Islamabad is one of the best bases in Pakistan for day trips. Taxila — a UNESCO World Heritage site with the ruins of the Gandhara civilisation — is 35 km west and easily reached in a morning. Rawalpindi, the chaotic twin city 15 km south, contrasts sharply with the modernist capital. The colonial-era hill station of Murree, 60 km north-east at 2,300 metres, is a popular summer escape from the heat of the plains.
Destinations
Day Trips from Islamabad
01
Taxila
Punjab archaeological city where Greek-planned streets, Buddhist monasteries, and ancient learning sites overlap.
02
Rawalpindi
Old Punjabi twin city of Islamabad, known as Pindi for its crowded bazaars and lively trading streets.
03
Murree
Pir Panjal hill station above Islamabad, with colonial traces and pine ridges along The Mall.