Kyrgyzstan Travel Guide

Citizens of all countries, including Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, may apply for tourism, business and group tourist types of visa for 30 or 90 days online through the Kyrgyz Republic eVisa system. Evisa holders must arrive via Manas International Airport, Osh International Airport or the Ak-jol checkpoint on the Kyrgyzstan-Kazakhstan border.

The national currency is the Kyrgyzstani som (written as 'сом' in the Kyrgyz Cyrillic alphabet or sometimes abbreviated as с). The ISO international symbolisation is KGS. Wikivoyage articles will use som to denote the currency.

By bus or marshrutka

Minibuses, called marshrutka, in Kyrgyzstan are basically cargo vans (like Mercedes Sprinter) converted into buses with windows and seats. They are amazingly inexpensive and congregate at every village center or bus station. The prices for them are set and straightforward, but sometimes they will not leave until full. However, nowadays it seems that timetable are much more reliable and enforced than in the past.

The official languages of Kyrgyzstan are Russian and Kyrgyz, which is closely related to Uzbek, Kazakh, and Turkish. Kyrgyz is more common in rural areas whereas Russian is the urban language of choice, and it's not uncommon to meet ethnic Kyrgyz people in Bishkek who cannot speak Kyrgyz. English, while becoming more popular, is still rarely spoken, so in order to effectively communicate one must at the very least learn a few basic words (yes, no, please, thank you, etc.) in Russian or Kyrgyz, d…

Kyrgyzstan is in general a safe country for tourists. However, petty street crime, such as pickpocketing or muggings, has increased over the past decade as of 2022, especially at night. It is recommended that you do not walk around at night alone, especially in downtown areas of Bishkek.

]] Your biggest risk in Kyrgyzstan are car wrecks and accidents while crossing the street, or falling into a hole in the sidewalk. You should also exercise caution around stray animals and avoid approaching dogs. If dogs get too close, (pretend to) pick up a rock—most will understand this gesture and shy away. Please read the general article on Aggressive dogs how to handle situations correctly.

Telephone

Kyrgyzstan's country code is +996. The three major mobile carriers are Beeline, O! and Megacom. The rule of thumb is: O! works best in the north (Bishkek and vicinity), Megacom works best in the south (Osh and vicinity), and Beeline works best in the mountains. SIM cards are easily purchased in shops, hotels, or even on the street etc. As of 2026, expect to pay 230 soms for 50 GB and 330 soms for unlimited databut to get the best rate, head to an official store located in any dec…

Western norms of respect are standard. Though nominally a Muslim country the Kyrgyz people are highly westernized. No special dress codes are in effect. Although standards of dress in Bishkek are Western and often revealing, in the south of the country women should dress more conservatively or risk attracting unwanted male attention. Evenings can be charged as alcohol intoxication can be quite prevalent at this time. Proceed with caution.