Almaty to Bishkek flights
Bishkek lies 193 km (120 mi) west of Almaty, +1 h on the clock. What the numbers say about getting there, and where to book.
A nonstop flight would take about 1 h gate to gate, based on the distance and typical cruise speed with taxi and climb allowed for; connecting itineraries add the layover on top.
| Almaty | Bishkek | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Kazakhstan | Kyrgyzstan |
| Population | 2 million | 900,000 |
| Elevation | 783 m (2,569 ft) | 767 m (2,516 ft) |
| Time now | UTC+5 (Asia/Almaty) | UTC+6 (Asia/Bishkek) |
| Nearest large airport | ALA, 16 km out | BSZ, 23 km out |
Clocks in Bishkek are 1 h ahead of Almaty right now, so a 1 h journey lands 2 h later by the destination clock.
What changes when you arrive in Bishkek
Crossing from Kazakhstan into Kyrgyzstan: money changes from the Tenge to the Som (KGS); the dialling code becomes +996; the emergency number is http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q25648794 / http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q25648798.
Airports at each end
Leaving Almaty
Almaty is served by 2 airports with scheduled flights within 100 km. The closest large one is Almaty International Airport (ALA), 16 km (10 mi) from the centre, whose 14,764-ft runway is long enough for long-haul wide-body aircraft. The alternatives are Issyk-Kul International Airport (IKU, 76 km).
Arriving in Bishkek
Bishkek is served by one airport with scheduled flights. The closest large one is Manas International Airport (BSZ), 23 km (14 mi) from the centre, whose 13,780-ft runway is long enough for long-haul wide-body aircraft.
| Airport | Code | From centre | Longest runway | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manas International Airport | BSZ | 23 km (14 mi) | 13,780 ft | 2,058 ft |
Book a flight to Bishkek
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Flights are sold here by AirOrSeaTravel through our booking partner, Nuitée, which takes the payment; the ticket is issued by the airline. How this works.
Staying in Bishkek
Our booking partner lists 452 places to stay in Bishkek. Of the 231 with a star rating, the largest group is 3-star (117), and 6 are five-star. Across 96 properties with at least 50 reviews, the average guest score is 8.7 out of 10. Guests have left 54,852 reviews in total.
Book a hotel in Bishkek
Live rooms and prices from our booking partner, booked and paid for here. Free cancellation is marked where it applies.
Common questions
How far is Bishkek from Almaty?
193 km (120 mi) in a straight line, west of Almaty.
How long does it take to get from Almaty to Bishkek by air?
About 1 h, estimated from distance and typical speeds for a nonstop flight. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Almaty and Bishkek?
Bishkek is 1 h ahead at the moment (Asia/Bishkek against Asia/Almaty).
Which airports are used for Almaty to Bishkek flights?
Typically Almaty International Airport (ALA) to Manas International Airport (BSZ).
What currency do I need in Bishkek?
The Som (KGS).
Where can I stay in Bishkek?
Our booking partner lists 452 places to stay in Bishkek, bookable on this site.
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.