Field guide

Kyrgyzstan

Asia • Central AsiaBishkekKyrgyzstani som (KGS) · с

KG, Киргизия, Kyrgyz Republic, Кыргыз Республикасы, Kyrgyz Respublikasy

This page stitches together our stored feeds—expect warm, human-readable snippets rather than dry data tables.

Snapshot metadata

Last generated December 21, 2025 at 11:34 PM

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Names & aliases

KyrgyzstanKyrgyz RepublicKGКиргизияКыргыз РеспубликасыKyrgyz Respublikasy

Quick facts

Need-to-know at a glance

Capital

Bishkek

Currency

Kyrgyzstani som (KGS) · с

Languages

Kyrgyz, Russian

Population

7,281,800

Area

199,951 km²

Calling code

+996

Driving side

Right-hand

Pre-trip intel

Safety & entry

Advisories and border basics from our stored feeds.

Safety outlook

Kyrgyzstan - Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions

Reissued after periodic review with edits to the area of higher risk in the border region with Tajikistan. Exercise normal precautions in the Kyrgyz Republic.  Some areas have increased risk.  Read the entire Travel Advisory. Exercise increased caution in: The border region with Tajikistan. Read the country information page for additional information on travel to the Kyrgyz Republic. If you decide to travel to the Kyrgyz Republic: Monitor local media for breaking events and be prepared to adjust your plans. Keep travel documents up to date and easily accessible.Have evacuation plans that do not rely on U.S. government assistance. ·Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program ( STEP ) to receive messages and Alerts  from the U.S. Embassy to make it easier to locate you in an emergency. Review the Crime and Safety Report for the Kyrgyz Republic. Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations.  Review the Traveler’s Checklist . Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel. We highly recommend that you buy insurance before you travel. Check with your travel insurance provider about evacuation assistance, medical insurance, and trip cancellation coverage. Border Region with Tajikistan – Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution Exercise increased caution to areas within approximately 30 kilometers of the border with Tajikistan.  The March 13, 2025, signing and subsequent ratifying of a bilateral agreement between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have facilitated the resumption of cross-border movement, but the situation remains fluid.  As of March 2025, two checkpoints on the border are open for transit.  There are no travel restrictions for Americans crossing the border.  However, visitors to the Batken region (especially the Batken and Leilek districts) should exercise caution and remain vigilant due to a recent history of border clashes. U.S. government employees working in the Kyrgyz Republic are restricted from traveling to the Batken province without prior authorization from the U.S. Embassy in Bishkek.  (Updated April 21, 2025 at 12:00 AM)

The border region with Tajikistan.
Monitor local media for breaking events and be prepared to adjust your plans.
Keep travel documents up to date and easily accessible.Have evacuation plans that do not rely on U.S. government assistance.
·Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program ( STEP ) to receive messages and Alerts from the U.S. Embassy to make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
Review the Crime and Safety Report for the Kyrgyz Republic.
Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist .

Full advisory

Source: U.S. Department of State

Entry & Docs

Visas, customs & paperwork

According to the map, all citizens traveling from either Western Sahara or Kosovo will be refused entry into . 2021-11-07 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.[http://evisa.e-gov.kg/] Evisa holders must arrive via Manas International Airport, Osh International Airport or the Ak-jol checkpoint on the Kyrgyzstan-Kazakhstan border. Citizens of 45 countries: [http://www.kgembassy.org/en/consular-issues/applying-for-a-visa/general-visa-information/] December 2020 can enter Kyrgystan without a visa for 60 days. Citizens of 20 other countries can get the visa at the Manas airport in Bishkek upon arrival: [http://www.kgembassy.org/en/consular-issues/applying-for-a-visa/general-visa-information/] December 2020

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.[http://evisa.e-gov.kg/] Evisa holders must arrive via Manas International Airport, Osh International Airport or the Ak-jol checkpoint on the Kyrgyzstan-Kazakhstan border.

Source: Wikivoyage

On the ground

Getting around & connectivity

Practical notes from Wikivoyage sections.

