Khyber Pakhtunkhwa · Pakistan
Where to stay in Peshawar
Peshawar is a city in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, home to about 1,970,000 people.
- Best months
- November to March
- Nearest airport
- PEW5 km · Bacha Khan International Airport
- Currency
- PKRPakistani rupee
- Time zone
- Asia/Karachi
- Language
- English, Urdu
About
About Peshawar
Peshawar is the capital and the largest city in the Pakistani province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It is the eighth-most populous Pakistani city, with a population of over 1.9 million.
Peshawar is the sixth-largest city in Pakistan, and the largest Pashtun-majority city in the country. Situated in the broad Valley of Peshawar east of the historic Khyber Pass, close to the border with Afghanistan, Peshawar's recorded history dates back to at least 539 BCE, making it the oldest city in Pakistan and one of the oldest cities in South Asia. In Ancient era, the city was known as Purushpura and served as the capital of the Kushan Empire under the rule of Kanishka; and was home to the Kanishka stupa, which was among the tallest buildings in the ancient world.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Peshawar
See
The Old City Centre with the Qissa Khwani Bazaar, Bazar-e-Kalan, Clock Tower Square, Chowk Yadgar, Tehsil Gorgathri, Mohabbat Khan Mosque, Sunehri Masjid (Sadar), Peshawar Museum, Khyber Bazar. Parks includes Khalid bin Waleed park, Shahi bagh and Wazir bagh. The traditional halal food of Peshawar can be bought from Namak Mandi, Khyber Bazar. The famous "Kulfa" can be accessed from Qissa Khwani Bazar from April–September every year, when there is hot weather in the city.
- Bala Hissar Fort
- Peshawar Museum
- Peshawar Gorkhatri City Museum
- Cunningham Clock Tower
- Sethi Mohallah
- Mahabat Khan Mosque
- Qasim Ali Khan Mosque
- All Saints Church
- St. John's Church
- Goraknath Temple
Do
- Shah Qabool Gems Street
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in Peshawar
3 hotels within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
| Hotel | Opened | From centre |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Continental Hotels | 0.3 km | |
| Pearl Continental Hotel | 0.4 km | |
| Shelton's Rezidor | 3.9 km |
When to go
The best time to visit Peshawar
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Peshawar are November to March. June is the warmest month, with average highs of 41 °C; August is the wettest, with about 88 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Peshawar: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Bacha Khan International Airport (PEW), about 5.4 km from the city centre in a straight line; Islamabad International Airport (ISB, 127 km) is also within reach.
Getting around
Taxi & auto-rickshaws give Peshawar two of its most well-known traits: polluted air and clogged streets, and are the most popular way to get around the city. Walking is another option.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
PEW · Bacha Khan International Airport
ISB · Islamabad International Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Peshawar
Drink
Peshawar is known for its Kawa (Green Tea) which has a unique flavour, and is usually served sweet. Sharbat-e-Sandal is a sweet, non-carbonated drink unusually found in markets in summer. It has a good taste and a yellowish-green transparent colour - look out for the black seeds. Served ice cold. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is a dry state, making alcohol hard to come by.
Stay safe
Before going to Peshawar, check for travel advisories from your government's website, as these regions have become volatile and unstable, with fighting between the Taliban forces and Pakistani military. Peshawar is the home of several ethnic and religious groups and has had a number of terrorist attacks. Although the number of terrorist attacks declined from 2010 to 2014, in the 2014 Peshawar school massacre, Taliban militants killed 132 school children. Police officers can be found in the streets and roads to ensure safety. As a stranger, and therefore a guest, you can usually rely on the support of people around you should something or someone feel threatening.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Peshawar: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Peshawar?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Peshawar are November to March. June is the warmest month, with average highs of 41 °C; August is the wettest, with about 88 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Peshawar?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Bacha Khan International Airport (PEW), about 5.4 km from the city centre in a straight line; Islamabad International Airport (ISB, 127 km) is also within reach.
What currency is used in Peshawar?
Pakistani rupee (PKR).
Nearby
Destinations near Peshawar
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.