Is Afghanistan Worth Visiting?
Considering a trip to Afghanistan? Find out if Afghanistan is good for tourists, and our suggestions for the best places to visit in Afghanistan, and what the major tourist attractions are.
Is Afghanistan Worth Visiting?
The answer to this depends on what kind of tourist or traveller you are. If you want everything to be pre-planned and completely organised, with comfortable transport and easy access facilities everywhere you go, without any sights that will break your heart or make you laugh, then no, Afghanistan is not good for the kind of tourists who want this.
But Afghanistan offers something that many places don't. Afghanistan has incredible historical monuments, unbelievable landscapes and warm and hospitable people. It offers the kind of travel that feels like an adventure and opens your eyes to other ways of seeing the world. For the kind of traveller who is flexible and open to seeing the world in new ways, Afghanistan is amazing.
Is Afghanistan Dangerous to Visit?
Understandably, given the stream of negative media about Afghanistan, safety is one of the first concerns people have when contemplating a trip to Afghanistan. The media paints a grim picture of security and safety, leaving many to wonder, "Is Afghanistan dangerous to visit?"
Our experience is that the people who will tell you that Afghanistan is too dangerous to visit have never been there, or haven’t been there recently. But ask a traveller who’s been there in recent years, and they’re likely to tell you that Afghanistan is a relatively safe and welcoming place to visit.
How Dangerous is it to Visit Afghanistan?
Safety and danger are not absolutes. Risk assessment is both personal and situational. The reality is that you can have an accident somewhere you go everyday, that is generally very safe, and you can also travel in ‘dangerous areas’ and not experience any issues. Afghanistan does have its risks, like everywhere but in our experience, they are nowhere near as high as media and government travel advisories make them out to be. Of course, as with travel anywhere the risks depend on a variety of factors, including who you are, where you go, what you're doing, and how you behave.
Is Afghanistan the safest place you can go? No, that would be staying home, probably in your bed. Is Afghanistan so dangerous you’d have to be mad to consider it? Also, no. Around 10,000 people visited Afghanistan in 2024, and the vast majority of them returned home safe and sound.
Afghanistan's security situation has improved significantly over the past few years. It is categorically safer than it has been in more than 40 years. However attacks against the government, foreigners and minorities do occasionally still happen. The last one that affected tourists was in early 2024, when Afghans and tourists were killed in an attack in Bamiyan. However, in general, the country is safe. Petty theft, street crime and robberies are all almost unheard of now. It's also important to note that foreign travellers, though occasionally targeted by extremists, are not generally the primary targets of violence. However, you should still exercise caution and common sense.
It’s also important to note that if you have a background in security, military, aviation or missionary work, your risk assessment will be different. Check out this post for more info if this applies to you.
What to know before visiting Afghanistan:
We felt like there was so little information available on this exact question that we literally wrote a book on it! Check out our Afghan Compass PDF travel preparation guide.
Here’s the summary with links to blog posts that cover these items in more details:
Travellers who respect local laws and customs will be generally safe. This includes respecting local dress codes for both men and women.
Travellers should still take safety precautions and use common sense.
All travellers need a visa and travel permits.
Brush up on culturally appropriate behaviour. A small amount of cultural awareness can go a long way in avoiding misunderstandings, especially as most Afghans don’t speak English or other foreign languages. Many aspects of body language, relations between sexes, dining and socialising are probably different from what you're used to.
For more everything you need to know before going to Afghanistan, in a handy downloadable pdf format, check out our Afghan Compass travel preparation guide.
Is Afghanistan good for tourists?
The answer depends on what you're looking for as a tourist.
If your idea of a holiday includes:
high levels of comfort
buffet meals of your favourite foods
smooth roads and modern facilities
western-style toilets
alcohol or drug use
all the amenities you would find in a modern tourist destination
then Afghanistan might NOT be the place for you. The country lacks some basic infrastructure and facilities are often basic or inconsistent. Public toilets are not always available and are usually squat toilets, with varying levels of cleanliness. Transport can be unreliable, and visa and permit processes can be time consuming and frustrating. Electricity and water supplies are not constant and internet connections can be frustratingly slow.
However, for those seeking an authentic experience, Afghanistan offers much more. The country's rich history, hospitable people, and impressive natural beauty make it a hidden gem for adventurous travellers. Afghanistan is not the grim hellscape the media makes it out to be. It’s a physically beautiful country where people are proud of their culture, religion and heritage as well as being generally warm and welcoming, even when their own situations are challenging.
To get the most out of an Afghan adventure, travellers should be:
flexible about travel and accommodation options
willing to use squat toilets
able to handle some discomfort
open-minded and ready to hear different points of view
willing to dress and behave in culturally appropriate way
ready to drink a lot of tea!
The Afghanistan travel experience is for those who want to see and experience for themselves, from the bustling modern cities of Kabul and Herat to the unexplored beauty of the mountains of Nuristan. Afghanistan offers a deep and rewarding experience for those willing to embrace its challenges.