Transport

Getting around

Trains to Bishkek depart from Moscow and other stations in Russia a few times a week (3714 km, trip takes more than 3 days). This train goes through western Kazakhstan (Kazakh transit visa is required for those who need it), and is useful as such, as you can use it to get Turkestan or Aral. Details can be found at poezda.net [http://www.poezda.net/en/index] or rzd.ru [http://pass.rzd.ru/] (you can also buy the tickets on the latter). The journey all the way from Moscow cost around 150€ in the third class. On the train it is forbidden to carry portable stove fuel cans.

Trains to Bishkek depart from Moscow and other stations in Russia a few times a week (3714 km, trip takes more than 3 days). This train goes through western Kazakhstan (Kazakh transit visa is required for those who need it), and is useful as such, as you can use it to get Turkestan or Aral. Details can be found at poezda.net [http://www.poezda.net/en/index] or rzd.ru [http://pass.rzd.ru/] (you can also buy the tickets on the latter). The journey all the way from Moscow cost around 150€ in the third class. On the train it is forbidden to carry portable stove fuel cans.

Source: Wikivoyage

Connectivity

Wi-Fi, SIMs & staying online

See the Connect section of the Bishkek article. 41 75 7 Central Asia

See the Connect section of the Bishkek article.

Source: Wikivoyage

Local wisdom

Etiquette, tipping & staying well

Etiquette & respect

Kyrgyzstan has a wide mix of ethnic groups and traditional cultures, with the Kyrgyz being the majority group. It is considered there are 40 clans that represent the 40 rays symbolized by the 40-rayed sun on its national flag. The traditional poem is the Epic of Manas, the name of the epic's eponymous hero, and is longer with 500,000 lines. The Kyrgyz share close cultural ties with the Kazakhs, being a traditionally nomadic people living on horseback, and with the tradition of hunting with eagles and carpet weaving.

Kyrgyzstan has a wide mix of ethnic groups and traditional cultures, with the Kyrgyz being the majority group. It is considered there are 40 clans that represent the 40 rays symbolized by the 40-rayed sun on its national flag. The traditional poem is the Epic of Manas, the name of the epic's eponymous hero, and is longer with 500,000 lines. The Kyrgyz share close cultural ties with the Kazakhs, being a traditionally nomadic people living on horseback, and with the tradition of hunting with eagles and carpet weaving.

Source: Wikivoyage

Tipping guidance

No summary available.

Needs review

No bullet notes stored.

Source: Wikivoyage

Health & wellness

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. Healthcare in Kyrgyzstan is generally of low quality, and treatment is not up to Western standards even at private clinics. Kyrgyz people who can afford it will seek treatment in Russia (or in Western Europe), rather than Kyrgyzstan, for most procedures. If you need treatment, your best chance is to evacuate to a larger country with better facilities and medical staff. It is highly recommended that you obtain travel insurance that covers medical costs and the costs of emergency evacuation before traveling to Kyrgyzstan. Food and drinking water safety vary substantially by region. Water is mostly potable, especially in the mountains where it comes from clean rivers—just ask the locals. Note that in some villages they don't have electricity all the day. Therefore restaurants there might serve you quick-heated, pre-cooked meals or the meat was not stored in a fridge before it was prepared. The latter can cause food poisoning or parasite-borne illnesses because they don't always cook the meat long enough. Therefore try to eat only meals that were prepared the same day. Kyrgyz claim the national drink, Kumys, is extremely healthy and will cure you of innumerable ailments. However, it is not recommended you rely on it to cure you of anything.

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.
Healthcare in Kyrgyzstan is generally of low quality, and treatment is not up to Western standards even at private clinics. Kyrgyz people who can afford it will seek treatment in Russia (or in Western Europe), rather than Kyrgyzstan, for most procedures. If you need treatment, your best chance is to evacuate to a larger country with better facilities and medical staff. It is highly recommended that you obtain travel insurance that covers medical costs and the costs of emergency evacuation before traveling to Kyrgyzstan.
Food and drinking water safety vary substantially by region. Water is mostly potable, especially in the mountains where it comes from clean rivers—just ask the locals.
Note that in some villages they don't have electricity all the day. Therefore restaurants there might serve you quick-heated, pre-cooked meals or the meat was not stored in a fridge before it was prepared. The latter can cause food poisoning or parasite-borne illnesses because they don't always cook the meat long enough. Therefore try to eat only meals that were prepared the same day.
Kyrgyz claim the national drink, Kumys, is extremely healthy and will cure you of innumerable ailments. However, it is not recommended you rely on it to cure you of anything.

