Find places in Pakistan

Must-Haves

• Badshahi Mosque (Walled City)
  One of the largest Mughal mosques in the world, with a vast red sandstone courtyard facing Lahore Fort.
• Lahore Fort (Walled City)
  A UNESCO listed Mughal citadel with the mirrored Sheesh Mahal and the newly restored Picture Wall.
• Wazir Khan Mosque (Walled City)
  A seventeenth century mosque covered in some of the finest tile work and frescoes in South Asia.
• Lahore Museum (The Mall)
  Gandhara Buddhas, Mughal miniatures and the famous Fasting Buddha, opposite Kipling's Zamzama cannon.

Off the Beaten Path

• Shahi Hammam (Delhi Gate, Walled City)
  A restored Mughal bathhouse with painted vaults just inside Delhi Gate.

Fun for Everyone

• Walled City of Lahore Heritage Trail (Delhi Gate, Walled City)
  A walking route from Delhi Gate along the old royal road past bazaars, havelis and mosques.

Must-Haves

• Shalimar Gardens (Baghbanpura)
  Terraced Mughal gardens of fountains and pavilions built by Shah Jahan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Fun for Everyone

• Bagh-e-Jinnah (The Mall)
  Leafy Victorian gardens with the old Quaid-e-Azam Library, ideal for a slow morning walk.

Must-Haves

• Wagah Border Ceremony (Wagah)
  The loud, theatrical flag lowering ceremony at the India border every evening.

Must-Haves

• Haveli Restaurant (Fort Road Food Street)
  Rooftop dining with a direct view of the floodlit Badshahi Mosque.

Great for Date Night

• Andaaz Restaurant (Fort Road Food Street)
  Elegant Mughal style rooms and a terrace facing the mosque minarets.
• Cooco's Den (Fort Road Food Street)
  An eccentric haveli turned restaurant full of the owner's paintings, with mosque views from the roof.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Waris Nihari (Anarkali)
  A historic spot for slow cooked beef nihari served from big copper pots in the morning.
• Butt Karahi (Lakshmi Chowk)
  A classic late night karahi house where meat is cooked to order in a wok over fierce flames.

Must-Haves

• MM Alam Road (Gulberg)
  A long strip of cafés, dessert shops and restaurants, the city's busiest evening hangout.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Chaman Ice Cream (Mozang)
  A Lahore institution for old style ice cream flavours since the 1960s.

Must-Haves

• Anarkali Bazaar (Anarkali)
  One of South Asia's oldest markets for fabrics, bangles, shoes and street snacks.

Fun for Everyone

• Liberty Market (Gulberg)
  A busy local market for ready to wear clothes, embroidered fabrics and evening snacks.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Ichhra Bazaar (Ichhra)
  A crowded working market for fabric, tailoring and everyday shopping at local prices.

Off the Beaten Path

• Kashmiri Bazaar (Walled City)
  A narrow lane leading to Wazir Khan Mosque, lined with spice, perfume and wedding stalls.

Must-Haves

• Pearl Continental Lahore (The Mall)
  A long established full service hotel close to the museum and Mall Road.

Great for Date Night

• Nishat Hotel (Gulberg)
  A contemporary hotel in Gulberg close to restaurants and shopping.

Must-Haves

• Faisal Mosque (Margalla Hills foothills)
  The capital's tent shaped landmark, one of the largest mosques in the world.
• Pakistan Monument (Shakarparian)
  A petal shaped national monument with views across the city and a museum below.
• Taxila archaeological sites (Taxila)
  Stupas, monasteries and ancient cities including Sirkap and Jaulian.

Fun for Everyone

• Lok Virsa Heritage Museum (Shakarparian)
  A lively museum of crafts, music and costume from every region of Pakistan.

Off the Beaten Path

• Golra Sharif Railway Museum (Golra)
  Old steam engines and railway relics at a historic junction station.

Must-Haves

• Daman-e-Koh (Margalla Hills)
  A hillside viewpoint over Islamabad, best at sunset.

Fun for Everyone

• Margalla Hills Trail 3 (Sector F6)
  The most popular hiking trail in the capital, climbing through forest to a ridge viewpoint.

