Travel Guide - 2026
Discover the best things to do in Islamabad, from exploring historic landmarks to visiting the iconic cultural attractions.
After 13 years of independence from the British, Pakistan made a move to replace its capital city, Karachi, with a city to be built from scratch. At the Himalayan foothills called the Margalla Hills, a greener, quieter, and peaceful location near the military headquarter Rawalpindi was selected called Islamabad.
Islamabad was designed using the Ekistics Theory by the Greek architect Constantinos Doxiadis, who was invited by the government of the time.
Islamabad is situated on the Potohar Plateau in the northeastern part of Pakistan. The planned city of Islamabad is adjacent to the historic city of Rawalpindi and is approximately four hours away from Peshawar and less than an hour away from the ancient city of Taxila.
Islamabad is a city that is easy to navigate; it means you are never lost.
The new capital was under construction, and an idea for a grand national mosque was proposed. A Turkish architect named Vedat Dalokay’s design was selected to be built.
This mosque is a place to worship and a major tourist attraction because of its unique design and breathtaking location at the foot of the Margalla Hills. Faisal mosque’s design is contrary to the traditional central dome; instead, its design resembles a Bedouin tent and Ottoman-style minarets.
This mosque's construction was largely funded by Saudi Arabia, and because of this contribution, the mosque was named after King Shah Faisal Bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia.
This monument sits on the Shakarparian Hills, a national symbol to commemorate Pakistan’s independence and unity. Pakistani architect Arif Masood teamed up with other Pakistani designers and engineers to design the shape of a blooming flower whose petals represent the four provinces, Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan of the country. There are also three smaller petals that represent Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Kashmir, and the tribal areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The design of the monument is a blend of Mughal architecture combined with Islamic architecture.
The museum is Pakistan's first museum that focuses on the living cultural tradition of the country. This museum is also located on Shakarparian Hills, a few minutes away from the Pakistan Monument.
This museum displays traditional jewelry, costumes, crafts, and musical instruments representing every culture in the country. Outside the museum, there are stalls where one can buy a cultural artifact.
Nestled in the Margalla Hills, Saidpur Village is where the traces of the pre-partition and early settlements can be seen. This village is said to have been built in the 16th century and named after Sultan Sayyid Khan, and was later developed by the Mughal-era emperor officials .
This village is a mix of Hindu, Sikh, and Muslim heritage, which represents the region's diverse past. A Sikh Gurudwara stands beside a Hindu temple, which served as a school for the teaching of Baba Guru Nanak. The stone lanes and doorways with traditional patterns painted on walls give a glimpse into the cultural heritage of the region.
This place offers several traditional-style cafes and restaurants and also has small shops that sell handicrafts, pottery, and other traditional items. Also, this village serves as a starting point for Trail 1 and Trail 2.
A hilltop viewpoint in the Margalla Hills near the historic Saidpur village. It is a favorite picnic spot in Islamabad to enjoy the breeze, views, and dine.
This place offers a bird’s-eye view of the city of Islamabad, from where one can see Faisal Mosque and Rawal Lake from afar. The sunrise and sunset scenery is heartening. Daman-e-Koh is home to wildlife such as monkeys and a variety of birds. However, one needs to be careful with the monkeys because they are very bold and sometimes snatch food so, better not to keep the food items in transparent bags.
Also, there are cafes and restaurants, especially to enjoy evening chai while enjoying the views.
Anyone with the energy and desire to walk and hike, the Margalla Hills National Park has some hiking trails with varying difficulty. Trail 3 and Trail 5 are the most established routes. Trail 3 is comparatively steeper and challenging, whereas Trail 5 offers more scenic beauty.
Islamabad’s Margalla Hill Park is home to some varieties of wildlife.
It is one of the most recognizable shopping malls in Islamabad. The shopping mall offers plenty of experiences such as shopping, dining, cinema, and a play area. It has around 250 national and international stores and there are many restaurants offering traditional and international foods, a very good option to shop and dine.
The best part about this shopping mall is that it is a metro bus facility. You can get there using a Metro bus without being stuck in traffic.
This is another large shopping mall and entertainment center located far from central Islamabad. Similar to the Centaurus Mall, this shopping mall also offers diverse experiences such as shopping, a food court, a cinema, and a play area. It also has an indoor water park.
Islamabad is not as big as other cities of Pakistan, but the experience it offers is quite impressive. Whether it be breathtaking scenery or shopping, it has it all.
So, book your trip with Viola Tours Pakistan to explore the whole of Islamabad.
