6 BEST Things to Do in Islamabad, Pakistan

6 Best Things to Do in Islamabad

1. Admire the symmetry of Pakistan Monument

First thing in the morning, take an Uber and visit the Pakistan Monument. The monument is built on top of a hill in a spacious park, and by being there early in the morning, you will have the whole place to yourself, so you can walk around at your own leisure.

I was there at 9:30 AM, and there were only two people walking around the park. By the time I left around 10:30 AM, several vans were dropping off local tourists. This place gets packed fast, so be sure to arrive early.

Where to Stay in Islamabad?

Budget

Backpackers Hostel and Guesthouse Islamabad

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Mid-Range

Jasmine Inn

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High-End

Islamabad Serena Hotel

Double Room | $$$

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2. Visit the Lok Virsa Museum

Only a few minutes' walk away from the Pakistan Monument, you will find the Lok Virsa Heritage Museum, a great modern museum of history, art, and culture of Pakistan and other Central Asian countries. The museum consists of both outdoor and indoor exhibitions, ranging from a collection of displays showcasing the vibrant and diverse cultures of Pakistan from different areas to allowing you to listen to recordings of traditional music and watch several locally-produced cultural documentaries. There is no better place to learn about Pakistan than at the Lok Virsa Museum.

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3. Eat your way through Centaurus Mall's Food Court

I know, I know, you are probably wondering why visiting a mall is on this list, but hear me out. Pakistan, from the outside, is a very conservative country, and when you walk around a city like Lahore or Rawalpindi, you might forget that there is also a modern side to this country, and it is best seen in a place like the Centaurus Mall. Also, they have a food court full of both local and western food chains that will indulge you for days. I had the best naan sandwich here.

This is also the best place to stock up on food and snacks before you start heading north in the mountains of Pakistan.

4. Check out the Daman-e-Koh Viewpoint

At around 3 PM, when the light is just perfect, take an Uber up to the Daman-e-Koh viewpoint, where you will be able to see why they call Islamabad the greenest city in the country. There is no better view of the city than this.

If you are there on a Sunday, you will also be greeted with a small carnival-like market full of snacks and small amusement rides such as bouncing castles and spinning teacups, as well as lots and lots of locals enjoying themselves and having fun with their families. It is one of the best times to go mingle with the locals in Islamabad. They are very welcoming, especially when they are happy!

5. Dine with a View at Monal Restaurant, Pir Sohawa

Further up the hill from the Daman-e-Koh viewpoint, you will find a nice restaurant called Monal, where you can dine on both local and Western food with a high vantage point of Islamabad surrounded by the Margalla Hills. The food is quite expensive and may not be the most delicious, but you can't beat the view of Islamabad from above at sunset.

6. Visit the Faisal Mosque during Sunset

Faisal Mosque is one of the most well-known landmarks in Islamabad, and for good reason. It is the largest mosque in the country, capable of accommodating 100,000 worshippers at once, with an additional 200,000 in the courtyard area. The design of the mosque is very unique, with the structure shaped like a Bedouin tent instead of the typical dome-shaped exterior found in most mosques around the world.

The structure is impressive, but even more so right after sunset as the natural light subsides and the artificial light takes over, illuminating the structure with an orange hue. I was there around 6:00 PM and waited as the sky turned purple. The structure turned orange, and the prayer call echoed throughout the city. It was one of the most spiritual moments in Pakistan. If you can make it to the mosque, make sure you are there at sunset. You will not regret it.

Understanding Islamabad

Islamabad is the model of what a modern Pakistani city should look like. Clusters of buildings are divided into zones, laid out as a grid with a vast network of roads connecting them all together like a spiderweb. In between the buildings, green vegetation is sprinkled all over the city, making it the greenest city in the country. Rickshaws are banned due to loud noises, and the streets are as clean as day. It is what the government envisioned a capital city should be, and they went all in with it.

