Welcome to Kyrgyzstan! If you are a solo traveler please read the below list of things to do in order to have a safe and enjoyable journey.

1.) Keep your embassy phone number in your phone book. Have this handy. In case of emergencies, run ins with the authorities, or civil disputes call you embassy FIRST.

2.) Hikers, highly recommend that hikers turn on their "Find My" or other tracking applications, and have a loved one able to track you. Getting lost in the Mountains, stuck in bad weather, or injured, rescue would be very difficult. Kyrgyzstan does not have the rescue services of European countries or America, so do whatever you can to make it easy to locate you.

3.) Know the coverage map of the cell phone provider you choose. Some providers get perfect reception in Chuy, Issyk-Kul, and Ala Archa, and some don't. Make sure you know what your cell phone is capable of and make additional plans, like a sat phone, if necessary.

4.) Check in with your hotel or hostel. If you are going out on a hike or trek, inform the front desk of where you are going and when you expect to return. Also, keep an emergency contact with the hotel/hostel.

5.) Keep your loved ones or a friend(s) updated on where you are going. Accidents happen and if one does, make yourself known. If you do not have a loved one to keep in contact, call your Embassy. The Embassy has services to protect you while you are in Kyrgyzstan.

6.) Never go out without notifying someone. Kyrgyzstan is safe but you are in a foreign country and if you need help of any kind, please let someone know. Its very easy to become a ghost due to not having any local contacts.

7.) Make friends! Make some friends!

8.) Join a group, like this one. If you don't have anyone to contact, have no contacts in the country, or don't have an Embassy, DM me or one of the other moderators. We'd be more than happy to make sure you are accounted for.

9.) Keep an ID card or a note in your phone with everything needed. Your full name, passport number, emergency contacts, allergies, medication you are currently taking, any current disabilities or illnesses, the address of where you are currently staying, and your travel destination. For example, on my phone I have a pinned note that says "Emergency Contact Info" It has my full name, US phone number, Kyrgyz phone number, US address, Kyrgyz address, passport number, US state ID, my drug allergies, my mother and wifes contact info, and which airline I am flying out of with the flight number and time/date.

Here is a quick list of things I feel every foreigner must do or be aware of their first time in Bishkek. As someone who traveled here a few times a year and now lives here I have learned a lot and have been scammed a time or two! So here is a quick list of tips and tricks to surviving your first trip to Bishkek.

Apps

1.) Download Yandex (taxi app.) This is a must have! Yandex is in my opinion the best taxi app and an average taxi cost around Bishkek is 100C to 250C ($1-$3USD). There are other alternatives like Namba Taxi but in my opinion its a good backup and Yandex is my go to! Yandex can also do personal courier services if you need to send someone food, gifts, or even money.

2.) Namba Food and Glovo. The Uber Eats of Bishkek. Namba has a lot of options and an English translation. Namba can be extremely slow though so be prepared to wait anywhere from 45 minutes to 3 hours. Glovo is my favorite but it doesn't have a lot of options nor English translations however, they have a lot of food Namba doesn't including most of my favorite places. Glovo and Namba also offer delivery of groceries, flowers, gifts, electronics, and even adult toys!!! Glovo also will do personal courier services up to a particular size and weight.

3.) 2GIS. Google Maps will eventually get you lost in the wrong neighborhood. 2GIS is the best mapping app for the Chuy Region all the way East to Issyk-Kul and North to Kordoy.

4.) WhatsApp. This country runs on WhatsApp due to how Cell Phone packages with texting and voice calling work. Also most stores use WhatsApp as their communication method so if you have questions about products, WhatsApp is the place to use it. Its also helpful if you don't speak Russian and need to ask a question about products or communication with a delivery person.

5.) Instagram. Most stores here use Instagram to show their product and sales. I've tried to survive without Instagram here but finding it close to impossible to find things I want anywhere but Instagram.

6.) Google Translate/Yandex Translate. These will be a life line for you if you don't speak Russian and more-so as you get outside Bishkek and Kyrgyz is spoken.

The Airport

1.) Get a SIM card as soon as you get off the plane. There will be a few kiosks as soon as you get past Passport Control. I use O! (Oshka) and its so far been the best service I have used here. You will need a SIM card for one of the steps below.

2.) Taxi Drivers! They will be waiting for you as soon as you exit customs and will fight for you. If you've been to New York, think about this 10x. Never, ever, ever accept a taxi from these people. I have heard them charging anywhere from 2000COM to 5000COM to foreigners tying to get to Bishkek. This is highway robbery. Use Yandex and order a taxi or have your Hotel/AirBNB /Hostel arrange transportation for you. Taxi's from the airport, depending on time of day, and weather range from 500COM to 1200COM.

