Bishkek - Post Report Question and Answers
Are credit cards widely accepted and safe to use locally? Are ATMs common and do you recommend using them? Are they safe to use?
Credit cards accepted widely, ATMs generally safe using common sense. - Jun 2022
In Bishkek, all nice restaurants and grocery stores take credit cards, and I've never heard of any issues with fraud. You'll need cash for small purchases, taxis, shopping at the markets, and for many places outside of Bishkek. - Aug 2018
ATMs probably ok to use. I cash checks. - Sep 2017
Everyone operates on cash. - Jan 2015
There are plenty of ATMs around and we never had a problem using them. Hardly anyone takes credit cards here or at least the kinds of stores I frequented didn't. - May 2014
ATMs are easily available in Bishkek. Some of them dispense US dollars. Most businesses do business in both dollars and local currency, and there is a free and extremely efficient trade between the two currencies, with money changers all over the city. - Dec 2011
