Pakistan
Getting around Pakistan: trains, buses, driving and domestic flights
For Islamabad–Lahore–Karachi use the M-2 motorway coaches (Rs 2,000–4,000, ~4.5 h) or Pakistan Railways; inside cities use Careem, inDrive or Uber. For Gilgit-Baltistan, fly (Rs 20,000–40,000, ~1 h) or hire a car with driver (US$80–150 a day). Skip self-driving outside cities.
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GuidePakistan
Key facts
- Best for the main corridor
- Daewoo or Faisal Movers coach on the M-2, Islamabad–Lahore ~4.5 h, Rs 2,000–4,000
- Best for the north
- Domestic flight Islamabad–Gilgit or Skardu, ~1 h, Rs 20,000–40,000 one way
- Best in cities
- Careem, inDrive or Uber, Rs 500–1,500 a trip, fixed fares in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi
- Self-drive
- Not recommended for visitors; use a car with driver through a local operator instead
- Rail tickets
- No visitor rail pass; buy single tickets at the station or on the Pakistan Railways app
- Bus tickets
- No national bus pass; each operator sells its own tickets
- Flight risk
- Weather cancellations are frequent; keep 1–2 spare days
- Road risk
- Drive by day only; landslides close the Karakoram Highway
Quick answer
Match the mode to the distance. The Islamabad–Lahore–Karachi corridor is motorway and rail country: coaches run on the M-2 and M-5, and Pakistan Railways has the Green Line and Business Express between the main cities. The north is a different problem: the Karakoram Highway takes 16–20 hours from Islamabad to Hunza over two days, so most visitors either fly to Gilgit or Skardu or hire a car with a driver through a local operator.
Inside cities, ride-hailing is the default. Careem, inDrive and Uber all work in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi with fixed fares, which removes the negotiation. Self-driving is not a realistic option for most visitors: traffic, left-hand driving, and the paperwork around a foreign licence make a driver cheaper than the stress.
| Route | Best mode | Time | Cost (2026 estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Islamabad–Lahore | Coach on M-2 | ~4.5 h | Rs 2,000–4,000 |
| Rawalpindi–Lahore | Train (Green Line, Business Express) | 4.5–5 h | Rs 1,000–4,000 |
| Islamabad–Gilgit or Skardu | Domestic flight | ~1 h | Rs 20,000–40,000 |
| Islamabad–Hunza | Car with driver | 16–20 h over two days | US$80–150 a day |
| City trips | Careem / inDrive / Uber | — | Rs 500–1,500 |
Step by step
Book the long legs first. Domestic flights to Gilgit and Skardu fill up in summer and cancel on weather, so book early and keep one or two spare days in the plan. Coaches on the motorway can be booked a day ahead at the terminal or by phone; trains are best booked at the station or on the Pakistan Railways app, and delays are common.
For the north, arrange a car and driver through an operator before you arrive. The usual pattern is two days Islamabad to Hunza with a night stop, driving only in daylight. Parts of the Karakoram Highway run through districts under stricter government advice, so check the current position before you commit, and check that your travel insurance covers the route in writing.
In cities, install Careem and inDrive before you land and add a local SIM or eSIM for data. Confirm the plate before you get in and share the trip with someone. For intercity moves inside a city pair, the coach terminal is usually outside the centre, so budget a taxi at each end.
Notes
Friday midday prayers close many shops and slow the roads for two to three hours; government offices shut at weekends. Ramadan shortens working hours and changes traffic patterns, especially around iftar.
Load-shedding is common, particularly in the north, so charge devices when you can and carry a power bank. Tap water is not drinkable; bottled water is everywhere. Toilets are Western in hotels and squat with a jug or hose elsewhere.
Tipping is expected: 5–10% in restaurants, Rs 1,000–3,000 a day for a driver or guide, Rs 200–500 for hotel staff. Carry cash for tolls, small fares and roadside stops.
FAQ
Sources and checked
Questions people ask
What is the best way to get around Pakistan?
Use motorway coaches or trains between Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi, ride-hailing inside cities, and either a domestic flight or a car with driver for Gilgit-Baltistan. Match the mode to the distance rather than trying to use one for everything.
Do I need a car in Pakistan?
No. Ride-hailing covers the main cities cheaply, and coaches and trains cover the intercity corridor. For the north, a car with a driver through an operator is the usual choice; self-driving is not recommended for most visitors.
Are there rail or bus passes for Pakistan?
No national rail or bus pass is sold to visitors. Buy single tickets: coaches at the terminal or by phone, trains at the station or on the Pakistan Railways app. Fares are low, so a pass would not save much.
How long does Islamabad to Lahore take?
About 4.5 hours by coach on the M-2 motorway, or 4.5–5 hours by train from Rawalpindi. Coaches are usually more frequent; trains are more comfortable on the Business Express.
Is it safe to drive the Karakoram Highway?
Drive by day only and expect landslides to close sections. Parts of the route run through districts under stricter government advice, so check the current position and your insurance cover before you go.
How do I get to Hunza or Skardu?
Fly Islamabad to Gilgit or Skardu in about an hour, or hire a car with a driver for the 16–20 hour drive over two days. Flights cancel on weather, so keep spare days either way.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialPakistan Railways
- officialPakistan Tourism Development Corporation
- secondaryWikivoyage – Pakistan