Asia · Southern Asia

Afghanistan

Islamic Republic of Afghanistan

Flag of Afghanistan
Local Time
--:--:--
UTC+04:30
🏛️ Capital
Kabul
👥 Population
43,844,000
📐 Area
652,230 km²
💱 Currency
Afghan afghani (؋)
🗣️ Languages
Dari, Pashto, Turkmen
📞 Calling Code
+93
🕐 Time Zones
UTC+04:30
🌐 Region
Asia / Southern Asia

About Afghanistan

Afghanistan is a landlocked nation in South Asia that rewards the adventurous traveler with some of the most breathtaking landscapes on Earth. You'll find soaring mountain ranges including the Hindu Kush, vast desert plains, and fertile river valleys that have shaped civilizations for thousands of years. The country sits at the crossroads of ancient trade routes that once connected China, India, Persia, and the Mediterranean world, leaving behind a rich tapestry of cultural influences that you can still observe today.

Kabul, the capital, offers glimpses of a city working to rebuild and redefine itself. Visitors can explore the historic bazaars filled with dried fruits, spices, and carpets for which the region is famous worldwide. The landscape outside the city shifts dramatically from the green valleys of Panjshir to the stark beauty of the Wakhan Corridor, where the Pamir and Karakoram mountain ranges converge in a remote wilderness unlike anywhere else on the planet.

Despite the challenges that have shaped recent decades, Afghanistan's cultural heritage endures in its music, poetry, and craftsmanship. You'll encounter a people defined by extraordinary resilience and hospitality — the concept of melmastia, or unconditional hospitality to guests, is deeply embedded in Pashtun culture and extends across many ethnic groups. Afghan carpets, lapis lazuli jewelry, and pomegranates from Kandahar represent crafts and agriculture that have sustained communities for centuries. For the traveler willing to engage deeply with a complex destination, Afghanistan offers experiences that few other places on Earth can match.

History & Background

Afghanistan's strategic location at the heart of Asia has made it a crossroads of empires and civilizations for over three millennia. Alexander the Great passed through in 329 BCE, founding the city of Alexandria Ariana near modern Herat. The Silk Road brought Buddhist, Zoroastrian, and later Islamic influences, and the region flourished as a center of Islamic scholarship during the Ghaznavid and Timurid dynasties. The magnificent Friday Mosque of Herat, begun in the 12th century, stands as testament to this golden age of architecture and learning.

The 19th century brought the Anglo-Afghan Wars as Britain and Russia competed for influence in what became known as the Great Game. Afghanistan secured full independence in 1919 under King Amanullah Khan. The Soviet invasion of 1979 began a prolonged period of conflict that continued through the mujahideen resistance, the Taliban's rise in the 1990s, and the post-2001 international presence. Each era has left architectural and cultural marks that historians and visitors can trace across the country's ancient cities and contested landscapes.

Culture & People

Afghan culture is a mosaic of Pashtun, Tajik, Hazara, Uzbek, and Turkmen traditions, each contributing distinct music, dress, and customs to the national fabric. You'll find that hospitality is not merely a social nicety but a moral obligation — guests are treated with extraordinary generosity regardless of the host's own means. Poetry holds a revered place in daily life, with the works of Rumi, who was born in the region, still quoted in conversation and sung at gatherings.

Traditional music featuring the rubab lute and tabla drums accompanies celebrations, while the game of buzkashi — a horseback sport using a goat carcass — serves as both entertainment and a display of skill and strength. Visitors can observe intricate embroidery on traditional dress, particularly the colorful fabrics worn by women in northern provinces. Nowruz, the Persian New Year celebrated in March, brings communities together with feasts, kite flying, and communal games that reflect the region's deep connection to nature and the changing seasons.

Food & Cuisine

Afghan cuisine reflects the country's geography and trade connections, combining Central Asian, South Asian, and Persian influences into dishes of remarkable depth and flavor. You'll find that rice is the centerpiece of most meals — qabuli palaw, a fragrant rice dish layered with lamb, carrots, and raisins, is considered the national dish and is served at celebrations and family gatherings throughout the country. Slow cooking techniques allow cheaper cuts of meat to become tender and richly spiced with cardamom, cumin, and coriander.

