14 Best Places to Visit in Islamabad
Speaking of Pakistan specifically, when it comes to tourism, Islamabad has the best tourist places in the country. Islamabad is the second most beautiful capital in the world and has lots of famous places to visit in Islamabad. The city is lush green, astonishingly attractive, and the beautiful capital of the country and offers heartbreaking views of the mountains. Apart from this, the city is also packed with lots of tasty restaurants, impressive hotels, fun shopping malls, historic places, and interesting sightseeing areas. In addition to that, the capital is rich for having the top colleges, best schools, top housing societies, real estate companies, and universities in Islamabad.
If you are in a search of a place that can offer you exceptional recreational activities at affordable pricing? We are here to help you.
Now, let’s get started with the history and culture of Islamabad.
History & Culture of Islamabad
Islamabad means the “City of Islam” and is located on Pothohar Plateau on the northern side of the Punjab region. It has a population of almost 1,129,000 and is known for the most historical and best Islamabad picnic points. Weather-wise, the city has a humid subtropical climate including four seasons: summer, winter, spring, and autumn. And the good thing is that you can enjoy all weather and try outdoor activities since there are several parks in Islamabad. Normally, the people will tell you that there is one more season in this city, called the rainy monsoon season. Islamabad’s weather is highly unpredictable and can change at any time. Combined with the weather and its amazing spots, it makes for an interesting place to be. You can also read about best shopping malls in Islamabad.
Here is a compiled list of all the picnic spots and Islamabad beautiful places to visit.
List of Top 14 Places to visit in Islamabad:
| Name | Location | Established Year | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Lok Virsa Museum | Garden Avenue، Shakarparian Rd, Islamabad, Islamabad Capital Territory | 1974 | |
| 2. Pakistan Monument | Shakarparian Hills، Srinagar Hwy, Islamabad, Islamabad Capital Territory | 2007 | |
| 3. Faisal Mosque | Shah Faisal Ave, E-8, Islamabad, Islamabad Capital Territory 44000 | 1986 | |
| 4. Margalla Hills | Margalla Hills, Islamabad Capital Territory 44000 | ——— | |
| 5. Neela Sandh | Nila Sandh, Rawalpindi, Punjab | ——— | |
| 6. Lake View Park | Murree Rd, LAKE VIEW PARK, Islamabad, Islamabad Capital Territory 49510 | 2010 | |
| 7. Daman-e-Koh | Daman -e- Koh Rd, E-7, Islamabad, Islamabad Capital Territory 44000 | ——— | |
| 8. Saidpur Village | Saidpur, Islamabad, Islamabad Capital Territory | ——— | |
| 9. Local Bazaars | ——— | ——— | |
| 10. Food Places | ——— | ——— | |
| 11. Korang River Banigala | Korang Banigala Islamabad | ——— | |
| 12. Giga Mall | Main Grand Trunk Rd, Defense Housing Authority Sector F DHA Phase II, Islamabad | 2016 | |
| 13. The Monal | 9KM Pir Sohawa Road, Islamabad | 2006 | |
| 14. The Centaurus Mall | 4 Jinnah Avenue, F 8/4 F-8, Islamabad | 2015 | |
1. Lok Virsa Museum
Lok Virsa is the best heritage museum of Islamabad, located 5.2 km away from Shakarparian Road. Spanning over a total area of (20,000) sqft., it was established in 1982 and is currently being managed by the Lok Virsa – National Institute of Folk & Traditional Heritage. The main purpose of the museum is to represent the traditions and culture of Pakistan. There are a variety of cultural items in the museum including pictures, statues, pottery, textile work, and music. Apart from this, it also consists of a library that has a tremendous collection of books about culture, history, folklore, ethnicities, and traditions. It’s also famous for hosting exhibitions to present antique jewelry, shiny metalwork, block printing, stunning woodwork, bone work, and horn products. Lok Virsa is the best place to visit as it is listed as the top historical places in Islamabad.
2. Pakistan Monument
It’s also a heritage museum, like Lok Virsa, located in Islamabad. Its construction started in May 2004 and by 23 March 2007, it was completed and inaugurated by General Pervez Musharaf – the president of Pakistan at the time. It covers a total area of 2.8 hectares (6.9 acres) with a state-of-the-art design that represents Mughal architecture. It has a petal-shaped structure that looks like a star and crescent moon from above the two things in the country’s flag. It is also a popular destination for tourists and locals alike, who want to learn more about the history and culture of Pakistan. If you are planning to visit Islamabad, you might want to check out some of the best real estate companies in Islamabad that can help you find a suitable accommodation near this amazing attraction.
