Transportation in Osh
Transportation in Osh can be a confusing, despite the city being not as big as Bishkek. To make things as simple and clear as possible, I have outlined the general information about the transportation in, arond and from Osh city.
But please keep in mind, that prices, routes, and conditions change from season to season. We aim to update them annually. Please, let us know if any of the provided information was outdated.
Table of Content
Arriving to Osh
Let’s make it simple. We assume you are coming to Osh (I hope you are). You may fly to Osh and land at the local international airport. You may also arrive by land from Uzbekistan by crossing the Dostuk/Dostlik checkpoint. Either way, there are several options for getting to the city center (widely called as Aravanskaya). Major sights, as well as the best hotels and restaurants, are located at or not far from Aravanskaya. Here are the scenarios for your arrival:
- You just landed at the Osh International Airport
- You crossed the border from Uzbekistan
- You drove to Osh from Bishkek or any other location and arrived at the new or old Bus Station
- You had the private taxi and it brought you right to your hotel (ignore)
1. Osh Airport
The Osh airport receives flights, predominantly from Bishkek and Russia. The airport is not far from the city center and there are several ways you can get from there to the city:
- Private/shared taxi: Cabs typically cost 250-300 KGZ ($3.5-4) to get to/from airport to the city. But if you get to share it with other passengers it can be as cheap as 100 KGZ ($1.5)/person.
- Public Transportation: Marshrutkas are mini-buses that serve as one of the basic public transportation units. Right outside the airport, there is a bus stop. There you can wait for marshrutka 107.
Marshrutka label or taxi | Arriving location | Price |
107 | Jayma-Bazar | 15 KGS |
Private taxi | Anywhere | 300-400 KGS |
If you don’t want to deal with shared taxis or public transportation, but rather arrange a private driver, read below.
2. Dostuk/Dustlik Border-pass
As soon as you cross border from Uzbekistan, you will see several lines of marshrutkas and shared taxis
Marshrutka label or taxi | Arriving location | Price |
138 | Kurmanjan Datka – Aitiev street | 15 KGS |
137 | Lenin – Navoi intersection | 15 KGS |
116 | Kurmanjan Datka – Aitiev streets | 15 KGS |
Private taxi | Agreed location | 200-350 KGS |
If you don’t want to deal with shared taxis or public transportation after the exhausting border pass, but rather arrange a private driver, read below.
3. Arriving to Osh by private/shared taxi
It is better if you try to negotiate with your private/shared taxi driver to be dropped off at the place where you will stay in Osh. If you don’t know where that will be, then the car will most likely drop you either at the New Bus Station, Old Bus Station, or near Kelechek Bazaar.
The New Bus Station is unfortunately located on the edge of Osh city. You should cross to the opposite side of Kurmanjan-Datka Street from where transportation goes to the south direction.
The best option is to take the marshrutkas labeled 138, 142, 119. These will take you into town by a straight route.
If you don’t mind making a longer loop through the city, you can also take 155, 116, or Bus 13 from directly in front of the bus station.
The Old Bus Station is located at the head of Osh Bazaar and not far from Aravanskaya.
Kelechek Bazar is close to the Old Bus station and the city center. Therefore, you can easily manage to get to the center or any other place by walking or public transport.
If you are looking to arrange a private car to Osh from Bishkek or any other location, please read below.
To get a visual understanding, please, open the map below and check/uncheck the needed routes.
Moving inside the city
1. Walking
If you are among the vast majority of tourists who stay at one of the hotels or hostels in the center of town, then I would definitely recommend walking. The center of the city is extremely walkable and unites major tourist sites, the best cafes and restaurants and almost anything else you would want to do.
2. Marshrutka (mini-bus)
Marshrutka is a specific term referring to public transportation consisting of mini-buses. Each mini-bus has a number and follows a specific route (displayed on a small board at the front window in Cyrillic). These vehicles play a major role in Osh’s public transportation. Some tourists complain about using marshrutkas because of overcrowding and limited space. Imagine being among 15-20 people crammed into one of these in the 40-degree heat in summer. Couple that with being tall (having to stand with your head ducked) or carrying a backpack. Now you see why even locals try to avoid them. Yet, the cheap cost of marshrutkas makes the attractive.
Two types of taxis you will see in Osh: private and corporate. I strongly recommend using corporate cabs as you won’t have to negotiate the price and end up overcharged. The most common and easy way is to use the Yandex (the Uber analog in post-Soviet countries). You can download their app with the following link.
On how to book a private car to move inside Osh, read below.
Leaving Osh
Getting to the airport:
- From the bus stop next to the Osh State University, take marshrutka 142
- Order Yandex taxi ride to the airport for around 300-400 soms ($3.5-4.5).
- I can also help you with arranging a private car to the airport (check below)
Getting to the Dostuk border pass:
- From the bus stop next to Osh State University take 138, 116,
- Yandex taxi to the border will cost roughly 120-250 soms ($1.5-3)
Getting to the New Bus station:
- From the bus stop next to the Osh State University, take 138, 142, 116
- Taxi
Old Bus Station: From here, marshrutkas and shared taxis leave to Sary-Tash, Sary-Mogol, Irkeshtam and other destinations of the Alay region
Kelechek Bazar: Shared taxis leave for Bishkek and Jalal-Abad
To get a visual understanding, please, open the map below and check/uncheck the needed routes.
Arrange a private car in Osh
If you don’t want to deal with public transportation and shared taxis (or you are simply short of time in Osh), feel free to contact me and arrange a private car. After years of working in tourism, I have obtained the contacts of reliable drivers. It can be for transfer to/from the airport and border. It can be a private car to take you around Osh or to any other location in Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. Whether you need an ordinary sedan, 4×4 or minivan, all is manageable depending on your needs and budget.
Fill the contact form below to receive my recommendations.