Kabul Getting there & around

Getting around

While Taliban-era Kabul was largely a city of bicycles, traffic jams are an unwelcome side effect of progress. Getting around can be a nightmare at any time of day, with frequent road closures for unexpected security measures. Travel between Shahr-e Nau, Wazir Akbar Khan and the airport can be notably tiresome due to the large numbers of concrete roadblocks outside embassies that turn the roads into obstacle courses.

Car & motorcycle

Car

A couple of companies offer secure radio-controlled taxi services in Kabul, aimed at the expat community. Both operate 24-hour services, and also rent cars and 4WDs with drivers for short and long-term hire.

Afghan Logistics & Tours (079 9391 462/070 479435; www.afghanlogisticstours.com; midnight-6pm US$7, 6pm-midnight US$5, full-day within/outside Kabul US$40/80, airport transfer US$20)

Safe TripKabul (079 9041 130; www.safetripkabul.com; according to time of day US$6-13, full-day within/outside Kabul US$80/90, airport transfer US$25)

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Local transport

Old buses operated by Afghan Millie Bus trundle the routes across Kabul, but they are slow with standing room only. Destinations aren’t marked, so shout out where you want to go when the bus stops. If you’re not in a rush, fares cost around 3Afg. A similar network of minibuses also criss-cross the city, usually stopping to pick up passengers at roundabouts and major junctions. Look for the vehicles with a young lad hanging out of the door barking out the destination.

There are over 40, 000 registered yellow taxis in Kabul, forming the bulk of the city’s traffic. Shared taxis run the main roads, linking the districts. If you flag one down you’ll need to know the nearest landmark or major junction to your destination. Most taxi drivers assume that a foreigner will want to hire the whole vehicle, so make this clear when you get in. Shared taxis have a minimum fare of 20Afg.

Finding an empty taxi to hire can sometimes be a challenge, though they’ll often veer towards a walking foreigner. Drivers almost always ask for 100Afg for a fare, although short hops should give you change from 70Afg. Women should be wary of taking taxis alone.

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