Is Bishkek worth visiting? What are the top things to do in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan’s capital city? In this in-depth Bishkek city guide, you’ll find an overview of the most interesting places to visit in Bishkek, recommendations about where to stay and where to eat in Bishkek, and information about how to get around the city.
Bishkek is probably the place where you’ll start your journey in Kyrgyzstan. It’s a modern and cosmopolitan city but still preserves the essence of the Kyrgyz culture and Soviet architecture.
Although Bishkek is the capital of the country, it still feels somehow like a provincial town and it’s really easy to get from one end of the city to the other.
I lived for a whole year in Bishkek, not too far from the Ala-Too square. It was the perfect base to discover the country and visit more beautiful and interesting places in Kyrgyzstan. It was the ideal place from which to explore the country and living there really gave me amazing insights into the Kyrgyz culture.
While Bishkek is really interesting, I wouldn’t recommend staying there longer than a day if you’re in Kyrgyzstan just for a short time.
There are many beautiful day trips and short hikes that can be done near the city and there are so many other beautiful destinations around the country to visit that I wouldn’t stay in Bishkek for too long.
Tip: See my Kyrgyzstan Travel Page for a complete overview of all my travel guides and blog posts about Kyrgyzstan!
Dreaming of hiking through wild mountain landscapes, horseback riding across alpine pastures, sleeping in yurts, and exploring remote valleys by 4×4 with a small group of adventurous travelers?
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Plan your trip to Bishkek
Where to stay
- Best budget pick: Koisha
- Best mid-range choice: Navat Hotel
- Top high-end hotel: Orion Hotel Bishkek
Top experiences in and near Bishkek
- Highlights of Bishkek City Tour
- Bishkek Food Tasting Tour
- Day trip to Ala Archa National Park
- Top hikes and day trips from Bishkek
Plan your trip to Kyrgyzstan
A few things to know about Bishkek Kyrgyzstan
1. Do people in Bishkek speak English?
While the younger generation in Bishkek does speak English, most of the adults in their mid-thirties and older do not. They might know a few words of English but they mostly only speak Russian and Kyrgyz. Learning a few words in those languages before your trip will be very helpful.
Here are a few Russian expressions that you could use to communicate with people in Bishkek:
- Gee-dee-yay na-ho-deet-sa magazine?: Where is the store?
- Skolka sto-it yeda?: How much is a meal?
- Spassiba: Thank-you
- Voo-ee mojhet-ee-ay zapessat eta?: Can you write this down?
Here are a few Kyrgyz expressions that could also be very helpful:
- Salam: Hello
- RaHmat: Thank you
- Tualet Kayda?: Where is the toilet?
- Kança?: How much?
- Men jogolgon jatam: I am lost
If learning languages is not your thing, I would recommend getting your hands on the Lonely Planet Russian phrasebook and dictionary.
It’s packed with thousands of sentences that will help you in different situations and scenarios such as ordering food or finding a place to stay. Check the price for this Russian Phrasebook here.
2. Can you drink the water in Bishkek?
Although I wouldn’t suggest drinking the water anywhere in the country, in Bishkek, the tap water should be absolutely fine. If you just arrived in the country however and your body is not used to the new bacteria, I would suggest bringing a LifeStraw Water Filter Bottle.
This is a reusable bottle that filters water using a microfiltration device. When you drink tap water using this bottle, any bacteria or parasites will be trapped in the fibers of the filter, while the clean water passes through.
It’s not only good for your belly and wallet, it’s also great for the environment because you don’t have to buy any plastic bottles of water! Click here for more info and prices.
3. When is the best time to visit Bishkek?
Bishkek is beautiful all year round but I would say the best time to visit the city is in fall and spring.
The weather in Bishkek is very sunny and hot during summer (June – September) with average temperatures around 35°C . It’s better to spend the summer in the beautiful Kyrgyz mountains than inside the city.
Bishkek tends to become cold in winter with average temperatures around -10 °C / -15°C.
