Currency, Credit Cards and Changing Money in Kyrgyzstan

If you are planning a holiday in Kyrgyzstan, this is what you need to know about currency, cash, and credit cards.

Currency
The official currency in Kyrgyzstan is the som. Paper notes come in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000, and 5,000. Coins come in denominations of 1, 3, 5, and 10.

Taking cash & cards to Kyrgyzstan
There are currency exchange facilities and ATMs on arrival at Bishkek Airport, and in the cities of Bishkek and Karakol.

Credit cards such as Mastercard, Visa & American Express should be accepted at major hotels, and larger shops and restaurants, however please note use of a credit card may come with a fee to cover charges. When visiting smaller hotels / guesthouses and local shops and restaurants, and when travelling outside the main cities and in rural areas then it is unlikely that you will find places which accept payment by card, so we recommend carrying a stock of cash with you rather than relying on your credit card.

If you travel regularly it will pay to apply for one of the specialist credit cards for travellers that offer excellent rates of exchange and charge zero “load” fees when purchasing items. For up-to-date information on the best specialist credit cards for travellers we suggest visiting one of the price comparison websites such as www.moneysupermarket.com or www.travelsupermarket.com.  

Prepaid cards
Prepaid credit cards are now the safest way to travel with "cash", and are much more cost effective and convenient than Travellers Cheques which have become mostly obsolete. We recommend the Caxton FX Global Traveller card which offers a fixed exchange rate at 2.75% below the prevailing interbank rate when spending overseas and withdrawing local currency from ATMs. Unlike credit cards the application process is straightforward, but you need to allow 7 days for delivery of the card. For more information please visit www.caxtonfx.com.

If you have less time there is the Travelex Cash Passport which can be applied for up to 24 hours prior to departure, then picked up at branch in a number of airports (including London Heathrow, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds Bradford, East Midlands, and Newcastle) www.multicurrencycashpassport.com.