Osh

Understand

Osh (Kyrgyz: Ош) is the second largest city in Kyrgyzstan. It's in the south of the country and often referred to as the "capital of the south". It has served as the administrative center of Osh Province since 1939. The city has an ethnically mixed population of about 322,000 (2021), about 46% Uzbek, 43% Kyrgyz and several smaller ethnic groups. The city is more conservative and Islamic than rest of Kyrgyzstan, as is typical of cities in the Fergana Valley. Osh was famous for its outdoor bazaar (Jayma Bazaar / Жайма базар), the largest and most crowded in Central Asia. Sadly this was heavily damaged by flooding and then inexplicably bulldozed by the city in 2024. A modern replacement was constructed outside of the city, but it of course lacks the original's historic charm. As of 2026, there is talk of rebuilding the original market as a tourist attraction. For now, it is an empty lot.

Getting there

By plane 1 Osh International Airport (OSS IATA) (11 km from the centre of Osh.). Getting there/away: A taxi to the city centre costs around 250-400 som. A Yandex.Taxi is about 170 som. Marshrutka 107 heads to the city centre parallel to Prospektesi Lenina. The following airlines operate at the airport:

Aeroflot - St Petersburg Turkish Airlines - Istanbul Pegasus - Istanbul, Bishkek (from €20) China Southern Airlines - Ürümqi Kyrgyzstan Airlines - Bishkek, Moscow-Domodedovo, Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg S7 Airlines - Moscow Uzbekistan Airways - Tashkent Avia Trafik - Bishkek (around 40€) SCAT Airlines - Bishkek (around 40€)

By bus or marshrutka Bishkek – Marshrutkas are 500-700 som per person. They are actually much more comfortable than a shared taxi, because they have sleeping bunks. It takes some time to get to the centre—in Osh marshrutkas start from KaraSu market (30 som from the center); in Bishkek from DorDoi market (12 som from the center). These vans take just 2-3 hr more than shared taxis and always run overnight, starting at 15:00-18:00. Unfortunately, you will miss the great view on the Bishkek-Osh road because of this. Arslanbob – One or two buses go direct between the new bus station in Osh and Arslanbob for 200 som. If you miss them, go via Jalalabad and Bazar Korgon. Sary-Tash – Reportedly, marshrutkas go between Osh and Sary-Tash, 300 som (August 2019). From Osh at 14:00 from Dostole bridge.

From Uzbekistan From Andijan you can take a bus to the border and then a taxi or a mashrukta or direct to the Osh bus station from the Andijan Bus Station. The bus to the border is about 1000 Uzbek som.

From China There are two weekly sleeper buses (Monday and Friday) from Kashgar in China leaving at 10:00 (Beijing time) and the trip takes about 18 hr. The price is ¥470 and the buses depart from Kashgar international bus station. As the road through Irkeshtam is at high altitude, remember to take warm clothes to the bus even during summer. Sit on the left for better views.

By shared taxi Bishkek – Prices of shared taxis from Bishkek vary quite a lot. In spring, when seasonal workers are travelling from Osh to the capital and then to Kazakhstan or Russia, it will cost less, and vice versa in autumn. The price of a shared taxi Bishkek-Osh was 1,000-1,500 som per person as of May 2012. Taxis to Bishkek park on Zainabetdinova street. Jalal-Abad – Shared taxis between Osh and Jalal-Abad to/from the New Bus Station (Novy Avtovokzal) in Osh, somewhat out of town. The price for the ride between Osh and Jalal-Abad is 250 som (Jun 2017). Sary-T

Getting around

Taxis are cheap, a ride from the city to the airport is about 300 som. Buses are 10–15 som, and marshrutkas are 15 som per person.

See

The city has several monuments, including one to the and one of the few remaining statues of Vladimir Lenin, and the largest mosque in the country.

