Travel Essentials

Afghanistan: What To Know Before You Go

Plugs: Types C and F, 220 V. Emergency: Police 119. Tipping: Not customary; a small tip for guides or drivers is appreciated. Tap water: Drink bottled or treated water.

Open The Afghanistan Trip Kit

Plugs And Power

Types C and F, 220 V

Emergency Numbers

Police

119

Tipping

Not customary; a small tip for guides or drivers is appreciated.

Water And Health

Tap water: Drink bottled or treated water
Vaccines: Routine vaccines (including polio booster), hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid; rabies for some travelers
Malaria: Risk in areas below 2,000 m, mainly May-November; ask about preventive tablets

Apps To Download Before You Go

HesabPay: A local digital wallet used for payments and transfers since international cards seldom work.
M-Paisa (Roshan): Long-established mobile money service for transfers and top-ups.
WhatsApp: The most used messaging app for contacting hosts and guides.
Telegram: Popular for messaging and news channels; some services are periodically restricted.
Roshan / AWCC / Etisalat apps: Manage local SIM cards and data bundles; registration needs a passport.
Kam Air / Ariana Afghan Airlines: Domestic flights are the main way to move between Kabul, Herat and Mazar-i-Sharif.
Maps.me: Offline maps are important as mobile coverage is patchy outside cities.
Google Translate: Dari and Pashto offline packs help, as English is limited outside the capital.

Customs And Etiquette

Greetings. Men greet with a handshake, often with the other hand over the heart; unrelated men and women generally do not touch in greeting.

Dress code. Women, including foreigners, are expected to dress very conservatively; under current Taliban rules a headscarf and full-body covering are effectively required in public.

Photography. Avoid photographing people, especially women, without clear permission, and never photograph government, military or Taliban personnel or facilities.

Safety And Scams

Afghanistan is considered one of the most dangerous countries to visit: active security threats, landmines/unexploded ordnance in rural areas, and severe restrictions on daily life, especially for women, under Taliban rule. Almost all governments advise against all travel.

Overcharging foreigners. Vendors and drivers may quote inflated prices to visible foreigners; agree on prices before buying or riding.

Unofficial 'guides' and fixers. Unlicensed individuals may demand fees for 'help' or 'protection'; arrange guides only through trusted, vetted contacts.

Women travelers. Extremely restrictive: under Taliban decrees women face severe limits on movement, dress (full covering expected) and access to public life; foreign women should expect close scrutiny and plan very carefully or avoid travel.

LGBTQ+ Travelers

Death penalty

Same-sex conduct is criminalized under Taliban law, with a 2026 criminal procedure code encoding corporal punishment (including public flogging) and the possibility of execution for 'habitual' same-sex conduct; this is an extremely dangerous environment for LGBTQ+ people with no safe way to be open.

What Things Cost

Coffee (café)	AFN 30 (tea more common)	$0.40
Local bus or metro ride	AFN 12	$0.17
Mid-range restaurant meal	AFN 400	$5.50
Hostel bed / budget room (night)	AFN 900	$13
Mid-range hotel (night)	AFN 3,800	$55
Daily budget, mid-range traveler	AFN 2,500	$35

2026-09

Best Time To Visit

Spring (April-May) and autumn (September-October) are mildest. Summer is very hot in the lowlands (though pleasant in the mountains), and winter brings heavy snow that closes many mountain roads. Security, not weather, is the dominant factor in any travel decision.

Phrases

Basic Dari phrases · Basic Pashto phrases · Basic Balochi phrases