Bishkek city tour
Accommodation, guides, transport included.
Bishkek city tour Highlights
Discover the Kyrgyz capital in one day with a local guide, from Ala-Too Square and the Oak Park to the busy Osh Bazaar. On this private city tour of Bishkek you learn the key facts about the city's best-known buildings, monuments, streets, squares and parks, and about the main events of Bishkek life – a perfect introduction if this is your first visit.
The route covers more than 30 sights, among them the Old Square, the White House, the Square of the Revolution Fighters, the oldest building in Bishkek, the Alley of Artists, the Museum of Arts, the Frunze Museum and the Philharmonic, many of them fine examples of Bishkek's Soviet architecture. In the merchants' rows of the Osh Bazaar you taste sweets straight from the counters together with kurut and kymyz, traditional Kyrgyz sour-milk products, and the tour ends with a tasting of five dishes of Kyrgyz cuisine.
Difficulty: Easy A city tour of about 5–6 hours with transport between the sights and some walking on easy to moderate terrain in the streets, squares, parks and the bazaar. Normal physical condition is enough.
Tour Itinerary
Your guide meets you for a tour of about 5–6 hours through the centre of Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, so plan to spend most of the day with us. The route includes more than 30 sights, and your guide tells you the story of each of them: Ala-Too Square and the Old Square, the White House, the Oak Park, the Square of the Revolution Fighters, the oldest building in Bishkek, the Alley of Artists, the Museum of Arts, the Frunze Museum, the Philharmonic and much more. Your guide also takes you through the endless merchants' rows of the Osh Bazaar, where you can try sweets straight from the counters and taste traditional Kyrgyz sour-milk products such as kurut and kymyz. At the end of the tour you taste five dishes of the Kyrgyz national cuisine with tea and sweets. All hot dishes are made with meat (beef and lamb) and are not suitable for vegetarians.
Bishkek, Ala Too Square, Bishkek Oak Park, Osh Bazaar (Bishkek)
- Ala Too Square → Osh Bazaar (Bishkek) (4 km)
Share this tour privately
Travelling alone or as a couple? Join other travellers who want to take this tour privately, or post your own request. The private price per person drops as the group grows.
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What's included
Included
- Transport during the tour
- Guide services
- Museum entrance tickets according to the program
- Tasting of sweets, kurut (dried cheese balls) and kymyz (fermented mare's milk) at the Osh Bazaar
- Tasting of five national dishes with tea and sweets at the end of the tour (all hot dishes contain meat – beef and lamb – and are not suitable for vegetarians)
Not included
- Personal expenses
- Additional meals
Nargiza is the office manager of Central Asia Guide and mostly responsible for multi country "Stan" tours.
What to bring
- Comfortable walking or hiking shoes
- Warm clothes
- Rain clothes
- Sunscreen, a sun cap and sunglasses
- Personal medications
Kyrgyzstan travel information
Practical essentials for travelling in Kyrgyzstan. Open a topic to read more.
Visa policy
Find your country from the list and check possible visa requirements for Kyrgyzstan before booking.
The official currency is the Kyrgyz som (KGS). Bishkek has plenty of ATMs, but outside the larger towns and the northern shore of Issyk-Kul cash is how almost everything is paid.
ATMs and cards
Some ATMs in Bishkek dispense US dollars as well as som. Beyond the capital, ATMs are found in the few largest towns but mostly not in smaller ones, except on the northern shore of Issyk-Kul. Mastercard works in all ATMs, but Visa is still the more widely accepted card. Demirbank's red ATMs have lately been the best option for foreign cards, with moderate fees.
Exchanging money
Exchange offices in the major cities change US dollars, euros and roubles into som. Notes must be clean, fresh and without any signs of wear. Exchange offices prefer larger notes from 50 USD and 50 EUR, and sometimes give a better rate for them.
Paying by card
Cards are accepted in major hotels, restaurants, large supermarkets and some museums in Bishkek and Osh, and occasionally even in taxis. Elsewhere, apart from the northern shore of Issyk-Kul, paying by card is not practical.
Kyrgyzstan is generally safe for travellers and tourism is growing fast, but the usual precautions matter.
Documents
Always carry your passport or a notarised copy. Without proper identification you can be detained by the police.
In towns
- Robberies, some of them violent, and thefts happen especially in crowded places such as the bazaars. Take care after dark.
- Sexual harassment has been reported on public transport. Avoid walking or travelling alone, especially at night.
- Book taxis in advance from established services.
- Stay away from crowds and demonstrations.
- Watch where you step: some streets have large holes and pavements are often uneven.
Laws and customs
- Respect local traditions, customs, laws and religious practices.
- Possessing or using narcotics is strictly prohibited.
- Do not photograph anything related to the armed forces or security services.
- Same-sex relationships are legal but not widely discussed or publicly recognised.
Border areas
Smuggling makes the southern border zones with Uzbekistan and Tajikistan unstable and best avoided.
Kyrgyzstan is visa-free for travellers from many countries. Others can apply for an electronic visa or through an embassy.
Visas
For a tourist visa, most passport holders need an invitation letter from a tourism company. Kyrgyzstan has had an electronic visa system since 1 September 2017.
Border regions
Visiting border regions requires a special permit.
The best times to visit Kyrgyzstan's lower areas are May–June and September. In the high mountains, July and August are best.
Lower areas: May–June and September
In late spring and early autumn the valleys, Issyk-Kul's shores and the towns are green or golden, days are pleasant rather than hot and there are fewer visitors.
High mountains: July and August
This is when the high pastures, yurt camps and mountain passes are open, and trekking and horse-riding routes that are under snow the rest of the year can be reached. Days in the valleys can reach about 30°C, and nights at altitude can still be close to freezing. Summer is also the time of festivals celebrating Kyrgyz traditions.
Winter
Winters in the highlands are long and close the high passes, but it is still a captivating season. Hiking, horse riding and skiing are all possible, and yurt stays are available too.
Healthcare in Kyrgyzstan is basic and medical facilities are scarce, so comprehensive medical and travel insurance is essential.
Medicines
If you rely on regular medication, bring enough for the whole trip: it can be hard or expensive to find locally.
Insurance
Arrange comprehensive medical and travel insurance before you arrive. A serious accident or illness may mean emergency air evacuation to a neighbouring country.
Food and water
Treat tap water and other local water as contaminated and boil it before drinking; bottled water is the safest choice throughout your stay. Be careful with unpasteurised dairy and other animal products.
Vaccinations
Vaccinations against polio and tuberculosis are recommended before entering the country, and others may also be advisable. Ask your doctor or travel clinic.
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