The Best Cities in Pakistan to Visit (Or Even Move To)

I know, Pakistan doesn’t attract that many international tourists, especially when compared to its neighbor India. But, Pakistan is beautiful, has some very unique places to visit, and can definitely be a great travel destination.

In this article I want to share with you the best cities in Pakistan to visit.

And if you are worried about safety in Pakistan, I add some information about that at the end of this article.

From stunning mountains to incredible history and delicious food. Pakistan has a lot to offer.

Pakistani tourism is increasing, and many tourism companies are focused on quality as well as sustainability. From staying in tiny hotels overlooking small peaks in the Hunza Valley to soaking up culture at fantastic museums in cities like Lahore, there is something for everyone.

Now let’s take a look at some of Pakistan’s best cities to visit, so we can help you make a decision on where to go next.

The Best Cities in Pakistan

1. Islamabad

Islamabad is the modern capital of Pakistan, surrounded by beautiful natural landscapes.

For most people Islamabad is the best city in Pakistan to start exploring the country.

The city is located between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab Province.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (often abbreviated to KPK) is known as a tourist hotspot for adventurers and explorers. The province has a varied landscape ranging from rugged mountains to valleys, hills and dense agricultural farms.

Punjab is known for its ancient cultural heritage as well as its religious diversity.

Islamabad has attracted people from all over the country, giving it a mix of cultures. Most people living in Islamabad are well educated, giving the city a more Western feel when it comes to tolerance, secularism, liberalism etc.

 Just like the culture, the food in Islamabad is also a mix of cuisines, mainly coming from KPK and Punjab. You should try the delicious Pulao rice and Karahi from Punjab, as well as Sajji and Lamb from KPK.

Islamabad has some beautiful modern pieces of architecture such as the Faisal Mosque, the Pakistan Monument, the Islamabad Museum, and Lake View Park.

Then there are places worth visiting that represent the culture of different parts of Pakistan. Saidpur Village and the Lok Virsa Museum for example.

Go to Daman-e-Koh and Margalla Hills for some incredible views of the city.

Islamabad is also very important for mountain lovers, as it is where all trips to the north start. Whether you want to go on a short trip to Murree, Swat, or Chitral Valley, or a longer trip to Naran, Hunza, and Skardu, it all starts from Islamabad.

Islamabad is often ranked as the safest city in Pakistan and, according to Numbeo, is a lot safer than many other capital cities around the world.

2. Karachi

If one of the things you love about traveling is trying new food, then Karachi is the place to go.

Karachi is Pakistan’s most populous city and main economic center. It controls Pakistan’s main stock market and hosts the head offices of the country’s leading corporations.

Large investments in the IT sector are driving Karachi’s growth and have turned the city into a hub for information and communication.

Karachi is also known as Pakistan’s transportation hub, as it has the two biggest seaports and the busiest airport in the country.

Karachi is the most diverse and cosmopolitan city in Pakistan and may offer a hint of the future direction of modern life in Pakistan.

Larger numbers of non-Muslim religious communities are settled in Karachi than in other cities in Pakistan: Hindus, Christians, Parsis, Sikhs, Bahai, Jews, Buddhists as well as Zoroastrians.

Karachi’s inhabitants are a cosmopolitan population composed of many groups from all parts of Pakistan, as well as migrants from nearby countries and Western countries. This makes the city’s population a diverse melting pot.

And this means that when you are visiting different parts of the city you will experience different cultures, different norms, languages as well as lifestyles.

Everyday life in Karachi feels different from that in other cities in Pakistan. Karachi’s culture is a unique blend of Middle Eastern, Central Asian, South Asian, and Western influences.

Karachi is known as the city of lights, for all the right reasons. If you go out at 3 am, you’ll still find all the restaurants serving delicious local food as well as the famous chai.

Karachi’s food has its own taste, packed full of spices. Biryani, Nihari, BBQ, and Haleem are popular things to try in Karachi. And you’ll find a lot of seafood here as it is a coastal city.

If you love shopping Karachi might also be the best city in Pakistan for you. Because it’s the economic hub of the country, you can find things like fabrics, handicrafts, machinery, etc. from all around Pakistan here, as well as from many other parts of the world.

Places to visit in Karachi include the Quaid’s Tomb, Port Grand, PAF Museum, Mohatta Palace, Quaid e Azam House, and the Zainab Market.

From Karachi, you can plan short trips to historical places such as Makli and Thatta. Go to a nearby beach, or to Gorakh Hills, which is the highest point of the Sindh province.