Visitors can explore street food culture through bolani, flatbreads stuffed with potato or lentils and pan-fried, or mantu — steamed dumplings filled with minced lamb and topped with a tangy yogurt and tomato sauce. Fresh nan bread emerges from tandoor ovens throughout the day, and no meal is complete without it. Afghanistan's famous dried fruits and nuts — including pistachios, almonds, and mulberries — are sold at every bazaar and make for excellent souvenirs. Green tea flavored with cardamom, called kahwa, accompanies conversation throughout the day.

Top Attractions

  • Band-e-Amir National Park — Afghanistan's first national park features six stunning turquoise lakes separated by natural travertine dams in the Hazarajat highlands, offering hiking and extraordinary natural scenery.
  • Minaret of Jam — A UNESCO World Heritage Site standing 65 meters tall in a remote river gorge, this 12th-century Ghurid minaret is one of the finest examples of Islamic architecture in the world.
  • Herat Old City — The ancient core of Herat preserves a Friday Mosque with stunning tilework, a medieval citadel, and a bazaar where traditional crafts have been practiced for centuries.
  • Buddhas of Bamiyan Valley — Though the giant Buddhist statues were destroyed in 2001, the niches and surrounding caves remain, and the valley itself is one of Afghanistan's most historically layered landscapes.
  • Wakhan Corridor — This remote finger of territory stretching toward China offers trekking through extreme wilderness past Kyrgyz nomad settlements and views of some of the world's highest peaks.
  • Kabul Museum — The National Museum of Afghanistan houses remarkable artifacts spanning 50,000 years of the region's history, including stunning Bactrian gold objects and Gandharan Buddhist art.

Practical Travel Tips

  • Check your government's travel advisory before planning any trip; conditions can change rapidly and many foreign ministries advise against travel to specific regions.
  • Dress conservatively at all times — women should cover hair and wear loose clothing, and men should avoid shorts in public areas.
  • Always carry cash in Afghan afghani (AFN) as international banking cards are not widely accepted outside major hotels in Kabul.
  • Learn a few phrases in Dari, the most widely spoken language; even basic greetings are warmly received and open doors to genuine hospitality.
  • Never photograph people, especially women, without explicit permission, and avoid photographing military installations or checkpoints.
  • Travel with a trusted local guide or fixer who understands current conditions on the ground — this is essential for both safety and cultural navigation.
  • Carry a supply of any prescription medications you need, as reliable pharmacies can be difficult to find outside Kabul.

Visa Overview

Most foreign nationals require a visa to enter Afghanistan, typically obtained through Afghan embassies or consulates abroad. The e-visa system has been available in the past, though functionality varies significantly depending on the governing authority at any given time. Journalists, researchers, and aid workers often require special permissions in addition to standard visas. Given the complex and frequently changing political situation, travelers should contact their nearest Afghan diplomatic mission well in advance and consult their own government's foreign affairs guidance before applying.

Getting Around

Getting around Afghanistan requires careful planning. Domestic flights operated by Kam Air connect major cities including Kabul, Herat, Mazar-i-Sharif, and Kandahar, and flying is strongly preferred over road travel for long distances. Shared taxis and minibuses connect towns but road conditions and security vary enormously by region. In Kabul, motorcycle taxis and private car hire are common, while many visitors working with NGOs or media rely on armored vehicles and professional security drivers for intercity travel.

Safety Notes

Afghanistan remains one of the world's most complex security environments. Armed conflict, kidnapping risk, and improvised explosive devices are serious concerns across many parts of the country. Most Western governments advise against all travel to Afghanistan. Those who do travel — typically journalists, humanitarian workers, or researchers — do so with specialized risk management support, vetted local contacts, and detailed contingency plans. Anyone considering travel should obtain current professional security briefings and maintain constant communication with reliable contacts on the ground.

