Karakol is the fourth-largest city in Kyrgyzstan and serves as the administrative capital of the Issyk-Kul Region. Located near the eastern tip of Lake Issyk-Kul, the city is situated approximately 150 kilometres from the Kyrgyzstan–China border and 380 kilometres from the national capital, Bishkek.
Formerly known as Przhevalsk, the city covers an area of 44 square kilometres. As of 2021, its resident population was recorded at 84,351. The surrounding geography includes the village of Tüp to the north via highway A363 and the Jeti-Ögüz resort to the southwest.