4. How to get from Bishkek airport to the city center?
Manas airport in Bishkek is the main international airport in Kyrgyzstan so this will probably be the one that you enter or depart the country from. The airport is a 30-minute drive from Bishkek city center.
The standard rate for a taxi from the airport to the center of Bishkek ranges between 700 and 1000 Kyrgyz Som (KGS) – around $8 to $11 USD -, depending on the taxi company.
Most likely you’ll be welcomed by many taxi drivers who’ll be eager to give you a ride for double the standard rate. Insist on paying not more than 1000 som. If they don’t accept, walk away and you’ll find a taxi driver who will drive you to the city center for the standard price.
You can also look for a taxi company named BTaxi right outside the airport exit or Manas Taxi on the 1st floor of the airport. Those are both trustworthy companies that work with a fixed rate.
You can withdraw some money from the ATM’s at the airport but change or withdraw the rest of your cash in Bishkek city itself as the exchange rate will be a lot better!
You can also take the electric bus to Bishkek. This bus doesn’t stop at the airport parking but on the main road outside the airport. You need to walk there and wait for the bus to come. This bus runs every 20 minutes between 8 am and 8 pm. The price is 140 som per person.
5. How to get around in Bishkek
By bus:
As of 2024, you can take a “green” bus to get around the city. Enter the bus via the front side, pay the driver and exit the bus via the middle door. The fee per ride is 20 KGS. You can pay cahs or with a special bus card. You can use the apps Bus.kg and Maps.Me to find which bus you need to take to get to certain places.
By taxi
You can also take a (shared) taxi to get around the city. If you can’t be bothered by bargaining for the price, install the Yandex Go app on your phone (only possible when you have a local SIM card). This app works similar to Uber.
Is Bishkek Safe?
The capital city of Kyrgyzstan is attracting more and more expats, students and travelers every year.
It is very normal to ask yourself the question of whether Bishkek is safe for foreigners. I would say that the capital of Kyrgyzstan is very safe for foreigners.
The Kyrgyz people are very welcoming. When I was living in Bishkek, I often met young Kyrgyz students who were curious about where I came from and who would invite me for a coffee or a meal to talk about my adventures and practice their English.
That being said, expats should still be vigilant about the safety of their personal belongings, especially in open-air markets such as the Osh bazaar or in city buses in Bishkek.
The best solution to avoid being pick-pocketed is to stay very alert and aware of your belongings at all times. You should leave all your important and valuable items at your hotel and walk around only with what is absolutely necessary.
Keep your wallet in your front pocket or carry a money belt. Another great option is to travel with a slash-resistant and lockable anti-theft bag. I would also recommend getting good travel insurance that covers theft.
Need Travel Insurance for Central Asia? I use and highly recommend HeyMondo Travel Insurance. As a reader of Journal of Nomads, you get a 5% discount off your insurance plan!
Expats in Bishkek is a good Facebook group to become part of when moving to Kyrgyzstan. There are hundreds of expats and locals in this group that can answer your questions concerning safety around the country and that can help you adapt to life in Central Asia.
13 Top things to do in Bishkek
Here are some of the sights I would absolutely recommend visiting in and around Bishkek in one or two days.
Tip: Install the app maps.me, download the map of Kyrgyzstan and bookmark these places in the app. Google Maps isn’t always accurate in Central Asia but Maps.me does the job and works offline as well!
Top Tip: This Bishkek city tour covers the most important historical, cultural, & traditional places of Bishkek!
1) Visit the Osh Bazaar and markets in Bishkek
Bishkek has some very interesting markets where you can find paraphernalia of exotic items from the Soviet era. The most photogenic and interesting one is the Osh Bazaar at the corner of Chuy and Kuliev Street.
It’s a place that is always full of activity and people come here everyday to buy products from all over the Kyrgyz republic. It’s such a big market that you could easily spend a whole day there and not see all of it. The Osh Bazaar is one of the top places to visit in Bishkek for photographers.
