100–150 somoni. Can you just catch a Jura taxi in the city? And on the way back — same thing, catch a taxi near the fortress?

No idea about the price, I have my own car.

From Hissar, shared taxis from the square are 5 somoni per person. There’s an old madrasa nearby, not a new build — the fortress itself is a reconstruction. Better to visit at sunset.

And during the day, is it possible to get from Hissar to Dushanbe by taxi? Can you find a taxi near the fortress?

Yes. You arrive in Hissar, at the bazaar there’s a bus station — ask for Kalai-Hissar. It’s 5 somoni per person. They’ll take you to the entrance. From there, back to the market, change cars, and then from the market it’s 10 somoni in a shared taxi or 5 in a minibus with locals — to Zarnisor in Dushanbe, and from there by bus to the city center.

Hello! Please tell me, if we go tomorrow to Hissar Fortress from Dushanbe, would the approximate route be: Zarnisar bus station – marshrutka 270 – Hissar bus station – taxi to the fortress? And on the way back the same sequence? About how long will it take, do the marshrutkas run often?

Yes, that’s right. Now it’s number 270. Just ask “Marshrutka Hisor rafti?” (“Does the marshrutka go to Hisor?”). But I don’t think it’s worth waiting for it just to save 5 somoni — it’s faster to take a shared taxi for 10 somoni to the Hissar bazaar. These taxis are at the Zarnisar bus station, any local will show you where they gather. About 30 minutes, maybe even faster, one way. 15 minutes to the market and 10 minutes from the market to Kala-i-Hisor.