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If you are traveling to Kyrgyzstan, you will likely fly into Manas International Airport (FRU) in Bishkek. When I flew into this airport, I was nearly scammed by the taxi drivers into paying a crazy amount of money to get to the city center!
In this guide, I will explain how to get from the Bishkek airport to city center, while avoiding the common scams in this airport.
Table of Contents
Manas International Airport
Manas International Airport serves as the main gateway to Kyrgyzstan and handles both domestic and international flights. I flew in from Osh for 3700 KGS (about $40 USD).
If you are in Osh and don’t feel like spending 11 hours on a bus to travel across the country, I recommend getting a quick flight to Bishkek for about the same cost.
How Far is it from the Bishkek Airport to City Center?
Bishkek’s airport is located about a 25-minute drive north of the city center.
Is There Public Transportation Available?
Yes, you can take a marshrutka, or “shared minivan”, from the airport. This type of transportation is very popular in Central Asia. (Check out my guide on traveling from Bishkek to Karakol via marshrutka!)
When you exit the airport, keep an eye out for Marshrutka 380. This route will take you to Bishkek’s city center.
When I went in late 2023, the cost to ride was 60 KGS (about $0.67).
Common Scams at Bishkek Airport
Once you depart the plane and enter the airport, you will be surrounded by taxi drivers. Let me give you a few tips for dealing with them.
There are Marshrutkas Available
They will swear up and down that there is no public transportation or marshrutkas available at the airport. This is false. Look for Marshrutka 380 just outside the airport if you want to get to the city center on a budget.
I asked multiple people, and they all told me the same thing. I decided to pay for a taxi. However, just before I entered the taxi, I saw the marshrutka pull up! I ditched the taxi driver and boarded the marshrutka.
Inflated Taxi Prices
This is to be expected at most airports. I have a feeling that the taxi drivers were extra bold with me because I did not speak Kyrgyz or Russian.
I spoke to multiple taxi drivers inside the airport, and they told me that it would cost anywhere from 1500 to 2000 KGS to take me to the city center. After a lot of negotiating, they eventually told me it would cost about 700 KGS.
If you do decide to take a taxi, the normal price is between 600 and 800 KGS. You may have to pay a little bit more at night, but it shouldn’t be anywhere near as much as they first quoted me.
Unofficial Taxi Scam
I have heard stories of unofficial taxi drivers taking passengers to Bishkek who ended up scamming them for extra money.
The taxi will depart the airport, and on the way, the driver will pick up another “passenger”. Then, the driver will demand more money from the real passenger in order to complete the journey.
They usually give the impression that the other “passenger” will be treated with priority, so you will have to pay more money to convince him to take you to your destination.
I recommend booking an official taxi from the airport offices to avoid this. Or, you could always book a taxi with your hotel.
My Recommendation
When you arrive at the airport, just ignore the taxi drivers who approach you. They can be very aggressive, so be respectful by telling them “No, thank you.”
If you decide to take the marshrutka, don’t panic if you do not immediately see it. They arrive on a regular basis, but there may be a few minutes in which you wait for another one to arrive.
If you do want to take a taxi, book it with your hotel. If you can’t do that, book it with a company at the airport.
Where to Stay in Bishkek
If you are staying in Bishkek on a budget, I highly recommend staying at the Meeting Place Bishkek. This is one of the best hostels that I had ever been to, especially considering the cheap price!
This hostel has comfortable beds, a nice kitchen, television room, and a work space. I will definitely be coming back to this hostel the next time I’m in Bishkek!
If you are looking for something more private, I recommend checking out the Orion Hotel. This is one of the highest rated hotels in Bishkek. It is conveniently located near the Ala-Too Square and the Central Mosque. The staff here also all speak English.
Check out the map below to see available accommodations.