Another very interesting bazaar to visit in Bishkek is the Dordoi bazaar. This one is located at a 20-minute drive from the city. From the city center of Bishkek, it’s possible to catch a taxi to the bazaar for about 300 som.
It’s Central Asia’s largest market for imports. This place is huge and contains over 30,000 containers selling items from all over the world. It supposedly is one of the ten largest markets in the world according to different sources.
A third Bazaar that is worth mentioning is the Soviet bazaar but this one is only open on Sundays between 7 and 11 AM and is located between Orto-Sai bazaar and Beta 2.
2) Enjoy an evening at the Kyrgyz National Opera and Ballet Theater
If you want to have interesting insights into the Central-Asian art scene and see performances of good caliber, the Kyrgyz National Opera and Ballet Theatre is the place to visit.
The performances at this theater are usually well put together. The theater showcases performances by local students and higher caliber performances by Russian and Kyrgyz artists.
It’s the ideal activity after a day spent visiting the parks of Bishkek. It’s also totally worth it considering the very affordable prices of the shows. I had a chance to see a ballet performance there based on the story of Romeo and Juliet and really enjoyed it.
3) Go for a walk in one of the many parks
When I think back about the year I spent in Bishkek, the beautiful parks of the city are what first pop into my mind. The one I would recommend visiting during your first day in Bishkek is Oak Park.
Oak park is located not too far from Ala-Too square and is the perfect place to relax on your first evening in Bishkek. The park has ping-pong tables, plenty of squirrels, beautiful sculptures and majestic oak trees.
The park is visited by families during the day and lovers in the evening. While I was living in Bishkek, it was one of my favorite places to lie down in the grass in the shade of the trees and relax in the afternoon.
If you feel like you could enjoy a long walk on the first day of your trip, you could also visit Erkindik park right in the city center.
This place is as soothing as Oak Park and when I was living in Bishkek, it used to be my favorite place to go for a morning jog. It’s a park that is very long and narrow and there is a running path right in the middle of it. This Park showcases art exhibitions on a regular basis.
And last but not least, Panfilov Park. The park was made in the shape of a star when it was built and has an area that is home to outdoor amusements and carnival rides.
4) Visit Ala-Too Square
Ala-Too Square is the center and heart of Bishkek. I rented a small apartment just 15 minutes from it and the square became part of my daily walks when I wanted to take some time off from my online work.
In summer the square becomes very lively. Families go there to spend time strolling around the fountains and admire the huge statue of Manas that overlooks the whole area.
This statue was built to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Kyrgyzstan’s independence. It really dominates the square and if the wind is blowing the giant flag, the combination of the two against the sky is absolutely impressive. You can also watch hourly the change of the guards who stand in a little boot in front of the flag.
In the middle of summer, I wouldn’t recommend visiting this square during the day though because it becomes extremely hot when the sun rays heat it up. It’s better to go there for a walk in the early evening.
5) Visit the State History Museum
The State History Museum in Bishkek on Ala-Too Square contains several exhibits about the cultural heritage of the Kyrgyz people, whose sculptures and objects dating from antiquity to the end of the 20th century. It is one of the most important museums in Central Asia.
The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday, 10am until 6pm. The entrance ticket costs 300 som.
Don’t forget to the backyard of the museum where you’ll see a large statue of Lenin. This statue used to be in the front of the museum but got replaced by a statue of the national hero Manas.
6) Walk by the Victory Monument
The Victory Monument is definitely a sight to see in Bishkek. It has three large curved arks that are meant to represent a yurt in the center of a beautiful square filled with flowers. This monument was built to commemorate world war two during which many Kyrgyz soldiers fought.
Right under the three arks is the sculpture of a woman. She represents a Kyrgyz mother waiting for the return of her husband and son from the war.
The monument and the flowers that surround it are very beautiful but there is another reason you might want to check this place out – weddings. The amount of newlywed couples that choose this place for their wedding pictures is astonishing.
Once, I visited this monument and during the fifteen minutes that I spent there, I saw almost 30 newlywed couples lining up to take a picture under the arches.
