If you are planning to visit Afghanistan and you want to know about the List of famous best cities in Afghanistan to visit then you have come to the right place. we have listed top 10 major cities in Afghanistan to visit.

Afghanistan was previously a Hindu nation, and it is a landlocked country located in Central Asia and South Asia. It later became a Buddhist nation and is now an Islamic nation. On 26 May 1739, the Emperor of Delhi, Muhammad Shah Akbar, made a treaty with Nadir Shah of Iran and handed it to Afghanistan.

In the days of the ancients, Neolithic tribal people arrived from the Indus Valley. Then came the Phalanx of Alexander the Great, the greater of the mountains, the Falcon which is, the Hindu Kush to end the Persian dynasties of old.

Then there were Muslim Arabs from the Middle East, who met with, Genghis Khan’s invincible army. And then there were the Mughal, Soviet, British imperialists – the list goes on and on.

Today, the fabric of this vast country nestled in the depths of Asia is a large part of its past and terrible place, ancient trade routes cross poppy fields, Cities like Mazar-e Sharif, and Kandahar Film Mosques and are full of breathtaking madrasas.

The dusty desert gives way to snow-capped peaks and alpine glaciers. Of course, modern times have not been so kind, and today the war-torn region of tribes and the Taliban is very much out.

Dont’t miss: Top 10 Most Beautiful Cities in Austria-2020

Afghanistan is a place of many historical sites which attracts the number of tourists; It is a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic country. The country offers a lot to explore. Visitors enjoy the country’s hospitality and experience various cultures and cuisines. So, we will tell you about the top tourist attractions in Afghanistan.

Diverse due to its history, this historic country has some beautiful cities, which are full of historical monuments of cultural importance. The people of Afghanistan are called Afghans, and their currency is Afghan. Afghanistan’s location at the crossroads of great civilizations in history has produced astonishing diversity in art, food, traditions, and language. The diversity is, demonstrated in each city of Afghanistan.

Throughout its history, Afghanistan has been a country united against the invaders but divided against itself. Its charm, spread equally by Travel Literature and Great Game Romantics, has only been enhanced by its inaccessibility in the last 30 years. Afghanistan has been engraved and changed by countless people.

There are many top attractions in the country that offer spectacular sightseeing and more that will excite your Afghanistan trip. From Jalalabad in the eastern part to Balkh in the northern part are the most beautiful cities in Afghanistan. If you are planning a tour to Afghanistan, of course prioritizing the list of attractions to come will help a lot. See the most visited attractions in this astonishing country.

Famous Cities in Afghanistan to Visit

1. Kabul

Kabul is the busy capital of Afghanistan, home to some five million people and the center of political power, and is the largest city. The city offers attractive sites like the historical park, Babur’s garden, Afghan National Museum, etc. You can find Kabul by visiting these places, which are incredibly built.

Kabul is an ancient city that has existed for over 3,500 years. In ancient times, Kabul was a cultural center of Buddhism and Zoroastrianism. The city has recently undertaken several new architectural projects, such as the Abdul Rahman Mosque, which was designed in the traditional Islamic style but was built-in 2012. Expect barbed wire, concrete walls, police galore and, a tense atmosphere in many places. The center city is more like a big fort than a city. But this is not to satisfy your hunger. You can easily find places full of happy families.

The city is surrounded by beautiful mountains, with blankets carved out of step-houses and spectacular picturesque views. Kabul has something for everyone, from cramped markets and old temples to secret bars and chic hotels where you can find a rare drink (or three). Although change has come rapidly in Kabul with tall modern buildings and busy traffic, the old city markets and other sites are still the center of life.

If you are fond of swimming, Bagi Bala, (upper garden), located on the hilltop inside Kabul and, behind the Intercontinental Hotel, is the place where people go for walks and swimming. This is the hill from which the city of Kabul is visible. Qargha is a scenic spot and is an enjoyable place to visit which is, 35 minutes drive from the city center. Qargha has facilities for biking, canoeing, and hiking. There are several hostels and chai khan (tea house) nearby for families and people to visit in a group. The best time to see places in Kabul is Friday because it is the weekend in Afghanistan.

Places to visit in Kabul include The Kabul Museum; TV Tower Hill; Tomb of King Nadir Shah; Darulman Palace; Chicken Street; Shamli; Istliffe, Kabul Zoo; Money market; 50-minute drive from Kabul; And Paighman, a valley 25 km west of Kabul.

Famous for: Gardens | Bazaars | Palaces.
Places To Visit:  Babur Tomb | National Museum of Afghanistan | Darul Aman Palace | Shah-Do Shamshira Mosque
Best time to visit: April to June | August to October

Watch Afghanistan Hd video:

2. Balkh

Balkh, one of the unique cities of Afghanistan, is considered to be one of the oldest cities in the world, the Balkh of Afghanistan was named ‘The Mother of Cities’ by the Arabs. Name as the epicenter of the old of the Bactrian Empire, the old town of Balkh has a history of about 4,000 years.

