Close-up of an ancient carved stone face on a rounded rock.

Bishkek City Tour: Culture, Cuisine & Local Life

Four glasses of creamy beverages and one traditional bowl of drink, possibly tea or coffee, with foam or whipped topping, on a transparent background.
Front view of a neoclassical building with large white columns, statues on the roof, and flags on the columns. There are people walking and cars parked nearby.

We begin our day at the cozy café “Kölökö”, where you’ll enjoy a unique local pairing — freshly brewed coffee with kurut, a traditional salty dried yogurt snack you won’t find anywhere else.

A large red flag with a yellow sun and 40 rays flying in front of a white government building, with a statue of a historical figure on a tall pedestal and a parking lot with several cars in the foreground.

Our journey continues to the heart of Bishkek, Ala-Too Square, where modern city life meets rich Soviet and Kyrgyz history. We visit there Gapar Aitiev National Museum, and The National Museum of Kyrgyzstan.

Next, we dive into the most colorful and vibrant part of the city — the Osh Bazaar. Here, you can shop for everything from spices and textiles to souvenirs and handmade goods at the lowest prices in town. A true taste of everyday local life.

A market stall selling a variety of nuts, dried fruits, and seeds arranged in bins at an outdoor market.

We’ll enjoy lunch at “Navat”, a restaurant famous for its warm atmosphere and delicious selection of Kyrgyz and Central Asian cuisine that will delight your taste buds.

Colorful indoor restaurant with patterned sofas, tables with decorative covers, and vibrant pillows, adorned with multiple hanging chandeliers and lush indoor plants.

In the afternoon, we visit the Chingiz Aitmatov House Museum, dedicated to the world-renowned Kyrgyz writer whose books have been translated into more than 150 languages. Discover the life and legacy of a literary legend who put Kyrgyzstan on the world’s cultural map.

A vintage-style living room with a grand piano, ornate wooden furniture, framed photographs, and patterned curtains.

Then we explore the home of one of Kyrgyzstan’s most fascinating contemporary artists — a place he calls "The Great Emptiness."
His house is like a labyrinth, filled not only with paintings but also with fragments of his worldview and inner universe, where tradition meets bold creativity.

Colorful circular artworks hanging from a central stand in an art studio with paintings on the walls and a tiled floor.

To conclude the day, we enjoy a memorable dinner at “Panorama”, a rooftop restaurant offering stunning views over the entire city of Bishkek — the perfect ending to a day full of culture, flavor, and discovery!

A large red flag flying on a flagpole atop a grassy hill at sunset, overlooking a city with residential and commercial buildings in the distance.
Ancient carved stone monolith with geometric and facial engravings.
Large stone with carved face, depicting eyes, nose, mouth, and beard, standing upright on grass. Black background.