Capital · Pakistan
Islamabadاسلام آباد
Check your own government's travel advice for Pakistan and for Islamabad specifically before planning; if you go, Islamabad is the planned capital, the calmest major city and the usual air entry point.
Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan, a low-density planned city laid out from the late 1950s in numbered sectors at the foot of the Margalla Hills. It is greener and more orderly than most Pakistani cities, with wide roads and government and diplomatic districts. Rawalpindi, the older and denser neighbouring city, shares Islamabad's airport and adds a Mughal-era old city and bazaars within a short taxi ride.
advisory country
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Best months
- Mar–Apr and Oct–Nov for mild, dry weather
- avoid Jun–Aug (hot, with monsoon rain in July–August)
- Airport
- ISB
- Nights
- 1–2
Rules in force · 5Check your own government travel advice for Pakistan befo…
- South Asia ↗Trekking regions, border districts and several Indian states need separate permits on top of the visa; check the permit before you book transport into them.
- South Asia ↗Remove shoes (and in many Jain and Hindu temples, leather) before entering; cover shoulders and legs; ask before photographing people or rituals.
- Pakistan ↗Check your own government travel advice for Pakistan before any booking; advice depends on your passport and changes without notice.
- Pakistan ↗Get the visa only through the official online system (visa.nadra.gov.pk); some areas need a separate permit (NOC) or police registration.
- Pakistan ↗Confirm that your travel insurance and medical evacuation cover apply to the provinces you will visit before you rely on it.
What is in this basic guide5 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
- Forecast and monthly weather
- Where to sleep2 areas
- Getting around
- What to watch out for4 notes
- Airports1 airport
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Islamabad, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Pakistani rupee (PKR, Rs) in cash for almost everything outside big-city hotels and malls; carry US dollars as backup.Pakistan-wide
- SIM or eSIMJazz, Zong, Telenor and Ufone sell SIMs with passport and biometric registration at franchise shops (not usually at the airport).Pakistan-wide
- Tap waterNot drinkable from the tap; bottled water everywhere.Pakistan-wide
- TippingRestaurant: 5–10%.Pakistan-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/D. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Pakistan-wide
- RestroomsWestern toilets in hotels; squat toilets with a water jug or hose elsewhere.Pakistan-wide
Show all 11 answers
- Emergency numbers15 police · 1122 Rescue (ambulance · 115 Edhi ambulance (not 911, 999 or 000)Pakistan-wide
- Sundays & holidaysFriday midday prayers close many shops for 2–3 hours; government offices close at weekends; Ramadan shortens hours.Pakistan-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportISB Islamabad International (Serves both Islamabad and Rawalpindi, roughly 30–40 minutes from the city centre).
- Getting aroundRide-hailing apps and taxis are the practical way to move between sectors, since distances are large and sectors are not laid out for casual walking.
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- ISB Islamabad International (Serves both Islamabad and Rawalpindi, roughly 30–40 minutes from the city centre)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
not flagged
Feb
not flagged
Mar
Best
Apr
Best
May
not flagged
Jun
Avoid
Jul
Avoid
Aug
Avoid
Sep
not flagged
Oct
Best
Nov
Best
Dec
not flagged
Best: Mar–Apr, Oct–Nov. Avoid: Jun–Aug. Month by month →
Weather and climate
Islamabad: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
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Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Ride-hailing apps and taxis are the practical way to move between sectors, since distances are large and sectors are not laid out for casual walking. Check current local advice on which areas to avoid before travelling.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
F-6 and F-7 sectors
Central, walkable sectors with the main restaurant and hotel concentration.
Blue Area
Commercial corridor with business hotels, close to government offices.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Watch out
- Check your own government's travel advice before planning any trip to Pakistan, and re-check close to departure.
- Security conditions and access to some areas can change with little notice: follow local and official guidance.
- Dress modestly, particularly at mosques and government buildings, and follow local customs.
- Photography near military, government or diplomatic sites is restricted; ask before photographing checkpoints.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Islamabad. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Mar–Apr and Oct–Nov for mild, dry weather · avoid Jun–Aug (hot, with monsoon rain in July–August)
- 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast
- 4 things to watch out for
Coming as the guide grows
- An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
- Walking clusters with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Field-verified times and fares
Sources
- officialPakistan Tourism Development Corporation
- secondaryWikivoyage — Islamabad