Bishkek

Good to know

1. 1The city sits on a flat plain, and on a clear day the snowy ridges of the Kyrgyz Range rise just south of the streets. It is one of the few capitals where you can see high peaks from the main square.
2. 2Bishkek was founded in the 19th century as a small fortress and later became a Soviet city, which is why the centre has wide boulevards, long straight streets and many shaded parks. Its name was Frunze for much of the Soviet period.
3. 3Ala-Too Square is the ceremonial heart of the city, and nearby you find the State History Museum and a large number of statues and monuments from different eras.
4. 4Kyrgyz and Russian are both widely spoken, and Russian is the language you will hear most often in daily life in the capital. Signs are often in both languages.
5. 5Food here draws on nomadic traditions. Beshbarmak, noodles with boiled meat, is the best known dish, and you will also see lagman noodles, samsa pastries, and fermented drinks such as kymyz made from mare's milk.
6. 6Osh Bazaar is the city's biggest and busiest market, with stalls of fruit, dried goods, spices, bread and household items. It is a good place to see how local people shop.

Tips for a first visit

• Marshrutkas, the shared minibuses, run on numbered routes across the city and are the usual way locals get around. Taxis booked through a phone app are also common and easy for visitors.
• Carry some cash in the local currency, the som, because small shops, markets and many cafes prefer it. Cards are accepted in larger hotels, restaurants and shops.
• Try fresh bread from a bakery, a bowl of lagman and a pot of tea in a chaikhana, a traditional tea house. Dining is generally relaxed and unhurried.
• Watch your step on pavements, where open drainage channels and uneven slabs are common. Take a little care at night in poorly lit streets.
• Greet people with a handshake or a nod, and take your shoes off when entering a home. If you are offered tea or bread, accepting it is polite.
• Learn a few Russian or Kyrgyz words. Even simple greetings and thanks are appreciated, since English is not widely spoken outside hotels and a few cafes.

When to go

Late spring and early autumn are the most pleasant times, with warm days, green parks and clear views of the mountains. Summer is hot in the city, though it is the best time for trips into the mountains. Winters are cold with some snow, and the air can be hazy, but the city is quiet and the nearby ski areas are open.

From the airport

Bishkek is served by Manas International Airport, which lies roughly 25 to 30 kilometres north-west of the centre. The usual way into town is by taxi, which takes about 30 to 45 minutes depending on traffic. Public buses and minibuses also run from the area around the airport towards the city, though they are slower and less simple with luggage.