The Pakistan monument consists of a wax museum, audio-visual archive, reference library, conference hall with a capacity of 62-seats, and an auditorium known as Panorama Hall. If you are looking for Islamabad beautiful places, Pakistan monuments should be on the top of your list. You can also read about northern areas of Pakistan
3. Faisal Mosque
Faisal Mosque is the epitome of Islamic architecture that is located in the foothills of the Margalla Hills. Faisal mosque is located a few minutes away from PIMS, one of the best government hospitals in Islamabad. The mosque consists of eight sides of concrete shell-shaped sloping roofs, creating a triangular prayer hall that can contain 10,000 persons at one time. The construction of the mosque started in 1976 and was completed by 1986, at a construction cost of US 120 million. It has 4 minarets; each of height almost 90 m (300 ft). It covers a total area of 1,400,000 sq. f.t with an influential piece of Islamic architecture. Globally, it is listed as the fifth-largest mosque and the largest one in the entire Asia region. It is one of the best place in list of Islamabad famous places. Get to know about Schools in Islamabad.
4. Margalla Hills
Margalla Hills is a part of the Himalayas range, located on the stunning north side of Islamabad. It’s a picture-perfect place that is a must-visit location point for tourists and travelers. It has picnic points, viewpoints, trails, and restaurants that attract everyone to come and enjoy nature. This range is home to many birds, including laggard falcons, peregrine falcon, robins, sparrows, shrikes, kites, crows, Indian sparrow hawk, larks, paradise flycatchers, black partridge, pheasants, spotted doves, Egyptian vultures, falcons, hawks, eagles, Himalayan griffon vulture, kestrel, white-cheeked bulbul, etc. Therefore, for all the bird lovers, it’s the perfect place. You can also read about housing societies in Islamabad.
5. Neela Sandh (Waterfall)
Islamabad has beautiful waterfalls besides hills, scenic views, and contemporary infrastructure. One of the most famous waterfalls in Islamabad is Neela Sandh. It’s a waterfall located at mouri syedan and almost 40 kilometers away from Islamabad. It gives a stunning view with the surroundings of tall trees, greenery, and lush green mountains. As its name, Neela Sandh has blue crystal water that shines like pearls in the daylight and gives the waterfall a stunning view. The most mesmerizing part of it is the dripping water from the top. If you are thinking about the best places to visit near Islamabad, Neela Sandh is one of the best options to choose in list of Islamabad famous places. You can also read about the best hill stations in Pakistan.
6. Lake View Park
Easily approachable from Murree Road and located at the edge of Kashmir Highway and combined with Rawal Lake; this park is known to be one of the best Islamabad outing places. Rawal Dam is also a picnic spot and one of the most famous and visited dams in Pakistan.
The best thing about Lake View Park is the dedicated BBQ spaces, where you and your family or friends can throw a BBQ party and enjoy the stunning view at night with taste. Besides all this, it’s the perfect place for the kids as there are a lot of swings and other amenities in the park including passenger road train, paintball battlefield, boating arena, motorsports ranch, horse riding mobs, ibex club, rock climbing gym, and motorsports ranch. All of the above amenities make this park one of the best places to visit in Islamabad. If you are planning to visit Islamabad, read our blog on Hotels in Islamabad for accommodation.
7. Daman-e-Koh
Daman-e-Koh is a hilltop garden located in the heart of Margalla hills. It’s about 2400ft from sea level and 500ft from the capital. It’s the highest point from where you can see the whole city. It’s also a stay point for the tourists on their way to Pir Sohawa. You can also enjoy the scenic view of the Faisal Mosque from the top of Daman-e-Koh. In 2007, it was further developed by the Capital Development Authority to offer more facilities and convenience to visitors. If you are fond of a quiet and peaceful environment, you must visit this amazing point to see the capital of Pakistan in one frame and to enjoy the silence of nature. Get to know about Provinces of Pakistan.
8. Saidpur Village
Islamabad has many beautiful places but Saidpur is one of its kind. The community has been renamed an ‘Arts and Craft Village,’ with the goal of preserving its centuries-old cultural history. It does go through encouraging tourism in the region in order to highlight how locals used to live and still do! If you get the opportunity to visit the village, you will notice the stark difference between the rush and bustle of modern-day life in Islamabad and the town’s ancient historical way of life. There are two temples in the village that are over 200 years old. A gorgeous yellow Sikh shrine and a Hindu temple are among them. The village’s cultural mixtures have been retained in extraordinary shape, much as the structures. The village’s architecture represents the fading relics of four main civilisations: Gandhara, Ashoka, Mughal, and Greek. Personally, I enjoy the variety of events that the community provides on a regular basis. The residents are also quite kind to any visitors that come to see them. Many people go for a hike or to look at the oldest clay-model of train in Islamabad which was of pre-partition time period. Giving the entire thing a terrific finishing touch. In the suburban village of Saidpur on the outskirts of Islamabad, there is a 120-year-old handmade clay train. In 1901, Lal Mohammad Khan made this steam engine model of a train using clay with his bare hands which still stands today. Saidpur Village is without a doubt one of the most gorgeous spots to visit in Islamabad!Islamabad, as I mentioned at the beginning of this article, offers a plethora of amazing things to see and do! Also get to know about real estate companies in Pakistan.
