Few cities we’ve visited compare to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. At first glance, the city may not seem to have a lot to offer travelers; however, for those who linger find out Bishkek (Бишкек) has some fascinating attractions, top notch International food and cafes, tantalizing traditional Kyrgyz cuisine, relaxing parks, imposing monuments and plenty of quirky charms that will keep you coming back for more from the capital city of Kyrgyzstan (Кыргызстан – Киргизия)

In our Bishkek city guide we cover some of the best restaurants, museums, parks and attractions in the city as well as nightlife and other attractions and activities.

15 things to do in Bishkek City Guide:

1) Ala-Too Square (Ала-тоо аянты – Площадь Ала-Тоо)
2) State Historical Museum
3) Osh Bazaar (Ош базары)
4) Abandoned Casino
5) Victory Monument
6) Erkindik Park and eating gourmet ice cream
7) Kyrgyzstan Bath House at Zhirgal Banya
8) Rollerskating rink retro experience
9) Kyrgyz National Opera and Ballet Theatre of Abdylas Maldybayev
10) Bishkek Cafes
11) Hiking in Bishkek with Trekking Union
12) Kyrgyz traditional food and cuisine of Kyrgyzstan and International food scene in Bishkek
13) Craft Beer Scene
14) Oak Park
15) Panfilov Park (Панфилов көчөсү – улица Панфилова)

Our visit Bishkek travel guide documentary covers some of the top attractions including a food guide (best restaurants and street food), top museums and the city by day. We also cover off-the-beaten-path activities you won’t find in a typical Bishkek tourism brochure or Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan city tour.

15 things to do in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan Travel Guide Video Transcript:

Greetings from Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan! Hello from Central Asia. It is our first time here and we are going to be spending a few days here in the capital. So we’re going to take you on a little tour and show you fifteen things to do around Bishkek.

First up, we visited Ala-Too Square, which is the central plaza in Bishkek. While there isn’t much to do here, it’s one of the city’s major landmarks, plus they also have lots of benches and water fountains where you can take a quick break. From there, we crossed the street and made our way over to the State Historical Museum.

Another place you’ll want to visit in Bishkek is the Osh Bazaar. It may not be the biggest in Central Asia, but it’s a bustling maze where you could easily spend a few hours. We had no problems at the market, but we were warned by several locals to ignore the fake police who may ask to see documents and camera permits. So keep that in mind if you encounter them!

It is shopping time. Next up we’re at the Osh bazaar and you can find everything here. We’re seen fresh produce, snacks, chocolates, clothes. Right behind me we have an entire aisle dedicated to dry cheese balls.

Directly across from the abandoned casino, you’ll find Victory monument which was built to commemorate the 40th anniversary of World War 2. The three curved arcs represent a yurt, and the sculpture of a woman standing near the eternal flame is meant to symbolize her waiting for her husband and sons to return from the war.

We missed the start of opera and ballet season by just a few days, however, if you’re in the city at the right time.

And if you’re craving a short escape from Bishkek, you can always plan a day hike to the nearby mountains with the Trekking Union.

As far as food goes, there’s plenty to sample ranging from grilled meats to dumplings, and noodles to mixed rice, plus there was one drink that really left an impression on us.

With our time in Bishkek winding down, we made a visit to Oak Park which is full of sculptures, and then we also visited nearby Panfilov Park.

And that’s a wrap for our trip to Bishkek. As you can probably tell from this video, this city is the kind of place that you experience as opposed to ticking off attractions, so it ended up being a fairly relaxing trip after a few busy weeks of travel around Kyrgyzstan. As always, if you have any suggestions of things to do in Bishkek, feel free to share your tips with fellow travellers in the comments section below. See you next time!

This is part of our Travel in Kyrgyzstan video series showcasing Kyrgyz food, Kyrgyz culture and Kyrgyz cuisine.

Music in this video courtesy of Audio Network