Punjab · Pakistan
Rawalpindi travel guide
Rawalpindi is a city in Punjab, Pakistan, home to about 2,098,000 people.
- Best months
- October and November
- Nearest airport
- ISB23 km · Islamabad International Airport
- Currency
- PKRPakistani rupee
- Time zone
- Asia/Karachi
- Language
- English, Urdu
About
About Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi, colloquially known as Pindi, is the third-largest city in the Pakistani province of Punjab and the fourth-most populous city in Pakistan. Located along the Soan River in north-western Punjab, Rawalpindi lies adjacent to Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, and the two are jointly known as the "twin cities".
Wikipedia contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Rawalpindi
See
Rawalpindi is not blessed with an extensive architectural history. However the city is an interesting place to wander, especially if you are based in Islamabad and are looking for some hustle and bustle.
- Liaqat Bagh
- Nawaz Sharif Park
- Jinnah Park
- Ayub Park
- Eidgah Sharif
- Shah Chun Charagh
- Army Museum
- Moti Bazar/Sarafa Bazaar/Purana Qilla
Do
- Cinepax
- Helicopter Tours
- Taxila tourist train
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Which part of Rawalpindi to stay in
Rawalpindi has one 5-star hotel called the Pearl Continental but often known by its acronym PC. Other that this you can go to Hotel Shalimar and others.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
When to go
The best time to visit Rawalpindi
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Rawalpindi are October and November. June is the warmest month, with average highs of 35 °C; August is the wettest, with about 269 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 Rawalpindi: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Islamabad International Airport (ISB), about 23 km from the city centre in a straight line.
Getting in
Islamabad International Airport (ISB) has daily flights from various international and local destinations. It is accessible via GT Road, Motorway M2 at Pind Ranjah, and is a 30-minute drive from Saddar area. Rawalpindi has its own central railway station, with regular services to many destinations within Pakistan.
Getting around
Rawalpindi is a large sprawling city - however the centre, focused on Raja Bazaar is walkable - but easy to get lost, so a GPS or compass isn't a bad idea. To get from one part of town to another (e.g. Raja Bazaar to Saddar) it's best to hop in a taxi. Buses are an option for going up or down Murree Road, but working out how to get a bus to more far flung parts will require some Urdu. A trip to Bahria Town is best done in your own car or a taxi (and armed with a map).
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
ISB · Islamabad International Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Rawalpindi
Eat
A visit to Rawalpindi makes a pleasant change from Islamabad's restaurant scene. As you might expect Pindi offers some excellent places for top-notch Pakistani food, and offers better value than you find in Islamabad. You'll almost certainly be the only non-Pakistani customer, and you can expect the staff to go out of their way to be hospitable.
Drink
Alcohol in Pakistan is forbidden but you can find drinks at many modern hotels like Pearl Continental (PC), Shalimar Hotel and Flashman Hotel. There are no bars and night clubs in Rawalpindi city but all the big markets are open til late-night. Drinking culture in Pakistan is essentially soft-drink culture, where Pepsi is traditionally the drink of choice. It is impossible to avoid Pepsi advertising throughout Pakistan. Be warned as a traveller about the cleanliness of bottles - always drink from a straw, and always request that bottles be opened in front of you, as a cleanliness measure.
Stay safe
Rawalpindi is not necessarily as safe as its sister, Islamabad. Islamabad has higher foreign tourist traffic, and thus has become accustomed to it, however foreign tourists are somewhat rare in Rawalpindi. Pakistan on the whole is not recommended to lone young female travellers, however Pindi is relatively safe for larger groups of females, or mixed gender paired-travellers. For female travellers, it is highly recommended to purchase a shawl upon arrival in Pakistan (even better to bring one over on your flight, for airport arrival purposes).
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Rawalpindi: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Rawalpindi?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Rawalpindi are October and November. June is the warmest month, with average highs of 35 °C; August is the wettest, with about 269 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Rawalpindi?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Islamabad International Airport (ISB), about 23 km from the city centre in a straight line.
What currency is used in Rawalpindi?
Pakistani rupee (PKR).
Nearby
Destinations near Rawalpindi
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.