Live Exchange Rates

Current exchange rates for currencies used in Afghanistan.

Afghan afghani (AFN) ؋
Updated: 2026-10-06
⌕
Currency CodeRate
1INCH 0.146400
AAVE 0.000085
ADA 0.057437
AED 0.056840
AKT 0.020224
ALGO 0.120513
ALL 1.269504
AMD 5.599283
AMP 24.137167
ANG 0.027831
AOA 14.177294
APE 0.096602
APT 0.018851
AR 0.003433
ARB 0.075919
ARS 23.524101
ATOM 0.008501
ATS 0.189900
AUD 0.022209
AVAX 0.001363
AWG 0.027704
AXS 0.011818
AZM 131.557841
AZN 0.026312
BAKE 60.299111
BAM 0.026992
BAT 0.146727
BBD 0.030954
BCH 0.000049
BDT 1.902610
BEF 0.556715
BGN 0.026992
BHD 0.005819
BIF 46.499980
BMD 0.015477
BNB 0.000020
BND 0.019803
BOB 0.185662
BRL 0.077366
BSD 0.015477
BSV 0.000775
BSW 37.611798
BTC 0.000000
BTCB 0.221515
BTG 0.023460
BTN 1.492280
BTT 41,631.219567
BUSD 0.015475
BWP 0.213016
BYN 0.047217
BYR 303.394726
BZD 0.031126
CAD 0.022084
CAKE 0.006329
CDF 35.767701
CELO 0.148821
CFX 0.282064
CHF 0.012873
CHZ 0.925248
CLP 15.059748
CNH 0.103744
CNY 0.103777
COMP 0.000631
COP 49.505918
CRC 7.082155
CRO 0.227915
CRV 0.041984
CSPR 6.067566
CUC 0.015479
CUP 0.370737
CVE 1.521791
CVX 0.006992
CYP 0.008077
CZK 0.337617
DAI 0.015483
DASH 0.000273
DCR 0.000839
DEM 0.026992
DFI 16.934380
DJF 2.753405
DKK 0.103146
DOGE 0.163231
DOP 0.927565
DOT 0.012509
DYDX 0.105930
DZD 2.080542
EEK 0.215933
EGLD 0.003463
EGP 0.811439
ENJ 0.467521
EOS 0.152302
ERN 0.232158
ESP 2.296225
ETB 2.517548
ETC 0.001744
ETH 0.000006
EUR 0.013801
EURC 0.013799
FEI 0.015484
FIL 0.012966
FIM 0.082055
FJD 0.034825
FKP 0.011713
FLOW 0.489172
FLR 2.147192
FRAX 0.015634
FRF 0.090526
FTT 0.059914
GALA 6.388044
GBP 0.011713
GEL 0.040171
GGP 0.011713
GHC 1,819.598953
GHS 0.181960
GIP 0.011713
GMD 1.145482
GMX 0.001763
GNF 136.077984
GNO 0.000127
GRD 4.702552
GRT 0.531547
GT 0.001383
GTQ 0.118113
GUSD 0.015509
GYD 3.230853
HBAR 0.153745
HKD 0.121456
HNL 0.415003
HNT 0.029827
HOT 33.795946
HRK 0.103981
HT 0.424339
HTG 2.022434
HUF 5.069690
ICP 0.004439
IDR 277.277416
IEP 0.010869
ILS 0.047332
IMP 0.011713
IMX 0.084408
INJ 0.002042
INR 1.492280
IQD 20.233914
IRR 27,836.117781
ISK 1.889733
ITL 26.721674
JEP 0.011713
JMD 2.449194
JOD 0.010973
JPY 2.447119
KAS 0.360765
KAVA 0.223254
KCS 0.002039
KDA 1.585262
KES 2.009076
KGS 1.353614
KHR 62.699668
KLAY 0.371615
KMF 6.789447
KNC 0.108053
KPW 13.931395
KRW 20.777559
KSM 0.003021
KWD 0.004784
KYD 0.012866
KZT 7.046433
