Things to do in Bishkek
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Ecotour
Ecofriendly and flexible with budget demands. Stay in traditional yurts with solar-heated water, and small hydroelectric turbines at Temir Kanat, Ak-Sai, Tuura-Su, Kara-Talaa, Jeti-Öghuz and Bosteri for €20 per night (includes three meals and horse riding). Contact English-speaking Elmira or German-speaking Zamira.
reviewed
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Central Silk Road
30 days (ex Ashgabat)
by Intrepid
Visit the wilds of Chong Kemin National Park, Kick back on the inland beaches of Issyk-kul Lake , Be amazed by the ferocity of Darvaza Gas Crater, Walk the live…Not LP reviewed
from USD$2,700 -
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State Historical Museum
Sure, there are yurts, a mummy, carpets, embroidery and even open-air balbals (Turkic totemlike gravestones) in the State Historical Museum, but the highlight is the mural-cum-shrine to Lenin and the Revolution upstairs. Former US president Ronald Reagan is immortalised wearing a skull, astride a missile and grinning wildly. Nazi Germany is depicted as a rampaging bear while (surprise, surprise) Mother Russia as a beautiful woman clutching a white dove. English and lighting is minimal.
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Osh bazaar
The city has three daily farmers' markets, all fairly distant from the centre. Osh bazaar, 3km to the west on Chuy, though not very colourful, offers a glimpse of Kyrgyz and Uzbeks from the more conservative south of the republic. Produce is sold inside the main bazaar and all around the outside of the complex. There is a separate clothes market south of the main produce bazaar. To get there take trolleybus 14 on Chuy, bus 20 or 24 on Kiev, or 42 from Soviet.
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Central Silk Road Reverse
31 days (ex Bishkek)
by Intrepid
Eat mutton dressed up as itself in a Bishkek restaurant, Visit the wilds of Chong Kemin National Park, Kick back on the inland beaches of Issyk-kul Lake , Pract…Not LP reviewed
from USD$2,460 -
Mountain Kingdoms Of Kyrgyzstan Reverse
16 days (ex Bishkek)
by Intrepid
Wander the wide streets of Bishkek, Camp by the serene shores of Issyk-Kul Lake, Soak up the charming atmosphere of Karakol, Go hiking in Djety Oguz Valley., St…Not LP reviewed
from USD$1,295 -
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WWII monument
Victory Square is a weedy plaza where an immense yurt-shaped WWII monument, erected on the 40th anniversary of the end of the war, sprawls across an entire city block. On cold evenings you might see a knot of young men passing the bottle and warming themselves at its eternal flame. On weekends it's the destination for an endless stream of wedding parties posing for photographs.
reviewed
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Xi'an To Kashgar
22 days (ex Xian)
by Intrepid
Travel to China and visit Kashgar's exotic old town, Camp beneath the stars in the Taklamakan Desert, Relax beside the pristine waters of Heavenly Lake, Follow …Not LP reviewed
from USD$1,675 -
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Philharmonia
Features Western and Kyrgyz orchestral works and the occasional Kyrgyz song-and-dance troupe, but you may need a local person to identify these from the playbills. In front of the Philharmonia is a statue of the legendary hero Manas slaying a dragon, flanked by his wife, Kanykey, and his old adviser, Bakayn. The kassa (ticket office) is on the west side.
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Dubovy Park
Dubovy Park, full of strollers on warm Sundays, has a few open-air cafés and some neglected modern sculpture and funnily enough, century-old oaks. Where Erkindik prospektisi (Freedom Ave) enters the park, there is an open-air art gallery. Nearby is the Erkindik (Freedom) Statue, formerly a statue of Felix Dzerzhinsky, founder of the Soviet secret police.
reviewed
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Steinbräu
The German-style pilsner and recommended dark beer (Salvator) is brewed on-site here and is the main draw. The round tables and kids' play area are great for groups and families. Georgian wines and a full menu of German food, from sausages to pretzels, adds to the Munich beer-hall vibe. For added punch try the beer cocktails (Cologne lager and Flagman vodka).