1 Sulayman Mountain. 08:30-20:00. A mountain looming over the city full of ancient sites of worship, some still in use, dating back several millennia. It is considered the most complete example of a Central Asian sacred mountain, and accordingly has been inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A cave in the mountain is the site of a museum containing a collection of archaeological, geological and historical finds and information about local flora and fauna. Also here is a very compact mosque/mausoleum tucked into the mountain called Dom Babura Mosque at the other end of the prominence. Overall it's a good place to have a hike and take in the views. 70 som entry fee, 150 som for the museum. 2 Mechet' Ravvat Abdullakhana (Mosque of Ravat Abdullakhan / Ravvat Abdullakhan Mechiti / Равват Абдуллахан мечити). Said to be oldest mosque in Osh, a tribute to 16th-century Rabat Abdul Khan. Non-Muslims most likely not allowed entry. (updated Aug 2020) 3 Turgunbai Sadykov Osh Regional Museum of Fine Art (below mausoleum of Babur Namey on northeast side), ☏ +996 322245510. 09:30-17:00 daily. Basic collection of Soviet realist pieces along with some regional Kyrgyz works. 50 som. (updated Aug 2020) 4 Mausoleum of Asaf ibn Burkhiy (Mavzoley Asaf Ibn Burkhiya), on Gapar Aytiev main road. Interesting Islamic architecture at base of Mount Sulaiman, named after King Suleiman’s vizier. (updated Aug 2020) 5 Sulaiman-Too Mosque (Osh New Mosque). A mosque of notable statue with blue mosaic tiles that you can see before going up Mt Sulaiman. Tourists not really allowed in though. (updated Aug 2020) 6 Russian Orthodox Church (near Lenin Monument). Blue and white church with a stone gate in front stemming from the early 20th century that is supposedly the only Russian church left in Osh after the demise of Soviet Union and events that followed. (updated Aug 2020) 7 Alymbek Datkanyn Aykeli. Statue of Kyrgyz freedom fighter against Soviet rule. (updated Aug 2020) 8 Manas Statue (on way to/from airport). Statue to Kyrgyzstan's legendary hero/leader of yore, with a snow leopard in front. (updated Aug 2020)

Nearby 9 Abshyr-Ata Waterfall (take R152 southwest to Nayman, then go south on an unnamed road to destination (best to get guide or inquire locally)), ☏ +996 560387919. A waterfall where a subterranean river emanates from the cliff in a tight mountainous canyon. About 3 hours from Osh. (updated Aug 2020) 10 Alai Valley (take M41

Do

CBT Osh, Ergesh Alieva Street 190, [email protected]. If you want to go trekking, CBT Osh is the closest thing you'll find to a tourism office. It is a private company, but they do offer free information (up to 10 minutes) if you go to their office (which is also a guesthouse). Their main activity is offering guided trekking tours throughout the country. Keep in mind that they have an incentive to sell you their more expensive tours. (updated Jun 2025)

Buy

1 Saimalau Tash Art Gallery, Kurmanzhan-Datka St., 244, ☏ +996 550 826 050. M-Sa 09:00-19:00, closed Su. Shop selling local artworks from tapestries to clothes to ceramics. (updated Aug 2020) 2 Globus, 24 Masalieva St. 24/7. This is the biggest Globus hypermarket in town. You will find all the food you might need to prepare for a trekking journey. If you need gas canisters, the Korean shop upstairs sells them for much cheaper than elsewhere. (updated Jun 2025) Destination Osh. M-Sa 09:00–19:00. The only shop in town still renting tents. They also offer other camping gears, such as gas burners, gas canisters, sleeping bags, hiking poles, solar batteries, etc. Aim to visit their office in the middle of the day, as they tend to open later and close earlier than their official working hours. (updated Jun 2025)