LAK 347.288293
LBP 1,395.772598
LDO 0.033787
LEO 0.001740
LINK 0.001119
LKR 5.104875
LRC 1.507496
LRD 2.641164
LSL 0.257678
LTC 0.000222
LTL 0.047651
LUF 0.556715
LUNA 0.303083
LUNC 292.708286
LVL 0.009699
LYD 0.099303
MAD 0.154473
MANA 0.149666
MBX 0.523307
MDL 0.277384
MGA 68.539814
MGF 342.699071
MINA 0.114876
MKD 0.849103
MKR 0.000008
MMK 32.489306
MNT 55.643184
MOP 0.125100
MRO 6.196592
MRU 0.619659
MTL 0.005925
MUR 0.733653
MVR 0.239272
MWK 26.788361
MXN 0.279754
MXV 0.031802
MYR 0.063234
MZM 987.896813
MZN 0.987897
NAD 0.257678
NEAR 0.002962
NEO 0.006107
NEXO 0.018200
NFT 64,859.662210
NGN 20.461525
NIO 0.568990
NLG 0.030413
NOK 0.148548
NPR 2.388767
NZD 0.027651
OKB 0.000119
OMR 0.005957
ONE 0.105672
OP 0.115134
ORDI 0.003402
PAB 0.015477
PAXG 0.000004
PEN 0.053290
PEPE 3,578.676874
PGK 0.069729
PHP 0.972684
PI 0.177303
PKR 4.279445
PLN 0.060455
POL 0.141531
PTE 2.766770
PYG 90.417526
QAR 0.056337
QNT 0.000060
QTUM 0.015789
ROL 737.689847
RON 0.073769
RPL 0.008094
RSD 1.620941
RUB 1.313082
RUNE 0.019935
RVN 6.308149
RWF 22.812914
SAND 0.235364
SAR 0.058039
SBD 0.124881
SCR 0.219215
SDD 928.910458
SDG 9.289105
SEK 0.155463
SGD 0.019803
SHIB 2,643.975539
SHP 0.011713
SIT 3.307174
SKK 0.415757
SLE 0.356825
SLL 356.824710
SNX 0.061816
SOL 0.000129
SOS 8.805780
SPL 0.002580
SRD 0.583580
SRG 583.579774
SSP 88.632180
STD 340.510630
STN 0.340511
STX 0.041302
SUI 0.012968
SVC 0.135425
SYP 201.262158
SZL 0.257678
THB 0.520957
THETA 0.066840
TJS 0.142446
TMM 271.576384
TMT 0.054315
TND 0.046320
TOP 0.037276
TRL 761,099.539580
TRX 0.046058
TRY 0.761100
TTD 0.104792
TUSD 0.015489
TVD 0.022209
TWD 0.491893
TWT 0.027112
TZS 40.834799
UAH 0.697081
UGX 62.220523
UNI 0.001747
USD 0.015477
USDC 0.015481
USDD 0.015488
USDP 0.015569
USDT 0.015485
UYU 0.625218
UZS 182.059708
VAL 26.721674
VEB 1,347,636,166.935362
VED 13.476362
VEF 1,347,636.166935
VES 13.476362
VET 1.773564
VND 402.335018
VUV 1.860544
WAVES 0.051879
WEMIX 0.080818
WOO 1.130681
WST 0.043076
XAF 9.052595
XAG 0.000256
XAU 0.000004
XAUT 0.000004
XBT 0.000000
XCD 0.041896
XCG 0.027831
XCH 0.009890
XDC 0.460562
XDR 0.011440
XEC 1,940.855549
XEM 24.651910
XLM 0.071714
XMR 0.000028
XOF 9.052595
XPD 0.000013
XPF 1.646849
XPT 0.000009
XRP 0.010301
XTZ 0.046323
YER 3.655675
ZAR 0.257678
ZEC 0.000012
ZIL 4.241385
ZMK 305.989300
ZMW 0.305989
ZWD 5.601192
ZWG 0.414348
ZWL 1,035.340865

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Cities in Afghanistan 423
Browse all cities and towns
'Ali Khayl Achin Anar Darreh Andarab Andkhvoy Aqchah Asadabad Asmar Awbeh Aybak Azraw Baghlan Baghrami Baghran Bak Bala Morghab Balkh Bamiyan Baraki Barak Batsawul Chaghcharan Chah Ab Chahar Burjak Chakhansur Charikar Dahaneh-ye Ghawri Dalan Pass Daraz gerd Darwishan Darzi Ab Dasht-e Archa Dawlatabad Dawlatabad Deh Rawud Deh Shu Emam Saheb Eshkamesh Eshkashem Eslam Qal'eh Farah Farkhar Fayzabad Gardan Diwal Gaz Ab Gereshk Ghardez Ghazni Ghurian Hazart Imam Herat Hugyani Jabal-os-Saraj Jalalabad Joy Haft Jurm Kabul Karukh Khanabad Khandud Khash Khawst Kholm Khwajeh Ghar Kuhestan Kushk Lashkar Gah Mahmud-e Raqi Maydanshahr Maymanah Mazar-e Sharif Mehtar Lam Mir Bachchekut Mirabad Nader Shah Kawt Nahrin Nuristan Obātu Orgun Paghman Panjab Pol-e Alam Pol-e Khumri Qal'eh-ye Naw Qal'eh-ye Panjeh Qal'eh-ye Zal Qalat-e Ghilzay Qandahar Qarabagh Qarabagh Qarchi Gak Qarqin Qil Qal'eh Qunduz Rostaq Rudbar Sang-e Charak Sangin Sarawbi Shahr-e-naw Bamyan Shahrak Shibarghan Shindand Shulgara Taghab Taloqan Tarin Kawt Tash Gozar Tawraghudi Taywarah Tir Pol Tunian Uruzgan Yangi Qal'eh Zaranj Zareh Sharan Zarghun Shahr Zendejan آب بند آب کمری آسمار آق کپرک آقچه اچین ادرسکن ارغستان ارغنداب ارگون اسدابادښار اسلام قلعه اشکاشم افغان دوشی اله سای الیسگان د مهاجرینو ښارګوټی امام صاحب انار دره اندخوی اندراب اوبه اومنه ایبک بارگی بازار تشکان بازار مالستان بازار يکاولنگ بازارک بالا مرغاب بامیان برکی برکی برک بغران بغلان بگ محمد بگرام بگرامی بل چراغ بلخ بنو بنی حصار بهارک بهارک وسوالۍ ، تخار بهرامچه بورکه پارون پر چمن پروان د مهاجرینو ښارګوټي پساب پسنی پشتون زرغون پغمان پل حصار پل خمری پل علم ښار پل متک پنجاب پوستین پیر نخچیر تالقان ترخج تروې ترين كوت تکزار تگاب تگاب جریه خانه تڼی تورغونډۍ تولک تيوره جاجی میدان جبل‌ سراج جپرهار جرقنه جرم جلال آباد جلگه بهادر جوند چاریکار چال چاه آب چپه دره چخانسور چرخ چشت شریف چک وردګ چمتال چهار باغ چهار بولاق چیچکه حاجی خېل حضرت سلطان حکومتی ازره حکومتی دهنه غوری حیرتان خاص کنړ خان آباد خان نشین خانقاه خدیر خرم و سارباغ خلم خمياب خنجان خواجه بهاالدین خواجه جیران خواجه دو کوه خواجه غار خوست خوشامند خوشی خیربین څوکۍ د پنجوايي بازار د شمولزیانو سيمه د یوسف خېلو بازار دادو دانگام درايم درز آب درقد درۀ نور دشت قلعه دلارام دمحمدآغي ولسوالي ده حیات ده خواهان ده راود ده صلاح ده نوی فرزه دهدادی دهک دواب دور بابا دور رباط دولت آباد دولت آباد دولت شاه دولتیار دي سي ډاډوال رباط سنگی پائین رستاق روی دواب ولسوالی رویی دو آب زرغون شار زرمت زرنج زنده جان زېباک ساغر سپین بولدک سپېره سر پل سرکاڼی سره سروبی سلطانپور سمنگان‎ سنګه ماشه سنگر سنگین سوزمه قلعه سیاه گرد سیغان علاقه داری سیګانه شبرغان شهر بزرگ شهرستان شهرک شهرک اتفاق شور تپه شين کوټ شیخ امیر کلی شیر خان خېل شیرزاد شینډنډ شېرخان بندر ښرنه ښواک صیاد عزت مینه علاقه داری المار علاقه داری خاک جبار علاقه داری شاه جوی علاقه داری قلعه کاه علاقه داری کران و منجان علاقه داری نیش علی آباد علی خېل علی شېر غازی آباد غزنی غورغوری غورک غورماچ غوریان فراه فراه رود فرخار فیروزکوه فیروزی د معلمینو ښارګوټي فیض آباد فیض‌آباد قادس قال زبید قرغان قرقین قرمقل قره باغ قره باغ قلات‎ قلعه قلعه حشمت خان قلعه نعيم قلعه نو قلعۀ زال قلعۀ سنگ تخت قلعۀ فارسی قندوز قوش‌تپ قیصار كربوړی كوز نرنگ کابل کارېزک کامدېش‎ کان عزت کجکی علیا کرخ کږه کشک کهنه کشم کلدار کلفگان کلکان کندهار کهسان کهمرد ولسوالی کوکران کوه صياد ګرمسير گذره گردیز گرزیوان گرشک گلبهار گلران گوسفندی گوشته گیزاب لاش چوين لال خان آباد لانجی خېل وسطی لښکرګاه لعل لعلپوره ماڼوگی متا خان محمود راقی مردیان مرکز حکومت سلطان بکواه مرکز سيد آباد مرکز کجیران مرمل مروره مزار شريف مسجد جامع مشخېل معروف مقر مقر منگجک مهترلام مهمند دره مورچاق موسى قلعه ميران میدان ښار میر بچه کوټ میمنه مېست ناخوني نادر شاه كوټ نادر شاه کوټ نادعلي ناړی ناوه نجراب نهرین نو زاد نور گل نیلی هرات هوتل واشیر وټه پور وحدت ورسج ولسوالی میرامور يمگان یحیى خېل یعقوبی یفتل سفلی ینگی قلعه یوسف خېل

