How to get from Almaty to Bishkek by bus (Updated 2024)

If you’re backpacking in Central Asia, chances are you’ll at some point be in either Almaty or Bishkek. So how about getting from one to the other? Actually, it’s quite simple!

Many people do that, both the odd backpacker and the regular Central Asian folk. It’s also relatively easy with the daily direct buses connecting the two major cities.

Here I’ll tell you how to take the Almaty to Bishkek bus with all the details. I’ll also share my experience crossing the Qorday border.

Quick Info about the Almaty to Bishkek Bus

• Price from Almaty to Bishkek: 3280 KZT (~7.5 USD);
• Distance: 320 km;
• Duration: 5:30 h;
• Departs from: Sayran Bus Station;
• Arrives at: Bishkek Western Bus Station.
• Luggage allowed: Two pieces of luggage of no more than 120x60x40 cm per passenger for free.

Take the bus from Sayran Station in Almaty

The bus station in Almaty that serves the route to Bishkek is called SAYRAN International Bus Station and this is the link to check the timetables, routes, prices, and to buy tickets online.

The name of the station in Cyrillic is “Автовокзал Сайран” (Avtovokzal Sayran) in Russian or Сайран Автобекеті in Kazakh.

To get to the bus station from anywhere in Almaty city, take one of those buses: 7, 16, 19, 37, 48, 59, 63, 65, 126, 201, or 206. Just check the route on the application 2GIS which is the Central Asian equivalent of Google Maps (it even gives directions offline!).

Sayran Station is not that big. It’s hard to get lost. Once inside the main lobby look for the window that sells international tickets, mainly the one for Bishkek.

The bus from Almaty to Bishkek runs 5 times a day at 08:00, 10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 18:00.

The ticket costs 3280 KZT / 7.50 USD.

A few years ago it wasn’t possible to buy the tickets online but now it is!

How to buy tickets online

The web portal for booking tickets online is relatively new and is only in Russian or Kazakh. It can be automatically translated into English but some of the functionality breaks (auto-translate the page back and forth if that happens)

It’s still very easy to book tickets online even if you can’t read Cyrillic.

Step 1: Go to the Schedule page for Almaty to Bishkek buses

Step 2: Pick a date, time, and your desired seat

Step 3: On the next screen, enter your contact details (“Укажите ваши контакты”) and passenger details (“Укажите данные пассажира”) and then click “Go to Payment” (“Перейти к оплате”).

Step 4: Pick an option to pay. Google Pay is probably the most convenient option if you don’t have a Kazakh Card or a Kaspi account (money in Kazakhstan is dominated by Kaspi).

Step 5: Keep the e-ticket confirmation safe.

If any of those steps fail you, just go to the station directly – the chance of all seats selling out on the bus is slim to none. Buy tickets directly at the station and board the next available one (that’s what I did!)

Qorday Border Crossing

After a short 10-minute toilet break and maybe some samsas (mmm, tasty, hot oil drizzling samsas!) and around 5 and a half hours on the bus, you will be at the Kazakh-Kyrgyz border point at Qorday.

You probably don’t need a visa for Kyrgyzstan, unless you hold a weaker passport. Almost every country is eligible for an eVisa, if not exempt. You can check online here.

At the border, get off the bus, take your luggage, and follow the crowd. When I was there it wasn’t too crowded, but I’ve heard that it can get quite mad at times.

Also, Central Asian people do not believe in queueing. They will cut in front given the smallest opening. Stand your ground!

The border check was pretty straightforward for me. I’m translating from Russian:

I: Privyet, here’s my passport.
Border Officer: …Where’s your visa?
I: I don’t need a visa.
B.O. [checks] Yes, that’s true. Welcome to Kyrgyzstan.

Apparently, even the border officers are not used to easy visa-free travel for most yet, so old habits kick in. Anyway, once you pass Kyrgyz Immigration, you’re met with this street sign of the first village in Kyrgyzstan:

Once inside Kyrgyzstan, you have to either wait for your bus to pass through customs or ditch it and take one of the frequent marshrutkas bound for Bishkek.

The city is very close (~20 km) and your bus may be stuck at the border for over an hour. Keep that in mind when you make your decision.

Also, the Almaty to Bishkek bus eventually reaches the Western Bus Station in Bishkek, which is 4 km from the city center, so you’ll have to take a marshrutka/taxi to the city center anyway.

How to get from Qorday border to Bishkek

I waited 30 minutes for the bus before giving up and hopping on the next marshrutka bound for Bishkek. Pretty much any marshrutka at the border works as all go towards Bishkek. Of course, ask the driver first before you go in.

If you don’t have Kyrgyz Som to pay, there are change bureaus near the border that happily accept USD, EUR, KZT, GBP, and some other currencies too.

Just don’t exchange much as the rate is much better in the city. Read all about money in Kyrgyzstan as a tourist. I exchanged 5 euros at the border to have enough for the marshrutka.

The marshrutka fare is 20-30 KGS /0.2-0.3 EUR. It stops directly in front of TSUM – the big mall in the heart of Bishkek.

In Bishkek

Once in Bishkek, check 2GIS to see which marshrutka to take to your hostel (it gives directions offline!). Chances are it’s close to the center and walking distance away from where the previous marshrutka leaves you.

If you took the bus all the way to the Western Bus Station you need to take bus 224 or 129 to get to TSUM. A taxi through YandexGo costs around 230 KGS / 2.4 EUR.

If you’re traveling onwards to Osh, I suggest you read my smart guide on how to get from Bishkek to Osh including stops in beautiful mountainous places on the way.

If you’re spending more time in Kyrgyzstan, you should check out the tourism hotspot that is Karakol. Here’s how to travel from Bishkek to Karakol.