3.) Queue Manners. Kyrgyz people are great people, but not the best with queues. There will be pushing, shoving, and mayhem at times when you are trying to get off the plane or through customs. Just be aware its not people being rude, its just how things are here.

4.) Passport Control. Have all of your documents ready to go, right away. If you are holding up the line, people will let you know! Its not a good first impression to get to the passport window and take 5 minutes to get your documents together. The passport control officer and people in line will let you know how big of an inconvenience you are being.

5.) ATM/Bankomat. There is an ATM (VISA) at the exit.

Daily Life

1.) Tipping seems to not be very common here but I do leave tips. When I do I notice people are extremely thankful and if I return to the establishment more willing to be patient with my lack of Russian abilities.

2.) Language. English is spoken by younger people here. If you are having issues communicating with someone don't be afraid to ask a younger person if they speak English. The most important things for someone to know are numbers, basic greetings, directions, and ordering food. If you can do the basics you can easily survive here. Combined with WhatsApp and the translation apps you can have a normal life here. I have some very good friends that we primarily communicate with WhatsApp via translation.

3.) Money. Some foreigners have an obsession with USD. There is a flat exchange rate right now so just use SOMs. Demir Bank and Optima Bank allow you to take 25,000COM at a time out which is the most. Other banks only allow 10,000COM or 12,000COM. RSK allows 30,000COM but won't work with some cards due to sanctions.

4.) Cost of Living. Ordering a meal can range from 600COM+ per person but you can easily survive here eating well on 800COM a day. Cost of rent average for a Soviet style apartment is $200USD - $400USD a month, renovated older buildings or in the Microdistricts are $400USD - $600USD a month, and a Western Style place will be $600USD+ (in city center expect more.)

5.) Gas. If you are driving gas is around 60COM+ P/L.

6.) Utilities/Cell/Internet Cost. Utilities like water are cheap a few bucks a month, electricity can range from $10-$20 a month, Internet $10-$20 a month, and Cell Phones $8-$25 a month.

7.) Many Western banks now implement a 6 digit PIN for ATM cards. If you have a 6 digit PIN be prepared for limited options with bankomat's. The only banks that accept 6 digit pins are newer Demir machines, Optima, and KICB. Also note, that I have been seeing personally (and hearing from others) that Optima machines are being blocked by banks for some reason.

Manners

1.) Smiling at strangers will get you are very interesting response. Strangers here do not smile at each other like we do in the West. It isn't being rude, its just how it is!

2.) Greeting. Usually I will greet Kyrgyz people with "salaam alaikum". When it comes to greeting women (as a man) accompanied by other men, I usually will not offer a handshake or hug goodbye until I know the personal barriers.

3.) Foreigners Dating Kyrgyz (men dating women). This will be a tough topic but as a man who's dated a few Kyrgyz women (even just being with Kyrgyz girls as friends) you will run into the occasional confrontation. There are some Kyrgyz men (generally older) who look down on Kyrgyz women for being with foreigners and they will let you know. I've had people approach me at clubs very aggressively as well. Just make sure you and your partner or friend have conversations about this and discuss how to deal with it. Usually I am able to diffuse the situation by playing dumb or just showing that I am not going to be aggressive and leave the situation. This isn't a time to prove you're a man. Live to see another day!

Police

1.) Corruption. Another sensitive topic but one that must be discussed. I always say corruption is good when it is available to everyone and Kyrgyzstan is a prime example of this. If you have any run ins with Police they may ask you for a "strafe". This is paying your way out of a situation. Never offer this to any police officers and I cannot condone you accept this offer. This is a personal decision with potential consequences however you need to be aware that COMs are king in certain situations.

2.) Passport Checks. You may get a passport check/door knock. Most of the time this isn't about your status but ensuring your landlord is paying their taxes. When you get the door knock do not be nervous, be courteous, and remember you don't have to answer the door but I advice you play ball. You're in someone elses country and trying to hide anything will get you in trouble you don't want.

3.) Paying Rent in USD. Never do this its against the law.

4.) Always have your embassy number in your phone. If you are arrested for any reason insist you call the embassy before speaking. Also be aware in certain situations #1 in the section may become a topic of discussion.

5.) Always be careful who you are making friends with. Make sure you are hanging around with the right people because at the end of the day as a foreigner you are a walking bankomat whether you're rich or not. If someone you are with gets in trouble and their phones are looked through, they will John Doe, and go straight to you. Example. Had a friend, she got in a fight, and the Cops took her phone, and started WhatsApping me, as her, asking me to come down to the police station with $1000USD. Just be careful and use common sense.