Our travel guide will tell you the top things to do in Osh. Where is the best food, where to stay, how to get to Osh or simply, what is Osh like, and why should you even come so far out of the way from the rest of the top places in Kyrgyzstan? We had a blast spending a few days in Osh, still dreaming about its delicious food on every corner. I mean, there are just a few places in Central Asia where you can say the food was unforgettable. Luckily, Osh is one of them.
Osh took us by surprise with its wonderful people, who are friendly, welcoming, and honest, and are possibly the nicest people we met in Kyrgyzstan. Around 40% inhabitants of Osh are the Uzbek population. We decided to give Osh a new name because it is a small country within a country. From now on, we will call it Oshistan!
Once we stepped out from a 12 hours scenic ride by shared taxi from Bishkek to Osh, we immediately had a feeling this can’t be Kyrgyzstan. People, food, culture and religion. These things we associate with Osh. It is an authentic city, so different from the rest of the country. Continue reading to discover the top attractions and sights that await you in Osh.
TOP THINGS TO DO IN OSH
The city has over 3000 years of history, yet don’t expect many architectural places to see. It’s the sprawling bazaars, hospitable people and amazing cuisine that make Osh so special. Not only is it a perfect place for outdoor activities, but Osh is also a transport hub for people travelling to Fergana Valley in Uzbekistan, or crossing borders to Tajikistan to drive through the majestic Pamir Highway, or going onwards to China. However, during our visit in August 2022, the land borders between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan were closed, with China as well. Hence, the only possibility that made sense was to cross the borders to Uzbekistan to explore the authentic Fergana Valley.
Without further ado, let’s get straight to the point. What are the top things you can do and see in the second biggest city in Kyrgyzstan, Osh?
SULAIMAN-TOO MOUNTAIN
Our favourite thing to do in Osh was hiking the Sulaiman-Too Mountain. We came for sunset, and the views and sunset watching are epic from the top. The best one we experienced in Kyrgyzstan. Oh well, maybe after the epic hike over the 3900 m pass to Ala Kul Lake. Suleiman-Too has been the Muslim pilgrimage site for centuries. You will see many caves, with all having a different spiritual meaning.
Have enough time for Suleiman-Too, as first, you need to climb a series of stairs to get to the top; there are several viewpoint platforms to have a look and catch your breath. Once you get to the top, the path continues further to the Cave museum, and you can also climb higher to another viewpoint that will be on your right. You will see a path leading there and a sign pointing to the direction of the viewpoint. The entry fee is 20 som, and it takes around 30 minutes the hike to the top.
Have you been? Fairytale Canyon: Visit epic canyon in Kyrgyzstan
CAVE MUSEUM
A very unusual National Historical and Archeological museum was built on the mountain of Suleiman-Too in the Soviet era. Its spiritual meanings are displayed on boards in the ancient Cave museum. You can expect to see archaeological crafts, paintings and handicrafts. It is placed over two floors, and the view from up there is just a nice bonus.
JAYMA BAZAAR
This oriental bazaar is one of Central Asia’s most significant and oldest markets, where you can buy everything literally. This place was a market during the Silk Road days, and today, it is no different. Busy from early morning until late afternoon, if you look for an authentic place, come to Jayma bazaar and spend a couple of hours just walking around and watching what’s going on. Osh bazaar is huge, be prepared for a lot of walking.
LENIN STATUE
It won’t be a day in Kyrgyzstan if you don’t come across the Lenin statue. Just at the edge of Petrovsky Park, there is a big square with an impressive 30-m-tall statue of Lenin.
LIVESTOCK MARKET
If you are in Osh on Sunday morning, the animal market in Osh is a must-visit place. Farmers come every Sunday with their livestock and sell them in the market located just at the edge of the city at the Osh Hippodrome, with the exact location on the app Maps.me. The easiest is to take Yandex to get there.
The place is in absolute chaos, with sheep, cows and farmers running around and trying to sell their animals. It is a truly unique experience; if you like adventure, you will love it. If you’re in Kyrgyzstan, visiting animal markets is one of the top things to do. If you miss the Sunday market in Osh, you can still try to see the one in Karakol, also held on Sunday mornings.
Read more: How to travel to Karakol & Top things to do.
THREE STORY YURT
An unusual sight is a three-story yurt called Alymbek Datkalyn Aykeli, which is a museum showing an exhibition about Alymbek and his family. He fought for Kyrgyz’s independence, and this site is wholly dedicated to his memory. When we visited, the yurt was closed, but it is worth having a look from outside as you will probably walk by this site anyway.
NAVOI PARK
Named after famous poet and writer Alisher Navoi, this park is a favourite place for locals, especially families. When we went there, we were surprised as it felt like entering an amusement park rather than city park. There are gaming areas, a house of horror, rollercoasters, and swings; it speaks for itself, right? This place is not a very quiet area if you want to enjoy nature; however, it is a perfect place to see how locals in Osh live.
