Afghanistan travel guide

Getting there

Kabul International Airport is the main gateway, with limited flights from the Gulf and neighbouring countries. Land borders with Pakistan, Iran and Central Asian states exist but conditions and openings change often.

Best time to visit: Apr–Jun and Sep–Oct – mild days in the valleys.

Tougher months: December-February for snow-blocked mountain passes, and July-August for extreme lowland heat.

Weather by month in Kabul

• 5°J●
• 7°F●●
• 13°M●●
• 20°A●●
• 26°M●
• 31°J
• 33°J
• 32°A
• 29°S
• 22°O
• 14°N●
• 8°D●

Average daytime highs in °C; dots show how rainy the month is (one dot dry, three dots wet).

Time zone: Asia/Kabul. Compare with your local time.

Visas: in our passport dataset, 0 of 198 other passports can enter Afghanistan without arranging a visa first (visa-free or visa on arrival), 0 need an e-visa or electronic authorisation, and 198 need a visa in advance. Check your passport.

Background: Visa policy of Afghanistan (Wikipedia).

Official advisory: Level 4: Do Not Travel (U.S. Department of State, updated 2026-02-20). Read the advisory.

Source and more: Afghanistan travel facts on RoamSun

Stay

Most trips to Afghanistan are based around Bamiyan Valley, Band-e Amir National Park or Herat. Pick a base for your main interest, then add day trips rather than moving hotels every night.

Typical daily budget: about US$25–45 for a backpacker and US$60–120 mid-range, per person.

Source: RoamSun Afghanistan page · Browse hotel guides

Connect

Plug types: C, F. Voltage: 220 V. Check your own devices on the plug and currency checker.

Calling code: +93.

Mobile data: read the travel eSIM setup guide before you fly so the plan is installed and ready on landing.

Source: Advinne eSIM guide · RoamSun

Do

• Bamiyan Valley (Central Highlands · heritage): A UNESCO-listed valley of cliff caves, Buddha niches and ruined fortresses set against the Koh-i-Baba mountains.
• Band-e Amir National Park (Central Highlands · nature): Six deep-blue mineral lakes among bare desert cliffs make it one of Central Asia's most striking landscapes.
• Herat (West · historic city): Once a Timurid capital of art and learning, it has a grand mosque, citadel and centuries-old bazaars.
• Kabul (Capital · city): The capital holds the National Museum, Babur's Gardens and lively markets in a bowl of mountains.
• Mazar-i-Sharif (North · pilgrimage city): Famous for its striking Blue Mosque shrine and spring Nowruz celebrations.
• Minaret of Jam (Ghor Province · UNESCO site): A 12th-century tower decorated with intricate brickwork and Quranic inscriptions in a remote valley.
• Panjshir Valley (Northeast · mountain valley): A long green river valley flanked by the Hindu Kush, known for its scenery and orchards.
• Wakhan Corridor (Far northeast · high mountains): A thin high-altitude strip between the Pamirs and Hindu Kush, home to Wakhi and Kyrgyz herders.

Things to do

• Gaze at the Bamiyan cliffs. Stand beneath the vast empty niches where two giant Buddhas once overlooked a green valley ringed by snowy peaks.
• Swim-blue lakes of Band-e Amir. See a chain of impossibly turquoise lakes held back by natural travertine dams in Afghanistan's first national park.
• Admire Herat's Friday Mosque. Wander courtyards covered in shimmering blue and green tilework still made by local craftsmen.
• Explore Herat Citadel. Climb the restored fortress walls said to date back to Alexander's era for views across the old city.
• Visit the Blue Mosque of Mazar-i-Sharif. Watch flocks of white doves circle one of the country's most revered shrines.
• Stroll the Gardens of Babur. Relax in the terraced Mughal-era garden in Kabul where the founder of the Mughal Empire is buried.
• Browse a carpet bazaar. Learn to read the knots and patterns of hand-woven rugs from master traders.
• Taste Kabuli pulao. Try the national dish of fragrant rice topped with carrots, raisins and tender lamb.

Source: full Afghanistan guide on RoamSun

Eat and drink

• Kabuli pulao – rice with lamb, carrots and raisins
• Mantu – steamed dumplings with yogurt sauce
• Bolani – stuffed flatbread
• Kebab – grilled lamb skewers with naan

Source: RoamSun Afghanistan guide

Money and safety

Currency: Afghan afghani (AFN). Currency and plug checker.

Tipping: Not expected but appreciated.

Emergency numbers: 119 police.

• The currency is the afghani; Afghanistan is overwhelmingly a cash economy.
• International cards and ATMs are generally unreliable, so carry enough clean, new US dollar notes to change locally.
• Most governments advise against all travel to Afghanistan – check your government's latest travel advice before planning anything.
• Embassy and consular help may be very limited or unavailable, and travel insurance is often invalid.

Source: RoamSun Afghanistan facts