Mazar-e Sharif Travel Guide

 
by Veroali
 
  •   Things to Do
    by Veroali
  •   Mazar-e Sharif
    by Penelope4
  • Not everyday - aber immerhin
      Not everyday - aber immerhin
    by Penelope4
  • Sweets
      Sweets
    by Veroali
  • Calm, beautiful, adoring abode
      Calm, beautiful, adoring abode
    by Penelope4
 

Explore Mazar-e Sharif

Things to Do  

Blue mosque

Blue mosque, Mazar-e Sharif

 Veroali Says:  Imam Ali Mosque (Shrine of Hazrat Ali) is always surrounded with thousands of pigeons. It is said, that this place is so holly, that every pigeon get purely white within 40 days. The shrine is blue like sky with a lot of beautiful mosaics, yellow or dark blue. It is not... 

Shrine to Ali

Shrine to Ali, Mazar-e Sharif

 jkseddon Says:  It can't be missed -- this stunning blue tiled mausoleum in the middle of Mazar is probably one of the most beautiful Islamic buildings in the world.You can walk around the grounds once you've left your shoes at the gate. I was told not to enter the very centre of the... 

Shrine to Ali

Shrine to Ali, Mazar-e Sharif

 jkseddon Says:  It can't be missed -- this stunning blue tiled mausoleum in the middle of Mazar is probably one of the most beautiful Islamic buildings in the world.You can walk around the grounds once you've left your shoes at the gate. I was told not to enter the very centre of the... 

Hotels  

Unknown: Cheapest accomodation in Mazar

Unknown: Cheapest accomodation in Mazar, Mazar-e Sharif

 jkseddon Says:  A room with rope bed goes for 300 Afghanis, or about $6US. The price will be higher when you first ask, so bargain hard. The wall to the hallway is made from windows, meaning that you don't have much privacy. There is no shower and one toilet is shared between everyone in... 

Hotel Bharat: Living in the lap of luxury in Mazar!

Hotel Bharat: Living in the lap of luxury in Mazar!, Mazar-e Sharif

 jkseddon Says:  Again, I didn't stay at this one but took a look while 'shopping' for a place to stay.It is nice and clean, but was out of my price range. A room suitable for two was going for $30US. 

Aamo Hotel: mid-range hotel

Aamo Hotel: mid-range hotel, Mazar-e Sharif

 jkseddon Says:  I checked this place out, but didn't stay here. 800Afghanis ($16) buys a room with two beds which seem to be comfortable enough. Had I been with someone else I would have gone with this option. 

Restaurants  

The Kefyat Hotel: Best Kebabs in town!

The Kefyat Hotel: Best Kebabs in town!, Mazar-e Sharif

 Cdnexpat Says:  The restaurant is part of the largest hotel in town. It has an indoor dining room and a large outdoor area in a park like setting. At my last visit there a month ago, I enjoyed the biggest and best tasting kebabs in many years. Definitely kebabs are the specilty here, but... 

Transportation  

Horsecart

Horsecart, Mazar-e Sharif

 Veroali Says:  I know in most of the countries, especially in Europe going by a horsecart is something special and you have to pay a lot of money to use it. Mostly, tourists use the horsecart for example here in Prague to go around, but in my country Afghanistan horsecart is used as a... 

Mazar to Dushanbe

Mazar to Dushanbe, Mazar-e Sharif

 jkseddon Says:  The bus station in Mazar is a few hundred meters east of the shrine, across from the university. Taxis east to Konduz leave from here (buses to Kabul seem to leave from the area just south of the shrine).The taxi to Konduz takes 5.5 hours and one seat cost me 350 Afghanis... 

Taxi from airport

Taxi from airport, Mazar-e Sharif

 jkseddon Says:  I paid 250 Afghanis to get from the airport to the centre city but expect one could get the trip for less. 

