IslamabadCapital
Pakistan · Country profile

Islamabad is the green, planned capital of Pakistan, a city of the sixties built from the farmland of the Potwar plateau in the shadow of the Margalla hills as the calm, modern counterpoint to the old garrison city of the twin. It is a capital of wide tree-lined avenues, ordered sectors and low-rise public buildings, the seat of the parliament, the president and the diplomatic world, and its elegant mosques, its monuments and its museums give it the air of a spacious Asian garden city. The national park of the hills drops to the city’s edge, the trails of the trails climb from the suburbs, and the ruins of the ancient Buddhist towns and the fort of the historic twin lie just beyond the boundary. Secure, green and surprisingly relaxed, Islamabad is the serene face of Pakistan.
About Islamabad
Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan. The city's documented population is around 2,360,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the Pakistani Rupee (PKR) and Urdu and English are spoken; the dialling code is +92. It is served by 1 airport in our guide: Islamabad International Airport.
The Grid Capital of the Margalla Hills
Islamabad is a calm, ordered capital of wide avenues and green hills, where the Faisal mosque, the national monument and the museums of the city fill the visitor’s days at a relaxed pace. The flagship mosque with its chamfered tent of the concrete, the vistas of the government quarter and the trails of the Margalla hills from the edge of the city give the essential circuit, while the markets and the food streets of the sectors carry the everyday life of the capital. The museum of the nation and the ruins of the ancient ruins of the region, from the Buddhist site of the Taxila to the forts of the twin city, complete the near days. It is a safe, courteous and properly planned city, and its serenity sets it apart from the great metropolises of the country.
The Cool Winter Air, the Summer Dust and the Spring Blossoms
The city enjoys four seasons with the crisp, dry winter of the cooler months, the mild spring and the autumn of the year, and the hot, dusty summer and the monsoon rains of the wetter months. The rupee is the currency, the Urdu and the English the languages of the streets, and the ride-hailing apps and the drivers of the city cover the spread of the neighborhoods. The mosque, the monuments and the museums of the capital anchor the stay, while the ruins of the ancient Taxila and the hill walks of the Margallas extend the days. The modest dress and the layered clothing of the winter evenings complete the simple practical list of the visit.
The Faisal Mosque, the National Monument and the Trails of the Hills
The Faisal mosque, the enormous chamfered-tent mosque of the modern concrete at the foot of the hills, is among the largest and the most striking buildings of the Muslim world, and the national monument of the capital, with the great petals of the geography of the country, commands the views of the city. The Daman-e-Koh viewpoints of the hills give the panorama of the whole capital and its twin, and the markets of the sectors, above all the crafts of the federation and the food streets of the evening, hold the daily commerce. The museum of the history of the nation and the ruins of the Buddhist learning of the taxila, the world heritage of the nearby valley, complete the deeper, older story of the serene capital of Pakistan.
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- Country
- Pakistan
- Population
- 2,360,000
- Coordinates
- 33.5497, 72.8257
- Capital
- Islamabad
- Region
- Asia
- Currency
- Pakistani Rupee (PKR)
- Languages
- Urdu, English
- Calling code
- +92
- Country code
- PK
Getting to Islamabad
Airports we list for Islamabad:
Other airports in the area:
Cities in Pakistan
Other cities we cover in Pakistan:
Frequently asked questions
Is Islamabad the capital of Pakistan?
Yes — Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan.
What currency do I need in Islamabad?
The local currency is the Pakistani Rupee (PKR). Languages spoken in Pakistan include Urdu and English.
What is the dialling code for Pakistan?
The international dialling code for Pakistan is +92.
Which airport should I fly into for Islamabad?
Islamabad International Airport (ISB) is the airport we list for Islamabad.
How far is Islamabad from the nearest airport?
Islamabad is about 1,107 km from Jinnah International Airport.
Flying out of Islamabad? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.