Bishkek sits at around 800 metres above sea level, which means the air is noticeably fresh and clean compared to many cities. The Ala-Archa gorge is just 40 kilometres away, so many families spend weekends hiking in the mountains. Even within the city, large parks and tree-lined avenues give Bishkek a surprisingly green feel for a capital city.
The centre of Bishkek has wide boulevards and a large open square called Ala-Too Square, where a tall flag of Kyrgyzstan flies. Around the square you can find government buildings, a national museum, and a statue of the legendary hero Manas — the hero of Kyrgyzstan's most famous epic poem. The changing of the guard at the square is a spectacle that draws crowds of visitors.
The Osh Bazaar in Bishkek is one of the most colourful markets in Central Asia. Enormous piles of dried fruits, spices, fresh bread, vegetables and handmade crafts fill long rows of stalls. The smells and sounds are extraordinary — dozens of languages, the scent of spices, and traders calling out in cheerful voices.
Bishkek is also a city of universities, libraries and theatres. Young people from across Kyrgyzstan come to study here. You can eat food from every part of the country in the city's restaurants — from hot beshbarmak to steaming manty dumplings.