Is Kabul safe?
Avoid. Foreigners have been detained on spying suspicion, ISKP bombs target crowds and Westerners, and kidnapping and fighting with Pakistan continue. Women face severe restrictions.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 1/5, avoid travel.
- US travel advisory: Level 4: Do not travel, updated 2026-02-19.
- Homicide rate in Afghanistan: 4.0 per 100,000 people (2021, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in Afghanistan: 15.9 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 119 · Ambulance 102.
Safety in Kabul at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 1/5 · Avoid travel |
| Crime | ISKP attacks, kidnapping for ransom, armed robbery, arbitrary detention of foreigners and rules enforced by morality police. |
| At night | Avoid going out after dark: curfews, checkpoints and attacks. Stay inside secure accommodation. |
| Solo women | Women must cover fully and face severe Taliban restrictions on movement, work and public life. Solo travel is extremely risky and often not allowed. |
| Other risks | ISKP bombings and attacks; Detention of foreigners; Winter air pollution, among the world's worst |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Fixers charging heavy fees for permits and 'security'
- Currency exchange offering poor rates outside regulated dealers
Take care
- Hazara Shia areas such as Dasht-e-Barchi: ISKP bombings
- Government buildings, checkpoints and photography: arrest risk
- Travel outside Kabul by road: checkpoints and attacks
Laws visitors break by accident
- Photographing Taliban checkpoints, government buildings or palaces can mean arrest.
- Alcohol, pork and narcotics are banned.
- Non-Islamic religious activity or proselytising is severely punished.
Quick answers
Is Kabul safe for solo female travelers?
Women must cover fully and face severe Taliban restrictions on movement, work and public life. Solo travel is extremely risky and often not allowed.
Is Kabul safe at night?
Avoid going out after dark: curfews, checkpoints and attacks. Stay inside secure accommodation.
What is the crime rate in Kabul?
ISKP attacks, kidnapping for ransom, armed robbery, arbitrary detention of foreigners and rules enforced by morality police. Nationally, Afghanistan records 4.0 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2021).
What number do I call in an emergency in Kabul?
Police 119 · Ambulance 102.
More about Kabul
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- UK FCDO: Afghanistan travel advice
- US State Department: Afghanistan advisory
- Ariana Afghan Airlines
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.