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🇦🇫Things to Do in Afghanistan
From the Blue Mosque of Mazar-i-Sharif to the turquoise lakes of Band-e-Amir - the essential sights, and how to keep your own record of them, when conditions allow.
Travel guide - last updated September 2026
Afghanistan sits at a historic crossroads of Central and South Asian civilizations, with genuinely striking natural and cultural sites - but decades of conflict and the current political situation have made the country inaccessible and unsafe for travel for the vast majority of would-be visitors. This page records the country's significance for reference; check your government's official travel advisory before considering any visit, which is very unlikely to be recommended currently.
Top attractions
The sights most first-time visitors build an itinerary around.
Blue Mosque, Mazar-i-Sharif
A mosque covered in strikingly detailed blue tilework, traditionally believed by some to be the burial site of Ali, cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad.
📍 Mazar-i-Sharif
🚉 Check current travel advice before considering any trip. Mazar-i-Sharif has an airport with limited regional flights, and the shrine stands in the middle of the city, walkable from the surrounding bazaars.
Band-e-Amir Lakes
A series of deep blue lakes formed by natural mineral dams, in Afghanistan's first national park - a landscape of striking natural beauty in the central highlands.
📍 Bamyan Province
🚉 Afghanistan's first national park is 75km west of Bamiyan on an unpaved road, about two hours by shared 4x4 - there is no scheduled service, and the lakes sit at 2,900m.
Bamiyan Valley
Home to the site of the Buddhas of Bamiyan, monumental statues destroyed by the Taliban in 2001, with the empty niches and surrounding UNESCO World Heritage archaeological landscape remaining.
📍 Bamyan
🚉 Bamiyan is reached by road from Kabul in eight to ten hours over the Hajigak pass, or by the limited flights when they operate - the empty Buddha niches are a walk from the bazaar.
Mark Afghanistan, get the stamp
In MyPassportStory, every country you mark - visited, lived in, or still on the list - becomes a stamp like these in your own travel passport. Add the cities you stopped in, draw the route between them, and turn the whole trip into a shareable passport-style image.
Open MyPassportStoryPlanning questions
How many days do you need in Afghanistan?
Not applicable under current conditions - travel to Afghanistan is not recommended for the vast majority of travelers by virtually all government advisories.
What's the best time to visit Afghanistan?
Not applicable under current conditions.
Is Afghanistan good for a first-time visit?
No - travel to Afghanistan is advised against by virtually all government travel advisories currently. Check your government's official guidance, which is very unlikely to recommend a visit at this time.
Do I need a visa to visit Afghanistan?
This is secondary to the current travel advisory situation, which advises against travel for nearly all visitors. Check the official information for your nationality: mfa.gov.af.
What are some things to do in Afghanistan on a tight budget?
Not applicable under current conditions.
Can I rent a car in Afghanistan, and what licence do I need?
Most governments advise against all travel to Afghanistan, and consular assistance is extremely limited or unavailable - that shapes every other answer. There is no meaningful visitor rental market: the few tour operators working there use their own vehicles and drivers, and independent movement by road carries serious risks including checkpoints and unexploded ordnance. Anyone considering a trip should consult their own foreign ministry directly and understand that standard travel insurance will not cover it.