Afghanistan · Local picks
100+ Places to Visit in Afghanistan
These are the places worth knowing in Afghanistan, from Babur's Gardens and Herat's Friday Mosque to the Blue Mosque of Mazar-i-Sharif and the lakes of Band-e Amir. Read current travel advice first, and confirm opening and access rules locally, as they change often.
Places to Visit in Kabul
Nature and Outdoors
- Babur's Gardens (Bagh-e Babur) (Deh Mazang)
The terraced Mughal garden where Emperor Babur is buried, with plane trees and valley views. - Koh-e Asamai (TV Hill) (Central Kabul)
The hill where kites fly on Fridays and the whole city spreads out below. - Qargha Reservoir (Qargha)
A lake in the hills west of the city where Kabul families spend their Fridays. - Paghman Gardens (Paghman)
Orchards and gardens in the cool foothills, with King Amanullah's triumphal arch. - Shahr-e Naw Park (Shahr-e Naw)
A central park where men gather to talk, play and drink tea.
Arts and Culture
- National Museum of Afghanistan (Darul Aman)
Buddhist sculpture, Islamic metalwork and treasures that survived decades of war. - Murad Khani old city (Murad Khani)
Restored traditional houses with carved wooden screens in Kabul's old quarter. - Turquoise Mountain (Murad Khani) (Murad Khani)
Workshops where woodworkers, calligraphers and jewellers keep Afghan crafts alive. - Ziarat-e Sakhi (Karte Sakhi)
A revered shrine on the hillside, busy with pilgrims and families.
Things to Do
- Darul Aman Palace (Darul Aman)
King Amanullah's 1920s palace, restored after decades as a ruin. - Shah-Do Shamshira Mosque (Old City)
An unusual yellow mosque with a European style facade beside the Kabul River. - Pul-e Khishti Mosque (Old City)
One of Kabul's largest mosques, at the heart of the old bazaar district. - Bala Hissar (Bala Hissar)
The ancient fortress on the hill above the old city, when access is allowed. - Taq-e Zafar (Paghman)
A triumphal arch built in the 1920s to mark Afghan independence. - Mausoleum of Nadir Shah (Teppe Maranjan)
A hilltop royal tomb with wide views over the eastern city. - Mausoleum of Timur Shah Durrani (Old City)
The octagonal brick tomb of an eighteenth century Afghan king. - Abdul Rahman Mosque (Deh Afghanan)
Kabul's grand mosque, a landmark near the commercial centre. - Kabul Zoo (Deh Mazang)
A city zoo by the river, popular with families on weekends. - Bagh-e Bala Palace (Karte Parwan)
A domed hilltop palace built for Amir Abdur Rahman Khan.
Shopping and Markets
- Mandawi Market (Old City)
A dense maze of spice sellers, dried fruit stalls and rice merchants. - Chicken Street (Shahr-e Naw)
The classic street for carpets, lapis lazuli, embroidery and antiques. - Ka Faroshi Bird Market (Old City)
A narrow lane of songbirds and fighting partridges, unchanged for generations. - Shor Bazaar (Old City)
An old trading street of copper, cloth and household goods. - Kabul Flower Street (Gul Forushi) (Shahr-e Naw)
Florists and wedding decorators in a colourful central lane.
Stays
- Hotel Inter-Continental Kabul (Bagh-e Bala)
The hilltop state owned hotel that has hosted visitors since 1969.
Places to Visit in Istalif
Shopping and Markets
- Istalif pottery bazaar (Istalif)
A hillside village famous for its blue glazed pottery and vineyards.
Places to Visit in Panjshir
Nature and Outdoors
- Panjshir Valley (Panjshir)
A dramatic river valley north of Kabul, subject to separate security advice.
Arts and Culture
- Tomb of Ahmad Shah Massoud (Bazarak)
The hilltop memorial to the commander known as the Lion of Panjshir.
Places to Visit in Salang
Nature and Outdoors
- Salang Pass (Parwan)
The high road and tunnel over the Hindu Kush between Kabul and the north.
Places to Visit in Herat
Things to Do
- Friday Mosque of Herat (Masjid-e Jami) (Old City)
One of the great tiled mosques of the Islamic world. - Herat Citadel (Qala Ikhtiyaruddin) (Old City)
A restored fortress over the old city with a small museum and wide views. - Gazargah Shrine (Gazargah)
The shrine of the Sufi poet Khwaja Abdullah Ansari, with a carved marble tomb. - Pul-e Malan (Guzara)
An old brick bridge across the Hari Rud, said to be centuries old.
