Pakistan Travel Guide: All you need to know to visit Pakistan in 2023

Pakistan is a country of diverse cultures, religions, and languages. It has an ancient history that dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization. The country also boasts some of the most beautiful natural landscapes in the world.

Pakistan is a country of different natural hues that make it magical, from its arid deserts to its tropical forests and the great variety of fauna, such as the liveliness of the Tibetan wolf and the great variety of migratory birds, from Europe, Central Asia, and India.

In this article, you will find the ultimate Pakistan travel guide to prepare for your trip to this beautiful country full of culture, history, and nature.

Document checklist for Pakistan

• eVisa

• Medical report

• Valid passport

• Sufficient funds

• Travel itinerary

• Tickets

Essential Pakistan travel information

• Currency— Pakistani rupee (₨) (PKR). Equivalent to approx USD 0,0046.

• Daily budget for 1 person— Around P₨ 4,622 ($21-50) per day, depending on your budget and traveleling style.

• Languages— Urdu and English.

• Socket type— For Pakistan, there are two associated plug types, C and D. Pakistan operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz.

• Time zone— Time zone in Pakistan (GMT+5).

• Top 3 cities to visit— Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi.

• Top 3 landmarks/monuments — Badshahi Mosque, Minar-e-Pakistan, and The Noor Mahal.

Visa information for Pakistan

The Pakistani visa is a Tourist eVisa, issued by the Pakistan government and consular services for tourist purposes only.

eVisa Pakistan explained

This visa is valid for three months and allows travelers to stay in Pakistan for up to 30 days per entry and with a single entry.

You can use our Visa checker to see if your nationality needs a visa to enter Pakistan.

Visa on arrival Pakistan

A Visa on arrival is also available to some foreign nationals. Citizens of 65 countries are eligible to obtain a visa on arrival to Pakistan, for tourism only. In this case, you do not need to obtain the Pakistan evisa with us, but you can use our Visa Checker to confirm this information at the top of this page.

If you need a Pakistan Business visa, you will have to contact your nearest Pakistani embassy to find out more, as we do not currently offer this.

Typical costs and budget for Pakistan

Here you will get an idea of how much money you require for your Pakistan vacation in the most popular cities.

Daily spending per person—P₨ 4,622 ($21) - P₨11,661 ($53), from a cheap budget to a mid-range trip.

• Meals— P₨ 2,975 ($14) on meals for one day.

• Transport— P₨ 1,701 ($7.80) on local transportation.

• Hotel— The average hotel price in Pakistan for a couple is P₨ 10,619 ($49).

A week-long vacation to Pakistan on a mid range budget usually costs around P₨ 81,630 for one person. So, a trip to Pakistan for two people costs around P₨ 163,261 for one week.

Transport and ways to travel around Pakistan

Using public transport is very important to move around in Pakistan. Here we mention some of them.

Buses are the most used form of travel in Pakistan and are also economical. The largest companies are Daewoo, Skyways, and NATCO. Visiting their websites, you can see the travel itineraries, make seat reservations, and find out the prices.

Trains connect the main cities of Pakistan, such as Karachi, Quetta, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, and Multan, among others. There are different rates according to the comfort you want, including business and economy class.

Minivan vehicles are often for city-to-region carpooling and are much cheaper than a taxi. But if you want to save more time on your trip, you can take one of these national airlines, Pakistan International Airlines and Air Blue.

It is up to you what public transport you use for your trip. As you see there are many options!

Safety in Pakistan

Pakistan is a beautiful country; however, it still has a high crime rate in the major cities, so you must be very careful when visiting.

Street crime is a severe and frequent problem in Pakistan. So always watch your belongings throughout the trip, as you may be the victim of pickpockets. There is a large black market for valuables, especially forged or stolen passports.

In Pakistan terrorist groups exist, so its possible that there could be terrorist attacks. Its main threat is Tehrik-e Taleban Pakistan. TTP carries out attacks throughout Pakistan, frequently using improvised explosive devices (IEDs), including suicide attacks.

We will mention some travel advice that you should take into account:

• Wherever you are in Pakistan make sure you locate the nearest local police station.

• Get the contacts of the local emergency services.

• Read about the local laws. Respecting the laws is essential because they are connected to religion and cultural practices.

• Make some local contacts, and meet friendly locals of the same gender. It will make you feel more confident.

• Get good travel insurance. Medical insurance is essential as overseas medical costs can skyrocket.

• Have the contacts of the Pakistani government or the local authorities.

• Respect local traditions and be cautious if you plan to visit any of the federally administered tribal areas.

• Know the number of the national emergency.

• Avoid physical contact with anyone, this is a matter of respect.

• When you travel abroad in Pakistan, always have a contingency plan for emergencies. *Always watch the local news to know the political state of Pakistan before and when you are traveling around.

Our advice is that you should always stick to tourist places in Pakistan to be safe.

Weather in Pakistan

The weather reports are essential to check before you travel to Pakistan.

