Most beautiful places
Cities, monuments, nature and holy sites
CityBishkekThe capital and largest city of Kyrgyzstan, at the foot of the Ala-Too mountains, with about 1.2 million people.Read more →
CityOshOsh, the "capital of the south", is Kyrgyzstan's second-largest and oldest city, more than 3,000 years old by UNESCO's estimate.Read more →
CityKarakolA town at the eastern end of Issyk-Kul, known for its Dungan mosque and wooden Orthodox church and a centre for mountain tourism.Read more →
NatureIssyk-KulA saline lake 1,607 m up in the Tian Shan whose name means "warm lake", because it almost never freezes.Read more →
NatureSong-KölA mountain lake at 3,016 m, Kyrgyzstan's largest freshwater lake, ringed in summer by herders' yurts.Read more →
NatureSary-Chelek Nature ReserveA reserve of lakes and forests in the Western Tian Shan, a UNESCO biosphere reserve since 1978 and part of the Western Tien-Shan World Heritage Site.Read more →
NatureJeti-Ögüz RocksRed cliffs called the "Seven Bulls" in Issyk-Kul Region, one of Kyrgyzstan's best-known natural symbols.Read more →
NatureSkazka (Fairy Tale) CanyonColourful sandstone shapes carved by wind and rain on the south shore of Issyk-Kul.Read more →
NatureArslanbob walnut forestAround the village of Arslanbob in Jalal-Abad Region stretches one of the world's largest natural walnut forests.Read more →
MonumentBurana TowerAn 11th-century minaret, all that remains of the Karakhanid capital Balasagun, part of UNESCO's Silk Roads World Heritage Site since 2014.Read more →
MonumentTash Rabat caravanseraiAn ancient stone caravanserai at 3,200 m in the mountains of Naryn.Read more →
MonumentÖzgön minaret and mausoleumsAn 11th–12th-century minaret and ornate brick mausoleums from the Karakhanid era.Read more →
Why Kyrgyzstan?
Discover the culture
Instruments, dances, crafts and carpets
InstrumentKomuzThe three-stringed fretless national instrument of the Kyrgyz, a relative of the Azerbaijani and Turkish qopuz.Read more →
InstrumentTemir komuzThe Kyrgyz jaw harp, made of iron and played held against the mouth.Read more →
InstrumentKyl kyiakAn ancient Kyrgyz bowed instrument with two horsehair strings, a relative of the Kazakh kobyz.Read more →
Musical genreKüü: komuz piecesA Kyrgyz instrumental piece that tells a story in music without words.Read more →
Musical genreArt of the AkynsThe improvised verbal art of Kyrgyz folk poets and epic tellers, on UNESCO's intangible heritage list since 2008.Read more →
Musical workState Anthem of KyrgyzstanAdopted on 18 December 1992, with music by Nasyr Davlesov and Kalyi Moldobasanov and words by Jalil Sadykov and Shabdanbek Kuluev.Read more →
Musical workAichurek: the first Kyrgyz operaThe first Kyrgyz opera, staged in 1939 and based on the Manas epic.Read more →
Traditional dressAk-kalpakThe white felt hat of Kyrgyz men and a national symbol; its craftsmanship has been UNESCO heritage since 2019, and 5 March is Ak-kalpak Day.Read more →
National cuisine
The taste and tradition of the table
Notable people
Ready to explore?
From places to visit to national days: every section of the country in one place.
On the map
BishkekWeather in the capital · Bishkek
10°
Sunny
- Mon18° 5°
- Tue18° 3°
- Wed19° 7°