Arts and Culture
- Friday Mosque tile workshop (Old City)
Craftsmen making tile mosaic by hand to repair the mosque walls. - Musalla Minarets (Musalla)
Leaning Timurid minarets, the remains of Queen Gawhar Shad's great complex. - Gawhar Shad Mausoleum (Musalla)
The ribbed dome tomb of the Timurid queen in a quiet garden. - Tomb of Jami (Herat)
The resting place of the fifteenth century Persian poet Jami. - Shahzadeh Abdullah Shrine (Herat)
A small tiled Timurid shrine away from the crowds. - Chahar Su Cistern (Old City)
A restored domed water cistern at the centre of the old city. - Herat National Museum (Herat Citadel)
Archaeology and history displays inside the restored citadel.
Shopping and Markets
- Chahar Su Bazaar (Old City)
Covered lanes around the old city crossroads, full of traders.
Nature and Outdoors
- Takht-e Safar (Herat)
A hillside park and terraced garden where Herati families picnic.
Places to Visit in Jam
Arts and Culture
- Minaret of Jam (Ghor)
A twelfth century UNESCO listed minaret in a remote mountain gorge.
Places to Visit in Chisht-e Sharif
Arts and Culture
- Domes of Chisht-e Sharif (Chisht-e Sharif)
Twelfth century domed tombs in the birthplace of the Chishti Sufi order.
Places to Visit in Mazar-i-Sharif
Things to Do
- Blue Mosque (Shrine of Hazrat Ali) (City Centre)
The blue tiled shrine and pigeon filled courtyard at the heart of the city. - Bala Hisar of Balkh (Balkh)
The vast earthen walls of the ancient mother of cities. - Takht-e Rustam (Samangan)
A Buddhist stupa carved down into solid rock with cave monasteries beside it. - Friendship Bridge (Hairatan)
The bridge over the Amu Darya to Uzbekistan, a symbol of Soviet era history. - Rawza Park (City Centre)
Gardens around the shrine where families gather in the evening.
Nature and Outdoors
- White pigeons of the Blue Mosque (City Centre)
Feed the famous white pigeons in the shrine courtyard.
Shopping and Markets
- Bazaars around the Blue Mosque (City Centre)
Carpets, karakul hats, coats and dried fruit around the shrine.
Events
- Buzkashi matches (Dasht-e Shadian)
The horseback national sport, played on winter Fridays on the city outskirts.
Arts and Culture
- Green Mosque (Khwaja Abu Nasr Parsa Shrine) (Balkh)
A fluted turquoise dome in the centre of Balkh. - Shrine of Rabia Balkhi (Balkh)
The tomb of the first woman poet of the Persian language. - Noh Gonbad Mosque (Balkh)
One of Afghanistan's oldest mosques, with carved stucco columns.
Places to Visit in Bamiyan
Things to Do
- Bamiyan Buddha niches (Bamiyan Valley)
The vast empty niches of the Buddhas destroyed in 2001. - Shahr-e Gholghola (Bamiyan)
The ruined hilltop city destroyed by Genghis Khan in 1221. - Shahr-e Zohak (Bamiyan)
A red fortress clinging to the cliff above the river confluence.
Arts and Culture
- Salsal niche (Bamiyan Valley)
The taller western niche, once home to a 55 metre Buddha. - Shahmama niche (Bamiyan Valley)
The eastern niche with caves that once held painted murals. - Bamiyan cave monasteries (Bamiyan Valley)
Hundreds of caves around the niches, once chapels and monks' cells.
Nature and Outdoors
- Dragon Valley (Darya-e Ajdahar) (Bamiyan)
A split rock ridge tied to a local legend of Ali slaying a dragon. - Band-e Amir National Park (Band-e Amir)
A chain of six blue lakes held back by natural travertine dams. - Band-e Haibat (Band-e Amir)
The largest lake, with a shrine and the classic terraced wall. - Band-e Panir (Band-e Amir)
A smaller lake reached on foot along the valley. - Band-e Pudina (Band-e Amir)
The lake of mint, a quiet spot away from the main crowds. - Band-e Zulfiqar (Band-e Amir)
A long lake named after Ali's sword, best seen from the ridge. - Band-e Gholaman (Band-e Amir)
One of the smaller lakes, often dry or shallow late in the year. - Band-e Qambar (Band-e Amir)
The smallest lake, rarely visited by tourists. - Kakrak Valley (Bamiyan)
A side valley with caves and a smaller Buddha niche. - Foladi Valley (Bamiyan)
Villages, caves and walking routes towards the Koh-e Baba. - Koh-e Baba mountains (Bamiyan)
High peaks above the valley for summer treks with local guides. - Bamiyan valley walk (Bamiyan)
Walk through poplar groves and potato fields beneath the cliffs.
Shopping and Markets
- Bamiyan Bazaar (Bamiyan)
The main street of shops, bakeries and tea houses below the cliffs.
