Essential Information for Travelers
Tips, tricks and hacks to have the best
travel experience in Kyrgyzstan
Arriving at the airport
When you first arrive at the airport and exit the baggage claim, you will be swarmed by taxi drivers offering to take you to your destination. Some will even try to take your bags. Before agreeing to go with them, there are a few things you need to do:
First you will need some Kyrgyz SOM. Although there are currency exchange kiosks in the airport, their rates are a litlle more expensive than you will find in the city. Depending on your bank's fees, it might be better to withdraw cash at the ATM.
Next, If you have an unlocked phone, you can pick up a local SIM and purchase a data plan. They usually give out the SIM cards for free and will install everything for you. You can purchase a whole month of data for around 500-600 Som.
Getting Around Bishkek
These apps are a must have if you want to travel like a local
Although Google maps works in Kyrgyzstan, 2GIS has the most current information, including public transport routes and walking directions
Download 2GIS for Android
Download 2GIS for Iphone
Yandex Go is an online taxi service similar to Uber. You can pay by cash or card. Be advised if paying by cash that drivers rarely have change, so you should always keep small bills on hand. The average cost for a ride within the city is around 300 KGS.
Download Yandex for Android
Download Yandex for Iphone
Travelling between cities
By far, the best way to travel between the major cities of Kyrgyzstan is by shared taxi. Taxis leave everyday from the new bus station in Bishkek to Naryn, Karakol and other destinations. The route from Bishkek to Naryn usually costs around 1000 KGS per person. There are also minibuses (marshrutkas) running throught the day.
Bishkek Bus Station
Naryn Bus Station
🚌 Bus Schedule