Eat

Nirvana Restaurant. Short taxi ride outside of city center; European and local cuisine; good shashlyk, steak, chicken and beef burritos. Indoor and outdoor dining areas, with toys for children. Good service, clean. They brew their own beer, the vats are visible from the dining room in a large area next door. Kafe "Zhyz-Byz", 226 Kurmanjan-Datka St. (in the centre, road parallel to Lenin Avenue), ☏ +996 777 557 939. Very good range of local food. Two mains with drinks, around 450 som. Menu in English. Pleasant decor. (updated Sep 2018) 1 NAVAT, 288 Lenina Ulitsa. 10:00-00:00. Chaikhana chain also found in Bishkek, wide choice of regional food and drinks. (updated Jul 2023)

Drink & nightlife

Alcohol is perhaps more elusive in Osh than in the capital, but there are nonetheless a few good bars in the city. The national beer is "Arpa", and really quite good, even by international standards. 80 som for a pint is fairly standard.

1 Chu-Tal (at the intersection just west of Sulaiman-Too, 50 m west of Al Mayda). A large open-air (but sheltered for bad weather) 'beer cafe' and restaurant with a nice atmosphere and a good selection of drinks. Beers cost 70-100 som for a pint, food from 100-400 som. Traditional 'tabchans' and western seating available. Menu is only in Russian but there are pictures so ordering is painless. (updated Jun 2019)

Sleep

1 Bayana Guest House (Gostevoy Dom Bayana), 286 Lenin Avenue, ☏ +996 555 434 360, toll-free: +996 555434360. Check-in: 13:00, check-out: 12:00. Cost of twin room (not per person) with private facilities - 1,400 som, including breakfast served in a lovely garden (August 2018). With TV, fridge & air-con, terrace. Just north of Lenin Monument on right. 2410 som. (updated Aug 2018) 2 Konok Hostel, Kurmanjan-Datka street 262/5, ☏ +996 772345546. Check-in: 12:00, check-out: 13:00. 5-minute walk from bazaar on Kurmanjan-Datka street 262/5 (difficult to see this; directly across from 3-storey Yurt) in a predominantly business and university district of the city (great location). It has one 4-bed dorm. WiFi, self-service kitchen, laundry service are available. Western toilet is kept clean. Shower has a water heater, though you have to wait around half an hour till it gets hot. Owner Meri is helpful and lovely, and though she has hearing disability you can easily discuss by writing or Speech-to-Text software. Call ahead. 500 som with breakfast. (updated Jun 2015) 3 Osh Guesthouse, 3rd entrance, apt. 48 (A bit difficult to find, it's in the block between the Kyrgyzstan Rd. and Osh Rd. Ask the locals or the taxi drivers for directions.). Check-out: 12:00. Nice and well established but a little shabby, split across a house and nearby flat. There are three 4-bed dorms, a double room and two kitchens. Only three shared bathrooms so you might have to wait a while to get your morning shower. Laundry service (for 70 som/kg), free Wi-Fi, English and German are spoken. Many rooms have issues with cockroaches and mould, unfortunately. Alcohol and pork are banned, even storing it. Dorm US$5-7, single US$18-23 (it's possible to bargain over the phone if reservation is made in advance). (updated Jul 2018) 4 Osh-Nuru Hotel (Ош-Нуру), 1, Bayalinov, ☏ +996 3222 7 56 14, [email protected]. A big former Soviet hotel with partly renovated rooms, but also budget options in old-fashioned twin rooms (from €19 per room). The staff speak English and there is a nice pool and bar. Wi-Fi is available in the rooms. 5 Staryy Gorod, 18 Zainabetdinova, А (next to the New Mosque. Cross Zainabetdinova street, first street on your right, first gate on your right; there is no sign, the entrance is in a courtyard), ☏ +996 559890089. Check-out: 12:00. No dorm. Clean place, only private bathrooms, kitchen available. A nice woman runs the place. She speaks English. Double room 300 som/pp. 6 TES guest house, Say Boyu street #5 (near the river 1½ km south of the inner city), ☏ + 996 3222 21548. Several

Go next

Arslanbob – An Islamic village popular with local tourists and famous for its picturesque walnut tree forest. Chon-Alai – Chon-Alai is a region Southwest of Osh containing the Lenina peak, the highest mountain in Kyrgyzstan.