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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)

GovernmentAdviceUpdatedRead the advice
United Kingdom (FCDO)No advice against the whole country (regional advisories)–Read the advice
United States (State Dept)Reconsider TravelJun 16, 2026Read 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, 2026Read 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.

Peshawar

Peshawar

Peshawar, in northwest Pakistan, draws travelers to its Old City bazaars, Gandhara sculpture and street food, with the Khyber Pass within reach.

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Peshawar is the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in northwest Pakistan, close to the Afghan border and the Khyber Pass. Most travelers come for the Old City, with its narrow lanes, carved wooden balconies and the Qissa Khwani Bazaar, long known as the storytellers' market. The Mohabbat Khan Mosque is among the bazaars, and Bala Hisar Fort overlooks the old city from its hill.

The Peshawar Museum holds Gandhara sculpture from the region's Buddhist past. Kabuli pulao, Peshawari chapli kebab and kahwa tea are sold in the bazaars. The city suits travelers who want history, street life and food. Plan two to three days in the city and a separate day for the Khyber Pass, where access depends on current rules. October to March is the most comfortable period, and summers are very hot. Check current government travel advisories before you book.

Peshawar in five

  1. Get a Pakistan visa before you bookMost nationalities need a visa to enter Pakistan. The e-visa is applied for online before you fly. Check the entry rules for your passport before you buy a fare.
  2. Set up a SIM with your passportLocal SIM cards are registered against your passport, so bring it to the shop. Ask your carrier whether eSIM works on your phone before you travel.Phones and eSIM
  3. Carry rupees in small notesRickshaws, bazaar stalls and most small restaurants take only cash, and card payments are mostly limited to large hotels. Keep small notes for fares and tips.Money and costs
  4. Ask about the Khyber Pass road before you goAccess beyond Landi Kotal has needed permits, so ask your hotel or driver whether the road is open to visitors that day. Hire a driver who knows the checkpoints.Getting around
  5. Eat chapli kebab in the old cityPeshawar's flat, spiced chapli kebab is the local dish to try, and the stalls in the old city serve it. Ask your hotel which stall to use.

Need to know

Currency
Pakistani rupee (PKR)
Entry
Visa needed for most nationalities; apply for the e-visa online
Emergency
15 police, 1122 rescue and ambulance, 16 fire
Tipping
Small tips for porters, drivers and restaurant staff; not compulsory
Time
UTC+5, no daylight saving

Weather by month

    • Best
    1. JanuaryCold, foggy
    2. FebruaryCool, clearing
    3. MarchMild, spring
    4. AprilWarm, pleasant
    5. MayHot, dry
    6. JuneVery hot
    7. JulyMonsoon rains
    8. AugustMonsoon rains
    9. SeptemberWarm, rains ease
    10. OctoberMild, clear
    11. NovemberCool, clear
    12. DecemberCold, foggy

    Right now in Peshawar

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

    Rain

    24

    Feels like
    22°
    Humidity
    22%
    Wind
    4 km/h
    Chance of rain
    0%

    Peshawar

    01:40 AM

    Tuesday, November 3

    GMT+5

    1. Today27°15°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 27°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 0%.
    2. Wed26°15°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 26°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 0%.
    3. Thu26°14°8%Thursday: Cloudy. High 26°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 8%.
    4. Fri26°14°0%Friday: Partly cloudy. High 26°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 0%.
    5. Sat26°13°0%Saturday: Clear. High 26°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 0%.
    6. Sun26°13°0%Sunday: Cloudy. High 26°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 0%.
    7. Mon25°14°6%Monday: Partly cloudy. High 25°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 6%.

    Updated 09:42 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

    Money

    Mid-market rate1 USD = 276.7 PKR

    PKR · Pakistani Rupee

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

    Day trips by train

    • Islamabadabout 3 hours by roadThe national capital, with modern boulevards and hills to the north.
    • Khyber Passabout 1.5 hours by road to Landi KotalThe historic pass to the border, reached through Landi Kotal; check the permit first.
    • Taxilaabout 2.5 hours by roadAncient Gandhara-era ruins and a museum, a quieter day out from the city.

    Before you go to Peshawar

    SIM for PeshawarPassport needed for a local SIMRead the guide
    Insurance for the tripCover for medical care and evacuationRead the guide
    Where to stay in PeshawarCompare the Old City and CantonmentRead the guide

    Rules for Peshawar, checked

    • Check the security and entry advice for Pakistan on your government's travel pages before you book and again before you fly.Source
    • Hotels register foreign guests with the police, so bring your passport and visa to every check-in.
    • Dress modestly in public, with shoulders and knees covered, and carry a scarf for mosques and shrines.
    • Photography of military sites, checkpoints, bridges and government buildings is restricted; ask before you take photos in such places.
    • Alcohol is restricted in Pakistan, and carrying or drinking it outside licensed places can bring legal trouble. Ask your hotel about the rules.

    Peshawar FAQ

    Is Peshawar safe for tourists?

    Security conditions change, so check your government's travel advice before you go and again before you fly. Hotels in Cantonment or Hayatabad are an option if you prefer not to stay in the old city. Keep to daytime visits in the old city.

    How many days do you need in Peshawar?

    Two days cover the Old City bazaars, Bala Hisar Fort and the Peshawar Museum. Add a day for the Khyber Pass or Taxila if you want a day trip.

    How do you get from Islamabad to Peshawar?

    By road on the M-1 motorway, about 3 hours by car, or by train. A car with a driver is easiest if you want to stop on the way.

    When is the best time to visit Peshawar?

    March to April and October to November, when days are mild and dry. Summer is very hot, and July and August bring monsoon rain.

    Is Peshawar worth visiting?

    Yes if you want old bazaars, Pashtun food and a city close to the Khyber Pass. Two or three days is enough for most travelers.

    Can you pay by card in Peshawar?

    Mostly only in large hotels and some restaurants, so carry rupees for bazaars, rickshaws and small shops.