9. Local Bazaars
Islamabad is a city with sectors dividing residential and community areas. Each sector, phase, or town has its commercial areas that are known as the markets or in common language bazaars. The main purposes of these markets are to provide the necessities of our daily life. However, some of the bazaars have taken more popularity in a very short time as the residents of the city are foodies and love shopping. Therefore, a lot of markets like Super Market – Sector F-6, Aabpara Market – Sector G-6, Karachi Company – Sector G-9, Jinnah Super Market – Sector F-7, and Sunday Market – Sectors G-11, H-9 are the point of shopping for the community of Islamabad. These markets are the most crowded areas and top places in the city. Looking for more fascinating content? Check out historical places in Pakistan.
10. Food Places
Amazing scrumptious food places like Kohsar Market or Jungle Spot or 1969 or F7 Markaz provide a hub of delicious restaurants in Islamabad. With top of the line food and unparalleled taste in Islamabad outing places. From desi to Chinese to continental, all these food places in Islamabad provide the most comfortable environment. You will find a great soothing ambiance in Islamabad, with lush green Margalla Hills and rivers flowing by. The restaurants have steaks, thai food and mouthwatering cheesy burgers. A markaz is essentially a sector’s commercial district, where anything from stores to marketplaces to food may be found. Almost every neighbourhood in Islamabad has its own markaz, so you can just go to the one nearest to your hotel. Islamabad’s markets are teeming with real eateries and street food, and they’re open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also read about famous restaurants in islamabad.
11. Korang River Banigala
Bani Gala is a beautiful locality in Islamabad, that harbours some of the wide ranging hills and river. It is also close to Rawal and Simli dam. The Korang River is a watercourse in Pakistan’s Punjab province. It rises in the Murree Hills and flows south to Islamabad. The artificial Rawal Lake in Islamabad was created by combining the Korang Stream with a few other tiny streams flowing from the Margalla Hills. Rawal Dam’s outflow stream is the Korang River. Korang river also has a number of fish Between Korang Town and Judicial Colony, this creek crosses the Islamabad Express Highway. The landscape of this stream is stunning, and the Loi Bhair Wildlife Safari Park is situated on the lovely left bank of the Korang Stream. Before reaching the Grand Trunk Road, this creek enters the Soan River. Now a huge cricket ground is also under process in Bani Gala, near to the river. Some of the most Islamabad beautiful places are Banigala. Also check out best Museums in Pakistan.
12. Giga Mall
Visit Giga Mall Islamabad for a pleasant shopping excursion with the family or to see a movie at the Giga Mall cinepax. There are over 200 national and international brands to choose from. Giga Mall Islamabad has altered the shopping experience of millions of customers each year since it first opened its doors in 2016. Giga Mall, a national and international leader in entertainment, retail, and attractions, is one of the most popular tourist sites in the country. One of the largest malls in Islamabad that was launched on 22 March 2016. It is constructed at a total area of 4 acres. The Giga Group was founded by Haji Abdul Rahim Giga Pardesi in 1956. It has many brands, cinema and food court. It has a spacious car parking space. Facility of Wi-Fi, prayer rooms and toilets is also available. It has 16 floors, being one of the famous places in Islamabad. You can also read about Cafes in Islamabad.
13. The Monal
The Monal Restaurant Islamabad is a benchmark project of Monal Group of Companies. It was established in 2006 and since then Monal has been the priority of visitors to sit and dine among the attractive sceneries. It is located at 9KM Pir Sohawa Road, Islamabad.
Monal is one of the famous Islamabad places to visit. The restaurant offers indoor and outdoor dining facilities to its guest with an exclusive view of the capital city Islamabad from the top of Margalla Hills.
However, Monal Peshawar is also one of the famous places to visit in Peshawar, but the Islamabad branch has more attraction as it is located amid breathtaking views of Margalla Hills. The opening and closing timings of the restaurant are 9 am to 12:30 am.
14. The Centaurus Mall
The Centaurus Mall has become an identity and landmark of the Islamabad. Currently, it is the best and famous shopping mall in the capital city. The Mall is located in at 4 Jinnah Avenue, F 8/4 F-8, Islamabad. Situated in a prime business hub of Islamabad, the Centaurus Mall promotes lucrative business ideas in Pakistan.
The construction work on The Centaurus Mall was started in 2006, and completed in 2015 at the cost of PKR 15 billion. Moreover, the Mall is one of the most beautiful and attractive infrastructures in Islamabad due to its unique and fancy design. It consist of a 4-story shopping mall hosting national and international brands outlets of cloth, cosmetics, shoes, and food; and also a cinema is there for entertainment of the visitors. The two residential towers, a 5-star hotel, and a corporate tower add more to the importance of the Centaurus Mall making it one of the best places to visit in Islamabad.
Summing Up:
So this was the list of top picks of the best places in Islamabad. If you are planning to visit Islamabad, these all places should be on your list. Visit these amazing places in Islamabad and let us know what your reviews are about any of them. If you are a resident of Islamabad you must read our blog about the famous Picnic spots in Islamabad.
FAQs
What is the Specialty of Islamabad?
The Specialty of Islamabad is that it is one of the most beautiful capitals in the world. It host many attractive and historical places.
What is the special places of Islamabad?
There are various special places in Islamabad depend on your mood and priority. If you love nature, you can visit Margalla Hills, and if you want to see an epitome of infrastructure, you can visit the Centaurus.
