Summer — May to September — is the obvious season for Abbottabad. Daytime temperatures sit around 25–30°C, the air is dry, and the hill stations above the city are at their best. This is when most domestic tourists arrive, escaping the heat of Punjab and Sindh. Hotels in Nathiagali and Thandiani can fill in July and August; book ahead.
Spring (March–April) and autumn (October–early November) are cooler and quieter, with daytime temperatures around 15–20°C. The colour in the forests around the Galyat is particularly good in October.
Winter — December through February — brings snow at higher elevations and occasional snow in Abbottabad itself. Temperatures drop to around 0°C at night and 8–12°C in the day. The Galyat hill stations get snowed in for short periods; Thandiani road is closed in heavy snow. The compensation is far fewer tourists and a more contemplative atmosphere in the city. Bring warm clothes if travelling December to February.
The Karakoram Highway north of Abbottabad is open year-round but stretches above Naran can be closed by snow from November to May.