Exploring The Markets In Kabul, Afghanistan 🇦🇫

Intro

Fully stocked up after a whopping 2 main courses at the foreigner restaurant, it was time to explore what the bustling city of Kabul had to offer. 

Visiting Kabul during Ramadan was one of the most interesting experiences that I have ever encountered. By day the city is packed, and come nightfall the city is empty but the markets are crowded. We took it upon ourselves to explore the local markets of Kabul and see what life is like when the sun goes down. 

They Sell Everything

If you want, you can buy it in Afghanistan. Some things are harder to buy than others (cough, cough, an AK), but it’s still possible to buy at the markets in Kabul. If you are looking for birds, yes, alive birds, there is a whole dedicated street known as the bird market! If you are looking for chicken hanging by a string, just head over to the Bazaar and you’ll find unlimited. Perhaps a dog? No problem. 

The bird market in Kabul

Fancy a chicken?

A beautiful evening in Kabul

It's a madhouse in Kabul, but people smile everywhere

Fancy some street food? Enjoy some in Kabul!

It’s one of those things where you have to be there to fully comprehend how incredible the Bazaars are in Kabul. Thousands, if not tens of thousands flock to buy supplies at all hours of the day. People negotiate with taxi drivers, yelling, and laughing, about trying to get the best price to go home. It’s as if you are in a movie. 

The People

And when the sun fully sets, that is when the streets become empty. As if a plague had forced the community into hiding, everyone flocks to their home to break their fast with their family and friends. It’s a sight to behold. 

Kabul, Afghanistan

The juxtaposition

It's bustling all over, but traffic gets better when the sun goes down.

Trying to navigate the market is a mission of its own, ducking and dodging people as if they were volleyballs being thrown at you at 100 mph. Everyone weaving in and out of each other as if they were Formula 1 cars back in the 90s. The one thing I was reminded of from my guide is to keep my phone safe and in my pocket most of the time. 

But the most striking part of the experience was how no one really batted an eye at me as a foreigner. In places like South Sudan and Somalia, I stood out like a sore thumb. Here, everyone was on a mission to do what they needed to do, and it showed. 

Night Night Kabul 🙂

Kabul is a beautiful city, and one of the parts that lights it up is the sunset Bazaar activities. 

Final Thoughts

If you are planning a trip to Afghanistan, visiting the Bazaar and walking along the streets during sunset time is a must-do activity. To me, this represents Afghanistan as a whole and showcases the beauty of the people. If you are really feeling up to it, there is plenty of street food that you can try as well.