World Heritage
Sulayman Mountain
UNESCO World Heritage Site in Kyrgyzstan
The only World Heritage Site lying wholly within Kyrgyzstan, in the city of Osh, and once a major pilgrimage site before Islam arrived.
Photo: Nefesh03, CC BY-SA 4.0
KG · Curated travel guide
Kyrgyzstan: 10 places worth the journey
Sulayman Mountain, Jengish Chokusu, Issyk-Kul and 7 more — what each one is, and why it is worth the detour.
- Places
- 10
- World Heritage
- 1
- Language
- Kyrgyz, Russian
- Currency
- KGS
What to see in Kyrgyzstan
Chosen from everything Wikidata knows about Kyrgyzstan and ranked by how many Wikipedia language editions describe them, which is about as close to "famous" as open data gets. One is on UNESCO's World Heritage list.
World Heritage
Jengish Chokusu
Highest point in Kyrgyzstan
The highest mountain of Central Asia's Tian Shan system, 7,439 metres (24,406 ft) high, on the China–Kyrgyzstan border between Wensu County, Xinjiang, and Ak-Suu District, in the Issyk-Kul Region of Kyrgyzstan's far east.
Photo: Chen Zhao, CC BY 2.0
Issyk-Kul
Lake in northeastern Kyrgyzstan
Also written Ysyk-Köl, an endorheic salt lake in the western Tian Shan mountains of eastern Kyrgyzstan, just south of a range dividing Kyrgyzstan from Kazakhstan. Only seven lakes in the world are deeper and only ten hold more water, and among salt lakes it ranks second in size.
Photo: Unknown, Public domain
Osh State Academic Uzbek Music and Drama Theater named after Babur
Theatre in Kyrgyzstan
A theatre in the city of Osh, Kyrgyzstan: the oldest professional theatre in the country and the second-oldest in Central Asia.
Photo: Arthoum, CC BY-SA 4.0
Alay Valley
Valley in Central Asia
Also spelled Alai Valley, a wide, dry valley running from east to west across most of southern Osh Region, Kyrgyzstan, in Central Asia.
Photo: Thermokarst, Public domain
Ala-Too Square
Central square in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
The main square of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
Photo: Emil.akhmatbekov, CC BY-SA 4.0
Kumtor Gold Mine
Gold mine in Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan
One of Central Asia's biggest gold mines, producing since 1997, with over 13.8 million ounces of gold mined as of June 30, 2022.
Photo: Michael Karavanov, CC BY-SA 3.0
Tash Rabat
15th-century caravanserai in Kyrgyzstan
A well-preserved stone caravanserai from the 10th or 15th century in At-Bashy District, Naryn Province, Kyrgyzstan, 3,200 metres (10,500 ft) above sea level.
Photo: Firespeaker, CC BY-SA 3.0
Boom Gorge
Gorge in Kyrgyzstan
A river gorge in Kyrgyzstan's Issyk-Kul and Chüy regions.
Photo: Vmenkov, CC BY-SA 3.0
Saymaluu-Tash
Petroglyph site and national park in Kyrgyzstan
A petroglyph site and national park in Jalal-Abad Region, Kyrgyzstan, south of Kazarman. Over 10,000 stones carry pictures, perhaps 98,000 in all, black-and-white rock paintings that make it a collection of rock art of worldwide importance.
Photo: Sraosha 9~enwiki at English Wikipedia, Public domain
About Kyrgyzstan
Officially the Kyrgyz Republic, and formerly Kirghizia, a landlocked Central Asian country in the Pamir and Tian Shan ranges. Kazakhstan lies to its north, China to its east and southeast, Tajikistan to its south and Uzbekistan to its west. Bishkek, the capital and biggest city, is on the northern border with Kazakhstan.
Officially The Kyrgyz Republic. Known locally as Kyrgyzstan Кыргызстан, Kirgizija Киргизия.
Based on the Wikipedia article, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0: the facts are Wikipedia's, the wording is this site's.
Questions travellers ask
What is worth seeing in Kyrgyzstan?
This guide lists 10: Sulayman Mountain, Jengish Chokusu, Issyk-Kul and Osh State Academic Uzbek Music and Drama Theater named after Babur and others. Sulayman Mountain is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
How were these places chosen?
By machine, from open data, with no human ranking them and nobody able to pay for a place on the list. Everything Wikidata records in Kyrgyzstan that is a building, a landform, a protected area or a tourist attraction, has coordinates, a photograph and an English Wikipedia article, is ranked by how many Wikipedia language editions wrote about it. Provinces, cities, airports, stations and stretches of sea shared with the neighbours are filtered out.
Which places here are UNESCO World Heritage Sites?
1 of the 10 in this guide: Sulayman Mountain. That is not the full count for Kyrgyzstan, only the listed sites that made this guide.
What language is spoken in Kyrgyzstan, and what currency?
Kyrgyz, Russian. The currency is KGS.
How do I get mobile data in Kyrgyzstan?
A travel eSIM is usually the cheapest way, and avoids a roaming bill. The plans suggested at the foot of this guide start at $2.08 for 2GB per day. The eSIM is data-only and sits alongside your normal SIM, so calls, texts and WhatsApp keep working on your own number.
Which networks would my phone use in Kyrgyzstan?
Beeline. Your phone picks whichever has the best signal where you are, the same way a local phone does.
One practical note: staying online
Maps, tickets and translation all want data, and roaming is the expensive way to get it. A Computatus eSIM eSIM connects to Beeline once you land, and installs by QR code before you leave.
See 8 Computatus eSIM plans for Kyrgyzstan from $2.08
| Plan | Data | Valid | Price | Order |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2GB per day Cheapest | 2 GB | 1 day | $2.08 | Get it → |
| 3GB for 15 days | 3 GB | 15 days | $3.58 | Get it → |
| 3GB for 30 days | 3 GB | 30 days | $3.78 | Get it → |
| 3GB per day | 3 GB | 1 day | $4.17 | Get it → |
| 5GB for 30 days | 5 GB | 30 days | $5.92 | Get it → |
| 10GB per day | 10 GB | 1 day | $6.62 | Get it → |
No app needed. Install by QR code before you fly, keep your own number for calls, and it connects the moment you land.
Beeline 4G
A commission on plans bought through these links is what pays for this guide. Nothing above depends on it: the places are chosen before any price is looked up.