Afghanistan · Safety report last updated
As of July 2026, Kabul scores 18/100 on the IsMyTripSafe composite safety index — verdict: elevated risk — reconsider. No — it is not safe for a traveler to visit Kabul, Afghanistan. The main risks for visitors are robbery (moderate risk) and tourist-targeted scams. The U.S. State Department rates it Level 4 (Do Not Travel).
Safety Report
IsMyTripSafe.com
Afghanistan · Assessed 28 July 2026
18
/ 100
Safer than ~6% of countries
Score capped at 18 — Level 4 advisory — "Do Not Travel". No other indicator can raise the score above this.
What drives this score
01 · Official Guidance
Do Not Travel
“There was no change to the advisory level. Do not travel to Afghanistan due to civil unrest, crime, terrorism, risk of wrongful detention, kidnapping, natural disasters, and limited health facilities.”
Updated Fri, 20 Feb 2026
Full advisory →Advises against all travel to parts of the country
“Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). FCDO advises against all travel to Afghanistan You should not travel to Afghanistan.”
Updated 2026-07-24T12:47:27Z
Full advisory →Avoid all travel
“Canada's official risk level for Afghanistan: avoid all travel.”
Updated 2026-07-08T09:16:46.3560601-04:00
Full advisory →02 · Evidence Signals
Homicide rate
Robbery / mugging
ModerateMugging and armed robbery are uncommon in tourist‑focused areas but can occur on unsecured streets or when traveling outside organized tours
Pickpocketing
LowPickpocketing is infrequent in organized tour zones but can happen in crowded bazaars and public transport
03 · Environment
04 · Institutions
05 · Field Research
Traveller sentiment score
Extremely negative
51/100
Recent traveler reports and forum posts describe Kabul as highly unsafe, with most visitors feeling uneasy and many canceling trips due to security concerns
No — it is not safe for a traveler to visit Kabul, Afghanistan.
The composite safety index is 13/100 (HIGH RISK) with a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory from the U.S., U.K., and Canadian governments. While homicide and traffic‑related deaths are moderate, terrorism fatalities are high and the rule of law is extremely weak, making the overall environment unsafe for visitors.
Recent developments
Common scams
Full briefing
Safety Briefing
Kabul is currently rated HIGH RISK (composite index 13/100) and carries a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory from the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada. The underlying data shows a homicide rate of 4 per 100 k (moderate), but terrorism deaths are high (98.9 per million) and the rule of law scores below 30, meaning legal protections are weak and security can change without notice. Road safety is also a concern, with traffic‑related deaths at 24 per 100 k. These factors combine to make the city unsafe for independent travelers.
Recent news from the live dossier underscores the volatile environment. In June 2026 the Australian government reinforced its Level 4 warning, citing heightened security risks. July 2026 saw Amnesty International call for an investigation into a Pakistani air strike on a Kabul drug‑rehabilitation centre, labeling it a possible war crime, which highlights the ongoing risk of collateral violence. The U.S. Embassy has been closed since 2021, leaving no consular support for Americans on the ground. These incidents illustrate that even areas marketed as “stable” can experience sudden, unpredictable security events.
Travelers who do enter Kabul do so almost exclusively through licensed, locally vetted tour operators. The few neighborhoods where foreign tourists are routinely taken — most notably Shahr‑e‑Nawr and the vicinity of Bagh‑e‑Jahan — are considered the safest parts of the city for organized groups, but they still require constant vigilance. Outside of these tour‑controlled zones, districts such as Karte Parwan and Karte Char are explicitly flagged by locals and travel guides as areas to avoid due to higher crime rates and weaker security presence. Even in the “stable” zones, petty theft can occur in crowded markets and on informal transport, and opportunistic scams — such as fake tour operators demanding payment and then disappearing — are documented.
Practical safety tips: 1. Travel only with a fully licensed, locally vetted operator and keep all permits visible at all times. 2. Never walk alone after dark; stay within the operator‑arranged group and use only pre‑arranged vehicles. 3. Carry copies of your passport and travel documents, storing the original in a hotel safe, and never display valuables. 4. Beware of bribery demands at unofficial checkpoints; do not hand over cash or documents to anyone not officially affiliated with your tour. 5. Monitor real‑time alerts from your government’s travel advisory and be prepared to depart immediately if the security situation deteriorates.
In short, while a small number of organized tours operate in Kabul with no reported incidents involving tourists since 2021, the overall environment remains extremely unsafe for independent travelers. The combination of high terrorism risk, weak governance, and frequent government warnings means that visiting Kabul should be approached only with extreme caution, if at all.
06 · Neighbourhoods
Our field research rated 6 Kabul districts for visitors: 2 safer, 3 needing caution and 1 best avoided. See them plotted on the Kabul safety map.
Kabul Old City (Historic Center)avoidHigh risk of pickpocketing, scams and occasional security checkpoints; best avoided by independent travelers
Karte ParwancautionHigher petty‑theft and pickpocketing activity; stay alert, especially after dark
Karte CharcautionKnown for elevated crime rates; avoid solo night travel and keep valuables out of sight
Wazir Akbar KhancautionBusy commercial district; petty theft possible, remain vigilant in crowds
Shahr-e-NawrsaferRelatively stable, well‑patrolled, home to hotels and restaurants; locals report it is safe to walk even at night
GulshansaferResidential area with strong community presence; generally safe for visitors
07 · After Dark
Mugging and armed robbery are uncommon in tourist‑focused areas but can occur on unsecured streets or when traveling outside organized tours
After dark, be most careful around Kabul Old City (Historic Center), Karte Parwan, Karte Char, Wazir Akbar Khan. Stick to busy, well-lit streets and licensed taxis or ride-hail late at night.
08 · Trip Profiles
Who's travelling changes which risks matter. These re-weight Kabul's category data for common trip types — same data, different emphasis. Run your own profile from the interactive checker.
09 · Questions
No — it is not safe for a traveler to visit Kabul, Afghanistan. The composite safety index is 13/100 (HIGH RISK) with a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory from the U.S., U.K., and Canadian governments. While homicide and traffic‑related deaths are moderate, terrorism fatalities are high and the rule of law is extremely weak, making the overall environment unsafe for visitors. (Assessed 28 July 2026.)
Field research flags Kabul Old City (Historic Center) as best avoided. See the district-by-district safety map.
Kabul ranks #1 of 2 Afghanistan destinations we've assessed, scoring 18/100. See the Afghanistan safety overview for the full list.
The score blends 12+ public data sources — government advisories, UNODC/World Bank crime statistics, WHO health data, live air quality and disaster alerts — with AI field research over current local reporting. The databases carry 82% of the weight; the traveller-sentiment score from field research carries 18%. Full methodology.
Browse the Afghanistan safety overview or all destinations. Raw data: kabul.json (CC BY 4.0).