If you want to see what the traditional wedding dresses of brides and grooms look like in Kyrgyzstan, you’re bound to see it near the victory monument.
7) Go for a Russian Banya in one of the bathhouses
If you want to have an experience that is typically Kyrgyz, you have to visit one of the bathhouses in Bishkek.
During the Soviet period, tons of saunas and bath houses were built around Kyrgyzstan and they still play an important role in the everyday life of this Central-Asian country.
They are usually called Banyas and locals visit them for their numerous health benefits. They are known to help with diseases related to the nervous, endocrine, cardiovascular and musculoskeletal systems. It’s also a place where people go just to hang out and spend a fun evening with friends.
The saunas are usually filled with steam, hot splashing water, and the rhythmic sounds of the Kyrgyz language.
It’s a place where you’ll be surrounded by beautiful white marble slabs, people scrubbing themselves and whipping each other with leafy birch twigs.
These birch twigs are called a Venik (it literally means broom in Russian). People visiting Banyas usually whip each other with it to scrub off the dirt from the skin and it’s also believed to improve fertility.
If there is one bathhouse that I would recommend in Bishkek, it’s Zhirgal Banya. It’s located on the corner of Ibraimov and Toktogul. This bathhouse has two huge white domes so it’s pretty hard to miss.
On top of having saunas that are very relaxing, this bathhouse has two large pools of ice-cold water under its huge brick domes. It feels fantastic to dive in the cold water after sweating so much.
8) Enjoy a great coffee in one of Bishkek’s many cafes
Bishkek has an amazing collection of small cafes with great internet connections. I often tell my friends who work remotely that Bishkek is the ideal city for digital nomads.
One cafe I absolutely recommend for the delicious coffee and the cool crowd of backpackers and expats that go there is Sierra Coffee. The food is equally fantastic. They offer freshly roasted coffee, smoothies, soups, salads, sandwiches, muffins, and cookies.
When I lived in Bishkek, I was mainly working online and this café was my prime spot to get some work done while sipping on cups of black coffee.
9) Try some Kyrgyz food in one of the traditional restaurants
Kyrgyzstan might not be the destination for an exquisite culinary trip, most of the food is hearty and tasty. Most meals consist of mutton, beef and chicken meat, served in dumplings, on top of noodles or rice or alongside potatoes. People in Kyrgyzstan typically eat meat every day.
If you’re a vegetarian, it will be harder to find some typical Kyrgyz dishes without meat but it’s not impossible. As a vegan, you’ll have a challenging time and you can expect to get some weird looks when asking for meals without animal products.
Top Tip: This Bishkek Food Tasting Tour offers a unique flavor of Bishkek, showcasing the traditional Kyrgyz cuisine so you can experience the best flavors of Bishkek. Along the way, you’ll also learn about the city’s rich history and culture by visiting famous monuments and landmarks.
10) Have some delicious craft beer
Bishkek has some amazing breweries where you can taste local and international beers.
One place I particularly loved is called Brewster Craft Beer. They have a great selection of locally brewed IPA, APA, red ale, and Belgian ale as well as a delicious apple cider.
The food at Brewster is also very good and everything is reasonably priced. This brewery kind of became our regular Friday routine in Bishkek. If you want to drink some great local beers, this is the place to visit.
Another awesome bar with some great craft beer is called Save the Ales. While Brewster is set in a basement and gives the vibe of an English pub, Save the Ales has an outdoor area with chairs and tables. If the weather is nice, you might want to pay Save the Ales a visit.
11) Walk by the White House
Your trip to Bishkek city should definitely include a visit to the White House since it’s the seat of all the administrative power in the country.
Before Kyrgyzstan became a democracy, this building used to be the headquarters of the Kyrgyz Communist Committee. It’s not possible to go in but it looks very impressive from the outside.
12) Go on a soviet Architecture tour in Bishkek
As a former member of the USSR, Kyrgyzstan’s capital city is full of intriguing Soviet-style buildings that can be used as a roadmap for discovery.