Off the Beaten Path

• Trail 5 (Margalla Hills)
  A quieter, shaded trail with streams and birdlife, linking to Pir Sohawa.

Great for Date Night

• Pir Sohawa viewpoint (Margalla Hills)
  A hilltop road with sweeping views of the capital, best at dusk.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Saidpur Village (Margalla Hills)
  A restored Mughal era village at the foot of the hills with temples, mosques and eateries.

Must-Haves

• Kabul Restaurant (Jinnah Super, F7)
  Generous Afghan pulao and kebabs, a capital favourite for decades.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Savour Foods (Blue Area)
  A busy local chain for pulao kebab, simple, fast and filling.

Great for Date Night

• Tuscany Courtyard (Kohsar Market, F6)
  A relaxed courtyard restaurant in the capital's favourite little evening market.

Must-Haves

• Kohsar Market cafés (Kohsar Market, F6)
  A small leafy market of bookshops and cafés popular with diplomats and students.

Must-Haves

• Jinnah Super Market (F7)
  The capital's classic shopping square for books, clothes, crafts and snacks.

Off the Beaten Path

• Sunday Bazaar (H9)
  A sprawling weekend market for fruit, spices, carpets and everything else.

Fun for Everyone

• Centaurus Mall (F8)
  The capital's largest mall, with a food court and cinema.

Must-Haves

• Serena Hotel Islamabad (Khayaban-e-Suhrawardy)
  A long established full service hotel set in landscaped gardens.

Great for Date Night

• Islamabad Marriott Hotel (Aga Khan Road)
  A central, secure hotel close to the government district.

Off the Beaten Path

• Taxila Museum (Taxila)
  Gandhara sculpture beside UNESCO listed Buddhist ruins, an easy day trip.

Must-Haves

• Mazar-e-Quaid (Jamshed Town)
  The white marble mausoleum of Pakistan's founder, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, with a changing of the guard.
• Mohatta Palace Museum (Clifton)
  A pink stone mansion of 1927 hosting changing exhibitions on art and history.
• National Museum of Pakistan (Burns Garden)
  Indus Valley seals, Gandhara art and Quran manuscripts.

Fun for Everyone

• Frere Hall (Saddar)
  A Venetian Gothic hall in gardens, with a ceiling mural by Sadequain and a Sunday book market.

Off the Beaten Path

• Empress Market (Saddar)
  A restored Victorian market hall full of spices, dry fruit and birds.

Must-Haves

• Clifton Beach (Clifton)
  The city's sea front, busy with families, camel rides and snacks at sunset.

Off the Beaten Path

• French Beach (Hawke's Bay area)
  A rocky, quieter cove west of the city reached through a fishing village.

Fun for Everyone

• Hawke's Bay Beach (Kemari)
  A broad sandy beach and a nesting site for green turtles in season.

Fun for Everyone

• Port Grand (Native Jetty Bridge)
  A waterfront food and leisure strip on an old bridge over the harbour.

Off the Beaten Path

• Manora Island boat ride (Keamari)
  A ferry across the harbour to a lighthouse, an old temple and a quiet beach.

Must-Haves

• Burns Road Food Street (Saddar)
  Karachi's best known food street for nihari, haleem, rabri and fried fish.
• Kolachi Restaurant (Do Darya, DHA)
  Open air seafront dining on the Arabian Sea, especially loved at night.

Great for Date Night

• Café Flo (Clifton)
  A long running French bistro in a quiet house, good for a calm evening.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Javed Nihari (Federal B Area)
  A cult favourite for spicy Karachi style nihari.

Fun for Everyone

• Student Biryani (Saddar)
  The famous name in Karachi biryani, spicy and generous.

Must-Haves

• Zainab Market (Saddar)
  The classic market for leather goods, embroidered fabric and souvenirs.

Fun for Everyone

• Dolmen Mall Clifton (Clifton)
  A big seafront mall with a food court and international brands.

Off the Beaten Path

• Bohri Bazaar (Saddar)
  A tangle of fabric, household and wedding stalls close to Empress Market.

Fun for Everyone

• Karachi Literature Festival (Beach Luxury Hotel area)
  An annual festival of books and talks, usually in February.

