Gourmet products local specialties and wines Bichkek

The most attractive of Bishkek's markets, west of the city center. Fruit and vegetables, meat and dairy products, spices - you'll find it all here, even exotic fish. One of the large buildings sells fabrics from Turkey, China, the Emirates... and, if you look hard enough, Khan-Atlas fabrics from the Ferghana Valley. Although there are a few local handicraft souvenirs, Osh's bazaar is still largely untouched by mass tourism and you'll find good bargains without being solicited at every stall.

Breeders come from the villages to sell their sheep, horses and cows to the city, sometimes in whole herds. For early risers, and if you haven't had the chance to visit Kyrgyzstan's other major livestock bazaars in Uzgen or Karakol, the Skotski bazaar could be a nice consolation prize. Like the other livestock bazaars, it's mainly active in the mornings, and you'll have the chance to witness some picturesque transactions.

This gigantic bazaar consists of thousands of rail freight containers bought from Kazakhstan and Russia. On the ground floor the shop, upstairs the stocks. It is mainly wholesalers who come to Dordoy, a gigantic brewery of goods from China and Turkey supplying the bazaars of China, India, Russia and the whole of the former USSR. Costumes, fabrics, leather, carpets, ceramics, traditional clothing and even modern DIY and electronic products: everything can be bought and sold in Dordoy.