Transportation in Kabul

Kabul's transport scene is built around shared taxis and minivans that ply the main boulevards from dawn to late evening. They're the cheapest way to move, but you'll yourself in with up to six other passengers and routes are marked only by the driver's shouted destination, learn the key Dari names (Shahr-e Naw, Microryan, Darulaman) before you wave one down. For a bit more comfort, yellow-and-white taxis cruise every junction. Agree the fare while you're still on the curb because meters are rarely used. Ride-hailing apps such as Buber (the local equivalent) give fixed prices and live tracking, a relief if your Dari is shaky. From Hamid Karzai International, the official taxi stand outside the terminal is the safest bet, private touts inside the arrivals hall often quote double. The ride to central districts is a splurge compared with in-city hops, but still a fraction of an airport limousine. If you're met by a hotel driver, confirm the meeting point in advance. The pickup lane is chaotic and mobile signals can drop. Avoid hailing curbside cabs on the ring road outside the gates, security checkpoints mean you'll be waved back inside anyway.