Kam Air/ Ariana Afghan offices

Kam Air/ Ariana Afghan offices, Mazar-e Sharif

 jkseddon Says:  Kam Air and Ariana seem to share the same office. It is on the street heading south from the shrine, about 100 meters down on the west side. Look for the signs.Kabul to Mazar on a Kam Air An-24 cost me about $32US. 

Shopping  

Nabil's Superstore: Imported Food in Mazar

Nabil's Superstore: Imported Food in Mazar, Mazar-e Sharif

 Cdnexpat Says:  At Nabil's expats can find a variety of imported food, even cat food if they want a change from local cuisine. Not everything is there all tha time, but they make an effort to keep the custommers happy. This is almost a meeting place for foreigners. This is the place for... 

Local Customs  

Kam Akhtar/Eid ul-Fitr (or just Eid)

Kam Akhtar/Eid ul-Fitr (or just Eid), Mazar-e Sharif

 etfromnc Says:  This is not really a local custom but we arrived near the end of Ramadan and I had never been in any other predominantly Muslim environments at this time of the year, so Mazar-e Sharif was the first place that I ever experienced Eid. Ramadan is the Islamic holy month of... 

Candys

Candys, Mazar-e Sharif

 Veroali Says:  The best candy ever i had is called Shirpera and it is the one on the top of the photo. Something like milk chocolate with nuts, delicious! Then almonds in sugar, raisins, big sugar and again sugar called Qand, totally pure. 

Nice and friendly people

Nice and friendly people, Mazar-e Sharif

 Veroali Says:  If I have ever met Afghan, it was always nice man. They are very friendly, try to help and talk to you. If you as: How are you? They reply fine. They are always satisfied with life, not like in Czech. They enjoy the life as much as they can, although it is not easy there. 

Quiet after dark

Quiet after dark, Mazar-e Sharif

 jkseddon Says:  The city goes dead not long after dark. There is no longer a steady curfew but most people seem to stay in after dark. Eat early and get early nights when in Mazar! As with anywhere else, the risk of anything happening to you is much higher when there is nobody else around... 

Favorites  

internet access

internet access, Mazar-e Sharif

 jkseddon Says:  Internet access with decent speed can be found about 200 meters west of the Shrine on the south side of the street. It's up a few flights of stairs so can be difficult to spot. Look for signs or failing that, ask boys or younger men who might know it for the gaming.Access is... 

The Place

Plan a Mazar-e Sharif vacation with reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and Mazar-e Sharif locals

Experience Mazar-e Sharif
  •   17 Tips and Reviews
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Map of Mazar-e Sharif
 

The People

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Our Members Say
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 I checked this place out, but didn't stay here. 800Afghanis ($16) buys a room with two beds which seem to be comfortable enough. Had I been with someone else I... 

1 member lives in Mazar-e Sharif

 

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Top Mazar-e Sharif Writers

1

Mazar, Capital of the North

Cdnexpat profile photo

 Mazar-i-Sharif is the second largest city in Afghanistan, It boosts over 1m people. I covers a large area of the northern plain between the mountain ridge and the Uzbek border. It is located east of... 

2

What comes to mind when you think of Mazar?

jkseddon profile photo

 Unfortunately most have heard of Mazar-e Sharif for the wrong reasons? I suppose you could ask the same question about any city in Afghanistan, but this happens to be one that got a lot of coverage...... 

3

I Despise American Media

etfromnc profile photo

 I have a very dear British friend who has twice now accused me of being unpatriotic because of my heading for this page. No-one else has responded to it in either way but I want to let anyone who... 

4

The streets of Mazar

Nourin profile photo

 There is only one thing to see in Mazar; Masjed-e Hazrat Ali. Otherwise a boring city. Move on quickly to Balkh. 

5

Mazar e Sharif

Lagun profile photo

 I've got some interesting experiences in Mazar-e Sharif. I'd love to share with you the 0 tips I've written, the 3 photos uploaded, and 0 travelogues I've created. 

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