This ancient fort cannot be visited. There's a military post at the bottom.
Hotels
Most hotels are located near the Ministry of Information and Culture. The Spinzar Hotel is actually attached to the Ministry of Information and Culture. Across the street, close to the river, is the Pushtunistan Hotel but it isn't worth checking out as they will see that you are a foreigner and wave you away. A better low-budget option is the Jamil Hotel where a room with bath costs $5 to $10. You don't want to use the shared bath at Jamil. Be afraid. Be very afraid. The rooms aren't anything like what you would get at Spinzar but reasonable compared to low-budget options in Pakistan and India. Another good choice down the street away from the river is the Zanagar Hotel.This large, very cheap hotel has many floors and triples cost around $7 (for the whole room no matter how many people you have in them). Unfortunately, there's only a shared bathroom and it's not a good one. Nearby on the corner is the Plaza Hotel but this is one of those places where management assumes that you are related to the famous Bill Gates that they've heard so much about. Many people stay at the mid-range Mustafa Hotel near the embassy district.
Transportation
For local transportation there are shared buses and taxis that go to all points of Kabul. Of course, you'll probably need a translator to find out which one to take since no one running them speaks any English. Many share taxis leave from near the Spinzar Hotel and others from near the Ministry of Education.Taxis are cheap, just make sure you have the price set in advance and avoid "translators" who will tell you that by coincidence they're going to the same place and will then get money from the driver when you're overcharged.
For long-distance transportation there are four different bus stations. Long distance buses and Hiace vans all leave early in the morning. The Bamiyan Hiace vans all leave from a station near the (unmarked) Ghulzar Hotel. You can get a ride there from near the Spinzar Hotel in a share taxi and it might be worth staying the night there. The owner of the hotel speaks a little English and was very friendly. The bus station for Mazar-i-Sharif and the Panjshir Valley is located in the north of Kabul near the beginning of the Shomali Plains. The buses to Mazar go there after picking up their passengers at the bus offices in town. Buses to Ghazni and Kandahar leave from the Kutesange station. The Jalalabad/Torkham station is along the Kabul River.
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