Unfortunately Karachi’s dense population comes with some downsides as well. Traffic is intense and it can get difficult and slow to move around the city.

If you ever take a bus in Karachi, which is the main form of public transport here, you’ll probably find a good number of people sitting on the roof because the bus is so crowded. It’s a sight to see, but also something to get used to.

On top of that Karachi’s air pollution is bad and exceeds WHO’s guidelines.

Because Karachi is located on the coast, it has a relatively mild climate with low levels of rainfall. Most rain occurs during the July-August monsoon season.

Winters are mild, and summers are hot. Therefore the winter months (November to February) are generally the best time to visit Karachi.

3. Lahore

If you love history and culture then Lahore is one of the best cities to visit in Pakistan.

Lahore, the capital city of the north-eastern Punjab Province is the second-largest city in Pakistan. It is known as the cultural capital of Pakistan.

Lahore has a long and illustrious history, having served as the capital of several empires including the Shahi, Mughal, and Sikh.

Lahore is full of history, culture, and tradition, but has a large modern side to it as well.

The architectural style of Lahore is a mix of modern and old. The heart of Lahore is the Walled or Inner City, but then as a contrast you have the newly developed areas such as DHA and Bahria Town.

Lahore is also famous for its food. Chicken Karahi, Pulaao, BBQ, Nihari, Paaye, and Tawa Piece are some of the famous dishes worth trying here. Another famous thing to try is Nankhatai, a type of cookie, from Khalifa Bakers.

There are four different food streets around the city center that have dozens of famous restaurants serving all the different flavors of Punjab, and other provinces.

When you are in Lahore, you have to visit the Walled City, which is famous for its streets and buildings from the Mughal Empire as well as from the British Rule.

Other places worth visiting include the Lahore Museum, Shahi Hammam (a Persian-style bath), the Wazir Khan Mosque, the Badshahi Mosque, the Lahore Fort, the Tomb of Jahangir, Shalamar Gardens, and the Jallo Gardens.

And you can’t miss the unique Flag Hoisting Parade at the Pakistan India Border, which is very unique for all its aggression and the synchronization between the Pakistani and Indian soldiers; people call it ‘a war without weapons’.

You can buy a lot of different types of cultural attire in Lahore at markets such as Liberty or Anarkali.

Lahore is a friendly and socially liberal city. But, as with Karachi, it’s a sprawling city, so do plan ahead and try to book your hotel in the area where you think you’ll spend most of your time.

In the old town walking or a tuk-tuk (rickshaw) are your only ways to get around. In general in Lahore rickshaws are your best (and a very cheap) way to get around.

Outside of winter it will be too hot to walk long distances during the day.

From Lahore, you can easily visit several cities such as Kasur which has a border with India where you can experience the parade again, and is famous for its fish and Falooda (a kind of dessert). Or visit Sheikhupura which boasts historical buildings from the Mughal Era.

About a three hours drive from Lahore you can find Harappa, which was part of the 5000 years old Indus Civilization.

4. Peshawar

Peshawar is the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province (KPK) and one of the Oldest Living Cities in South Asia. The city’s recorded history goes back as far as at least 539 BC!

Peshawar is famous for its food and tourism.

Some famous food you should try in Peshawar is Chapli Kebab, Namak Mandi Karahi, Dum Pukht, Kabuli Pulao, Mantu, and Aushak. The cuisine here is pretty similar to Afghan cuisine, as Peshawar is located close to the border with Afghanistan and has a lot of cultural similarities.

Places to visit in Peshawar include the Bala Hissar Fort, the Gorkhatri park, the Mahabat Khan Mosque, the Peshawar Gandhara Museum, the Victoria Memorial Hall and the Bab-e-Khyber (Khyber Gate).

You can visit Taxila on a day trip from Peshawar which boasts Buddhist history and remains. Or go to Takht-i-Bahi, which are the ruins of a famous historical Buddhist monastery.

In the summertime hiking tours to the mountains are offered from Peshawar.

5. Multan

Multan is known as the City of Saints because it has a lot of mausoleums of Sufi Saints.

It is famous for its unique architecture, sufi music, parks and historic buildings.

Multan is an interesting mix of Sufi reminiscences, historical battles, dynasty control, and commerce.

It is one of the oldest cities in the Indian subcontinent. Since 3300 BCE, Multan has passed through numerous hands, allegedly beginning with Hindu rule, then encountering Greek infiltration, and then facilitating a lengthy era of Muslim standards strongly influenced by Sufism in the eleventh and twelfth centuries.

Multan is now a prominent part of south Punjab, and visitors from all over the country and outside go to the city’s numerous sacred sites, tombs, and mosques.