Best Places to Visit in Afghanistan
If you come to Afghanistan yourself, you will find a country full of unique places to explore. The top places to visit in Afghanistan vary depending on your interests, but if you enjoy incredible scenery and nature, Islamic or central Asian history, or experiencing different cultures then Afghanistan offers all of these.
Here’s our suggestions for some of the most popular tourist attractions in Afghanistan.
Top 5 Tourist Attractions in Afghanistan
1. Kabul
In Kabul’s bustling modern sprawl, you’ll find museums devoted to armaments, ethnography and history, and modern restaurants and shopping malls. You’ll also find historical monuments, mosques, bazaars, neighbourhoods and parks laid out hundreds of years ago, and still functioning much as they did when originally built. Kabul is both hectic and hospitable, a heady mix of modern and traditional, offering a microcosm of Afghan history, politics and cultures.
2. Bamiyan Valley
Famous for the now absent Buddha statues, Bamiyan is also home to the ruins of Islamic towns and forts destroyed by the Mongols, all set in in an incredibly beautiful valley high in the Hindu Kush. A must see for history and nature lovers.
3. Ghazni
Once the marbled and painted capital of the Ghaznavid Empire, famous for it's wealth, scholars and gardens, Ghazni is now mostly famous for its minarets, mausoleums and the remains of Sultan Masuud’s Palace.
4. Mazar-i-Sharif & Balkh
Exquisite tile work makes the mosque at the heart of Mazar-i-Sharif architectural art. A short drive from modern Mazar is the remains of ancient Balkh, once known as the Mother of All Cities, and a centre of education and trade in central Asia for more than 1000 years. Balkh is still home to the oldest Mosque in Afghanistan, as well as the beautiful Green Mosque, and the ancient walls of Balkh.
5. Herat
Herat has some of Afghanistan’s best preserved historical sites, including the partially restored 2000+ year old Citadel and the 800 year old Jami Masjid famous for its incredibly beautiful mosaic tilework. It's bazaar dates back centuries and boasts caravanserai and covered marketplaces dating back to the 13th century.
These 5 places are easily the most popular tourist attractions in Afghanistan, but they’re far from the only ones.
11 TOP ATTRACTIONS IN AFGHANISTAN
Other major tourist attractions in Afghanistan include these 11 incredible spots:
Mazar Sharif - home to ancient Balkh and the Blue Mosque
Wakhan Corridor - Home to nomadic people and incredible scenery.
Nuristan - The land of light is a series of isolated valleys of incredible beauty.
Kabul - the beating heart of modern Afghanistan offers everything from luxury restaurants to ancient Buddhist stupas, and bustling bazaars that have stood for hundreds for years.
Bamiyan - incredible history set in an incredibly beautiful area
Band-e-Amir - All the blues set against a lunar-like landscape.
Ghazni - The historical heart of the Ghaznavid Empire, and still home to incredible Islamic architectural history.
Kandahar - The heartland of Pashtun culture, and home to some incredible Mausoleums which showcase Afghan-Islamic artistry.
Qala-e-Bhost - Once the capital if a thriving empire, now the ruins of the capital set amidst cornfields and farmland.
Herat - Home to see some of Afghanistan's best-preserved historical and Islamic sites.
Minaret of Jam - This 800 year old minaret stands alone on a riverbed, a days journey from the nearest large town, a testament to faith and artistry.
Unless you have a few months it’s probably not possible to visit all of these in one trip. Travel times in Afghanistan can easily blow out and routinely take longer than you’d think. We’ve compiled them all in one list so travellers can see that Afghanistan has a lot to offer, not because we think attempting all of them in one trip is necessarily a good itinerary.
Beautiful Photos of Afghanistan
There are so many beautiful places to visit in Afghanistan. We’ve spent months travelling and know there’s still a lot more to explore. We created our photo gallery of beautiful places in Afghanistan to share some of the highlights for those planning a trip or who just want to take an armchair journey through Afghanistan.
For more Afghanistan travel images check out our gallery.
So Is Afghanistan Worth Visiting?
Ultimately, Afghanistan is worth visiting for the adventurous traveller who is prepared for its challenges. The country offers breathtaking landscapes, historical treasures, and a cultural richness that is largely unexplored and unappreciated. Yes, it is a difficult place to travel to, but for those who are willing to take on the challenge, the rewards are immense. Afghanistan is a country that will test your limits, but it will also offer you memories and experiences that few other destinations can match.
Ready to plan your Afghan Adventure? Get our travel guides now.
The Complete Guide to Travelling Afghanistan - all our ebooks at 30% off.
Afghan Compass – A comprehensive travel preparation guide to Afghanistan.
City Guides - City specific guides to Kabul, Bamiyan, Herat, Ghazni, Mazar and Kandahar.
For more free resources on travelling in Afghanistan check out our Afghanistan Travel Blog: