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: 2026-08-21
⌕
Currency CodeRate
1INCH 0.170430
AAVE 0.000153
ADA 0.073976
AED 0.055649
AGIX 0.242604
AKT 0.028886
ALGO 0.172737
ALL 1.200937
AMD 5.525156
AMP 38.032325
ANG 0.027336
AOA 13.909308
APE 0.114899
APT 0.026317
AR 0.007350
ARB 0.166034
ARS 22.687186
ATOM 0.010014
ATS 0.178354
AUD 0.021255
AVAX 0.002090
AWG 0.027124
AXS 0.015597
AZM 128.798861
AZN 0.025760
BAKE 20.253113
BAM 0.025351
BAT 0.227525
BBD 0.030306
BCH 0.000067
BDT 1.853494
BEF 0.522866
BGN 0.025351
BHD 0.005697
BIF 45.100780
BMD 0.015153
BNB 0.000023
BND 0.019250
BOB 0.174979
BRL 0.078720
BSD 0.015153
BSV 0.000938
BSW 40.577843
BTC 0.000000
BTG 0.032237
BTN 1.450659
BTT 53,479.615161
BUSD 0.015151
BWP 0.203668
BYN 0.046139
BYR 296.969493
BZD 0.030519
CAD 0.020870
CAKE 0.009159
CDF 34.737774
CELO 0.223784
CFX 0.336625
CHF 0.012111
CHZ 1.147746
CLP 13.982222
CNH 0.101875
CNY 0.101864
COMP 0.000799
COP 46.531595
CRC 6.887056
CRO 0.282331
CRV 0.053076
CSPR 5.750326
CUC 0.015152
CUP 0.401515
CVE 1.429265
CVX 0.008831
CYP 0.007586
CZK 0.312712
DAI 0.015154
DASH 0.000458
DCR 0.001231
DEM 0.025351
DFI 28.123651
DJF 2.698987
DKK 0.096898
DOGE 0.184485
DOP 0.886534
DOT 0.017917
DYDX 0.133480
DZD 2.013251
EEK 0.202804
EGLD 0.005072
EGP 0.770948
ENJ 0.577050
EOS 0.216801
ERN 0.227292
ESP 2.156613
ETB 2.469551
ETC 0.002172
ETH 0.000006
EUR 0.012962
EURC 0.013005
FEI 0.015149
FIL 0.020312
FIM 0.077066
FJD 0.033291
FKP 0.011104
FLOW 0.521449
FLR 2.178340
FRAX 0.015269
FRF 0.085022
FTT 0.069673
GALA 9.334465
GBP 0.011104
GEL 0.039405
GGP 0.011104
GHC 1,680.622822
GHS 0.168062
GIP 0.011104
GMD 1.123799
GMX 0.002181
GNF 133.214811
GNO 0.000123
GRD 4.416633
GRT 1.002354
GT 0.002104
GTQ 0.115660
GUSD 0.015175
GYD 3.172577
HBAR 0.204352
HKD 0.118842
HNL 0.406518
HNT 0.083257
HOT 42.858278
HRK 0.097658
HT 0.322258
HTG 1.984777
HUF 4.726379
ICP 0.006354
IDR 268.876308
IEP 0.010208
ILS 0.045484
IMP 0.011104
IMX 0.137010
INJ 0.003197
INR 1.450659
IQD 19.878887
IRR 20,826.879638
ISK 1.840582
ITL 25.096973
JEP 0.011104
JMD 2.400069
JOD 0.010743
JPY 2.408635
KAS 0.526384
KAVA 0.356962
KCS 0.002014
KDA 3.104287
KES 1.961248
KGS 1.326602
KHR 60.993586
KLAY 0.561499
KMF 6.376642
KNC 0.139035
KPW 13.636359
KRW 20.934936
KSM 0.004744
KWD 0.004671
KYD 0.012604
KZT 6.925373
LAK 341.468226
LBP 1,360.156710
LDO 0.044633
LEO 0.001630
LINK 0.001407
LKR 5.005470
