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: 2026-07-06
⌕
Currency CodeRate
1INCH 0.219422
AAVE 0.000178
ADA 0.083788
AED 0.057763
AGIX 0.201596
AKT 0.025077
ALGO 0.175703
ALL 1.289287
AMD 5.787612
AMP 35.262405
ANG 0.028364
AOA 14.444945
APE 0.112199
APT 0.025149
AR 0.007879
ARB 0.196644
ARS 23.475764
ATOM 0.009947
ATS 0.189307
AUD 0.022705
AVAX 0.002278
AWG 0.028154
AXS 0.015576
AZM 133.692051
AZN 0.026738
BAKE 20.932335
BAM 0.026907
BAT 0.178591
BBD 0.031457
BCH 0.000065
BDT 1.938905
BEF 0.554976
BGN 0.026907
BHD 0.005914
BIF 46.823789
BMD 0.015728
BNB 0.000027
BND 0.020329
BOB 0.108954
BRL 0.081286
BSD 0.015728
BSV 0.001065
BSW 46.993491
BTC 0.000000
BTCB 0.296798
BTG 0.054508
BTN 1.498528
BTT 59,305.520515
BUSD 0.015715
BWP 0.212283
BYN 0.045674
BYR 308.307963
BZD 0.031678
CAD 0.022350
CAKE 0.010861
CDF 36.289421
CELO 0.234111
CFX 0.351559
CHF 0.012653
CHZ 0.871221
CLP 14.489070
CNH 0.106818
CNY 0.106776
COMP 0.000938
COP 52.572918
CRC 7.167259
CRO 0.263140
CRV 0.073574
CSPR 8.098601
CUC 0.015730
CUP 0.416845
CVE 1.517039
CVX 0.013078
CYP 0.008052
CZK 0.332742
DAI 0.015736
DASH 0.000447
DCR 0.001417
DEM 0.026907
DFI 18.931457
DJF 2.801130
DKK 0.102836
DOGE 0.203530
DOP 0.932169
DOT 0.018030
DYDX 0.119098
DZD 2.091793
EEK 0.215259
EGLD 0.005691
EGP 0.772614
ENJ 0.543474
EOS 0.217148
ERN 0.235927
ESP 2.289055
ETB 2.515857
ETC 0.002215
ETH 0.000009
EUR 0.013757
EURC 0.013768
FEI 0.015734
FIL 0.019920
FIM 0.081798
FJD 0.035318
FKP 0.011788
FLOW 0.561245
FLR 2.262792
FRAX 0.015900
FRF 0.090243
FTT 0.066032
GALA 6.865585
GBP 0.011788
GEL 0.041312
GGP 0.011788
GHC 1,786.908889
GHS 0.178691
GIP 0.011788
GMD 1.159886
GMX 0.002654
GNF 137.900045
GNO 0.000150
GRD 4.687867
GRT 0.829013
GT 0.002320
GTQ 0.120056
GUSD 0.015749
GYD 3.292211
HBAR 0.208297
HKD 0.123359
HNL 0.421086
HNT 0.065634
HOT 43.585866
HRK 0.103656
HT 0.438990
HTG 2.058774
HUF 4.864693
ICP 0.007135
IDR 282.994606
IEP 0.010835
ILS 0.047243
IMP 0.011788
IMX 0.113840
INJ 0.003219
INR 1.498528
IQD 20.623085
IRR 21,643.690914
ISK 1.981101
ITL 26.638230
JEP 0.011788
JMD 2.491746
JOD 0.011151
JPY 2.545650
KAS 0.512740
KAVA 0.348601
KCS 0.002179
KDA 2.698572
KES 2.033548
KGS 1.375679
KHR 63.068547
KMF 6.768245
KNC 0.141102
KPW 14.157004
KRW 24.109553
KSM 0.004464
KWD 0.004881
KYD 0.013085
KZT 7.435529
LAK 355.605906
LBP 1,412.471064
LDO 0.058225
LEO 0.001680
LINK 0.001970
LKR 5.267391
