Bishkek is Kyrgyzstan’s capital and home to nearly a million residents.  Situated along the Chui River, Bishkek sits on a strategic historic and modern day trading route.  Bishkek contrasts to the rural expanse surrounding it as a hotbed of new businesses and organizations, and is possibly the most progressive and forward-looking place in Central Asia.  One can easily tour the city’s monuments by foot in a day.  By car, climbing in Ala-Archa gorge is an hour, vacationing on Lake Yssyk-Kol is five, the Torugart Pass on to China is eight and southern Osh is ten hours away. In winter season 12 hours, sometimes more.

Main attractions

Museums
Historical Museum [Formerly “Lenin Museum”] (Ala-Too Square; Tue-Sun 10–15:00): Stones with rock paintings from Saimaluu-Tash; armor and everyday objects dating from the Bronze Age; excavated nomadic adornments dating from 1^st to the 5^th centuries (AD); Turkic stone culture collection; Talas stones with runic lettering; ceramic, glass and metal articles; numerous ancient coins. Rich ethnographic collections of objects from the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries including felt, wool, chiy, leather and wood from Kyrgyz artisans; Kyrgyz embroidery, weavings, national dress, original female adornments and highly artistic horse harness supplies.

The Museum of Fine Arts (196 Sovietskaya St; Tue-Sun 9-17:00): Dedicated to Kyrgyz folk and applied art and Russian and Soviet art, the museum began as the State Picture Gallery and was located in the St Nicholas Church in Oak Park. The church now houses the Gallery of the Artists Union. The building was constructed in 1974 as one of the projects in the grand scheme for improving the capital and features a yurt and permanent shyrdaks and other traditional craft exhibition. The full collection numbers some 17,500 works. There are also several galleries of paintings from the soviet period, replicas of Egyptian, Greek and classical Western sculptures and a collection of linocuts based on the Manas epic by Hertzen.

The Open Air Sculpture Museum (346 Frunze St; Tue-Fri 9-17:00, Sat-Sun 9-17:00): Inaugurated in 1984 to mark the 60^th Anniversary of the Kyrgyz Republic, sculptors from all over the Soviet Union submitted pieces for the theme of “Peace and Labour”.

Frunze Museum:The museum traces the life and career of Mikhail Frunze and is purported to incorporate the actual house where he was born and brought up (though some suspect this may not be the exact house). There is an exhibition of the achievements of the city and “Kirgizia” during the Soviet period.


Monuments
Erkindik (Ala-Too Square): Statue of Freedom. Unveiled in 1999 to commemorate the eighth year of independence, this represents a Kyrgyz woman holding a flame-ringed tunduk.

Martyrs of the Revolution (Prospect Chui-Sovietskaya): Urkuya Salieva (1910—1934), and early socialist organizer in Southern Kyrgyzstan — apparently murdered by “rich peasants.”

Victory Monument (Victory Square): completed in 1984, a woman stands over the eternal flame, waiting for her son or husband who will not return home from the Great Patriotic War. A wistful reflection on the great cost of victory.

Toktogul Satylganov (Sovietskaya): South of the Opera and Ballet Theatre. The poet, singer and instrumentalist lived from 1864 until 1933.

The Manas Sculptural Complex (Philharmonia): The legendary hero Manas on his magical horse Ak-Kula slaying a dragon. Below him are his wife Kanykei and the wise counsellor Bakai. Busts of several 20^th century manaschy are nearby.

The Official State Flagpole (City Square): The guard is changed every day on the hour from 07:00 till 18:00.


Parks
Bishkek holds more trees per capita than any other Central Asian city and it isn’t always clear where one park ends and the next begins. People can be found ambling all over the pleasant city.

Panfilov Park (behind the White House): This was once called Red Star Park because of the pattern made by its network of pathways, but renamed in honour of the war hero whose statue can be found at the Eastern end of the park. The park is filled with amusement rides for children and a small Ferris wheel.

Oak Park (between Prospect Chui and Abdumomunova west of Sovietskaya): This began as an oak grove planted by Alexei Fetisov in 1890.

Kemal Ataturk Park (on Akhunbaeva between Molodezhnaya and Maldybaeva St.): This park used to be called Drujba (Friendship) Park but was renamed in honour of the founder of modern Turkey. Inside is a memorial to fallen soldiers of the Afghanistan war.

Prospect Erkindik (Railway Station down to Jibek Jolu Prospect): Now called Prospect Erkindik – (Freedom Avenue) it was originally named «the Boulevard» in 1902. In 1924 it was renamed as «Komsolmolskaya», and later as «Prospect Dzerzhinsky». The main part of the street marks a promenade under the silver poplars planted in 1883 over a filled-in streambed. It is a favourite spot to simply stroll in the evenings and weekends. The street is flanked by old buildings and a number of monuments.

Molodaya Gvardia (Railway line to the Northern edge of the city): Once a streambed filled by Army engineers and converted to a boulevard with a number of monuments.

