Must-see hotels in Kabul

  • Heetal Heritage Hotel

    Kabul

    At the edge of Wazir Akbar Khan, and in the lee of Bibi Mahru Hill, the Heetal gets cleaner air than many places in the city. Perhaps that’s why it flags…

  • Intercontinental Hotel

    Kabul

    This venerable institution was Afghanistan’s first international luxury hotel. It’s a 20-minute drive from the centre of town if the traffic allows, but…

  • Gandamack Lodge

    Kabul

    A perennially popular option with visiting media, the Gandamack Lodge is run by Peter Jouvenal, the acclaimed cameraman and Afghan expert. Now in larger…

  • Kabul Serena Hotel

    Kabul

    Formerly the Kabul Hotel, the Serena is now owned by the Aga Khan and has undergone a massive renovation to transform it into Kabul’s swankiest hotel by…

  • Zarnigar Hotel

    Kabul

    This hotel was popular with backpackers until recently, when the police banned it from accepting foreign guests. We’ve listed it in the hope that improved…

  • Mustafa Hotel

    Kabul

    Truly a Kabul institution, the Mustafa was the main post-Taliban hang-out for journos, ‘security consultants’ and other would-be adventurers. If the high…

  • Jamil Hotel

    Kabul

    This hotel was popular with backpackers until recently, when the police banned it from accepting foreign guests. We’ve listed it in the hope that improved…

  • Golden Star Hotel

    Kabul

    One of Kabul’s newest hotels, this literally towers above all others from its vantage point attached to the Kabul Business Centre. Rooms are exceedingly…

  • Safi Landmark Hotel

    Kabul

    You can’t miss the Safi, part of the Kabul City Centre tower block in bright green glass. The lobby speaks of understated service and a glass elevator…

  • Pashtoonistan Hotel

    Kabul

    This hotel was popular with backpackers until recently, when the police banned it from accepting foreign guests. We’ve listed it in the hope that improved…

  • Maple Leaf Inn

    Kabul

    Formerly called Ottawa Resorts, the motto here is ‘blending serenity and efficiency’. Management is certainly efficient, while rooms match the standard of…

  • B’s Place

    Kabul

    One of the first of the post-Taliban guesthouses, B’s Place has six rooms with shared bathrooms, decorated in traditional Afghan style. There’s a pleasant…

  • Park Palace

    Kabul

    A deservedly popular hotel with consultants and long-term stays, the Park Palace has good quality en suite rooms with service to match. The buffet…

  • Insaf Hotel

    Kabul

    Close to the action around Shahr-e Nau Park, this modern hotel has en suite rooms that are simply but decently decorated. There’s one price for one or two…

  • Rose Garden & Carwan Sarai Hotel

    Kabul

    Formerly named the Karwansara Guesthouse, this place is a lovely old merchant’s house set in a large and leafy garden. Some of the rooms are a little…

  • Kabul Inn

    Kabul

    Behind high walls on the main road, this Tajik-run place is bright, modern and clean. Rooms have satellite TV and bathrooms, all kept spotless. Even the…

  • Euro Guest House

    Kabul

    Tangerine walls on the main street through Wazir Akbar Khan make the Euro hard to miss. There are a selection of different rooms (up to US$100), but the…

  • Park Hotel

    Kabul

    This hotel sits above an arcade of electronics shops. One step up from a chaikhana, it has simple cell-like rooms with grubby walls, and a large communal…

  • Shahr-e Nau Guesthouse

    Kabul

    Easily spotted by its pink external walls, the Shahr-e Nau Guesthouse is a decent place. Rooms come in a variety of shapes and sizes, with up to three…

  • Spinzar Hotel

    Kabul

    Popular with Afghan businessmen, this tall greenish building has commanding views over the river. Rooms and shared bathrooms alike are drab but clean. The…

  • Salsal Guest House

    Kabul

    This is a great new addition to the budget hotel scene, and the pick of the ultra-cheapies. Carpeted rooms are small but on the cosy side, with a fan and…

  • Assa 1

    Kabul

    Another long-standing favourite, this medium-sized guesthouse has a selection of well-turned out rooms, favoured by long-term guests. Worth a look, there…

  • Star Inn

    Kabul

    This tidy little hotel has a good central location. Rooms have attached bathrooms and TV, although some are a bit on the poky side. Communal areas are…

  • Marco Polo Inn

    Kabul

    This new guesthouse run by an Afghan-German is a great deal. Rooms, with attached bathroom, are very nicely furnished with lots of dark wood giving the…

  • Park Residence

    Kabul

    Look twice for the entrance to this place facing the park – security is tight but unobtrusive. Modern rooms have en suites and are positively cosy, with a…

  • Kabul Lodge

    Kabul

    A well-established guesthouse, the Kabul Lodge is impeccably run with helpful and efficient management. Rooms are large (with en suite) and there’s a…

  • Le Monde Guest House

    Kabul

    This is a traditional Kabul home turned into a cosy, well-run guesthouse. Generous rooms are well set up, and there’s a lovely garden. Given that the…

  • Naween Guesthouse

    Kabul

    Another well-run guesthouse popular with contractors and UN workers, the Naween offers a high level of comfort and security. All rooms are en suite.