Visa Requirements

Check what visa a citizen of Afghanistan needs to enter any country.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the capital of Afghanistan?
The capital of Afghanistan is Kabul.
What currency does Afghanistan use?
Afghanistan uses the Afghan afghani (؋) as its official currency.
What language is spoken in Afghanistan?
The official language(s) of Afghanistan include Dari, Pashto, Turkmen.
What is the population of Afghanistan?
Afghanistan has a population of approximately 43,844,000 people.
What region is Afghanistan in?
Afghanistan is located in Asia, specifically in the Southern Asia subregion.
What is the international calling code for Afghanistan?
The international dialing code for Afghanistan is +93.
What time zones does Afghanistan observe?
Afghanistan observes the following time zone(s): UTC+04:30.
What is the current time in Afghanistan?
The local time in Afghanistan is currently --:--. This time applies to the primary time zone.
What is the total area of Afghanistan?
Afghanistan covers a total area of 652,230 km².
How many states or provinces does Afghanistan have?
Afghanistan is divided into 63 states or provinces.
What are the public holidays in Afghanistan in 2026?
You can view the complete list of public holidays for Afghanistan in 2026 on the Holidays 2026 page.
What are the visa requirements for citizens of Afghanistan?
Visa requirements for citizens of Afghanistan vary by destination. Use our Visa Requirements Checker below to look up requirements for any destination country.