Pakistan travel guide

Getting there

The main international airports are in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi, with connections through the Gulf and Turkey. The Wagah–Attari border with India and the Khunjerab Pass with China are notable land crossings, subject to opening rules.

Best time to visit: Apr–Oct for the northern mountains; Nov–Mar for Lahore, Karachi and the south.

Tougher months: June to August in the plains due to extreme heat and monsoon rains; winter in the high north when many roads close.

Weather by month in Lahore

• 18°J
• 22°F●
• 27°M●
• 33°A●
• 38°M
• 40°J●
• 36°J●●●
• 35°A●●●
• 35°S●
• 33°O
• 27°N
• 21°D

Average daytime highs in °C; dots show how rainy the month is (one dot dry, three dots wet).

Time zone: Asia/Karachi. Compare with your local time.

Visas: in our passport dataset, 9 of 198 other passports can enter Pakistan without arranging a visa first (visa-free or visa on arrival), 183 need an e-visa or electronic authorisation, and 6 need a visa in advance. Check your passport.

Background: Visa policy of Pakistan (Wikipedia).

Source and more: Pakistan travel facts on RoamSun

Stay

Most trips to Pakistan are based around Lahore, Hunza Valley or Islamabad. Pick a base for your main interest, then add day trips rather than moving hotels every night.

Typical daily budget: about US$20–35 for a backpacker and US$60–120 mid-range, per person.

Source: RoamSun Pakistan page · Browse hotel guides

Connect

Plug types: C, D. Voltage: 230 V. Check your own devices on the plug and currency checker.

Calling code: +92.

Mobile data: read the travel eSIM setup guide before you fly so the plan is installed and ready on landing.

Source: Advinne eSIM guide · RoamSun

Do

• Lahore (Punjab · Mughal heritage): Pakistan's cultural capital, with grand Mughal monuments, food streets and lively bazaars.
• Hunza Valley (Gilgit-Baltistan · mountains): Dramatic peaks, glaciers, historic forts and friendly villages along the Karakoram Highway.
• Islamabad (Capital · modern city): A green, planned capital with the Faisal Mosque and hiking trails in the Margalla Hills.
• Skardu (Gilgit-Baltistan · lakes & treks): The gateway to K2 and Baltoro treks, with nearby lakes and desert dunes.
• Fairy Meadows (Gilgit-Baltistan · alpine meadows): Lush meadows with spectacular views of Nanga Parbat.
• Mohenjo-daro (Sindh · ancient ruins): A UNESCO-listed Bronze Age city and one of the world's earliest urban centres.
• Karachi (Sindh · coastal city): Pakistan's largest city, a buzzing port with colonial buildings, beaches and great food.
• Swat Valley (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa · valleys): Green valleys, rivers and Buddhist ruins, sometimes called the Switzerland of Pakistan.

Things to do

• Drive the Karakoram Highway. Travel one of the world's most spectacular roads through the Hunza Valley towards the Chinese border.
• Explore Lahore's Walled City. Wander bazaars, havelis and the Lahore Fort before the Badshahi Mosque at sunset.
• Watch the Wagah border ceremony. Join cheering crowds for the theatrical flag-lowering ceremony on the border with India.
• Trek to Fairy Meadows. Hike to alpine meadows facing the huge north face of Nanga Parbat.
• Visit Mohenjo-daro. Walk the streets of a 4,500-year-old city of the Indus Valley Civilisation.
• Stay in the Hunza Valley. Admire apricot orchards, glaciers and ancient forts at Baltit and Altit.
• Experience Sufi qawwali. Listen to devotional music at a shrine on a Thursday evening.
• See Shah Faisal Mosque. Visit Islamabad's striking modern mosque at the foot of the Margalla Hills.

Source: full Pakistan guide on RoamSun

Eat and drink

• Biryani – fragrant spiced rice with meat
• Nihari – slow-cooked beef stew eaten for breakfast
• Chapli kebab – flat, spicy minced-meat patty
• Lassi – cool yogurt drink, sweet or salty

Source: RoamSun Pakistan guide

Money and safety

Currency: Pakistani rupee (PKR). Currency and plug checker.

Tipping: About 10% in restaurants is appreciated; small tips for drivers, guides and porters are common..

Emergency numbers: 15 police · 1122 rescue & ambulance · 16 fire.

• The currency is the Pakistani rupee (PKR); ATMs are common in cities but rare in remote mountain areas.
• Pakistan is largely a cash economy, so carry enough rupees when travelling north.
• Check your government's latest travel advice, as some regions, particularly near the Afghan border and parts of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, are advised against.
• Foreigners may need permits or police escorts in certain areas; follow local instructions.

Source: RoamSun Pakistan facts