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Metro
With international sports parading across a large-screen TV and American rock and pop belting from the speakers, the Metro provides expats with a slice of American and pizza in one handy package. Add this to the on-site bookshop and the Bar and Grill restaurant and it is easy to see why this is one of the most popular Westerner hang-outs in town.
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Frunzwe House-Museum
Is this thatched cottage really where the little Frunze played with his toy soldiers, or just the Soviet way with history? In any case the meticulous two-storey Frunzwe House-Museum engulfing it - showcasing Frunze as a military and family man, plus the requisite posters, weapons, flags and statues - has itself become a piece of history.
reviewed
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ITMC Tien-Shan
Competent adventure-travel operator offering package and piecemeal help, including visa support; mountaineering, with base camps at Khan Tengri, Achik Tash (Pik Lenin) and Koh-i-Samani (Kommunizma); trekking; heli-skiing; mountain biking; and crossing the Torugart. Not to be confused with its former partner at Tien-Shan Travel.
reviewed
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Dordoy Bazaar
Dordoy Bazaar (nicknamed Tolchok, which means 'jostling crowd') is a huge weekend flea market of imported consumer goods and junk about 7km north of the centre. You might strike gold with the occasional North Face jacket here. Buses 185, 132, 25 and 200 run to Dordoy from the northern corner of Soviet and Chuy.
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Santa Maria
Anyone who has ever tried ordering Korean dishes in Russian will appreciate the picture menu at this upscale place. There are also a few European and Japanese dishes thrown in for good measure. Our eyes were on the nis ratatoly (lamb chops with shredded eggplant, potato and rice). Visa cards accepted.
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Amanbayev Zakir
Local guides include Amanbayev Zakir and Nurdan of the South Guesthouse. Both lead personal tours, arrange transport and book accommodation nationwide. Nurdan also has extensive regional knowledge and will happily arrange local excursions and treks to the more obscure of the canyons around Bishkek.
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Ala-Too Sqare
This sea of concrete ceased to be called Lenin Sq in 1991. Lenin enjoyed centre stage on his plinth until August 2003, when he was relegated to the square behind the museum and replaced by (yet) another statue of Erkindik (Freedom). The Kyrgyz flag in the square is lowered every day at dusk.
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Labyrinth Café
Cheap eats and cheap beer can be found next door to TsUM at this open-air café serving Central Asian dishes such as Kazakh-style ribs and beshbarmak (flat noodles with a meat broth). Find a spot under the willows or umbrellas and settle in for some serious people-watching.
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Kyrgyz Concept
Offers cultural programmes at the higher end of the travel spectrum. Can arrange visa support, Bishkek homestays, horse trekking, cultural shows and can even put you in touch with a Kyrgyz costume designer. It is also a reliable international ticket agency. Credit cards accepted.
reviewed
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Dom Druzhby
The conspicuously older structure northeast of Ala-Too Sq at Pushkin 68 was the headquarters of the Central Committee of the Kyrgyz ASSR, declared in 1926. It's now home to the Dom Druzhby community centre for advocacy and self-help groups, as well as a drab zoology museum.
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'White House'
An unmarked marble palace full of chandeliered offices just west of the square, the 'White House', is the seat of the Kyrgyzstan government, including the president's office and the republic's parliament. Behind this is Panfilov Park, full of rusting rides and arcades.
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Kyrgyz Style
A nonprofit organization that sells high-quality shyrdaks, ala kiyiz (felt rugs featuring coloured panels), hats, bags and slippers to support social development in Kyrgyzstan. It's on the ground floor, accessed from the back of the apartment block.
reviewed
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State Museum of Fine Arts
The decaying State Museum of Fine Arts, also called the Gapar Aitiev Museum of Applied Art, features Kyrgyz embroidery, jewellery, utensils, eye- popping felt rugs, works by local artists, and a startling collection of reproduction Egyptian and classical statues.
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Dostuck Trekking Ltd
Offers ascents to peaks, including base camps near Khan Tengri, Pobedy and Lenin as well as less specialised, fixed-date treks including yurt camps in the Suusamyr Valley and Tash Rabat. Can arrange helicopter transport and border permits.
reviewed