Later the Timurid dynasty built a college and an impressive temple at Balkh. Gurdjieffian JG Bennett published speculation that Shambala was a Bactrian sun temple Shams-e-Balk. Balkh was heavily influenced by Buddhist culture before the Arab invasion at the crossroads between East Asia and the Middle East.

Balkh was historically an ancient center of Zoroastrianism, Islam, and Buddhism and was one of the major cities of Khorasan since its early history. High in the interval of the northern ridges of the Hindu Kush, which first flourished in Buddhism in transit. Balkh is one of its earliest mentions in the Hindu treatise, particularly the narrative Mahabharata where it is called Valika or Bahlik and, its ruler is, mentioned for striving in the Kurukshetra war.

Read also: 2020 Historical facts about Varanasi

The ancient areas of the city have Buddhist constructions that reflect the old Asian culture. Other scenic spots are the ruins of the Green Mosque and the Nou Dome Mosque, an exquisitely ornamented place at the World Monument Site as an endangered cultural site.

Marco Polo was an explorer, writer, and Italian businessman and described Balkh as a “great and great city. By the time Venetian adventurer Marco Polo arrived in the 1300s, the city (even by Genghis Khan himself) had been razed and rebuilt many times, but its educational institutions and the walls of the numerous fortifications Memories of it still ripen. Today, the city is solely an enormous capital, but there is a definite history between Gulzar and the green mosque to be buzzed.

Separate spots of intrigue are the remains of the Green Mosque and the Nine Doms Mosque, an irreproachable ornate place, including a clockwise list of the World Monuments as a monumental social site. Nearby are the remains of the mosque Haji Piada, one of the oldest mosques in the Islamic world. 10 Best Cities to Visit in Afghanistan.

Famous for: Two stupas – Great Buddhist monks
Places To Visit:  Blue Mosque | Green Mosque | Buzkashi Stadium | Mazar-i-Sharif
Best time to visit: late May to late June | late July to late September.

3. Kandahar

The birthplace of modern Afghanistan Kandahar is an industrial and commercial center. Kandahar city Alexander the Great founded the city of Alexandria Arachosia in about 329BC, known as Kandahar, and is the second-largest city in Afghanistan. The city of Kandahar rests on a beautiful site to visit.

Kandahar plays a crucial role in the spiritual life of Afghanistan. One of the most unusual places to see in Kandahar is the Friday Islamic Mosque of the city, and the most attractive place is a holy religious site and is, often, called the “heart of Afghanistan. The place offers you to explore the mosque and old monuments.

The holy-house of the Holy Cloak Mosque and a city saturated with history sits at Kandahar Junction. Leaving its modern part Nine (New City), Kandahar is yet principally unchanged from the city, built by Ahmed Shah Durrani, the founder of the state of Afghanistan, formed 200 years ago and was the first capital of the Afghan Empire under him and the most in Afghanistan. Some of the main religious sites are.

There is also the oldest known human community. It is well-known for its elaborate embroidery work and fruits. Earlier the city was, very unsafe to travel but now the city is very safe in itself. Today, the place is, filled with illuminating temples, luminous tombs, and mosques from the national past, and folk comes to see curious carvings of the Mujahid invader Babur Chiljina View at the corner of the city.

Famous for: Cultural | Gardens | Orchards | Grapes | Melons | pomegranates
Places To Visit:  Red Mosque | Dahla Dam
Best time to visit: March | November

4. Mazar-e Sharif

A beautiful structure is home to the Mazar-e-Sharif Blue Mosque. The blue dome of the shrine of Mazar-e Sharif Hazrat Ali is also called the Blue Mosque City among tourists regarding the most popular travel site in Afghanistan, the sepulcher Hazrat Ali.

Thousands of devotees visit Mazar-e-Sharif, the capital of Balkh province, every year to pay homage to the Shrine of Hazrat Ali, the fourth Khalifa of Islam. Famous people say that the imagination of the popular city of Mazar-e Sharif depends on a reality on which a sacred place was assembled and then continue around the entire city. One of the most liberal cities in Afghanistan, you will see modern, colorful clothes and many girls roaming not only in the Hijab but also in the burqa.

The place is full of multi-ethnic interests and contrasts, giving an incredible view of the mosque built with ancient architectural designs. The cobalt domes of the marvelous Blue Mosque show their way above the horizon of Mazar-e Sharif, glowing white-hot under the burning Balkh sun making it magnificent, and layered with attractive variations.