Must-Haves

• Pearl Continental Karachi (Club Road)
  A long established full service hotel in the city centre.

Great for Date Night

• Mövenpick Hotel Karachi (Club Road)
  A central hotel with good dining and security.

Must-Haves

• Baltit Fort (Karimabad)
  The seven hundred year old palace of the Mirs of Hunza, restored and looking down the valley.
• Altit Fort (Altit)
  An even older fort on a cliff above the river, with a lovely royal garden.

Off the Beaten Path

• Ganish Village (Ganish)
  One of the oldest settlements on the Silk Road, with carved wooden mosques and towers.

Must-Haves

• Eagle's Nest viewpoint (Duikar)
  A ridge top viewpoint for sunrise over Rakaposhi, Ultar and Lady Finger.
• Attabad Lake (Gojal)
  A turquoise lake formed by a 2010 landslide, with boat rides and lakeside cafés.
• Passu Cones (Passu)
  The jagged cathedral like peaks that define Upper Hunza.

Off the Beaten Path

• Borith Lake (Gulmit)
  A quiet lake popular with birds, on the walk towards the Passu glacier.
• Hopper Glacier (Nagar)
  A quiet valley with a close view of a winding glacier.

Fun for Everyone

• Hussaini Suspension Bridge (Hussaini)
  A famously wobbly wooden bridge over the Hunza River.

Must-Haves

• Khunjerab Pass (Sost)
  The high border crossing with China, among the highest paved roads in the world.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Café de Hunza (Karimabad)
  A small café known for walnut cake and apricot treats.

Must-Haves

• Karimabad Bazaar (Karimabad)
  A steep lane of gem, carpet and dried apricot shops below Baltit Fort.

Off the Beaten Path

• Cherry and apricot blossom season (Hunza Valley)
  Early April turns the valley pink and white, a short and special time to visit.

Must-Haves

• Serena Hunza (Hunza Serena Inn) (Karimabad)
  A comfortable hotel with valley views close to Baltit Fort.

Great for Date Night

• Luxus Hunza (Attabad Lake)
  A lakeside hotel with balconies over Attabad's turquoise water.

Must-Haves

• Shangrila Resort Lake (Lower Kachura)
  A famous lakeside resort with a pagoda roofed restaurant and red roofed chalets.
• Upper Kachura Lake (Kachura)
  A clear blue lake fringed with trees, quieter than its lower neighbour.
• Deosai National Park (Deosai Plains)
  One of the highest plateaus on earth, a summer meadow of wildflowers and Himalayan brown bears.

Fun for Everyone

• Katpana Cold Desert (Katpana)
  High altitude sand dunes beside the Indus, magical at sunset.

Off the Beaten Path

• Sadpara Lake (Sadpara)
  A reservoir lake on the road towards Deosai.

Must-Haves

• Shigar Fort (Shigar)
  A seventeenth century Balti palace restored as a heritage hotel and museum.

Off the Beaten Path

• Manthal Buddha Rock (Sadpara Road)
  An ancient Buddhist carving on a granite boulder just outside town.
• Khaplu Palace (Khaplu)
  A graceful Balti royal palace, restored and partly a heritage hotel.

Fun for Everyone

• Kharpocho Fort (Skardu town)
  A hilltop fort with a steep climb and a sweeping view over the Indus.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Skardu Bazaar (Skardu town)
  The main market for supplies, dried fruit and local crafts.

Must-Haves

• Shigar Fort Residence (Shigar)
  Stay inside the restored fort, run by Serena.

Great for Date Night

• Khaplu Palace Hotel (Khaplu)
  Rooms in a restored Balti palace with gardens and mountain views.

Must-Haves

• Raja Bazaar (Old Rawalpindi)
  The heart of the old city, a maze of markets for cloth, spices and household goods.

Low Cost and Authentic

• Saddar Bazaar (Saddar)
  Busy colonial era bazaar for shoes, clothes and street food.

Fun for Everyone

• Army Museum (Saddar)
  Military history of the region, popular with families.

Fun for Everyone

• Ayub National Park (Jhelum Road)
  A large green park with a lake, playground and space for families.