Islamabad is beautiful. It’s peaceful. It’s clean. It has wide roads. This beautiful capital of Pakistan is a must-visit place once in a lifetime. If you’re from Karachi, you are going to fall in love with the serenity it provides. With lush green areas, less traffic and calmness, one can’t deny the beauty of this city. But the cherry on top is its travel spots.
Although it’s a small city but some places would capture your heart. So, if you’re visiting Islamabad for the first time, we recommend not missing these beautiful spots.
Read also: [What’s in Islamabad that’s not in Karachi]
Top Travel Places in Islamabad
1. Monal Restaurant
Going to Islamabad and not visiting Monal wouldn’t justify your tour to the capital city. I would say Monal is the heart of Islamabad from where you can capture the complete view of the city. The beautiful hills, lush green valleys under the sky and the serenity of the place are admiring. It’s situated at the Margalla hills and along with indoor and outdoor dining, the restaurant provides a blend of traditional and contemporary cuisines. With a touch of live singing and a captivating ambience, you can find different eateries and stalls there. Also, you can shop for traditional stuff like Shawls, pottery, and cultural decor items here. It’s a must-visit place I would want to add to your list.
2. Saeed Book Bank (for Book Lovers)
If you’re fond of reading you shouldn’t forget to visit Saeed Book Bank in Islamabad. It’s one of the largest bookstores in Asia operating since 1955. Located in the Jinnah Super Market, it’s a three-storey building expanded to 42,000 square feet. This bookstore has over 200,000 titles and owns a stock of more than 5 Million books in its five warehouses. At first, it was started in Peshawar but due to military constraints, he shifted his book business to Islamabad. At this book bank, you can find a wide range of categories including Urdu, History, Geography, fiction, non-fiction and even coursebooks. Definitely, a not to miss place for readers.
3. Tehzeeb Bakers
A bakery that’s continuing its legacy for 75 years is a must to add to the list. Famous for its rich, baked items, the bakery is the most recommended spot for food lovers. It is located in the Jinahh Supermarket and delivers everything from cakes, biscuits, and pizzas, to salads, donuts and snacks. The architecture of this building represents old Pakistan. Ample space of parking is also available and you can also enjoy your food under the sky as the parking area has benches and dustbins where you can eat and make memories. Originally, the bakery is rooted in the historical place Shimla. Chaudhry Hakeemuddin Noon started it first and now it’s a household name in Islamabad. Previously, it was known as Rahat Bakers. Tehzeeb is the new name and also they are still on their mission to represent collective heritage, culture and values of life through its new name.
4. Shah Faisal Mosque
One of the largest mosques of Pakistan, this Faisal Mosque is the national mosque of Pakistan. Located at the foot of Margalla Hills, it’s also the fifth-largest mosque in the world. With a park and comfortable seating outside, you can sit here and focus on the architecture of this beautiful place. Although there’s not much to do at this mosque except for touring I would recommend giving you some time here. This would also add to your beautiful sightseeing memories of Islamabad. Coming to its historical side, this famous mosque was a gift from the Late King Faisal bin Abdul Aziz. To construct this masterpiece, he organized an international competition to choose the best design for the mosque. Afterwards, it was designed by Turkish architecture and till today the design of the mosque shows relevance to the heritage of Pakistan.
5. Centaurus Mall
Well, if you’re coming from Karachi to visit this Centaurus Mall then it wouldn’t amaze you because Karachi’s Lucky One Mall is much big than this. But still, I would like to add to the list because of the architecture of the building and the view it provides. At the back of the mall, you can see the exquisite, heart-captivating view of the hills that would take your breath away. For this specific reason, this can be a go-to destination for you. Plus you can also shop your heart out in this beautiful city.
6. Lok Virsa Museum
Museums are an integral part of every country. They represent the history and help visitors to gain knowledge about culture, traditions, and historical insights. Lok Virsa is one of them. Established in 1982, it represents the living culture of Pakistan. From jewellery, pottery, utensils, and cultural dancing to clothes, artwork, painting, traditional foods and festivals, you can find everything here related to our culture. So, if you’re someone who loves to know the history of Pakistan then this is your go-to place.
7. Daman-e-Koh
One of the most popular tourist attractions and a place not to miss is Daman-e-Koh. Located on top of the Margalla Hills, it gives a 360-degree view of the city. It’s a spacious park with lush green hills, restaurants, trekking trails, live music, and horse riding. Besides photography and sightseeing, you can also find animals like the Rhesus macaque monkey, Asian Paradise flycatcher, and a rare exotic bird with a long light greyish tail. With all its rich views, you can also consider this place for a picnic or get together with your friends and family. In addition, while you stay at this place you can also spot major tourist attractions Pir Sohawa & Monal, Faisal Mosque, Saidpur Village, and Pakistan Monument.
8. Japanese Children Park
Also known as Playland, this Japanese Children Park is worth adding to the list because of its wide space and attraction for children and adults. This park was launched in 1985 and it’s located at the foothills of Margalla Hills. About a decade ago, some Japanese tourist gift this place to the children for their amusement. It has different swings, activity points, and game areas for children’s development and growth. If you want your children to spend some time doing physical activities then it’s your go-to spot. With lush green plants, aromatic grass, multi-coloured trees and beautiful viewpoints, the park has everything a family needs. Not only children, one can also use this place as a picnic point as there are many intriguing points for families as well. They can have a luxurious time in this beautiful, heart-captivating environment. You can also view Daman-e-Koh from the peak of the park.
Apart from these best places in Islamabad, you can find the city covered with small and huge parks at every corner. Lake View Park, Shakar Parian National Park, Fatima Jinnah Park and Rawal Lake are some of them. So, if you’re visiting Islamabad from Karachi then this blog is for you.
Still, if I miss your favorite place, you can mention it in the comments below.
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