Osh Bazaar in Bishkek is the ultimate destination for authentic Kyrgyz products, offering everything from fresh local food to handmade crafts at affordable prices. Key items to purchase include traditional felt carpets (shyrdak), embroidered hats (kalpak), felt slippers, dried fruits, nuts, and the pungent local cheese known as kurt.
On top of all the food, you'll find tons of other things at the Bazaar. From cleaning products to rugs and clothes and shoes, you'll be surrounded by a paraphernalia of products. In the Osh Bazaar, you'll see a lot of small restaurants and food stalls where you can buy traditional Kyrgyz dishes and meals.
But the Osh Bazaar is also an agora of sorts; a place where Kyrgyz citizens of all ethnicities and socio-economic strata routinely congregate and interact with one another with relative civility. It's a place where divisive and often inflammatory differences are temporarily suspended in the interest of commerce.
Ak Kalpaks, as everyone mentioned; yak wool goods (feels like cashmere); felt slippers with ornaments; clothes from a multitude of talented designers (not so simple to find in physical stores, I'd search for them on Insta beforehand); traditional jewellery; souvenirs depicting yurts and snow leopards.
Wander a little further and you'll find bolts of vibrant textiles, embroidered hats, felt slippers, copperware and household goods — practical, beautiful and deeply connected to Kyrgyz life. Osh Bazaar isn't curated or polished; it's real, rhythmic and endlessly fascinating.
Where to buy food in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan - OSH Bazaar | Ош базар, Бишкек, Кыргызстан
What is the best time to visit Osh Bazaar?
It's also popular within locals to buy dried fruits there to make a сompot (stewed fruit). Osh bazar is open every day, seven days a week and the best time to visit is in the morning.
Crafting includes a variety of art forms, from sculpture and metalwork to knitting and printing. These crafts can all be divided into five basic types based on their form and purpose: textile, decorative, paper, functional, and fashion crafts.
Be careful when using currency exchange offices and visiting the bazaars in Bishkek, particularly Osh Bazaar, where pickpockets target tourists. Use caution and take measures to reduce your personal risk, such as: keep sight of your belongings at all times. be aware of thieves using distraction techniques.
Traveling in Kyrgyzstan is still affordable by Western standards. It's less expensive than its neighboring countries Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. Average prices are $8 for a basic meal, $12 for a hostel bed and $25 upwards for a double room in a decent hotel, and $5 for a 3-hour ride on a mashrutka (public minibus).
Beshbarmak. A traditional Kyrgyz nomadic dish made with mutton (or other meat) cooked in its own juices for hours, then poured over hand-cut noodles. This dish's name translates as “five fingers” because it's meant to be blended and then eaten with your hands.
Stay aware of your surroundings if you travel to the provinces ('oblasts') of Osh and Jalal-Abad. While there has been no widespread violence since the ethnic clashes in 2010, there are still underlying tensions between the local Kyrgyz and Uzbek populations, particularly south and west of the city of Osh.
Osh, the oldest and second largest city of the Kyrgyz Republic, is often referred to as the country's southern capital. Historically a major market along the silk road route, today Osh is known for its historical monuments, thriving bazaars and its textile production and food processing industries.
Entering the arch, fresh bread, ready-made meat delicacies are sold on the right, there is also an indoor meat pavilion. Left rows with sweets, fresh and dried fruits, vegetables, nuts, and food. At a distance, they sell flour, sugar, oatmeal, and other cereals in bales.
For men and women: Wear business casual when in the office and comfortable clothes on outdoor trips (tours, hikes etc.). Bring specialized sports/hiking clothes and shoes for outdoor trips/hikes, for warm and cold weather.
The principle of "Zhety ata" implied the obligation to know the names of one's ancestors in the male line up to the seventh knee. Relatives up to the seventh tribe were considered close and were collectively responsible for each other; marriages between them were forbidden to avoid incest.
These top selling gift shop items include Murano glassware, artisan jewelry, silk scarves, educational toys, and books. Discover best selling souvenirs and gifts that celebrate art, science, and culture in one unforgettable collection.