LRC 1.867914
LRD 2.751297
LSL 0.244008
LTC 0.000315
LTL 0.044753
LUF 0.522866
LUNA 0.327325
LUNC 284.093038
LVL 0.009109
LYD 0.096077
MAD 0.140176
MANA 0.214894
MBX 0.711879
MDL 0.260455
MGA 64.816222
MGF 324.081108
MINA 0.323255
MKD 0.799221
MKR 0.000010
MMK 31.816603
MNT 54.537842
MOP 0.122407
MRO 6.050283
MRU 0.605028
MTL 0.005564
MUR 0.706843
MVR 0.234256
MWK 26.301826
MXN 0.256683
MXV 0.029184
MYR 0.061285
MZM 967.089906
MZN 0.967090
NAD 0.244008
NEAR 0.008580
NEO 0.007632
NEXO 0.019068
NFT 54,488.850363
NGN 20.460181
NIO 0.557941
NLG 0.028563
NOK 0.141415
NPR 2.322142
NZD 0.025401
OKB 0.000141
OMR 0.005831
ONE 20.304988
OP 0.156446
ORDI 0.003620
PAB 0.015153
PAXG 0.000003
PEN 0.050807
PEPE 4,701.796493
PGK 0.067955
PHP 0.934619
PI 0.166371
PKR 4.209348
PLN 0.055961
POL 0.187466
PTE 2.598548
PYG 91.358310
QAR 0.055156
QNT 0.000245
QTUM 0.018618
ROL 680.639738
RON 0.068064
RPL 0.009304
RSD 1.520805
RUB 1.254555
RUNE 0.033754
RVN 5.002607
RWF 22.299647
SAND 0.343867
SAR 0.056823
SBD 0.121440
SCR 0.212785
SDD 909.376052
SDG 9.093761
SEK 0.143503
SGD 0.019250
SHIB 3,052.409905
SHP 0.011104
SIT 3.106095
SKK 0.390478
SLE 0.347000
SLL 346.999769
SNX 0.071180
SOL 0.000172
SOS 8.664699
SPL 0.002525
SRD 0.573025
SRG 573.024593
SSP 85.157081
STD 320.212805
STN 0.320213
STX 0.102041
SUI 0.020467
SVC 0.132587
SYP 196.999863
SZL 0.244008
THB 0.497576
THETA 0.093207
TJS 0.140174
TMM 264.906592
TMT 0.052981
TND 0.043922
TOP 0.036492
TRL 728,111.779906
TRX 0.044811
TRY 0.728112
TTD 0.102788
TUSD 0.015177
TVD 0.021255
TWD 0.482581
TWT 0.036878
TZS 40.088865
UAH 0.676804
UGX 56.356673
UNI 0.003991
USD 0.015153
USDC 0.015152
USDD 0.015156
USDP 0.015174
USDT 0.015157
UYU 0.608003
UZS 179.474225
VAL 25.096973
VEB 1,177,732,195.418110
VED 11.744681
VEF 1,174,468.098619
VES 11.744681
VET 2.914479
VND 394.569542
VUV 1.796771
WAVES 0.073583
WEMIX 0.076175
WOO 1.305136
WST 0.041163
XAF 8.502190
XAG 0.000221
XAU 0.000003
XAUT 0.000003
XBT 0.000000
XCD 0.041024
XCG 0.027336
XCH 0.010472
XDC 0.528589
XDR 0.011066
XEC 2,183.151728
XEM 33.028955
XLM 0.081950
XMR 0.000036
XOF 8.502190
XPD 0.000011
XPF 1.546719
XPT 0.000008
XRP 0.011796
XTZ 0.067625
YER 3.592377
ZAR 0.244008
ZEC 0.000026
ZIL 5.990757
ZMK 287.505022
ZMW 0.287505
ZWD 5.483801
ZWG 0.403527
ZWL 1,008.302801

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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.