Islamabad also has an ugly twin sister city called Rawalpindi, which is situated next to it. You may have also noticed, while traveling from Lahore, that buses coming to Islamabad are labeled Rawalpindi instead of Islamabad (yes, I was confused at first too), so do not be alarmed.

Rawalpindi is an old city that is the polar opposite of Islamabad. It's loud, dirty, with terrible traffic, and unorganized. If you want a calmer experience, I would recommend avoiding accommodation in Rawalpindi. Also, be sure that the accommodation you booked is really in Islamabad and not Rawalpindi because that makes a big difference.

When to Go to Islamabad?

The best time to go to Islamabad is from September to October, as the weather becomes much cooler around the city, especially at night when the weather is most comfortable. September and October are also good times if you are planning to go to the north and do some hiking, as the weather is mostly calm and the colors of autumn are in full swing.

Daily Budget

This location is less expensive than most countries, but it's not exceedingly cheap. Expect to spend around $30 - $50 USD per day per person, which includes both accommodation and meals.

Please keep in mind that these are suggested daily budgets based on my own style of travel, which leans more towards the budget side of things. If you aim to stick to this budget, anticipate sleeping in dormitories, dining out only occasionally, and being comfortable with the cheapest and most convenient modes of transportation, which often involve a considerable amount of walking.

Which tourist SIM card is best for Pakistan?

Update: If your phone supports eSIM, I highly recommend checking out Airalo, a global eSIM marketplace. It allows you to stay connected affordably while traveling in Islamabad, Pakistan without having to switch out your physical SIM card.

Gone are the days when you needed to scramble to find a local SIM card at an airport upon arrival. You can purchase an eSIM before your arrival, and you'll be good to go. If your phone doesn't support eSIM, here is how you can get a local SIM card in Islamabad, Pakistan:

Reliable WiFi is not easy to come by, so I would recommend that you get a SIM card instead. In order to get a SIM card in Islamabad, you will need to find a franchise office of a carrier you want that will issue a SIM card to foreigners. DO NOT get a SIM card at the airport. They are all scams! I personally used Zong when I was there, and I had signals most of the time in the north, except in Fairy Meadows.

In order to get the Zong SIM card as a foreigner, you will have to go to the Zong Customer Experience Center located on Jinnah Avenue in between G-7/3 and F-7/4 sectors. Make sure you have your passport with you. Once you are there, you can choose whether you want a data SIM card only (1,500 PKR for 12 GB) or the one with calls (~2500 PKR). I would recommend the one with calls if you are planning to go up north as the data connection becomes unreliable up there, and you might need to call some places to book. The entire process took me less than 5 minutes.

The location of the Zong Customer Experience Center is shown below.

Tips: To stay connected with people at home, be sure that you have a VPN, such as ProtonVPN, installed before traveling. It's FREE, and you can gain access to services that may be blocked in certain countries.

What to Pack for Islamabad, Pakistan?

As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Islamabad, Pakistan:

• Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
• Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
• Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
• Fleece Jacket: For colder weather, layering is the key, and a fleece jacket makes an excellent insulating layer. I recommend the Columbia Steens Mountain Fleece (for women).
• Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
• Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
• Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
• Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
• Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
• Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
• Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
• Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
• Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.

For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.

How to Get to Islamabad?

You can fly straight to Islamabad's new airport from the US via Middle Eastern airlines such as Etihad, Qatar, or Turkish Airlines. If you are coming from the east, Thai and Air China are also great options. I often use Expedia or Skyscanner to find the fastest and cheapest flights for my trips around the world, so feel free to browse through some of the deals they have there.

If you are coming from Lahore, as I did, you can get a Daewoo Express bus from Lahore to Rawalpindi, which will take around 4 hours. It will drop you off at the Daewoo Express bus terminal near Motorway Chowk, just outside of Rawalpindi. From there, you can call an Uber (again, rickshaws are banned from Islamabad, so don't bother trying to find one) to take you to your accommodation in Islamabad.

How to Get Around Islamabad?