For your holidays in Pakistan, it is advisable to visit the north in spring and summer, in sunny climatic conditions, to better enjoy the forests and mountain peaks of the country. The north generally has a cold climate. The south, on the contrary, is humid and hot. Temperatures reach 49°c during the day. The most recommended is to visit the south during winter, and many cultural events are organized during this season.

Popular cities and towns in Pakistan

On your trip, we will tell you the five unmissable cities and towns where you can find tourist attractions.

• Islamabad— Pakistan's capital, a modern city with a western feel. Its nature is incredible, in addition to the Mosque of Faisal, with a splendid view of the city.

• Karachi— The most populous city in Pakistan and the main economic center. Being a cosmopolitan city, you can see the future that Pakistan will have just by visiting this city. In addition to being known as the city of lights, its restaurants are open until 3 am so that you can try local food anytime.

• Lahore— This is a charming city, full of history and culture, and the second-largest city in Pakistan. Lahore's architectural style is a mixture of modern and old. The heart of Lahore is the walled city or the city center.

• Multan— A city of fantastic architecture, Sufi music, parks, and historic buildings. It has significant influences from the Sufism of the 11th and 12th centuries.

• Peshawar— Going back to the year 539 B.C. is possible here! This city is one of the oldest places in South Asia. It is also famous for its gastronomy and tourism. In summer, you can go hiking in the mountains or visit Takht-i-Bahi, the ruins of a famous Buddhist monastery.

Must do and see in Pakistan

There is much to see and discover in Pakistan and local traditions. However, here we will mention five wonders you must explore in terms of tourist attractions. This will make every part of your soul vibrate with joy!

1. Visit Hiran Minar in Sheikhupura. It is a complex of 17th-century residents. Emperor Jahangir built it to honor his pet antelope named Mansraj.

2. Walk around Minar-e-Pakistan. The monument symbolises nationalism and patriotism. Located in the center of Lahore, it preserves its design and Islamic and modern architecture.

3. The Noor Mahal is located in the city of Bahawalpur. Its exquisite taste robs the attention of its visitors. Its elegance goes from outside to inside. It has 32 rooms, including 14 in the basement, six terraces, and 5 domes.

4. Badshahi Mosque. It is one of the most emblematic monuments of Lahore. It is also the second-largest mosque in Pakistan and the fifth-largest worldwide, with an area of 276,010 square feet (2.56 ha).

5. Harappa is one of the best places to visit. Its ruins date from the Bronze Age. Its historic grandeur will leave you open-mouthed. They had a writing system and a social and economic system. In addition, the Harappans were traders in ancient Mesopotamia, trading cotton textiles and agricultural products.

These places are unique to visit when you travel abroad in Pakistan.

Typical Pakistani food to try

One of the pleasures of life is to eat, so you can not miss trying the local and traditional cuisine of Pakistan, such as:

• Lassi— A traditional drink trendy in the summer. It is Punjabi, made of yogurt, cream and water, and ice. This drink became famous among Punjabi farmers as they drank Lassi after a long day of work.

Lassi can also be mixed with fruit, rose water, or mint. It's up to you how you want to drink it.

• Nihari— This is a meat dish with fried spices in vegetable oil and animal fat. It has a very provocative, intense red color.

• Gol Gappay (Pani Puri)— Fried potatoes filled with chickpeas. These are fried and mixed with sweet tamarind sauce and chili water—one of Pakistan's most famous street food dishes.

• Chaspurro— It's a meat dish from Gilgit Baltistan in northern Pakistan. A beef pie with chicken, onions, and vegetables. A very popular appetizer in the winter months.

• Saag— It is composed of mustard vegetables with mint, cilantro, chili, and desi ghee seasonings. You can find great variety, as you can also eat it with lamb meat.

These local traditional foods all sounds delicious, right? It is always a new adventure, trying new dishes from a new country.

Vaccine information for Pakistan

It is crucial to know about the vaccination information regarding Covid-19 and other requirements, like polio the vaccination, that the government of Pakistan requires. On the CDC website or any World Health Organization website, you can find everything related to this and other vaccine requirements.

Pink salt is produced in Pakistan

Pakistan's 'Khewra Salt Mine' is the world's second-largest and oldest salt mine.

This mine is famous for producing Khewra pink salt, marketed as Himalayan salt. It is also an important tourist attraction; you can tour the tunnels of this mine and return to the past because its history dates back to its discovery in 320BC.

Fun facts about Pakistan

Gwadar port is the largest deep sea port in the world, located on the southwestern Arabian Sea along the coastline of Balochistan, Pakistan.

According to the United Nations, Pakistan has the world's most extensive contiguous irrigation system.

K-2 is the highest mountain peak in Pakistan and the second highest in the world. K2 is located in the Great Himalayas; this extends to China and India.

Pakistan has the only fertile desert in the world – the Tharparkar desert – located in Sindh province.

The highest paved road in the world is a friendship road between China and Pakistan, the Karakoram road. The route runs 800mi (1,287km) from Abbottabad in Pakistan to Kashgar in Xinjiang, Western China. You can see incredible landscapes such as valleys, glaciers, rivers and mountains.

Are you ready to visit Pakistan?