Kyrgyzstan
About Kyrgyzstan
Gorgeous mountains, alpine lakes and even a large walnut forest, Kyrgyzstan is the perfect place for outdoor adventures and nomadic culture. You can choose from a day of swimming at one of the many lakes, climbing a high peak, or an overnight horse trek, not forgetting fishing and hunting.
Kyrgyz people have been and are still partly nomadic people who move continuously between the mountains and valleys of the regions with their cattle and live in their “mobile homes” called a yurt, like in the picture to the right. If you are not a person looking for an easy vacation but more an adventure, Kyrgyzstan is the place to be.
Kyrgyzstan has 7 regions: Chui, Issky-Kul, Jalal-Abad, Naryn, Talas, Batken and Osh. Some regions have airports but there are very few flights except between Osh and Bishkek. Anyway, the country is best seen by traveling by car as you will be amazed by the gorgeous views of the mountains and valleys in between. Kyrgyzstan has made more progress towards democracy than any other Central Asian state after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Landscape 199,951 km2
Kyrgyzstan spans a total area of 199,951 km², with over 90% of the country dominated by breathtaking mountainous terrain. These pristine landscapes are characterized by dramatic peaks and vast jailoos (summer pastures), where semi-nomadic shepherds continue to uphold their traditional way of life, residing in yurts.
The country’s highest point is Peak Pobeda (Jengish Chokusu), towering at7,439 meters (24,406 feet), marking one of the most prominent peaks in the Tian Shan mountain range.
Population 7,000,000
As of 2024, Kyrgyzstan’s population is around 7.3 million, with Kyrgyz making up the largest ethnic group, followed by Uzbeks and Russians. The country also has a mix of minority groups, such as Dungans, Uyghurs, Tajiks, Kazakhs, Ukrainians, and Koreans, adding to its cultural diversity.
While most people still live in rural areas, around 37% of the population now resides in urban centers like Bishkek and Osh. This marks a slow but steady shift toward urbanization as cities grow in size and importance. The changes in population patterns reflect Kyrgyzstan’s evolving economy and infrastructure, blending its traditional nomadic heritage with modern development
Official Languages: Kyrgyz, Russian
In Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyz and Russian are both official languages. While Kyrgyz is the state language and widely spoken across the country, especially in rural areas, Russian holds significant importance, particularly in urban centers and official communications. Russian is still widely used in government, business, and media, due to Kyrgyzstan’s historical ties with the Soviet Union, where Russian was the dominant language. As a result, many Kyrgyz people are bilingual, using both languages depending on the context.
Regionally, language use varies. In the northern parts of the country, particularly in Bishkek, Russian is more commonly spoken and understood, reflecting the city’s historical ties to Russian influence and its role as the capital. On the other hand, in the southern regions, Uzbek is widely spoken, especially in areas with significant Uzbek communities. These regional differences in language usage reflect the diverse ethnic makeup of the country and the historical relationships between Kyrgyzstan and its neighboring countries.
Som (KGS)
One notable feature of the Kyrgyzstani Som is its unique design, as it is the only currency in Central Asia to feature a woman on a paper banknote. The 100 Som note features a depiction of Kurmandjan Datka, a prominent historical figure known for her leadership in the 19th century and her role in defending Kyrgyzstan from external forces. This feature not only highlights the cultural significance of women in Kyrgyz history but also emphasizes the country’s pride in its heritage.
Things to do in Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan Sights & Destinations
Kyrgyz culture
Kyrgyzstan quick tips
Drinking water
We do not recommend drinking tap water in Kyrgyzstan. In the bigger cities, chlorine level is high, killing all the bacteria but the chemical water quality is not good.
Therefore most locals have filters attached to their taps or they buy bottled water which costs approximately 30 som/liter. In smaller towns, it is better to stick with bottled water totally to avoid stomach problems.