Cousin of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH), known as the tomb of Ali bin Talib, it is a beautiful array of South Asian and Arabic architecture complete with gold-decorated minarets and turquoise-blue domes. Mazar-e-Sharif is just one aspect of Muslim history, as the city is also located, in countless Greek relics; In the 3rd century BC, with the appearance of Alexander’s soldiers, they made their way.

Explore more : Lesser-Known Facts About Myanmar

According to the legend, the city of Mazar-i Sharif survives based on a dream. The Sultan of the time built a shrine to honor the cousin, and the city of Mazar-e-Sharif gradually grew around it. Mazar-e-Sharif is a significant market place for Karkul and traditional Afghan carpets.

Referred to by the ancestors as the “Mother of Cities, today, it is a small city near Mazar that is full of memories of past glory and the historical part of many civilizations.

Famous for: Famous Afghan song “Bia ke berem ba Mazar”(Come let’s go to Mazar) | White Pegions | Iconic sights
Places To Visit:  Shrine of Hazrat Ali
Best time to visit: 1 March to 5 December | 5 February to or after 23 March | 9November or After 28 December

5. Herat

Herat the Silk Road the heart of the country, with a stunning Friday mosque, and stronghold. The mosque was commissioned as early as 1,200 AD and was completed, during the centuries. Herat, the third-largest city in Afghanistan, is an ancient city in western Afghanistan and, its legacy is all the more remarkable, given that it was destroyed and rebuilt many times during its history.

Today, the Old City of Herat is home to a splendid collection of medieval Islamic buildings, including the Great Mosque complex. This ancient city of western Afghanistan which has many ruins and historical sites, such as the tomb of Maharani Goharshad or Herat Citadel.

It has such a Persian flavor- the city is situated, on only a stone boulder from the Iranian outskirts and was once inhabited by the Timur dynasty (dynasty that blended elements with Persian, Turkic, and Mongol culture in their age), besides, Tamerlane and Gengis Khan wreaked havoc on the city, but Herat was determined to live a period of unending glory during the reign of the Timur kings.

Today, Herat’s minarets, shrines, mosques, and monuments bear witness to the glory of the period when literature, art, and sophistication attained a high degree of perfection. The city preceded the Timurid Line home.

Around the colorful Persian mosques, caravanserais, ancient houses, and a recently restored citadel, Herat is one of the most beautiful cities in Afghanistan, apart from this you can see the Herat Citadel and the tombs of revered Sufi writers. Behind the main entrance is an artisan shop where you can see artisans at work, doing mosaic work, cutting tiles, and laying out new pieces, which are used in restoration and maintenance.

This beautiful structure of tiles and turquoise-tipped towers are sure to captivate the faculties – it is, believed to be more than eight centuries old, some craftsmen who will witness you working on mosques and cutting tiles. Alexander formed a strong fort within Hart’s city walls; Today a citadel, though changed several times, still stands in the same place.

Famous for: Friday Mosque | Nagin Aseeya or Diamond Of Asia | Islamic Tradition
Places To Visit:  Great Mosque Of Herat | Herat Citadel | Herat National Museum
Best time to visit: April-May | September-October

6. Bamiyan

Located in central Afghanistan, Bamiyan means and a breath of fresh air, after the tense concrete jungle of Kabul. Bamiyan is one of the last cities where Buddhist expansion took place. Another culturally rich area at the crossroads of East and West, the archeology of Bamiyan has a mixture of Greek, Turkish, Indian, Persian, and Chinese influences. For lovers of culture and religious history, the Bamiyan story is a notably sad one.

In the olden times, the area was, known as a center for Hindu-Buddhist worship, and it was, enriched with craftsmen, monasteries, artisans, and especially artists, and carvings in the era before, the Muslim incursion.

The two giant statues of Buddha that were erected were seen, in the most beautiful 4th and 5th-century carvings in Asia. Unusual statues were vandalized by the Taliban in 2001, causing international outrage and even prompting UNESCO to tag its remains to prevent further destruction.

Famous for the giant Buddha statues destroyed in 2001, later discoveries in the area include 5th and 9th-century wall paintings with another giant statue and a few caves, named the Reclaiming Buddha. The formidable Hindu Kush, the vast expanse of the Turkestan plains and, the solitude of the southern desert have influenced travelers from Alexander the Great to Marco Polo. These days, it is a haven for hikers and history amateurs and it is also possible to board or ski during the winter.

Bamiyan is the safest place for foreigners to roam in “mainland” Afghanistan and, its Hazara population is the most friendly in Afghanistan. Thanks to the increasing tourism efforts in Bamiyan, there are a much number of people who can also speak English.

It is the raw, untouched natural beauty that makes the visitor the first and most lasting impression of the country but, of all the natural wonders of Afghanistan, Band-e Aamir’s lakes are perhaps the most outstanding.

