By air
Dushanbe International Airport (DYU) is the main gateway. Regular flights connect to Moscow, Istanbul, Dubai, Frankfurt, and a handful of other hubs. Turkish Airlines flies via Istanbul; FlyDubai and Air Arabia serve Dubai. Somon Air is the national carrier and operates routes across the region. Domestic flights connect Dushanbe to Khujand (about 1 hour) and to Khorog in the Pamirs (a stunning 1-hour flight that frequently cancels in bad weather).
Khujand in the north has its own airport (LBD) with connections to Moscow and a few CIS destinations. If you're starting a trip in northern Tajikistan, arriving or departing via Khujand can save a long overland leg.
By land
From Uzbekistan: The most common land border. The crossing at Oybek (between Tashkent and Khujand) is well-used and straightforward. A second crossing near Penjikent connects to Samarkand. Shared taxis run on both sides of the border; expect to change vehicles at the crossing.
From Kyrgyzstan: Several crossings exist in the north and east. The Kulma Pass crossing in the Pamirs connects to Kashgar (China) via Kyrgyzstan and is a dramatic high-altitude route; it is seasonal and requires a GBAO permit. The border situation between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan has been tense historically — check current conditions before planning a crossing.
From China: The Kulma Pass connects to Kashgar and is open in summer for travelers with the appropriate permits.
From Afghanistan: The Ishkashim crossing in the Wakhan Corridor is technically open but rarely used by independent travelers due to the security situation in Afghanistan.
Visas
Citizens of around 60 countries — including the US, EU, and UK — can enter Tajikistan visa-free for stays up to 30–90 days depending on nationality. An e-visa (around $30) is available online for other nationalities, though availability can be intermittent; check the official portal before travel.
If you plan to visit the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO), which covers the Pamirs, you need a GBAO permit in addition to your visa or visa-free entry. Get this at the OVIR office in Dushanbe or include it when applying for an e-visa. Traveling in the Pamirs without it can result in a fine at checkpoints.
For stays of 10 days or more, you are technically required to register with OVIR. Staying in registered guesthouses or hotels generally handles this automatically — ask when you check in.