PK
Islamabad
A green, planned capital beneath the Margalla Hills
A green, planned capital beneath the Margalla Hills
⚠️ Travel advisory: check before you go
Governments advise against travel to parts of Pakistan, including areas near the Afghan border and much of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, and the US asks travellers to reconsider travel to the country. The main cities and Gilgit-Baltistan see regular visitors; check route-specific advice.
Latest official advice: UK FCDO · US State Department · Reviewed September 2026
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 is a good place to try Pakistani classics: chicken or mutton karahi cooked in a wok with tomato and chilli, seekh and chapli kebabs, biryani, nihari for a slow breakfast, and haleem. Street food around the markets includes samosas, chaat and gol gappay, and tea stalls pour sweet doodh patti chai all day.
Each sector has its own market (markaz), with Jinnah Super and Kohsar Market known for cafes and restaurants popular with expats and diplomats. Saidpur Village and the Monal-style viewpoints in the Margalla foothills offer dining with city views. Alcohol is not generally available; some hotels have permit rooms for non-Muslim foreigners.
Islamabad International Airport is about 30 to 35 km west of the centre, 40 to 50 minutes by car. Official airport taxis have a desk in arrivals, and the ride apps inDrive and Yango operate in the city, usually paid in cash; Careem and Uber no longer run in Pakistan. A metrobus feeder links the airport to the Rawalpindi–Islamabad Metrobus for a very low fare. Within the city, the metrobus runs along the main avenue and taxis and apps cover the rest; the capital is laid out in sectors, so distances are longer than they look.
Islamabad is inexpensive by international standards, though hotels in the capital cost more than elsewhere in Pakistan. Estimates are per person per day in USD.
Two days covers the capital’s landmarks and a first taste of the Margalla Hills.
Visit the Faisal Mosque, one of the world’s largest, then drive up to Daman-e-Koh for the panorama over the city. In the evening, dine in the restored Saidpur Village at the foot of the hills.
Dress modestly for the mosque; women should cover their hair.
See the petal-shaped Pakistan Monument and its museum, then hike a Margalla Hills trail, such as Trail 3 or 5, for fresh air and views.
Hike in the morning; trails get hot and busy later.
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.
Quick answers for visiting Islamabad.
March to May and September to November.
Visit Faisal Mosque, the Pakistan Monument, Saidpur Village and the Daman-e-Koh viewpoint, and hike in the Margalla Hills.
Two days is enough. It is also a common starting point for trips to the northern mountains.
About four to five hours by the M2 motorway.
The most widely used ride-hailing app in Islamabad, usually paid in cash; Yango is the main alternative.
Free
Book tours, day trips and skip-the-line tickets in and around Islamabad.
Free
Mughal Lahore, the capital Islamabad, the peaks of Hunza and Skardu, and the alpine Fairy Meadows below Nanga Parbat — Pakistan from plains to mountains.
Planning a wider trip? Our Pakistan travel guide covers getting there, costs, when to go and more.