There are also extensive ruins of ancient cities and forts – a red city – that flourished until the attack of Genghis Khan in the thirteenth century. It is easy to spend several days in Bamiyan exploring its caves, and natural areas.

Famous for: Giant | Ancient Buddha Statues
Places To Visit:  Buddhas of Bamyan | Bamiyan Budha | Darya Ajdahar | Shahr-e-Zohak | Shahr-e-Gholghola
Best time to visit: April to October

7. Bagram

Located in the north of the capital city of Kabul, the small eastern city of Bagram is situated on only one stone boulder from both the hills of Hindu Kush.

The community of Bagram was a great route of the Silk Road for traders originating from ancient India in olden times. The city formerly referred to a Persian colony, but its development was later, influenced by Greek styles of city planning and Arab ruler. Consequently, the community’s art and architecture reflect a distinctly Central Asian mixture of techniques that have been labeled “Greco-Buddhist.

Therefore, the gems found in and around the city are a mixture of Arab, Indian and Hellenistic styles. Probably well-known for presenting the audience of the day as the location of the country’s largest Allied military base, it is one that history is fundamentally darker than this.

For the beginners, the city was, occupied by none other than Alexander the Great in 300 BCE which eventually modified its layout in the Grecian style. And later, the region was ruled by the Maurya Empire, who imposed their Indian artistic conventions to bear on the region.

Famous for: Rhinoceros Hunting
Places To Visit:  Bagram Air Base Airport
Best time to visit: October | November

8. Samangan

Located in the northern part of Afghanistan, the small town of Samangan was once an ancient caravan on the margins of the Silk Road. Samangan is known for its weekly market, an archaic traditional work besides preserved every Thursday which is, an ancient tradition extremely popular.

The market, in particular, is made by local artisans. Some specialists have practical experience in melodic instruments publicizing their treasures or unusual craftsmen who practice in instrumental instruments showcasing their works of music.

The tribute goes to the curious cave complexes of Takht-e-Rustom, carving their paths through the dusty narrow peaks of a mountainside near the city. It is, believed to have been, established in the 4th and 5th centuries AD and decorated with stunning Buddhist designs of lotus leaves. The best example of period architecture, with a mixture of Buddhist styles. They provide a broad vision of an almost pre-Muslim, Muslim past.

Famous for: Producing almonds | Pistachios.
Places To Visit: Bazar-e-Danbora Faroshi | Takht-e-Rostam: (Stupa)
Best time to visit: 12 Months

9. Jalalabad

Jalalabad, in the eastern portion of the country, is considered one of the most attractive cities in Afghanistan. Ahmed Shah Durrani who used the city during his military campaigns in India.

Played a significant role in the founding of modern Afghanistan as it was, used as the basis for a military campaign by the 18th-century ruler Ahmed Shah Durrani, who was, most revered as the founder of the contemporary Afghan state. Jalalabad has vast green areas and surrounding waters which are, a crucial element of the different beauty of the city.

You can often think of the icy peaks of the clean mountain range on the horizon, and imagine how Mughal forces would have felt in the 1500s. The architecture in Jalalabad is beautiful. You must enjoy the citrus gardens and lush green parks near the city. you can also see the tomb of King Amanullah Khan.

Jalalabad also has a great deal of striking architecture, including mosques and the modern Nangarhar University. Join locals for a hot-contested cricket game or just enjoy the manicured gardens.

Famous for:  large green areas | Orange Trees | Palm Trees
Places To Visit:  Amir Shaheed Garden | Eidga Musjeed
Best time to visit: October to November

10. Faizabad

The city is, placed in the upper eastern part of the nation, the city was historically remote due to poor road connections, due to which it has been, cut off from the rest of Afghanistan. As a result, the local culture is, remarkably well preserved.

The place that defines the city: it will feel rustic, backward. You will be seen galloping in the streets and bearded sheep farmers surrounded by eyebrows. Today, Faizabad still has two working markets, where they trade cutlery and cotton cloth and provisions such as salt, sugar, and tea.

Some of the notable architecture is in ruins, although the different temples, mosques, and forts are yet impeccable and tell the historical background of the district.

It is one of the popular cities in Afghanistan. Supported by the immense Hindu Kush divide and chisel route, Faizabad hides its distant enclave of the northern Afghan mountains. You will find donkeys running gallops, who will be, seen walking on the path and eating bidis. You will meet native highlanders with feet by the tracks of the Great Wakhan Corridor. You will see the remains of a spice-scented stew and be able to visit the charming Alpine valleys of the Concha River.

Read 2020 Interesting and fun facts about Jodhpur

Famous for:  Buddhas | Bamiyan Caves | architecture | mosques
Places To Visit:  Faizabad Chowk
Best time to visit: 12 months

Find Afghanistan on Google Map

Which one is the best city in Afghanistan and why?

Please leave a comment down.

Happy Traveling!