Here’s a great guide for a short walking tour through the center of Bishkek that will let you see (and stop at) some of the highlights of the collection of Soviet architecture on offer. It’s in my opinion one of the most interesting things to do in Bishkek.
Top Tip: This Bishkek Soviet Tour is a guided half-day tour during which your guide explains the layers of history in Bishkek, from the Soviet times to how the city culture has changed to what it is today.
13) Go on a Day trip from Bishkek
Bishkek city offers some fun activities and interesting places to see but the countryside nearby is also filled with beautiful sites.
You might want to escape from the city after a day or two to enjoy Kyrgyzstan’s wild mountains and pristine valleys.
You don’t have to go far from Bishkek to find yourself in the midst of nature. You could hike and see some of the most spectacular landscapes that Kyrgyzstan has to offer in one day.
I wrote a complete guide on the best day trips from Bishkek.
Some of these day trips are hard to reach indepently as public transport doesn’t go there. To save yourself the time and hustle to get there, there are some guided day trips from Bishkek that I highly recommend:
Where to eat in Bishkek: What are the best restaurants in Bishkek?
Bishkek offers a wide variety of restaurants and (inter)national cuisines.
If you like sushi, you should eat at the Japanese restaurant Furusato. If you want to taste the Georgian cuisine, I highly recommend Papuri. If you’re up for some Korean style fried chicken, Chicken Star is a popular place in Bishkek.
If you’re craving some western food, beers and cocktails after spending weeks (months?) in the Kyrgyz mountains, I highly recommend Pinta Pub, Red Cow and Social Coffee.
However, you should go at least once to a tradition Kyrgyz restaurant. Here are the two restaurants I recommend in the city center of Bishkek if you want to eat the traditional Kyrgyz food:
1. Navat
Navat is great restaurant in Bishkek to try some traditional dishes. The restaurant has a wonderful assortment of regional meals in a lovely ambiance.
There are musicians that occasionally play traditional music in the restaurant. Navat is beautifully decorated and the customer service there is fantastic.
I would suggest trying their beef dumplings. If you don’t eat meat, they have very good vegetarian and vegan options.
There are a couple of Navat restaurants in Bishkek as it’s a franchise. You can find one in Togolok Moldo Street and one in Baityk Baatyr Street.
2. Frunze Restaurant
Named after the renowned statesman, Mikhail Frunze, this restaurant is an ode to the country’s past. The menu features an array of dishes, blending Kyrgyz, Russian, and European influences. The elegant decor and attentive service add to the dining experience.
Frunze restaurant is located next to Oak Park so the perfect place to enjoy dinner after a day of sightseeing in Bishkek.
Where to stay in Bishkek: What are the best hostels and hotels in Bishkek?
Bishkek attracts travelers from all over the world and it’s actually an inexpensive city for people who are traveling around Kyrgyzstan on a budget.
Bishkek offers a nice choice of hostels for budget travelers who want to save money to explore during the day, and swap stories with fellow backpackers in the shared kitchen or bar in the evening.
The best hostels in Bishkek
Koisha
Situated at a 5-minute walk from Osh Bazaar, Koisha offers both private and dorm rooms, some with their own patio. The hostel also has a shared lounge, and a beautiful outdoor terrace where you can prepare your own meals in the outdoor kitchen.
Check the rates and availability for Koisha here.
Compass Hostel
Compass Hostel is a relatively new hostel in the center of Bishkek. It has a very nice decoration that blends a modern slick design with traditional Kyrgyz elements.
The rooms are very spacious, they have very big windows, and they are usually very quiet. This creates a really relaxing atmosphere.
Almost every room comes with a little work desk and plenty of storage space. The common areas are very clean and well maintained and a nice big breakfast is served every morning. The hostel is also well located next to a lot of nice cafes and restaurants.
Click to check out rates and availability for “Compass Hostel”
The best hotels in Bishkek
Here are the best choices for mid-range budget hotels in the city center of Bishkek:
If you’re looking for a high-end hotel, I recommend:
How to get to Bishkek?
