Cheap flights to Islamabad

Discover Islamabad

Why You Should Visit Islamabad

Islamabad is the 10th largest city in Pakistan, and is cherished for its immaculate beauty and its wealth of landmarks, architectural gems and historic sites. As well as being the capital of Pakistan, culture both ancient and modern is still well and truly alive in Islamabad whether it’s exploring the remains of centuries-old forts or sampling the city’s famously diverse cuisine at a food festival. Islamabad’s heritage is one of its main attractions and the city is home to some of Pakistan’s finest cultural institutions including the Lok Virsa Museum, celebrated as Pakistan’s preeminent museum. Islamabad is also a place of great natural beauty and is home to many different parks, gardens and lakes which offer the perfect backdrop to relax and enjoy the pleasant weather.

When to Visit Islamabad

Islamabad has a hot climate that reaches peak temperatures in summer between May and September, with the winter period between December and February bringing pleasantly cool temperatures. The rainy season in Islamabad is in July and August, so this period may be one to avoid for those who don’t like getting wet. Travelers who don’t mind the heat will find the Islamabad weather to be pleasant all year round, although those more accustomed to cooler weather are advised to visit sometime between October and March. Cheap flights to Islamabad are generally quite easy to find as the city does not really have a single peak tourism season where prices are hiked up.

Flights to Islamabad

The main airport serving the city of Islamabad is Islamabad International Airport which is situated around 20 km south of the city center. The airport is fairly new having opened in 2018 and will eventually be capable of handling up to 25 million passengers every year. There are several airlines operating direct flights from the UAE to Islamabad – Airblue, Emirates and Pakistan International Airlines provide direct flights from Dubai International Airport, while Etihad Airways, Airblue and Pakistan International Airlines also offer flights out of Abu Dhabi. It is also possible to catch nonstop flights from Ras al Khaimah with Air Arabia and from Sharjah with Airblue. There are also routes from other destinations in the Middle East including Doha and Bahrain.

Looking to get the cheapest air tickets to Islamabad from Dubai? Why not check out our Best Time To Book Tool. We show you the best time to book your tickets on average to get the cheapest airfare, as well as the cheapest month to visit.

Islamabad Travel Information

Almost all visitors to Pakistan will require a visa which will need to be arranged in advance including nationals from the UAE. While visa requirements can be easier if you are traveling with a tour operator, those who are not will need to apply for a visa individually before traveling. Alternatively, some nationals including those from the UAE are eligible for a business visa upon arrivals but this is for those traveling on business only. Pakistan might not be on everyone's must-visit list but there is plenty of beautiful scenery to enjoy - our list of the prettiest places in Pakistan is a good place to start.

* This information is correct as of March 2019