LRC 1.280136
LRD 2.856669
LSL 0.255647
LTC 0.000348
LTL 0.047502
LUF 0.554976
LUNA 0.320278
LUNC 256.184308
LVL 0.009669
LYD 0.100888
MAD 0.147276
MANA 0.226040
MBX 0.625397
MDL 0.276839
MGA 66.744228
MGF 333.721139
MINA 0.331763
MKD 0.847486
MKR 0.000011
MMK 33.019214
MNT 56.373047
MOP 0.127060
MRO 6.281488
MRU 0.628149
MTL 0.005906
MUR 0.739344
MVR 0.243153
MWK 27.283190
MXN 0.274923
MXV 0.031174
MYR 0.064129
MZM 1,004.522952
MZN 1.004523
NAD 0.255647
NEAR 0.007894
NEO 0.007952
NEXO 0.020445
NFT 59,348.210921
NGN 21.552408
NIO 0.578979
NLG 0.030318
NOK 0.154712
NPR 2.398769
NZD 0.027645
OKB 0.000197
OMR 0.006054
ONE 12.583600
OP 0.146301
ORDI 0.004845
PAB 0.015728
PAXG 0.000004
PEN 0.053560
PEPE 5,766.507558
PGK 0.069194
PHP 0.967504
PI 0.139038
PKR 4.375816
PLN 0.059056
POL 0.213870
PTE 2.758131
PYG 95.670476
QAR 0.057252
QNT 0.000235
QTUM 0.022126
ROL 718.968140
RON 0.071897
RPL 0.007768
RSD 1.613644
RUB 1.212000
RUNE 0.038032
RVN 4.127007
RWF 23.055920
SAND 0.315242
SAR 0.058982
SBD 0.127276
SCR 0.224757
SDD 944.094410
SDG 9.440944
SEK 0.151824
SGD 0.020329
SHIB 3,592.386725
SHP 0.011788
SIT 3.296847
SKK 0.414458
SLE 0.359238
SLL 359.237673
SNX 0.068687
SOL 0.000195
SOS 8.981602
SPL 0.002621
SRD 0.592093
SRG 592.092569
SSP 74.697470
STD 339.559826
STN 0.339560
STX 0.091982
SUI 0.021053
SVC 0.137624
SYP 1.738670
SZL 0.255647
THB 0.522819
THETA 0.112118
TJS 0.145792
TMM 275.971127
TMT 0.055194
TND 0.046367
TOP 0.037879
TRL 736,335.757355
TRX 0.047894
TRY 0.736336
TTD 0.106576
TUSD 0.015761
TVD 0.022705
TWD 0.504731
TWT 0.045753
TZS 41.328292
UAH 0.700949
UGX 57.479970
UNI 0.004977
USD 0.015728
USDC 0.015733
USDD 0.015744
USDP 0.015776
USDT 0.015745
UYU 0.633057
UZS 188.235247
VAL 26.638230
VEB 1,013,603,772.482185
VED 10.135135
VEF 1,013,513.531584
VES 10.135135
VET 3.334096
VND 413.662305
VUV 1.890436
WAVES 0.059190
WEMIX 0.060752
WOO 1.328353
WST 0.043502
XAF 9.024327
XAG 0.000255
XAU 0.000004
XAUT 0.000004
XBT 0.000000
XCD 0.042575
XCG 0.028364
XCH 0.009980
XDC 0.559763
XDR 0.011601
XEC 2,960.984319
XEM 36.740897
XLM 0.078785
XMR 0.000049
XOF 9.024327
XPD 0.000012
XPF 1.641706
XPT 0.000010
XRP 0.013739
XTZ 0.063211
YER 3.727546
ZAR 0.255647
ZEC 0.000035
ZIL 5.098702
ZMK 288.606724
ZMW 0.288607
ZWD 5.692136
ZWG 0.421894
ZWL 1,054.196942

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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.