LOCAL MAN PLAYING CHEZ
Ensure you thoroughly explore the park until you find the chess area, where older local men play daily. Some of them wear traditional Kyrgyz Kalpak hats and are true chess experts, as you’ll soon notice. It’s a very lovely atmosphere.
TAKE A DIP IN THE POOL
Several hotels in Osh let you use their swimming pool facilities if you want to escape the sweltering summer heat. Go to Hotel Classic, Osh Nuru or Sun Rise.
SOVIET MURALS
Keep your eyes open and seek the Soviet murals on the sides of the buildings. They represent the Soviet ideology and sometimes reflect the building’s purposes. You will find these decorative murals in the city centre of Osh in multiple locations. Keep your eyes open.
WHERE TO GET AUTHENTIC FOOD IN OSH
It is not a secret that Jakub and I weren’t very impressed by Kyrgyz’s food. As a vegetarian, we had unbelievably hard times finding food. But luckily, Osh is an entirely different story. It is a foodie destination with many vegetarian and meat options. You can expect many manti, Kyrgyz dumplings filled with pumpkin, potatoes or meat. They even have their special kind, which cannot be found anywhere else in Kyrgyzstan.
Coffee house Brio – a place for expats and cool kids of Osh. You will see the atmosphere is very Western the moment you step inside. Get a delicious coffee, cake or some small food. This place has a vibe.
Oybek Manti – Our favourite restaurant in Kyrgyzstan. Maybe in the whole of Central Asia. This bustling eatery serves different kinds of manti; our favourite was a Little Manti filled with potatoes and Manti with pumpkin. You get a side of flavoured onion, and to drink, there is a traditional Kyrgyz compot.
There are many eateries in and around Osh bazaar, where you can try Manti or Samsa. Everywhere we randomly tried, it was delicious.
HOW TO GET TO OSH
You have three options on how to get to Osh from Bishkek. The quickest is a 40 minutes flight. For the most scenic and enjoyable, choose a shared taxi. We did that, and the 12 hours ride through one of the most majestic mountains and lakes was unforgettable, read the full report below. The last option is Trans Asia Express, which is an adventurous night cargo bus.
Essential reading: How to Get From Bishkek to Osh, Kyrgyzstan 2023
Coming from Uzbekistan? Or, going to Uzbekistan after? Then it is very easy, as the border is just 8 km away from Osh. You can read a full report on the overland border crossing between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan here.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
Kyrgyzstan is a specific country to travel to as you get to High altitudes of over 3000m, take a horse ride or do any other adventurous stuff. Your travel insurance probably doesn’t cover these activities, and it is important to check before you come that you have an upgraded version which covers these things. One of a few insurance providers that provide full coverage of hiking activities, horse riding tours, high altitude trekking & much more is IATI Insurance. They also cover expenses regarding Covid 19, and you can arrange it even if you’re already travelling. As a reader of Broken Navigation, you also get an exclusive 5% discount for any travel insurance you choose.
Get your 5% discount with IATI Insurance through this link.
WHERE TO STAY IN OSH
Choosing where to stay in Osh might get a bit overwhelming, as the hostels are across the city.
Budget I Sunny Hostel – many alpinists and backpackers meet in this place. We stayed four nights and felt really well in a good community of travellers. You can stay in a private room or dorms, there is a kitchen, and you can arrange lots of hikes and activities through the reception. It is also possible to buy gas for your camping stove here.
Budget I Lovely Home for you – another place where travellers meet is Lovely Home For You. There is a nice garden where you can relax, and they also help you organise hiking activities.
Mid-Range I Art Hotel Osh – this hotel offers more luxury and comfort than the other options in the area. The rooms are nicely decorated, and breakfast is included in the price. You can hire a bike if you like exploring the area on a bicycle.
MORE FROM KYRGYZSTAN
Four day hike over Ala Kul Lake pass: Epic hike in Kyrgyzstan
Top things to do in Karakol & The Best Day Trips
Korday Border Crossing: Almaty to Bishkek (Kazakhstan-Kyrgyzstan)
Visit Osh: Our favourite city in Kyrgyzstan
A quick guide to visiting Fairytale Canyon, Kyrgyzstan
More from central asia
Kazakhstan
Natural reserve in Kazakhstan: Aksu Zhabagly
Best day and multi-day trips from Almaty
uzbekistan
Uzbek ghost town Moynaq and Aral Sea: Visit the ship cemetery
How to travel by train in Uzbekistan: Epic train rides
2 weeks itinerary & Uzbekistan ultimate guide
SAVE IT!
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Book your flight
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Find your acommodation
On Booking.com we always find the best deals for accommodation. Another great option for cheap accommodation is Hostelworld.
Travel insurance
We always recommend IATI Travel Insurance which offers excellent plans. As a reader of Broken Navigation, get an exclusive 5% discount.
For Europeans Truetraveller offers perfect travel insurance for the best price.
Explore more with Tours
Some places are better off explored with a knowledgeable guide. Or, if you simply want to save time and hassle, we recommend GetYourGuide. Another great option that also has an amazing range of activities is Viator.
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