Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan, founded in the 1960s and, unlike the other cities of the country, planned from the beginning: the grid laid out by the Greek architect Constantinos Doxiadis divides it into sectors named by letter and number. The Margalla Hills, the westernmost spur of the Himalaya, rise to the north, so the capital sits directly at the edge of a national park. Faisal Mosque was designed by Vedat Dalokay, a Turkish architect, who won the competition in 1969 against entries from forty three countries. By Pakistani standards the city is quiet, green and low rise, while neighbouring Rawalpindi is old, crowded and full of bazaars.
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See flights to Islamabad →When to visit Islamabad
October to April is the easiest stretch, with daytime temperatures between 18C and 28C and the Margalla trails comfortable to walk. March and early April are when the trees blossom. May and June are very hot, above 40C in the shade, and from July to early September the monsoon brings rain and high humidity. Nights in December and January approach zero, though the days stay sunny.
Things to do in Islamabad
Faisal Mosque
Completed in 1986, the mosque is the design of the Turkish architect Vedat Dalokay and replaces the classical dome with an eight sided concrete shell that reads as a tent. Its four minarets are 80 metres tall, and the prayer hall with the courtyards together hold more than a hundred thousand people. It carries the name of King Faisal of Saudi Arabia, who funded it, and stands at the foot of the Margalla Hills.
The Pakistan Monument
Opened on the Shakarparian hills in 2007, the monument is formed of seven granite petals, four large and three small, opening like a flower: the large ones stand for the four provinces and the small ones for the autonomous territories. The inner faces of the petals are covered with reliefs telling the story of the founding of the country. The terrace in front gives the widest view over the city.
Daman-e-Koh
The landscaped viewing terrace in the middle of the Margalla Hills, about six hundred metres above the level of the city, is the place from which the grid of Islamabad and Faisal Mosque fit into a single frame. The road runs up to it, and footpaths climb the hill for those who prefer to walk. Rhesus macaques move freely around the terrace.
Rawal Lake
The artificial lake east of the city was formed by the dam built on the Korang stream in 1962 and supplies drinking water to both Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The terraced park along its shore is laid out with boat hire, walking paths and tea gardens above the water. In the migration season it is the best spot in the city for watching waterbirds.
Saidpur Village
The village at the foot of the Margalla dates from the Mughal period and was restored in 2006 into a cultural quarter of the city. A mosque, a Hindu temple and a Sikh place of worship stand side by side along its narrow lanes, and some of the stone houses are now restaurants and craft workshops. It is about six kilometres from the city centre.
Lok Virsa Museum
The national museum of folk heritage at Shakarparian sets out the traditional life of the four provinces and the autonomous territories of Pakistan in reconstructed scenes. The collection holds embroidered textiles, carved wooden doors, painted truck panels and regional jewellery. The same grounds hold an open air stage and a craft bazaar.
Flights from Turkey to Islamabad
Direct flights to Islamabad from Turkey leave from Istanbul Airport, operated daily by Turkish Airlines, and take about 5 hours 20 minutes. The service usually departs at night and lands in the morning, with the return leaving Islamabad early in the day, and the route is normally flown with an Airbus A330. Islamabad International Airport opened in 2018 and lies about 25 kilometres southwest of the city centre, 35 to 50 minutes in by road.
Islamabad FAQ
How many days do you need in Islamabad?
Two days cover Faisal Mosque, the Pakistan Monument and Daman-e-Koh. A third suits Saidpur and a walk in the Margalla, and a fourth the bazaars of neighbouring Rawalpindi. Adding the ancient city of Taxila makes it five.
How far is the airport from the city centre?
Islamabad International Airport is about 25 kilometres from the centre, so it is not a close in airport. The metrobus line and city buses connect to the terminal, but the practical option is a taxi or ride hailing car, 35 to 50 minutes by road.
Do you need a visa for Pakistan?
A Turkish passport needs a Pakistani visa, applied for through the online electronic visa system. Tourist applications ask for a hotel booking and a return ticket, and approval usually comes within a few working days, though it is safer to apply at least three weeks before travel.
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