The capital Bishkek may be the starting point of your tour of Kyrgyzstan (Kyrgyzstan). And unlike most of the country, we found Bishkek to be surprisingly modern. The static Soviet buildings are interspersed with green parks and large boulevards you can stroll along. Discover more about Kyrgyz history there, eat local food in one of the many restaurants or take a day trip to the beautiful Ala Archa National Park. In this Bishkek travel guide, find out what are the best things to do, the best restaurants and where to stay in Kyrgyzstan’s capital city!
7 best things to do in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Bishkek is interesting, but does not have the beauty to offer where Kyrgyzstan is so well known for. If you are limited in time, we recommend spending a maximum of one to two days here. The city is also not very big, and these sights in Bishkek can easily be explored on foot.
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1) State History museum & Ala Too square
Ala Too square is located in the heart of Bishkek and is the central square. It is a large square surrounded by large, static Soviet buildings. The most notable building is that of the State History Museum. This is the national museum of Kyrgyzstan and gives you an insight into the country’s history and local customs. You’ll even find a full, stuffed yurt that you can look inside. So visiting the museum is one of the best things to do in Bishkek. Try not to visit the square in the middle of a summer day, as it can get very hot. The museum does have air conditioning, a pleasant coolness when it is up to 35°C outside.
Opening hours State History Museum: Tuesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. | price per person: SOM 300 (~ €3)
2) Oak Park
Oak Park is the most beautiful park in Bishkek and is right next to Ala Too square. Here you will find, you guessed it, a lot of majestic, oak trees. You will also find some special statues, colorful flower beds and squirrels. Plop down on one of the benches and watch the locals gather here on a balmy summer afternoon. At the edge of the park you will find the BOHO city bar, a surprisingly modern bar that reminded us a bit of a beach club in Greece.
3) Osh Bazaar
The Osh Bazaar is a huge, covered market in Bishkek that you definitely must have seen. This is where the locals come to do their shopping and you can find absolutely everything. From food such as meat, vegetables, nuts and bread to clothes, shoes and jewelry. You can feast your eyes on this lively market and given its size, you can easily spend several hours here. If you are looking for souvenirs, you can find them here as well. Visiting the Osh Bazaar is definitely something you must do when you are in Bishkek!
TRAVEL TIP: Looking for quality and original souvenirs? Take a look at TUMAR Art Salon. Here you will find beautiful, locally made souvenirs such as slippers, Kyrgyz carpets or pillowcases.
4) Victory square
Another square in Bishkek that you should definitely visit is Victory Square. Here you will find in the center of the square the Victory Monument surrounded by beautiful flower beds. These are three, gigantic arches that are supposed to represent a yurt. In the center of the “yurt” is a statue of a woman, the “Kyrgyz Mother” along with a fire that seems to burn forever. This monument was built in memory of World War II and to commemorate Kyrgyz soldiers who died.
5) Opera & Ballet Theater
Go take a look at the Opera & Ballet Theater in Bishkek. We found this to be one of the most beautiful Soviet buildings in the city. The large marble columns stand out beautifully against the pink, stone wall. Those who wish can also attend a performance. Various shows of every level are organized and often the prices are not expensive. Tickets can be bought on the spot.
6) Day trip Ala Archa National Park
Of course, you come to Kyrgyzstan for its rugged nature and beautiful mountains. For those who can’t wait, we recommend a day trip to the Ala Acha National Park. Just a 45-minute drive from Bishkek, you are already at the foot of the Tien Shan Mountains. Several hikes depart from Ala Archa. We did the 5 km hike to the Ak Sai waterfall, where you slowly climb up through a green valley. The views along the way are fantastic and make you forget the sometimes steep sections. If you like a challenge, you can hike further to the Ratzek hut on the Ak Sai glacier or spend the night there yourself. From Bishkek you can arrange a cab to take you there and back to the start of the hike. Or book your guided tour to Ala Archa National Park here.
7) Local food
Kyrgyzstan is not immediately the destination for a culinary trip, but the food is hearty and tasty. Most meals consist of beef, mutton, or horse meat often served with noodles, rice, or potatoes. Meat is eaten daily in Kyrgyzstan, so being a vegetarian or vegan can sometimes be a challenge in this country. Still, we found in Bishkek that there was quite a bit of choice and ate delicious food every time!
Some of our favorite restaurants in Bishkek:
- Navat Teahouse: not only is the interior beautiful, here you have an incredibly extensive menu of all kinds of Kyrgyz national dishes.
- Sierra Coffee: a cozy coffee bar where you’ll also find smoothies, as well as an extensive breakfast and lunch menu.
- Frunze Restaurant: situated in an impressive building, this is a restaurant that focuses on fine dining. A bit more expensive by Kyrgyz standards, but they do offer vegan options.
- Zaandukki: This Georgian restaurant was our favorite. Georgian cuisine is incredibly delicious and here we really felt like we were back in Georgia. Even as a vegetarian you can find plenty of choice here.
- Furasato: those who want something a little different. This Japanese restaurant will make you forget you are in Kyrgyzstan with dishes like sushi and udon noodles.
Where to stay in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
You can find something for every budget in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Bishkek itself is bigger than you think, so try to find a hotel in the center. Near Ala Too Square is ideal, from there you can explore most of the sights on foot. All of these hotels are centrally located:
- Budget ($): Compass Hostel – nice to meet fellow travelers
- Comfort ($$): Interhotel Bishkek – fine hotel including breakfast at a competitive price (this is where we slept ourselves).
- Luxurious ($$$): Sheraton Bishkek – beautiful 5-star hotel that you simply don’t want to leave.
How to visit Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan
Bishkek has an international airport, but chances are you will have a stopover in Istanbul first. From the airport, it is about a 30-minute drive to downtown Bishkek. The easiest way to get there is by cab. You pay about 1000SOM (€10) per person and you can withdraw cash from one of the ATMs in the airport. Some cab drivers will try to charge more, but definitely dare to negotiate. Alternatively, you can install the cab app Yandex. This works like Uber and is also an easy way to get around Bishkek.
A cheaper alternative is to take the marshrutka to the city center. Marshrutkas are minivans and are the local transportation in Kyrgyzstan. Outside at the airport you can look for marshrutka line ‘380’. It will cost you less than €2 per person and they leave every 15 to 30 minutes.
Best Travel Time Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
In Bishkek, it is often a lot warmer than when you go into the mountains of Kyrgyzstan. In the summer(June to September) it is often very sunny and hot, with temperatures sometimes up to 35°C. This can sometimes be too hot, and we recommend you seek coolness in time (whether in the mountains or not). In winter it cools down very much in Bishkek to temperatures around -5°C. For Bishkek, the months of April, May, September and October are ideal. But if you make a tour in Kyrgyzstan, then the best travel time is from late May to September
Still have questions about what to do in Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan? Let us know in a comment below! Looking for more information for your next trip? Please do not hesitate to contact us contact or send an email to info@snoezelsontheroad.com
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