Travel advisory · AfghanistanGovernments advise against all travel to Afghanistan.Advice depends on your passport. Read your own government's advice before you book.Official advice
| Government | Advice | Updated | Read the advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (FCDO) | FCDO advises against all travel to Afghanistan | – | Read the advice |
| United States (State Dept) | Do not travel | Feb 20, 2026 | Read the advice |
| Canada (Global Affairs) | Avoid all travel | – | Read the advice |
| Germany (Auswärtiges Amt) | Vor Reisen nach Afghanistan wird gewarnt (Reisewarnung) | Oct 13, 2026 | Read the advice |
| New Zealand (SafeTravel) | Do not travel (level 4 of 4) | – | Read the advice |
| France (Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs) | Formellement déconseillé, whole territory | – | Read the advice |
Checked daily from the governments' published advice; last checked Nov 2, 2026. RoamLedger summarises official advice; it is not advice from any government.
Bamyan
Bamyan is a Silk Road valley town in central Afghanistan, known for its empty Buddha niches, cave murals and the clear-water lakes of Band-e-Amir, about two hours west by car.
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Bamyan is the capital of Bamyan Province in central Afghanistan. It sits at about 2,550 meters (8,370 feet) in a high valley between the Hindu Kush and Koh-i-Baba ranges, and it is the largest town in the Hazarajat highlands. For centuries the valley was a Silk Road crossroads and a major Buddhist center. Two Buddha statues, about 53 m and 35 m tall, were carved into the cliff, and the Taliban destroyed them in 2001. Visitors still come for the empty niches, the caves with old murals and Shahr-e Gholghola, a ruined fortified town on a hill.
The Buddha cliff is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is also on the list of World Heritage Sites in Danger. Band-e-Amir National Park lies about two hours west of the city by car, with natural dam lakes of clear water. Most visitors come by road. Spring and summer are the most pleasant seasons, while winters are long and cold, lasting about six months. Allow one day for the valley and a second for Band-e-Amir.
Bamyan in five
- Check Bamyan Airport before you book the roadBamyan Airport, named after Abdul Ali Mazari, opened in 2016 with Japanese support and handles regular domestic flights. It lies in the middle of the city, so a flight can replace the road trip if the timetable fits.Getting around
- Carry afghanis in cashMost goods in Bamyan's markets are brought from other cities. Bring enough afghanis in cash for the whole stay.Money and costs
- Check visa rules before you bookMost passports need a visa for Afghanistan, and the rules change. Confirm the current requirement with an Afghan embassy or consulate before you buy flights.Visas and entry
- Pack warm layers for the altitudeBamyan sits at about 2,550 m in a high valley, and winters are long and cold, lasting about six months. Spring and summer are the most pleasant seasons, and most rain falls in late winter and spring.Clothing
- Ask before photographing peopleMost residents are Hazara, and most of them are Shia Muslims. Ask before you photograph anyone, and keep a respectful distance at the art bazaar.
Things to do in Bamyan
See all attractions in Bamyan
Need to know
- Currency
- Afghani (AFN)
- Entry
- Visa needed for most passports; confirm with an Afghan embassy or consulate
- Emergency
- Save your embassy's emergency line and your guesthouse's phone before you travel
- Tipping
- Ask your driver or guide what is customary
- Time
- UTC+4:30, no daylight saving
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryCold, snow
- FebruaryDeep winter
- MarchLate snow, rain
- AprilSpring rain
- MayMild, dry
- JuneWarm, long days
- JulyWarm, dry
- AugustWarm, dry
- SeptemberClear, mild
- OctoberCooling down
- NovemberCold setting in
- DecemberCold, snow
Right now in Bamyan
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
4
- Feels like
- 2°
- Humidity
- 62%
- Wind
- 1 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 82%
Bamyan
01:07 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today12°1°82%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 12°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 82%.
- Wed12°1°52%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 12°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 52%.
- Thu11°2°59%Thursday: Drizzle. High 11°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 59%.
- Fri13°1°0%Friday: Partly cloudy. High 13°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat15°2°0%Saturday: Clear. High 15°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sun15°3°4%Sunday: Cloudy. High 15°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 4%.
Updated 10:09 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 64.87 AFN
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Band-e-Amir National Parkabout 2 hours by car, westNatural dam lakes of clear water, the park's best-known attraction.
- Shahr-e Gholgholain the valley, near townA ruined fortified town on a hill, destroyed by Genghis Khan's forces in 1221.
- Kakrak and Foladi valleysabout 3 km and 2 km from the cliffOver 100 caves in Kakrak and ornate caves in Foladi.
- Qallai Kaphariabout 12 km east of the cliffRuined walls, towers and castles to explore.
Before you go to Bamyan
Rules for Bamyan, checked
- Check the UK government's Afghanistan travel advice for the security situation. The Taliban have controlled Bamyan since August 2021.Source
- The Bamyan cliff is a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the list of sites in Danger. Do not climb on the niches or take away stones or fragments.Source
- Do not buy, carry or export antiquities, since Afghan law restricts moving cultural objects out of the country.
Plan around Bamyan
Road from Kabul, the short unpaved stretch and flights
Read the guideWhere to stayStays across the town and the valley
Read the guideMoney and costsAfghanis, cash and typical prices for a day
Read the guideVisas and entryEntry rules and visa checks before you book
Read the guideCulture and the BuddhasBuddhist past, Hazara life and the cliff caves
Read the guideAll of AfghanistanRoutes, rules and the wider country
Read the guideBamyan FAQ
How many days do you need in Bamyan?
Two days cover the Buddha cliff, Shahr-e Gholghola and the art bazaar. Add a third day for Band-e-Amir, about two hours west of the city by car.
Is Bamyan safe to visit?
Check the UK government's Afghanistan travel advice before you book. The Taliban have controlled Bamyan since August 2021.
How do you get to Bamyan?
Most visitors travel by road, and the main route from Kabul runs via Maidan Shar with a short unpaved stretch. Bamyan Airport, in the middle of the city, handles regular domestic flights, so check its timetable with the airline.
Can you still see the Buddhas of Bamyan?
The two statues, about 53 m and 35 m tall, were destroyed in 2001, but the cliff niches and caves remain. Scientists found oil paintings in 12 of the 50 caves, dating from about the 5th to 9th centuries.
What food should you try in Bamyan?
Try kashko (kashk soup), red halwa, bolani and bosraq, fried thin dough. Dried apricots are a local product, grown on the valley's farms.