How to get to Bishkek from Almaty?
Almaty, one of Kazakhstan’s largest cities, is a destination from which a lot of people will travel to Bishkek.
How to get to Bishkek from Osh?
Flights between Bishkek and Osh are cheap and it’s the option I would recommend if you don’t have much time to spend in Kyrgyzstan and you need to reach Bishkek quickly.
Osh International is a small airport located just 10km away from the city center of Osh. The airport offers number of direct daily flights within Kyrgyzstan. Tez Jet and Air Manas all have flights that leave daily, taking about an hour and will cost you around €50/ $55.
If time is on your side and you’d rather take a more scenic route by road, you can take a shared taxi which will take you roughly 12 hours depending on the driver and the conditions and it will cost you about €25 per person. The taxis leave from the new bus station in Osh.
How to get to Bishkek from Karakol?
Karakol is the third biggest city in Kyrgyzstan. Because of its location on the eastern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul, it will very likely be the starting point for trips toward Bishkek.
There are plenty of minibuses (mashrutkas) and shared taxis connecting the two cities. They gather at the Karakol main bus station and at the bazaar in Karakol. Taxis and marshrutkas can be found throughout the day at the bus station. They usually leave once they are full.
The journey from Karakol to Bishkek takes around 6 to 7 hours. A ticket for the minibus costs 350 KGS per person, a shared taxi takes half an hour off your journey but costs more – 600 to 800 KGS per person.
As of December 26, 2022, Kyrgyzstan introduced GoBus, a daily charter bus from Bishkek to Karakol. It’s a very comfortable bus with accurate travel time (which is surprising in Kyrgyzstan…), and free WiFi on board.
The bus leaves at the main bus station in Karakol. A ticket costs 450 KGS, which you can book via the GOBUS app (payments with Visa or Mastercard). The app also shows the travel route and the drop-off and pick-up points.
How to get to Bishkek from Tashkent?
Tashkent is the capital of Uzbekistan and it’s also possible to take a night bus between the two cities.
I hope this Bishkek city guide was useful and that you’ll have a great time in Bishkek. If you have any questions or if you’ve already been to Bishkek, I’d love to hear from you in the comments below!
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Hello from Australia, Sydney
At 74 years old… I keep travelling in full speed, jaja!!
Travelled extensively all my life.
Antwerp my favourite city in Belgium 🇧🇪 had many friends there.
Your Blog it’s Great and so helpful, thank you.
Planning to do most TAN s countries around September and October
I wonder overthere if they have Eagles shows…
And Is it Horse meat Halal??
I am a reverted Muslim .
Born in Uruguay, Montevideo.
Keep your good work done.
Martha Long
Hi Martha, thank you! Yes, there are Eagle Hunting Demonstrations at Issyk Kul Lake. Most of the meat is Halal as Islam is the main religion in Kyrgyzstan. Contact me if you have more questions. Best wishes, Cynthia
good job 👏👏
Great article but one thing confuses me, there doesn’t seem to be a restaurant called Arzu in the city centre (near Ala-too square), even the link I click on from your article is more than an hour away. I find two restaurants called Arzu but both far from the center, could this be a mistake? Thank you
Hi Alex, I’m updating the guide as we speak. Unfortunately, as of recently, restaurant Arzu is no longer there.
we are travelling to Kyrgyzstan in Sep 2023, I just can’t wait. Your blog is so helpful and easy to read. Thanks.
Thanks so much Lydia!
HI ,
What a lovely blog. The details are very clear and many thanks for making this.
I am a bit skeptical to travel alone , is that fine especially that there is no English even to understand basic routes and ask people out there.
Hi Durgesh, I’m happy to hear you like my blog! You’ll be fine traveling alone. Some people speak English, mainly the younger people. I’d also recommend installing Google translate to use offline. I didn’t speak any Russian or Kyrgyz when I first arrived in the country but I still was able to get around and have a great experience. When are you planning on traveling to Kyrgyzstan?