PK
Islamabad
A green, planned capital beneath the Margalla Hills
A green, planned capital beneath the Margalla Hills
Pakistan’s largest mosque is a bold modernist icon shaped like a Bedouin tent, framed by four soaring minarets against the green Margalla Hills, serene and vast.
💡 Visit around sunset when the white marble glows and crowds thin.
A viewpoint and garden terrace part-way up the Margalla Hills gives a sweeping panorama over Islamabad and the Faisal Mosque, reached by a short drive or hike.
💡 Go up for sunset views over the city and mosque.
A striking flower-shaped national monument of curving granite petals on a hill, symbolising the nation’s unity, with a museum and views over the capital.
💡 The petals frame lovely views and photos of the city.
A restored old village on the edge of the city with Mughal-era temples, craft shops and hillside restaurants, a charming heritage pocket amid the modern capital.
💡 Great for an evening meal with city views.
The forested hills rising behind the city are laced with hiking trails alive with monkeys and birds, the most popular being Trail 5, offering fresh air and panoramas.
💡 Hike Trail 3 or 5 early in the morning before the heat.
Islamabad’s dining ranges from traditional Pakistani grills and karahi to a cosmopolitan scene of cafes and international restaurants serving the capital’s diplomats and professionals. Saidpur Village and the Margalla foothills have atmospheric restaurants with city views. Try barbecue, biryani and the ubiquitous chai, and browse the weekly markets for fruit and street snacks. It is cleaner and calmer than the food-street chaos of Lahore.
Visit the Faisal Mosque, drive up to Daman-e-Koh for the panorama, and dine in Saidpur Village in the evening.
See the Pakistan Monument and museum, then hike a Margalla Hills trail for fresh air and city views.
Conditions vary across Pakistan; check current advisories and local guidance before and during your trip.
Islamabad is the springboard for the northern mountains; arrange onward transport and permits here.
Cards work in bigger hotels and malls, but cash is needed for eateries, rickshaws and markets.
The Margalla trails are a highlight; go early and carry water for the climb.
Mughal Lahore, the capital Islamabad, the peaks of Hunza and Skardu, and the alpine Fairy Meadows below Nanga Parbat — Pakistan from plains to mountains.