City guide · Afghanistan
Kabul
Kabul is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan.
4 ready itineraries · 3, 5, 7, 10-day plans
Kabul is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is within the jurisdiction of Kabul District and has an estimated population of 5,333,284 people.
Located in the eastern half of the country, forming part of the Kabul Province, the city is administratively divided into five zones and 22 municipal districts. The native population of Kabul primarily speaks Persian, locally referred to as Persian Dari, using regional Dari dialects with a distinctive Kabuli accent.
- Best for
- First-time visitors who want Kabul without a car. The 3-day plan stays inside walking range of City.
- Skip if
- Skip Kabul if you only want a beach week or an airport layover. This cluster is for people who will walk most days.
Pick a trip length
One plan per length — open it and walk the days in order.
- 3days3-day itineraryA long weekend walking Kabul.Open plan →
- 5days5-day itineraryPopularA first visit to Kabul with room for one extra neighborhood.Open plan →
- 7days7-day itineraryA slower week in Kabul, with one day outside town.Open plan →
- 10days10-day itineraryFirst-time visitors who want a full Kabul trip with day trips.Open plan →
5-day preview
Skim the walking days, then open the full plan.
- 1
Museums
Walk Museums in Kabul. Start at National Museum of Afghanistan, then National Gallery of Afghanistan and National Archives of Afghanistan. Stay on foot.
National Museum of Afghanistan · National Gallery of Afghanistan · National Archives of Afghanistan
- 2
Mosques and religious sites
Walk Mosques and religious sites in Kabul. Start at Shah-Do Shamshira Mosque, then Id Gah Mosque and Sakhi Shrine. Stay on foot.
Shah-Do Shamshira Mosque · Id Gah Mosque · Sakhi Shrine
- 3
Markets
Walk Markets in Kabul, including Gun market and Bird market.
Gun market · Bird market
- 4
City
Walk City in Kabul. Start at Bagh-e Babur, then Bagh-e Bala and British Cemetery. Stay on foot.
Bagh-e Babur · Bagh-e Bala · British Cemetery · Darul Aman Palace · …
- 5
Day trip toward File:Istalif Village, Kabul Province, Afghanistan.JPG
Leave Kabul for the day. Come back to the same bed.
File:Istalif Village, Kabul Province, Afghanistan.JPG · #Travel permits · Istalif
Where to stay
Bases that fit the walking plan.
Museums
2 to 4 nights
Walking this plan
Base here if you want National Museum of Afghanistan, National Gallery of Afghanistan, National Archives of Afghanistan on foot.
Mosques and religious sites
2 to 4 nights
Walking this plan
Base here if you want Shah-Do Shamshira Mosque, Id Gah Mosque, Sakhi Shrine on foot.
Markets
2 to 4 nights
Walking this plan
Base here if you want Gun market, Bird market on foot.
Getting there & when to go
Lock timing and airport basics early.
Best time
Kabul works year-round for a walking trip. Shoulder months are easier on crowds and hills.
- Shoulder months
- High season
- Low season
- Rain days
Airport
Hamid Karzai International Airport (XXX)
As of 2026, travel to any province in Afghanistan (including Kabul) requires a permit. In Kabul, these can be obtained at the on Shash Darak Road for AFN 1000 each. The Millie Bus (Afghanistan's government-run bus service) operates routes in Kabul, but services are unreliable, and many buses are old. Taxis are the far easier option for getting around the city.
- Public transit from XXX30 to 60 minutes · Local ticket price. Check the operator the week you fly.
- Taxi or licensed ride hail20 to 45 minutes · Treat any number you see online as an estimate, not a quote.
Practical notes
Short reads before you book.
Understand
thumb|right|A view over modern Kabul While the origin of Kabul is unknown, archaeological evidence shows settlement around the 6th century BCE and substantial defensive works dating from at least the 2nd century BCE. From the 1st century CE to the 8th century CE, Kabul and the surrounding basin formed an important center of Buddhism, although for much of this period Kabul was overshadowed by Kapisa, the principal settlement in the Kabul River basin until approximately the mid-7th century.
Throughout its early history, the Kabul region was controlled by numerous political powers, including the Achaemenid Persians, Alexander the Great and his successors, the Seleucid Empire, the Mauryan Empire, the Greco-Bactrian and Indo-Greek kingdoms, the Kushans, the Sasanians, and the Hephthalites. After about 660 CE, Kabul became the seat of the Turk Shahis and subsequently the Hindu Shahis, who resisted Muslim expansion.
Get in
* | url= | email= | address= | lat=34.565861 | long=69.212306 | directions=5 km northeast of the city center | phone=+93 9251-61001 | tollfree= | fax= | hours= | price= | wikipedia=Kabul International Airport | image=Kabul Airport Aerial.jpg | wikidata=Q744802 |lastedit=2023-12-03| content=Has two separate terminals, one for international flights and the other for domestic flights. The airport is a hub for Ariana Afghan Airlines, and Kam Air.
Airport facilities include restaurants, post office and car parking. }} The trip from the airport to the city center via taxi should cost about AFN 300-500 (2026).
Get around
As of 2026, travel to any province in Afghanistan (including Kabul) requires a permit. In Kabul, these can be obtained at the on Shash Darak Road for AFN 1000 each.
The Millie Bus (Afghanistan's government-run bus service) operates routes in Kabul, but services are unreliable, and many buses are old. Taxis are the far easier option for getting around the city.
Stay safe
thumb|right|Heartbreaking scenes are common on the streets of Kabul. The days when one couldn't venture out after sunset in Kabul are over, and safety has significantly improved since the Taliban takeover in 2021.
Remain cautious, however. Kabul is a poverty-stricken city, and if you are recognizable as a foreigner you will stand out.
Related guides
Helpful next pages for Kabul.