Why go
- Capital and the largest city of Afghanistan.
- Served by Bagram Airfield (OAI).
History
Kabul is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is within the jurisdiction of Kabul District and has an estimated population of 5,333,284 people. Located in the eastern half of the country, forming part of the Kabul Province, the city is administratively divided into five zones and 22 municipal districts. The native population of Kabul primarily speaks Persian, locally referred to as Persian Dari, using regional Dari dialects with a distinctive Kabuli accent. Kabul has long been Afghanistan's political, cultural and economic center. Rapid urbanization has made it the country's primate city. It is located high in a narrow valley in the Hindu Kush mountain range, and is bounded by the Kabul River. At an altitude of 1,791 m (5,876 ft) above sea level, it is one of the highest capital cities in the world. The center of the city contains its oldest neighborhoods, including the areas of Bala Hisar, Deh Afghanan and Murad Khani.
Airports
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 11 airlines, 15 direct destinations
- Ariana Afghan Airlines FG (734) · 7 routes: Ankara, Baku, Delhi, Dubai, Herat, Kandahar, Kuwait
- Safi Airlines 4Q (A319, A320) · 5 routes: Delhi, Dubai, Herat, Islamabad, Mazar-i-sharif
- Hankook Airline HN (CRJ-200) · 3 routes: Herat, Kandahar, Mazar-i-sharif
- Kam Air RQ (A320, M87, M82) · 3 routes: Delhi, Dubai, Dushanbe
- Fly Dubai FZ (737-800) · 2 routes: Dubai, Dubai
- Iran Aseman Airlines EP (Fokker 100) · 2 routes: Mashhad, Tehran
- Pakistan International Airlines PK (ATR) · 2 routes: Islamabad, Peshawar
- Air India Limited AI (A320) · 1 route: Delhi
- Emirates EK (345) · 1 route: Dubai
- Spicejet SG (737) · 1 route: Delhi
- Turkish Airlines TK (A330-200) · 1 route: Istanbul
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Where things are
Photographs
credit: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons · See source page
When to go
The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.
Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.
Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.
Getting there & around
Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Bagram Airfield (OAI); 8 other airports serve the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: KBL has direct flights to 15 destinations on 11 airlines (incl. Delhi, Dubai, Herat, Islamabad, Kandahar…).
Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Kabul, Afghanistan. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.
Private aviation
On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.