Travel advisory · PakistanSome governments advise against all but essential travel to Pakistan.Advice depends on your passport. Read your own government's advice before you book.Official advice

Areas with warnings

Azad Jammu and Kashmir · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, New Zealand, UK
Bajaur · avoid all travel · Spain, UK
Balochistan province · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, Spain, France, New Zealand, UK, US
Border with India (whole frontier) · avoid all travel · France, New Zealand
Former FATA tribal areas · avoid all travel · France, Italy, US
Karakoram Highway, Mansehra to Chilas · avoid all travel · Canada, New Zealand, UK
Khyber · avoid all travel · Spain, UK
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province · avoid all travel · Canada, Spain, France, New Zealand, US
Kurram · avoid all travel · Spain, UK
Line of Control · avoid all travel · Canada, New Zealand, UK, US
Lower South Waziristan · avoid all travel · Spain, UK
Mohmand · avoid all travel · Spain, UK
North Waziristan · avoid all travel · Spain, UK
Orakzai · avoid all travel · Spain, UK
Upper South Waziristan · avoid all travel · Spain, UK
Border region with Afghanistan · avoid non-essential travel · Italy, New Zealand

Also named by one government: 10 km strip along the Chinese border (Canada), 10 km strip along the Indian border (Canada), 10 km strip along the Iranian border (Canada), 10 miles of the Afghan border (UK), 50 km strip along the Afghan border (Canada), 50 km strip along the Afghan border in Gilgit-Baltistan (New Zealand), Bannu (UK), Buner (UK), Charsadda (UK), Dera Ismail Khan (UK), Hangu (UK), Karak (UK), Kohat (UK), Lakki Marwat (UK), Lower Dir (UK), N45 highway, Mardan to Chitral (UK), Peshawar (UK), Punjab, excluding Faisalabad-Lahore-Islamabad zone (France), Swat (UK), Tank (UK), Upper Dir (UK), 20 km strip along the Indian border including the LoC (Germany), 5-mile strip along the Indian border (UK), Chitral district (Canada), Dera Ghazi Khan (UK), Faisalabad-Lahore-Islamabad zone (France), Karachi (Canada), Land route to and from Afghanistan (Germany), Land route to and from Iran (Germany), Malakand (UK), Mardan (UK), Nowshera (UK), Shangla (UK), Sindh north of and including Nawabshah (UK), Swabi (UK), Tribal areas of Balochistan (Italy)

Government	Advice	Updated	Read the advice
United Kingdom (FCDO)	No advice against the whole country (regional advisories)	–	Read the advice
United States (State Dept)	Reconsider Travel	Jun 16, 2026	Read the advice
Canada (Global Affairs)	Exercise a high degree of caution (regional advisories)	–	Read the advice
Germany (Auswärtiges Amt)	No advice against the whole country; partial warnings for named regions (regional advisories)	Oct 13, 2026	Read the advice
New Zealand (SafeTravel)	Avoid non-essential travel	–	Read the advice
France (Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs)	Le reste du territoire est déconseillé sauf raison impérative	–	Read the advice

Checked daily from the governments' published advice; last checked Nov 2, 2026. RoamLedger summarises official advice; it is not advice from any government.

Islamabad

Pakistan's capital is a planned city with hiking trails in the Margalla Hills and Faisal Mosque, the country's flagship landmark.

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Islamabad is Pakistan's capital, a planned city in the northern Punjab region and administered federally as the Islamabad Capital Territory. It sits on the northern edge of the Pothohar Plateau, at the foot of the Margalla Hills, about 540 meters above sea level. The city was built from the 1960s on a master plan by Greek architect Constantinos Doxiadis and officially established in 1967, replacing Karachi as capital. It forms a twin-city area with Rawalpindi to the south.

The city is known for its parks and forests, especially Margalla Hills National Park and Shakarparian. Trail 3 takes about 1.5 hours to reach Pir Sohawa. Faisal Mosque, Pakistan's flagship landmark, can hold up to 74,000 worshippers and has four minarets and no dome. Museums such as Lok Virsa and the Islamabad Museum cover folk crafts and Gandhara-period relics. Spring (March to April) and autumn (September to October) are the milder seasons, while June is the hottest month and July the wettest.

