Islamabad Travel Information

Islamabad Travel Information

The modern capital of Pakistan, Islamabad is a well-organized, green city with interesting architecture, many museums and monuments, as well as shopping opportunities and some nightlife. It is surrounded by beautiful hills that are a great place for trekking or horseback riding. Islamabad is a starting point for biking and mountain climbing expeditions in Pakistan’s northern mountains. It is safer, less noisy and more organized than most big cities in Pakistan.

Faisal Mosque in Islamabad, Pakistan

The Pakistani capital located in the north of Pakistan close to the city of Rawalpindi, Islamabad was built in the 1960 as Pakistan’s new capital. Today, it is a modern and clean city that has also become a financial, commercial, and political center in Pakistan with a cosmopolitan feeling. Pakistan has an old and rich culture with many traditions, monuments, and dishes inherited from the rule of Mughal and Afghan emperors or from Central Asia. Even though Islamabad has a modern appearance, traditional religious and family values are still highly regarded.

Sights and activities in Islamabad

Islamabad is a modern city with less historic attractions than many other cities in Pakistan, but it does have impressive architecture, museums, and the ancient city of Taxila nearby, dating from the 4th century BC. Islamabad is a green city with good opportunities for outdoor activities including biking and trekking around Islamabad, horseback riding and paragliding in the Margalla Hills north of the city, fishing on the Rawal Lake, or visiting in the nearby British colonial hill resort of Murree.

Sights in Islamabad include the National Monument, the Saudi-Pak Tower, and the huge Shah Faisal Mosque, as well as the sculpted gardens of Shakar Parian Hills. The so-called Blue area is the financial center of the city, and the lookout points of Daman-e-Koh and Pir Sohawa in the surrounding hills are good places to hike and enjoy the views over the city. The various museums in Islamabad include the renovated Lok Virsa Museum, the Islamabad Museum and Pakistan Museum of Natural History. There are also historical Sufic Islamic shrines near the city.

Decorated local bus in Islamabad, Pakistan

Entertainment & recreation. Islamabad is home to Pakistan’s National Art Gallery. The lakes in the city include Rawal Lake and Lotus Lake, offering promenades, fishing, and relaxing atmosphere. There is some nightlife and good opportunities for cheap shopping in Islamabad. Biking in Islamabad has become popular, and the city is the starting point for mountain biking tours on the Himalayas. There is also a 18-hole golf course in Islamabad.

Islamabad travel information and practical tips

Although Islamabad is not a big tourism destination, it is an important travel hub in Northern Pakistan. The city has a dry climate with very hot summers and cooler, more pleasant winters. The temperatures in Islamabad are a bit lower in the higher altitude hill areas. Rainfall is mostly brought by the south-westerly monsoon during July and August.

Fountain inside the King Faisal Mosque in Islamabad

Traveling to Islamabad from abroad is done predominantly by air.

There is an international airport with flights to Islamabad from many Asian and some European countries, as well as domestic flights from elsewhere in Pakistan. There are also many buses to Islamabad from all parts of Pakistan, although the majority of buses arrive to its twin city, Rawalpindi, a short taxi ride away from Islamabad. There are also railway connections to Rawalpindi from elsewhere in Pakistan.

Wide boulevard in modern Islamabad

Once in Islamabad, the local public transport includes buses and abundant taxis. While using taxis, always agree on the fare before getting in. Auto rickshaws that are common in other cities in Pakistan are banned in Islamabad. Car rental in Islamabad is well available and a good way of getting around. Rental cars are available also with local drivers.

Safety. Islamabad is generally a safer place than many bigger cities in Pakistan. Violent crime is uncommon, but political violence and terrorist attacks do happen. With this in mind, visitors should exercise caution at all times and avoid large gatherings and political demonstrations. In general, the local people are very hospitable, but they are also often conservative, so it is important to respect their traditions and religion. You should also avoid taking photos of any military or police establishments or officers.

King Faisal Mosque in Islamabad

Visitor services. There are plenty of guesthouses and hotels in Islamabad, ranging from five star hotels aimed at visiting politicians to cheap and basic local hotels.Restaurants in Islamabad are also plentiful with dozens of cuisine options to choose from. Islamabad hosts a large number of foreigners working in embassies or international organizations, and has a modern atmosphere with good shopping and some international nightlife options. English is an official language in Pakistan, and most people in Islamabad speak good English.