Safety
Kyrgyzstan is quite a safe country for tourists, but everywhere, there are certain things to take into account: Keep your valuables under supervision in crowded places such as public transport, bazaar, etc.
Avoid walking alone in the dark streets and look around when crossing the roads as the traffic culture leaves a lot to hope for especially in Bishkek.
Best time to go
The best times to visit are spring and autumn – As most of the Kyrgyz sights are in nature our outdoors it is best to avoid the hottest summer (July-August).
If you happen to arrive in the hottest time, be sure to escape to Issyk Kul or other higher areas for more cool weather. During winter it is a must to take a trip to the ski resorts near Bishkek and Karakol.
Currency exchange
You will find exchange offices easily in many corners of Bishkek. The most famous place is the Sovetskaya intersection Moskovskaya Exchange which is open 24/7. Visa and Mastercard work well with Demir bank and Visa with most other banks as well.
Make sure to have enough cash before traveling to regions as it is harder to find working ATMs in the more remote towns and villages especially.
Travel budget
Kyrgyzstan is relatively affordable for accommodation, meals, clothes, transportation, and even alcohol. For instance, you can get a bed for $20- $25, lunch for about $5-$10, and a cup of good coffee will be $2.
Transportation inside Bishkek will cost you about 60 som – 400 depending on the distance. However, there is a trick to keep in mind, sometimes drivers increase the price if they realize you are a tourist. Remember to agree on the price before stepping inside or using the Yandex or Namba taxi for example to make sure the metering is not tampered with.
Credit card
There are a big number of ATMs in Bishkek and Osh today. Most restaurants and shops in Bishkek accept card payments such as Visa, MasterCard, Union Pay, and others. The visa card remains to be the most popular one.
Most local small business favor cash though especially taxi services and bazaar vendors. If you are going to the region’s best to get cash, there won’t be many places with ATMs there.
Kyrgyz Sim card
At the arrival terminal of Bishkek Manas International Airport, you can get a free sim card. Most likely they will be handed to you at the exit by local young people working for the operators even if you didn’t really want one.
You may also approach Beeline, Megacom, or O (Oshka) stands next to the exit and purchase data straight away. Operator shops are scattered around Bishkek shopping malls and data is very inexpensive.
Mobile data & WIFI
Mobile data works well in Kyrgyzstan, especially in major cities. There are few spots with free wifi including the trolleybuses and almost all the cafes provide free wifi in Bishkek.
Mobile internet is cheap and fast enough to do research and stay in touch with video calls. 4G is available in major towns. However, in the mountain areas, there are very often places without any kind of signal, not even for calls. A good example is the Son-Kul area.
Religion
During the 8th century, Arab invaders conquered what is now Kyrgyzstan and introduced Islam. Kyrgyzstan remains a predominately Muslim country with around ¨83% of the population of Kyrgyzstan are Sunni Muslim, followed by Christians at 15%. A small percentage of the population are Buddhist or Jewish.
Nevertheless anyone can get alcohol anytime in Kyrgyzstan and the clothing is relatively free. Having said that it is not uncommon for women with very open clothing to receive unwanted attention from the local young guys.
Kyrgyzstan Must Visit Cities
Interesting Facts about Kyrgyzstan
- Kyrgyzstan is home to nearly 2 000 lakes.
- Kyrgyzstan is the only country in the world with a denomination of three: the 3 som coin.
- Kyrgyzstan is very mountainous with 94% of the country located more than 1000 m above sea level with an average elevation of 2 750 m.
- The world’s largest natural walnut forest called Arslanbob is in Kyrgyzstan. During autumn workers live in the forest for months at a time harvesting walnuts.
- Kyrgyzstan created and hosted the first three World Nomad Games. Known as the ‘Olympics for nomads’ the games were designed to celebrate and preserve the culture of nomadic civilizations.
Check the latest statistics and info from the site of National Statistical Committee of the Kyrgyz Republic.
Page updated 5.3.2023
