Herat walking route: city center, Friday Mosque and cemetery
The 5 km Herat route covers the city center, the Friday Mosque and a cemetery with a small mosque. The walk will take about 57 minutes and will allow you to get acquainted with the historical and religious centers of one of the most liberal cities in Afghanistan.
- Mode
- Places
- Start
- Herat City Center
- End
- Cemetery & Small Mosque
- Stops
- 3
- Video author
- travmap
- Updated
Stops on this route
- Herat City Center — The most liberal and free city in Afghanistan; central hub for local markets and urban exploration
- Friday Mosque / Local Mosque — Religious site with Friday restrictions on women's access; notable landmark for cultural observation
- Cemetery & Small Mosque — Neat cemetery with adjacent small mosque; cultural and religious landmark
Useful for your trip
- Tip
- To visit tourist places, you need to get a permit. Tourists pay 500 afghanis to enter the citadel, locals pay 100 afghanis.
- Timing
- On Fridays, women are not allowed to approach mosques. Friday is a day off with prayers, most shops are open only in the afternoon.
- Food
- Afghan bread with holes (nan) is one of the most delicious. Bakeries cost about 10 afghanis, sellers often refuse to take money from tourists.
- Food
- Pomegranate juice is a popular drink during the pomegranate season. It usually costs 40 afghanis, sellers rarely raise the price for tourists.
- Food
- In local tea houses, breakfast includes chopped vegetables (tomatoes, etc.) with bread – a healthier option than fried meat with eggs.
- Where to stay
- You can agree to spend the night at the locals' house instead of a hotel. Accommodation with a girl is cheaper than the standard 1200 afghanis per room.
- Tip
- In Herat, girls are more open - some wear a lighter head covering and approach tourists for photos themselves, unlike in other cities.
- Avoid
- You cannot post photos with the faces of animals and living creatures in the public domain - this is a ban of the local government.
- Transport
- At checkpoints, the Taliban do not speak English. Communication takes place by gestures; tourists are usually allowed to pass without any problems.
- Tip
- Herat is the most liberal city in Afghanistan. There are significantly more ordinary clothes in stores and a more developed infrastructure for tourists.
- Food
- Herat's bazaars sell pomegranate juice, biscuits, local bread and traditional dishes. Prices are low, and locals often give free top-offs to tourists.
Video on this route
Afghan girl invited to her home and showed everything in her city