Use Uber all the way. It is cheaper, with fewer headaches, and it takes you where you want to go. I took Uber to all the places I listed here, so you will have no problem with it.

One caveat with using Uber to go to Daman-e-Koh and Pir Sohawa viewpoints is that there is no connection on that hill, and Uber might continue to bill you until your connection is restored. So, it would be best to negotiate with your driver to wait for you and take you down as well, so there are no surprise charges to your credit card.

That is it for the 6 BEST Things to Do in Islamabad, Pakistan. Have we missed anything? Have you found the guide useful? Let us know in the comments below!

Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to plan your trip to Islamabad, Pakistan! Here are some resources to help you get your trip going:

Flights: Skyscanner and Expedia are the best places to start looking for cheap flights and great deals from your home country.

Accommodation: Hostelworld, Booking.com, and Agoda.com are the ultimate go-to platforms to search for amazing hostels and hotels at affordable prices.

Travel Insurance: Heymondo covers theft, medical emergencies, cancellations, and more during your travels. Get a 5% discount if you sign up today.

Transportation: For buses, I always go with Busbud when traveling in Islamabad, Pakistan while for trains, Omio is my go-to place to book all my train travels in advance.

Car Rental: DiscoverCars.com is a great and reliable platform to find rental cars in Islamabad, Pakistan.

Internet: Airalo is the best way to get a sim card and has reliable internet access for your trip to Islamabad, Pakistan. All you need is an esim compatible smartphone, install it on your phone prior to your trip, and you are all set.

VPN: To stay connected with people at home, I always make sure to have ProtonVPN, installed before traveling. It's FREE, and I can gain access to services that may be blocked in certain countries.

Day Trips & Tours: Viator, GetYourGuide and TripAdvisor are great platforms to search for activities to do in Islamabad, Pakistan.

Tickets & Deals: Klook is always my go-to website when I want to find cheaper deals for entrance tickets to tourist attractions in Islamabad, Pakistan.

Are you planning to travel to Islamabad, Pakistan independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.

Further Reading for Pakistan

I hope this guide will help you plan your trip to Pakistan. I have written tons more articles about Pakistan, and here's a selection of them to help you further plan your Pakistan trip:

• Looking for a complete itinerary and travel guide for Pakistan? One Month Travel Itinerary for Pakistan.
• If you do not have one month to spare, you can spend 2 weeks traveling the Karakoram Highway from Islamabad to Sost. Here's a complete travel guide and a 2-week itinerary for traveling the Karakoram Highway.
• Lahore is a beautiful city, full of stunning Mughal and British architectures that have stood the test of time. If you are looking for things to do in Lahore, here’s 7 amazing things to do in Lahore.
• Are you ready to go hiking in Pakistan? First, you will have to get to Gilgit-Baltistan, and here's a complete travel guide on how to get to Gilgit from Islamabad.
• Fairy Meadows and Nanga Parbat, the 8th highest mountain in the world, are probably the most accessible 8000+ mountains out there. Here's a complete hiking guide to Fairy Meadows and Nanga Parbat Base Camp.
• Another great hike you can do is the Rakaposhi Base Camp hike that will take you up atop the Nagar Valley with an unbeatable view of the Minapin Glacier. Here's a complete hiking guide to Rakaposhi Base Camp in one day.
• The Hunza Valley is one of the most beautiful valleys in Pakistan. The capital city of the Hunza Valley is Karimabad, which is a perfect base for you to explore the Valley. Here’s 5 awesome things to do in Karimabad, Hunza Valley.
• You can also watch my travel videos about South Asia here: Sri Lanka travel video, Nepal travel video, and Pakistan travel video.
• Want to know where to go after Pakistan? How about exploring the Golden Triangle in India, doing some trekking in Nepal, or going off-the-beaten-path and exploring Sri Lanka by train?
• For all articles about Pakistan, visit Pakistan Travel Guide page.
• Looking for more travel guides for South Asia? You can find more on my South Asia Travel Guide page.
• For more of my travel guides, visit my Destinations page.