Source: Wikivoyage

Scams & street smarts

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. Fights and assaults generally only focus around nightclubs and bars, just as in any other large city. There is to date no indication that Bishkek is particularly dangerous to foreigners. As for other cities in the Kyrgyz Republic, there is little evidence. Corruption is a serious issue in Kyrgyzstan, and the locals are ultimately convinced that the police are not to be trusted. In the past there have been occasional reports of corrupt policemen searching tourists' bags in order to steal money. These incidents should be reported to the embassy. Since citizens of many countries do not need a visa anymore, tourists cannot legally be bothered by corrupt policemen stating that something is wrong with their visa or registration. Bride kidnappings, or Ala Kachuu, are a common and traditional practice in Kyrgyzstan's countryside, whereby a woman is kidnapped and forced to get married. In 2007, the American Embassy reported that two American women were bride kidnapped in remote areas of Kyrgyzstan. The political situation can deteriorate from time to time with mass protests and even stand-off with weapons by former presidents. It is best to be up to date about the current situation and avoid being near any such tensions, especially in Bishkek. Also, near Tajikistan there are some territorial struggles where parts of Tajikistan lie within the Kyrgys territory (see map), sometimes causing armed conflict between the two countries, especially around those regions (southwest of Osh) — best to also avoid these minor regions.

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.
Fights and assaults generally only focus around nightclubs and bars, just as in any other large city. There is to date no indication that Bishkek is particularly dangerous to foreigners. As for other cities in the Kyrgyz Republic, there is little evidence.
Corruption is a serious issue in Kyrgyzstan, and the locals are ultimately convinced that the police are not to be trusted. In the past there have been occasional reports of corrupt policemen searching tourists' bags in order to steal money. These incidents should be reported to the embassy. Since citizens of many countries do not need a visa anymore, tourists cannot legally be bothered by corrupt policemen stating that something is wrong with their visa or registration.
Bride kidnappings, or Ala Kachuu, are a common and traditional practice in Kyrgyzstan's countryside, whereby a woman is kidnapped and forced to get married. In 2007, the American Embassy reported that two American women were bride kidnapped in remote areas of Kyrgyzstan.
The political situation can deteriorate from time to time with mass protests and even stand-off with weapons by former presidents. It is best to be up to date about the current situation and avoid being near any such tensions, especially in Bishkek. Also, near Tajikistan there are some territorial struggles where parts of Tajikistan lie within the Kyrgys territory (see map), sometimes causing armed conflict between the two countries, especially around those regions (southwest of Osh) — best to also avoid these minor regions.

Source: Wikivoyage

Tempo & rhythm

Climate & timezones

Ground truth from Open-Meteo, REST Countries, and webcams.

Climate (Capital proxy)

MayJunJulAugSep

Jan

-4°C

38 mm

Feb

-2°C

41 mm

Mar

2°C

92 mm

Apr

9°C

114 mm

May

15°C

113 mm

Jun

20°C

54 mm

Jul

24°C

21 mm

Aug

22°C

15 mm

Sep

17°C

29 mm

Oct

9°C

53 mm

Nov

3°C

55 mm

Dec

-3°C

43 mm

Source: Open-Meteo Climate

Timezones

UTC offsets

UTC+06:00

Webcam IANA zones

Asia/Bishkek1 cams

Source: REST Countries

Webcam aggregate: Webcam DB aggregates(prisma://webcams)

Practicalities

Money & essentials

Money & costs

GDP per capita: $2,420.185 · 2024

GDP (PPP): $8,012.455 · 2024

Inflation: 10.8% · 2023

Currency: Kyrgyzstani som (KGS) · с

Source: World Bank GDP per capita

Power & plugs

View plug reference for Kyrgyzstan

Source: WorldStandards (plugs)

Highlights

Top places to explore

01
Issyk Kul
— The gateway to lake. A small, dying industrial centre on the western shore, and a former fishing town, with a train service from Bishkek through a beautiful passant Chui Valley.
02
Song Kul
— A city in the Tian Shan, near Lake , the gateway to the entire southeastern region, its ruins, mountains, and high alpine lakes.

Source: Wikivoyage

Cams