Places to Visit in Kandahar
Things to Do
- Mausoleum of Ahmad Shah Durrani (Old City)
The tomb of the founder of modern Afghanistan. - Chilzina (Forty Steps) (Old Kandahar)
Steps cut into a cliff leading to a Mughal inscription. - Old Kandahar citadel ruins (Old Kandahar)
The ruins of the city that Nader Shah destroyed in 1738.
Arts and Culture
- Shrine of the Cloak (Kherqa Sharif) (Old City)
A revered shrine said to hold a cloak of the Prophet Muhammad. - Baba Wali Shrine (Arghandab)
A hillside shrine above the Arghandab river. - Mausoleum of Mirwais Hotak (Kandahar)
The tomb of the eighteenth century Pashtun leader.
Nature and Outdoors
- Arghandab Valley orchards (Arghandab)
Pomegranate orchards along the river, famous across the region.
Shopping and Markets
- Kandahar Old City bazaar (Old City)
Busy lanes of embroidery, spices and Kandahari pomegranates.
More to Explore
We are still checking these with fresh sources, so confirm opening times before you go.
- National Archives of Afghanistan (Salang Wat, Kabul)
Historic manuscripts and documents held in a nineteenth century palace. - Afghanistan National Gallery (Asmayi Wat, Kabul)
Paintings by Afghan artists in an old house near the city centre. - Kabul Serena Hotel (Shahr-e Naw, Kabul)
Kabul's best known international hotel, if it is still operating under current management. - Kabul Old City kebab stalls (Mandawi, Kabul)
Charcoal grilled kebabs and fresh naan around the Mandawi market. - Mandawi tea houses (Mandawi, Kabul)
Simple chaikhanas pouring green tea for traders and porters. - Sufi Restaurant (Shahr-e Naw, Kabul)
Afghan dishes served on cushions in a traditional style dining room. - Friday kite flying (Koh-e Asamai, Kabul)
Watch kite fighting on the hills above the city on Friday afternoons. - Herati glass sellers (Old City, Herat)
Handblown glass in deep blue and green, a Herat speciality. - Herat carpet bazaar (Old City, Herat)
Handwoven carpets from Herat and the western provinces. - Herat dried fruit and pistachio stalls (Old City, Herat)
Raisins, figs and pistachios from the surrounding province. - Herat Serai Hotel (Herat, Herat)
A hotel used by visitors to Herat, if still operating. - Herat kebab houses (Old City, Herat)
Simple grills turning out kebabs and Herati palao. - Herat old city chaikhana (Old City, Herat)
Traditional tea houses where Heratis sit over green tea. - Khwaja Ghaltan Shrine (Herat, Herat)
A local shrine where tradition holds that pilgrims roll down the slope. - Nowruz at the Blue Mosque (City Centre, Mazar-i-Sharif)
The traditional new year gathering, now discouraged, so check before planning. - Mela-e Gul-e Surkh (Mazar-i-Sharif, Mazar-i-Sharif)
The spring red tulip festival in the hills, if it takes place. - Mazar palao houses (City Centre, Mazar-i-Sharif)
Uzbek style rice dishes served in simple local restaurants. - Mazar chaikhanas (City Centre, Mazar-i-Sharif)
Tea houses near the shrine where pilgrims rest. - Barat Hotel (Mazar-i-Sharif, Mazar-i-Sharif)
A city hotel used by business visitors, if still operating. - Turkmen carpet sellers (City Centre, Mazar-i-Sharif)
Deep red Turkmen carpets woven in the northern provinces. - Marmul Gorge (Marmul, Mazar-i-Sharif)
A rocky gorge south of the city in the Alborz hills. - Roof of Bamyan Hotel (Bamiyan, Bamiyan)
A hillside hotel with views across the valley to the Buddha niches. - Bamiyan guesthouses (Bamiyan, Bamiyan)
Simple family run guesthouses that can arrange local drivers. - Bamyan Ski Challenge (Koh-e Baba, Bamiyan)
A winter ski race in the Koh-e Baba, held in some past years. - Pedal boats on Band-e Haibat (Band-e Amir, Bamiyan)
A summer favourite with Afghan families, subject to current rules. - Bamiyan tea houses (Bamiyan, Bamiyan)
Bread, potatoes and green tea in simple bazaar eateries. - Kandahari embroidery sellers (Old City, Kandahar)
Fine khamak embroidery, a Kandahar speciality. - Kandahar pomegranate harvest (Arghandab, Kandahar)
Autumn harvest season when pomegranate stalls fill the markets. - Kabul Polytechnic Hill viewpoint (Karte Mamorin, Kabul)
Views over western Kabul from the hill near the old campus. - Kabul River Promenade (Old City, Kabul)
Watch daily life along the river through the old city. - Herat pine avenues (Herat, Herat)
Pine lined boulevards shaded through the hot summer months. - Mazar melon market (Mazar-i-Sharif, Mazar-i-Sharif)
Late summer piles of northern melons, famous across Afghanistan.