Theatres and music
Performances often start at 5:00pm, but in the height of the season there may be only one or two performances a week. Excluding special shows, tickets are available at the door.

The Opera and Ballet Theatre named after Abdylas Maldybaev (167, Abdyrahmanova St.; Tel.: 661548; Tickets 50-300 soms): The theatre has resident opera and ballet companies with occasional guest companies. Season is usually autumn to spring but there are often performances other times of the year as well.

Kyrgyz Drama Theatre (273, Panfilov St., behind the Government House; Tel.: 665802, 216958; hours: 8:00-20:00 in summer; Tickets 20-200 soms): The resident company performs a range of local and international plays – performances are in Kyrgyz or Russian.

Russian Drama Theatre (122, Tynystanova St. – Oak Park; Tel.: 662032, 621571; hours: Mon-Sun, 10:00-18:00; Tickets 30-100): A range of local and international plays in Russian.

Bishkek City Drama Theatre (Chernyshevsky Library bet Theatre of Opera and Ballet and Russian Drama Theatre): A small, intimate, theatre with a company performing a range of local and international plays – performances are in Kyrgyz or Russian and often international.

Puppet Theatre (Sovietskaya-Michurina): Performances Sundays at 11:00am.

Kyrgyz State Philharmonic (253, Chui Prospect; Tel.: 212262, 212235; hours: 17:00-19:00 in summer; Tickets: 70-100 soms or 3,000 soms for special performances): There are two concert halls featuring classical, traditional Kyrgyz, and pop concerts and a variety of shows.

The Conservatory (115, Jantosheva St., Tel.: 479542): Concerts by students and professors.


Urban Transport

Bishkek is served by taxis, buses and trolleybuses. Public transport is cheap and generally reliable. Bishkek is an easy, inexpensive city to get around it. It is on a grid and relatively small capital city, so navigating on foot or by car is easy. The mountains to the south are nearly always in view. Bishkek is wide and flat, and it's "center" is regarded as most interestingly large percentage of the overall city, usually including the area of Sovietskaya to Manas several blocks on either side of Chui. Public transportation (mini-buses and trolleybuses) usually runs from 5:30 or 6:00 in the morning till 9:00 or 9:30 at night. Taxis can be found in all major towns. They are readily available and cheap. Travelers must agree a fare in advance, and not share taxis with strangers. As many of the street names have changed since independence, it is also advisable to ascertain both the old and the new street names when asking directions. It is best to give a landmark that is close to your destination, and when going to restaurants, mentioning the intersection of two streets (like Chui-Turusbekova) is better than saying "The Metro pub". Car hire is not available. Cars with a driver can be hired in travel agencies by the trip, by the hour or by the day or week. A number of taxi calling services exists (order by phone at any time).

152 – Super Taxi
156 – Express Taxi
188 – Taxi Salam

Communications

Internet and E-mail Access
Internet access is very common in Bishkek.

Telephone
The country code is 996. International calls can be made from telephone offices (usually found attached to a post office) or from card phones (there are some on the streets in Bishkek, Osh, Karakol and Naryn). They can also be made from some hotels, but need to be arranged through reception or the floor attendant. Many Internet cafes offer IP calls much cheaper than traditional calling. Local calls within the city are free of charge if made from private telephones; hotels sometimes levy a small charge. To place local calls do not dial an area code. For example, in Bishkek a telephone number will consist of six digits: 55-55-55 (it is usually written in this way with dashes).
Street phones: Particularly in Bishkek, both coin and card operated telephones are abundant on the streets. The coin itself is called a "zheton" and is sold in newspaper-stands and kiosks. It costs 2 to 3 soms (depending on whom you buy it from) but makes only local calls with a pretty scratchy connection. To place a call with a zheton, first place the call, next listen for the receiver to be picked up and then insert the zheton. Card phones called "taxophone" can be used to make both local and long distance calls. Cards can be for 50, 100, 200 and 400 units. Prices for cards with different number of units are different and are set by Kyrgyz Telecom. Some kiosk vendors might add a small markup, but the general rule is that more units are on the card, the less the cost per unit.

Central Post and Call Office: (96 Chui Prospect; Tel.: 626045, 662561; Mon-Sat, 7-20:00; Sat and holidays 8-19:00): Variety of newspapers and magazines, phone, Internet, printing, document copying and money transfer.


Shopping

Osh and Alamedin bazaars are both popular for food and handicrafts. The Art Gallery sells paintings and traditional Kyrgyz products (particularly popular are embroidered Kyrgyz felt hats [kalpak], felt carpets and chess sets with traditional Kyrgyz figures). Some souvenir shopping also can be done in TSUM (city center just across the main post office). TSUM is the biggest supermarket in Bishkek and offers everything from toiletries to new electronics. Souvenirs are located on the fourth level (some negotiation is expected). Beta Stores is on Chui Ave / Isanova St. intersection and Europa supermarket (Pravda St. / Toktogula St., 5 minutes walk from TSUM) also have souvenirs but they can be overpriced.