Stunning Tourist Attractions to Visit and Things to Do in Bishkek
Bishkek is the national capital city of Kyrgyzstan. The city was known as Pishpek and Frunze in earlier times. When Kyrgyzstan was under Soviet rule, the city was the center of the Chuy region. You can still many Soviet buildings during Bishkek sightseeing. Many of these buildings have been developed as prominent places to visit in Bishkek for tourists. You should head towards Ala Too Square to see architecture from the Soviet era. There are also many buildings built post-soviet era but in the same style of architecture among things to see in Bishkek. You should also explore Soviet street art when you visit Bishkek. The street mosaics reflect many aspects of the Soviet revolution and Soviet rule in the region. The Path of Enlightenment mosaic created by Satar Aitev in 1978 is one of the best Bishkek tourist attractions of Soviet street art.
Going further back in history, this city used to be an important stop on the famed Silk Road. At times when this land was known as Balasagun, people embarked on Bishkek travel for its markets. One remnant of those times is the Osh Bazaar and which is still one of the most popular Bishkek tourist places. You can find all sorts of local items at this market. It is also a great place to enjoy street food during Bishkek tourism. Another major historical monument to visit among Bishkek tourist attractions is the Burana Tower. This tower is located a little outside the city and is a fascinating reminder of the prosperous 9th-century city which once stood on this land. There are many other historical and cultural Bishkek attractions which have been listed in the sections below.
If you are looking for outdoor things to do in Bishkek, you should head to Ala Archa National Park. The park has several hiking trails to explore nature. Another great hiking destination near the city is Konorchek Canyon. It is a completely different terrain, but still has some amazing scenery to explore among the beautiful things to see in Bishkek.
Table of Contents
Explore The Top Top Tourist Attractions of Bishkek in 2 Days
This Bishkek itinerary will help you navigate the best attractions of the city within a day. The places in this list are picked based on their popularity as Bishkek attractions.
Day 1
1. Kyrgyz State Circus
The building is admired as an example of Soviet Modernism architecture, but it is still a circus. You have to check for shows around your date of visit, but do attend one when you are there. It is an experience with fun things to do in Bishkek and you would not want to miss out on it. You would need about an hour to explore the building and the show.
2. Victory Square
This square was built in 1984 to honor the heroes of the second world war. It is a well-known monument among places to visit in Bishkek. Keep 15 to 20 minutes to admire this monument.
3. Bishkek Central Mosque
The mosque is yet another example of Soviet-style architecture but was built much after the fall of the Soviet Union. It is a grand structure spread over 7500 square meters. It will take you an hour to explore it.
4. Ala-Too Square
This square is the largest in the city and among prominent Bishkek tourist attractions. The square is also surrounded by several important things to see in Bishkek. You should keep 20 to 30 minutes for this square.
5. State History Museum
The museum tells you the story of the region from the early historic period to soviet rule to post-independence. It is one of the most important Bishkek attractions to visit for understanding the country and its culture. You will need about an hour to explore it.
6. Bishkek Lenin Statue
The Statue of Lenin was in Bishkek during Soviet rule and was moved to its present location post-independence. You won’t need more than 10 to 15 minutes for this statue.
7. Kyrgyz National Museum of Fine Arts
The museum houses many works of fine art from different time periods. The prime focus is one work of art created by Kyrgyz artists or created in Kyrgyzstan. It is a valuable addition to Bishkek itinerary for those who admire and understand art. You would need about an hour to explore the various exhibits in this museum.
Day 2
1. Ala Archa National Park
This National Park is only 30 minutes away from the city by car. It is a blissful attraction among Bishkek tourist places for those who enjoy hiking and exploring nature. You should keep 3 hours at least to enjoy the national park. Although, if you so choose, you can spend almost the entire day hiking in this national park.
2. Burana Tower
This tower is one of the last remnants of the 9th-century city of Balasagun. It was an important stop on the famous silk road and hence among the important historical places to visit in Bishkek. You would need about an hour for this historical monument.
3. Osh Bazaar
The Osh Bazaar is another remnant from the Silk Road which you can explore among Bishkek attractions. It is very popular among locals as well as tourists for shopping and is the best place to look for souvenirs. You should keep 1 hour to explore the market or however long it takes you to enjoy shopping.
If you plan to stay in the city for more than 2 days, you can check out the section below for an exhaustive list of places to visit and things to do in Bishkek.
Things to do in Bishkek
Monuments, Museums & Historical Places to Visit in Bishkek
- Burana Tower
- State History Museum
- Vladamir Lenin Statue
- Manas Statue
- National Museum of Fine Arts
- MV Frunze Museum
- White House
- Bishkek Central Mosque
- Zoological Museum
- Kurmanzhan Datka Statue
- Dom Muzey Chingiza Aytmatova House Museum
- Palace of Weddings
- Victory Square
- State Opera & Ballet Theatre
Nature & Wildlife Tourist Spots in Bishkek
- Ala Archa National Park
- Altyn Arashan National Reserve
- Vodokhranilishche Lake
- Konorchek Canyon
Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Spots in Bishkek
- Cosmopark
- Panfilov Park
- Oak Park
- Kyrgyz State Circus
Shopping in Bishkek
- Osh Bazaar
- Dordoy Bazaar
- Asia Mall
- Bishkek Park
- Red Center
- Tsum Center
- Ak Emir Bazaar
Offbeat Places, Tours, & Adventures in Bishkek
- Hiking
- Swimming
Sightseeing in Bishkek
- Ala Too Square
- Victory Square
- Botanicheskiy Sad
- Victory Park
Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Bishkek
- Chaikana Navat
- Cafe Faiza
- United Kitchens
- Chaikana Jalalabad
- Frunze
- Supara
- Attila Steak House
- Vkus Vostoka
- Okean
- Kyrgyzbaidzyn Samsa
- Cafe Sierra
- Vinoteka
- Pur Pur
- Arzu
- Bar Na Kirshe
- Furusato
How to Reach Bishkek?
By Air
Manas International Airport is the easiest option for Bishkek travel, located just 25 minutes away from the city. You can get direct flights to visit Bishkek from Moscow, Almaty, Dushanbe, Isfana, Osh, Dubai, Mashhad, Tehran, Delhi, St. Petersburg, Istanbul, and many more cities in Europe and Asia. You will need to get a cab to reach any of the places to visit in Bishkek from the Airport. You be careful of unofficial taxi drivers at the airport. It is better to stick to officially marked taxis only. You can also pre-book your drive for Bishkek sightseeing which includes airport pick-up. There are also a few companies that provide English-speaking drivers, which would be convenient for you during Bishkek tourism.
By Road
You can get trains to visit Bishkek from Moscow twice a week. There are also many trains running locally within Kyrgyzstan. You can also use buses to travel within Kyrgyzstan. If you are traveling by road, you should look for route A365 for Bishkek travel. There are also smaller highways and routes which will lead you to Bishkek, but route A365 is the major route to the city.
By Water
Being a landlocked city, there are no direct water routes to visit Bishkek.
Image Reference
- Kyrgyz State Circus – Matthias Buehler / Flickr
- Victory Square – Ninara / Flickr
- Bishkek Central Mosque – Makalu / PixaBay
- Ala Too Square – Beth / Flickr
- State History Museum – V. L. / Flickr
- Bishkek Lenin Statue – Ninara / Flickr
- Kyrgyz National Museum of Fine Arts – Adam Harangozó / Wikimedia Commons
- Ala Archa National Park – Iskender Ermekov / PixaBay
- Burana Tower – Makalu / PixaBay
- Osh Bazaar – Matthias Buehler / Flickr
