Best places to visit in Islamabad, Pakistan.

Islamabad is probably not the first place that comes to mind when someone asks the question, “Where do you want to go?” However, this article will put Islamabad high on the list for places you would like to visit!

Islamabad is almost an utterly separate place from the rest of Pakistan. It’s not a highly touristy area, nor does it have the mountains of the north, which attract people. So you’re probably asking: “What are the best places to visit in Islamabad?”

Daman-E-Koh Viewpoint

Personally, the best place to visit in Islamabad is the Daman-e-Koh viewpoint. Travellers can go either at sunrise or sunset. Personally, I prefer going in the evening, as the sunsets are always a surreal experience in Pakistan. Genuinely, there isn’t a better place to get a full view of the city than here!

The viewpoint offers a really nice chill time for travellers who may have had a really long trip coming from the north of Pakistan. I would recommend going on a Sunday, as there is a small carnival-like marketplace. Here, you can get a range of local snacks and also have fun on the carnival rides.

On a little side note, the local people are so welcoming and interested in you that it’s almost impossible not to love the city. Their hospitality is always on show, with the offerings of free food and “Try this, please” that it’s actually rude not to enjoy yourself!

Faisal Mosque

Faisal Mosque is another place to see in Islamabad. What makes it one of the best places to visit is that it’s the largest mosque in the country, with a superb design. The mosque can hold 100,000 people at once and a further 200,000 more in the courtyard area. You don’t even have to be religious to enjoy this place. 

The structure is exceptionally imposing as it has such a unique design. The building is shaped like a Bedouin tent, which is vastly different from the dome-shaped exterior you usually find in mosques.

Again, what makes it one of the best places to visit in Islamabad is visiting the mosque either at sunrise or sunset. If you’ve ever seen a magnificent sunset in Pakistan, you’ll know that the sky often turns purple with orange blended in. One of the main reasons why I love visiting these destinations at sunset is that this is precisely what happens. I love taking pictures, so a purple, orange blended sky makes for a brilliant view. 

Margalla Hills

Margalla’s natural beauty makes this one of the best places to visit in Islamabad! If you’re a lover of nature, then you’ve just hit gold. Margalla Hills has so many different walking trails you can take. As you walk around, the views just get better and better. What I love about hiking in the Margalla Hills is that it gives you a great view of the mountainous countryside which surrounds the sides of Islamabad.

After you’ve finished hiking to the top, you have the option to sit back and have some food, as there are some restaurants at the top. This gives you an excellent excuse to kick back with some great local food. And to top it off, you can watch the sunset with the city skyline on the horizon.

Pakistan Monument Museum

If you want to visit the monument without a lot of people around you, the best time is to go first thing in the morning. Personally, I would aim to get there for around 9.00 am as it will start getting busy from 10.00 am onwards. 

The monument building itself is beautiful and really offers the chance to get some great pictures. This is especially true when you’re one of the only people there. Additionally, the museum allows you to experience time travel – I swear! The museum was a mind-blowing place to visit, as it made you feel that you were travelling back in time to a previous century. The museum is a historical, traditional place, so do give it the respect that it deserves.

If you’re a history nerd like me, you’ll also think it’s one of the best places to visit in Islamabad!

Lok Virsa Heritage Museum

If you’re a big fan of learning and understanding different cultures, the next place will be one of the best places to visit in Islamabad. The great thing about the museum is that it’s only a few minutes’ walk away from the Pakistan Monument. Meaning it’s convenient for you to add to your itinerary.

Personally, I think it’s one of the best places to visit in Islamabad, because it offers a vast range of history, art, and culture of Pakistan and other centrally located Asian countries. The museum has both indoor and outdoor exhibition centres that showcase a vibrant and diverse range of Pakistani culture. One of the cool things about the museum is that it is very interactive. You can listen to recordings of traditionally made music or watch the locally-produced cultural documentaries the museum has to offer.

Rawalpindi – Ayub National Park

Most people don’t know, but the Islamabad-Rawalpindi metropolitan area is one of Pakistan’s largest urban areas. This is because it consists principally of the two cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

Rawalpindi is an old historical city that is rich with culture and embodies Pakistan’s conservative culture. Nevertheless, it does offer much more than just old historical buildings. One of my favourite things in the Rawalpindi area is visiting the Ayub National Park. The park has an abundance of green spaces, even though it’s located centrally.

Ayub National Park is a beautiful place for travellers or families with young children. Within the park, there is a zoo that hosts lions, tigers, and many other exotic animals. There is even a theme park! This has recently been built, which adds a new dimension to what you can do here.

As you have probably gathered from the article, I am really fascinated by wildlife, nature and sunsets! One of the primary reasons why I love the park is that you can combine all three and spend an entire day here. It also offers something for everyone, which makes it a really inclusive activity to do. This is why I think it’s one of the best places to visit in Islamabad.

Rawalpindi – Pindi Food Street

Without a doubt, one of the best places to visit in Islamabad for food! Ask any local if you don’t believe me. There isn’t much to say other than the food is to die for. There are many different restaurants, with a large variety of foods; you can choose from Pakistani food, fast food, continental food, and much more!

One of the best things about Food Street has to be the smells! The barbecue smell is on offer at every vendor and restaurant in the area. If you manage to walk down the street without buying any food, I would be majorly surprised.

Obviously, with you being in Pakistan, choose the Pakistani dishes, in particular, the local Rawalpindi/Islamabad dishes! One of the restaurants to check out is the Shaikh Tikka House. If you want a recommendation on what to order, then enjoy their outstanding Chicken Tikka Karahi fried in butter. This is their speciality dish, and you’ll be thanking me later. 

Saidpur Village

Remoulded as an ‘Arts and Crafts Village’, the village aims to preserve its centuries-old cultural heritage. It is doing so by promoting tourism in the area to show the old way of how villagers did and still live! If you get a chance to visit the village, you will see what a significant contrast there is between the hustle and bustle of modern-day life in Islamabad compared to the old historical way of living in the village.

The village also has two temples that date back more than 200 years. One of them is a Sikh shrine and another a Hindu temple. Like the buildings being kept in remarkable condition, so are the blends of cultures within the village.

The architecture of the village represents the fading footprints of four major civilisations: Gandhara, Ashoka, Mughal, and Greek. Personally, I just love the different aspects the community continuously has on offer. The villagers also show great hospitality towards any tourists coming into their village. Adding a great touch to your overall experience.

That being said, Saidpur Village is definitely one of the best places to visit in Islamabad!

I told you at the start of the article – Islamabad has some really awesome things to experience! I think it’s clear now what the best things are to visit in Islamabad.

Islamabad is a city that is often overlooked by travellers who come to Pakistan, and especially those who have never been. It is usually viewed as a city that has very little to offer. However, that also makes Islamabad a great place to go explore. There are minimal tourists compared to the rest of Pakistan because people often just stop through on their way to Lahore or Gilgit.

The best places to visit in Islamabad really give you a great insight into local and Pakistani culture. But it will also give you a great experience, one that is unrivalled by most places.