Islamabad in five

Get a Pakistan visa before you bookMost visitors need a visa, and many nationalities can apply for an eVisa online. Check your eligibility on the official portal before you buy flights.Visas and entry
Set up a local SIM with your passportLocal SIMs need biometric registration at the shop, so bring your passport and expect a wait. Offline maps help on the trails, where signal can be weak.Phones and eSIM
Start Trail 3 early from F-6/3Trail 3 starts on Margalla Road in sector F-6/3 and takes about 1.5 hours to Pir Sohawa, where the restaurants are. Carry water and a rain layer, since monsoon storms in July can cause flash floods.
Carry your passport to every hotelBring the original passport and visa to check-in, since hotels may ask to see them. Keep a copy with you as well.
Price rides in an app before you get inCareem, Bykea, InDrive and Yango are commonly used for local journeys in Islamabad. Check the fare in the app before you get in, or agree a price first if you take a taxi.Getting around

Things to do in Islamabad

See all attractions in Islamabad

Park · IslamabadAyub National ParkGo early in the morning or in the evening for quieter paths and cooler air.

Museum · IslamabadTaxila Museum

Park · IslamabadShakarparian National ParkGo in the late afternoon to see the city at sunset and the lights coming on.

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to IslamabadPut the places you like in Islamabad on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Currency: Pakistani rupee (PKR)
Entry: Visa needed for most; eVisa for many nationalities Read more
Emergency: 15 police, 16 fire, 115 Edhi ambulance
Tipping: Not expected in shops; small tips for porters and drivers
Time: UTC+5, no daylight saving

Weather by month

Best

JanuaryCold, foggy
FebruaryCool, foggy
MarchMild, spring
AprilWarm, dry
MayHot, dry
JuneHottest month
JulyMonsoon, heavy rain
AugustMonsoon rain
SeptemberRains ending
OctoberAutumn
NovemberWinter starts
DecemberCold, foggy

Right now in Islamabad

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 15°
Humidity: 48%
Wind: 5 km/h
Chance of rain: 0%

Islamabad

01:41 AM

Tuesday, November 3

GMT+5

Today26°17°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 26°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 0%.
Wed25°18°4%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 25°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 4%.
Thu25°17°2%Thursday: Cloudy. High 25°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 2%.
Fri24°17°2%Friday: Clear. High 24°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 2%.
Sat26°17°0%Saturday: Partly cloudy. High 26°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 0%.
Sun26°17°0%Sunday: Cloudy. High 26°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 0%.

Updated 11:06 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 276.7 PKR

Amount

Converted to

PKR · Pakistani Rupee

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

MurreeNortheast of the cityA colonial-era hill station to the northeast, a popular escape from the summer heat.
Rawal LakeMargalla Hills zoneA reservoir on the Kurang River in the Margalla Hills zone.
Shah Allah DittaOutskirts of the cityAncient caves, a spring and a Sufi shrine linked to a Mughal-era saint, on the city's outskirts.

Before you go to Islamabad

eSIM for IslamabadMaps and data for the hill trailsRead the guide

Insurance for hill hikesCover for a fall on a trailRead the guide

Money and cardsCash for taxis and small shopsRead the guide

Where to staySectors near the hills and the centreRead the guide

Rules for Islamabad, checked

Photography near government buildings, the Parliament and security posts can be restricted, so ask a guard before you take a picture.
Dress modestly at Faisal Mosque and other shrines; women cover their hair and shoulders, and shoes come off at the entrance.
Alcohol is restricted in Pakistan, and visitors cannot buy it freely; do not bring any into the country.
Carry your passport or a certified copy at all times, since police and checkpoint staff may ask to see it.

Plan around Islamabad

All of Pakistan

Regions, entry rules, transport and money for a Pakistan trip

Read the guide Visas and entry

Who needs a visa, how to apply and what to bring to the airport

Read the guide Getting around

Ride-hailing apps, the Metrobus and the airport route into the city

Read the guide Where to stay

Sectors and areas for a first visit, close to the hills or the centre

Read the guide Money and costs

Cash, cards and typical prices for food, rides and sights

Read the guide

Islamabad FAQ

Is Islamabad safe for tourists?

It is one of Pakistan's safest cities, with an extensive CCTV network. The city had attacks in past years, including a 2007 siege at Lal Masjid and bombings in 2008, so check your government's travel advice before you go.

How many days do you need in Islamabad?

Two days cover Faisal Mosque, the Pakistan Monument, the museums and a Margalla Hills hike. Add a day for Rawal Lake, Shah Allah Ditta or a trip to Murree.

Is Islamabad worth visiting?

Yes, if you like hiking in the hills, planned city architecture and museums. Lahore is about 295 km away, so it pairs well with a trip to the capital.

When is the best time to visit Islamabad?

March to April and September to October are the most comfortable months. June is the hottest, July brings the heaviest rain, and winter mornings are often foggy.

Is Islamabad expensive?

It has one of the highest costs of living in Pakistan, so budget more than you would in other Pakistani cities.

Can you visit Murree from Islamabad in a day?

Yes. Murree lies to the northeast and is a popular escape from the summer heat. Check current bus and taxi options at the stations or in a ride-hailing app before you go.