Multan is located almost in the center of Southern Punjab but also not far from Sindh, making it rich in culture and tradition influenced by both sides.

The area around the city is flat and ideal for agriculture, with many citrus and mango farms.

The most popular food to try in Multan is Sohan Halwa, a traditional dessert that is world-famous.

There are many places to visit in Multan. Some of the highlights include the Multan Fort ruins, the Shahi Eid Gah Mosque, the Clock Tower, Pak Gate (and several other gates), and many famous shrines such as that of Shah Rukn-e-Alam, Bahauddin Zakaria, Bibi Pak Daman, and the tomb of Shah Yusuf Gardezi. 

From Multan, you can visit Bahawalpur, a city famous for its carpets, embroidery and pottery. In this city you can check out the Noor Mahal palace, the Sadiq Garh Palace, and the Bahawalpur Library.

If you travel a little further you’ll end up in the Cholistan desert where you can find the impressive Derawar Fort and the Abbasi Mosque.

The best time to visit Multan and the surrounding area is in winter because summer is very hot. The highest recorded temperature is approximately 54 °C (129 °F)!

The people in Multan are very welcoming, but the security personnel and policemen you’ll come across might feel a bit annoying. They will track your movements around the city and might want to talk to you several times a day. It is for the security of the visitors, but it can get frustrating.

Hotels are very cheap in Multan as it is a smaller city, and has fewer tourists visiting.

Final Thoughts About The Best Cities in Pakistan

If this is your first time visiting Pakistan, the five cities listed above are the best cities in Pakistan to visit.

But, Pakistan is a large and diverse country. It has many more cities to visit and some incredible nature you shouldn’t miss.

Assuming your time in Pakistan is limited, I would recommend choosing two or three of the cities listed above and combining that with going into nature, exploring some of Pakistan’s valleys, mountains, and small towns.

The word ‘surprise’ always comes up when people talk about their trip to Pakistan. Everyone is usually amazed by how welcoming, pleasant, and warm Pakistanis are. They seem truly grateful that you are visiting their country.

To make the most of your time in Pakistan, make sure to plan your activities in advance. There are lots of places to visit and things to do, so do your research and go there prepared.

Note: I want to give special thanks to my friend Usman from @positivepakistantours. He’s been a great help getting a lot of local information about these cities in Pakistan. Without him, and several other helpful Pakistanis, I wouldn’t have known half of what I know about Pakistan now!

Safety in Pakistan

Pakistan has received a lot of bad press over the years when it comes to safety.

And it is true that certain areas should still be avoided and political unrest could change what these areas are.

But, Pakistan has changed a lot and promoting tourism is high on the country’s agenda these days, which includes making sure it’s safe for tourists to visit Pakistan.

Before you plan your trip to Pakistan I highly recommend reading some up-to-date reviews about safety in Pakistan. Your country’s government probably has a website with travel information for each country.

The USA has a detailed travel advisory for Pakistan here and the British government gives useful travel advice here.

That being said, governments often give a whole country a negative recommendation even when only a (small) part of it is unsafe.

Even my country, the Netherlands, received a negative recommendation from the USA once just because there was a lot of pickpocketing reported on one train route from the airport into Amsterdam! So, read all the advice you can find, and then make your own decisions.

And although I am a very independent traveler and love to find my own way around a country, in Pakistan I would highly recommend booking tours.

The tourism infrastructure and information available are just a lot more limited in Pakistan than in a well-traveled country such as Thailand. So not only is booking tours the safest way to explore Pakistan, it also makes your travels easier and you get to see and experience more.

Your local guide can tell you so much about the country. You’ll leave with great memories and a much better understanding of what Pakistan has to offer.

Also Read: How to Stay Safe While Traveling

Living in the Best Cities in Pakistan

Are you looking for the best city in Pakistan to live in?

Then this list is also useful, as these five cities are also some of the best cities to live in Pakistan as an expat.

For more information about cost of living, safety and quality of life in Pakistan as a whole or in specific cities I recommend using Numbeo, which gives good statistics.

And, having moved abroad many times, I always find Facebook groups very useful. Join groups about Pakistan or the specific city you are thinking of moving to and then ask any questions you may have about living there.

Enjoy visiting some of the best cities in Pakistan and exploring this beautiful country!

Also Read:

• The Most Important Things to Look for When Booking a Hotel Room
• How to Find the Cheapest Flights
• 10 of the Best Reasons to Travel
• Insider’s Tips for Things to Do in Delhi, India
• Why You Should Visit Kerala, India

 

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