Welcome to Kyrgyzstan! Your journey is just starting and one of your first steps is to get from the Manas International Airport to the city of Bishkek, the capital city of Kyrgyzstan. With a little bit of knowledge and preparation, it is possible to get to your final destination with ease. In this article, I'm going to share a comprehensive guide on how to go from Manas Airport to the city.
WHERE IS MANAS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT?
Manas International Airport is located approximately 25 kilometers north of Bishkek, and there are several transportation options available to travelers. Each option has its own advantages and disadvantages, and it's important to choose the one that best suits your needs and budget.
IMPORTANT THINGS TO NOTE
Before I share the different methods of transportation, there are important things I want you to be cautious of. As soon as you exit the doors from the baggage claim area to the main arrival area, there are going to be many people approaching you offering taxi services. It can be quite aggressive so you confidently say "no" if you are not interested. Be polite but hold your ground.
The ride-sharing application, Yandex works, and do not let other taxi drivers convince you that you can't use it. When you order your Yandex, make sure you check the license plate and that it matches the car assigned to you. The parking lot is quite small so make sure you find the right car.
PREPARATION BEFORE LEAVING MANAS AIRPORT
1. Currency Exchange
Since most are short-term visitors, your preferred method of payment may be cash. I did notice that Yandex can have issues when trying to connect international payment cards so before leaving the airport, it is recommended to have Kyrgyz som on hand. I advise you to exchange only the necessary amount of money to cover immediate expenses such as transportation, as the rates outside the airport may be more favorable.
2. SIM Card Purchase
To be able to use the Yandex application to order a car and to stay connected, I highly recommend you to purchase a SIM card at the airport. There are several mobile operators located inside the airport and they offer different packages for data and voice services. To learn more about purchasing a SIM card, here is another blog post that I've written that outlines the different cellular carriers. The prices are quite cheap in Kyrgyzstan, which is a great plus.
TRANSPORTATION METHODS FROM MANAS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO BISHKEK
1. Ride-Sharing Apps
To get from Manas International Airport to the city center, I recommend using the ride-sharing application Yandex Taxi. This is one of the top five essential applications I recommend everyone download for their trip to Kyrgyzstan, which you can learn more about here. Yandex Taxi works exactly like Uber and Lyft, and the application is completely in English which makes navigation extremely easy.
As of December 2023, based on where your final destination is at the city, the rate on Yandex ranges from 700 to 900 soms depending on the time and demand of the cars. This is approximately USD 7 to USD 12. What's great is that you have the option to either pay in cash or card. If paying by cash, make sure you have Kyrgyz som and select that option when ordering your car.
Before you click the "Request" button for your car, click the icon that I circled in the above image to select your payment method. You can choose cash if you do not want to pay with a card.
2. Shuttle Busses
The cheapest way to get from Manas International Airport to the city center is by using the GO BUS shuttle bus. GO BUS is a joint venture with the Tourism Development Support Fund of the Kyrgyz Republic to offer convenient and affordable transportation services. As of December 2023, on their website, the price for Bishkek to Manas Airport is only 200 som which is an absolute steal and there is a shuttle available every 60 minutes.
The shuttle route starts from the southern part of the city and passes by many stops on the major streets. I highly recommend you follow their website and Instagram account for the latest updates and they have phone numbers, and QR codes that you can scan to assist you in making bookings.
Website - https://gobus.kg/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/gobus.kg/
3. Taxi Services
Many taxis will be available outside the building. I highly recommend that you only use them if you can speak Kyrgyz, Russian, and if you can negotiate the fare with the driver before starting the journey.
Usually in New York or Seoul, taxis will have a distinct appearance such as being a specific color or having a distinct taxi top. The cars here may not have that, so just make sure you are careful. Again, I recommend ordering a Yandex so you can have an assigned car to you and you can confirm by looking that the license plate matches you.
OTHER TIPS FOR TOURISTS
1. Safety and Traffic
The drive from Manas Airport to the start of the city does not have much traffic and the drive is quite smooth. However, once you are in the city during rush hour, you can expect there to be delays. The drivers here can be aggressive so it is recommended that you wear seatbelts.
One thing that stood out to me was that in Canada or South Korea, you stop at stop lights and stop signs. However, in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, there are many designated parts of the street where pedestrians can walk to the other side of the street without a stop light in place. When pedestrians cross the street, the cars will stop and turn on their safety blinkers. Sometimes these cars stop abruptly and the safety blinker is to alert the cars behind to slow down their speed and stop.
2. Identifying the main landmarks
If you're driving through the city center, you may pass by recognizable landmarks such as Ala-Too Square, located in the heart of the city center. The square is surrounded by several government buildings with Soviet-style architecture and is a popular gathering spot for locals.
Whether you're driving alone or using a taxi, it never hurts to understand local traffic rules. Safety is extremely important so I hope this blog post helps you get to your final destination from Manas Aiport safely and efficiently.
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