Islamabad City Tour: Faisal Mosque, Pakistan Monument & Lunch

One morning takes in five centuries of Islamabad, from a 500-year-old village to a mosque that holds 300,000.

An eight-hour guided tour of Islamabad's main landmarks with an English-speaking guide, hotel pickup and lunch included. You visit the Faisal Mosque on the Margalla Hills foothills, the Pakistan Monument on Shakarparyaan hill, the 360-degree views from Damn-e-Koh, the 500-year-old Saidpur Village, and take a boat ride on Rawal Lake. The itinerary can be customized to suit your interests.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Saidpur Village2h · entry included
2. Lake View Park45m · entry included

Explore Islamabad's landmarks and culture

• Visit Faisal Mosque
• See Pakistan Monument
• Tour Lok Virsa Museum
• Boat ride at Rawal Lake
• Explore Saidpur Village
• View from Damane-e-koh
• Visit Tanzana art gallery
• Enjoy local lunch at Abpara market

The experience

What makes Islamabad worth a full day? The answer sits across five different eras and elevations. The Faisal Mosque, designed by a Turkish architect after an international competition, can hold about 300,000 worshipers and anchors the city's northern edge on the Margalla Hills foothills. The Pakistan Monument, built to symbolize national unity and inspired by Mughal architecture, rises on Shakarparyaan hill so visibly that it marks the skyline across the entire Islamabad-Rawalpindi metropolitan area. Between them, the Lok Virsa Museum (also called the Heritage Museum) sits beside the monument and displays the multicultural history of Pakistan's ethnic groups across 20,000 square feet.

The day moves outward from the city's monuments to its edges. Damn-e-Koh, a hill on the Margalla range, offers 360-degree panoramic views and sits as one of Islamabad's highest viewpoints. Rawal Lake, an artificial reservoir that supplies water to both Islamabad and Rawalpindi, opens for a boat ride that breaks up the morning's walking. Saidpur Village, more than 500 years old and tucked into the Margalla Hills slopes, carries the layered history of Muslim, Hindu and Sikh influence and reads entirely differently in daylight than in the calm of evening. The Tanzana art gallery rounds out the stops for anyone drawn to local artwork. Lunch happens at Abpara market, where you eat authentic local food.

The tour runs eight hours from your hotel pickup at a time you choose. Your guide speaks English throughout, and the itinerary can shift to match what interests you most. The vehicle is air-conditioned, entrance tickets to the Pakistan Monument, Lok Virsa, Rawal Lake and Saidpur Village are included, as are all taxes and service charges. Infants sit on an adult's lap. The pace suits all fitness levels.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned vehicle and English-speaking guide.
• lunch at Abpara market.
• entrance tickets to the Pakistan Monument, Lok Virsa Museum, Rawal Lake and Saidpur Village.
• all taxes and service charges.
• hotel pickup and drop-off from Islamabad.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00 and 11:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (3 and older) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 13 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Trips Planners

Is this one for you?The tour runs in English, so you follow the guide's commentary throughout without translation. If you speak English comfortably, the eight-hour pace and the customizable stops let you shape the day around what draws you most.

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 3): free.

How big is the Faisal Mosque, and what makes it a major draw in Islamabad?

The Faisal Mosque can accommodate about 300,000 worshipers and ranks among Pakistan's biggest mosques. It sits on the foothills of the Margalla Hills and was designed by a Turkish architect selected through an international competition, making it a major tourist attraction in the city.

What is the Pakistan Monument, and where does it sit in the city?

The Pakistan Monument was built to symbolize the unity of the nation and draws inspiration from Mughal architecture. It covers 2.8 hectares and sits on Shakarparyaan hill, where its elevation makes it visible from across the Islamabad-Rawalpindi metropolitan area.

What can you do at Rawal Lake during the tour?

Rawal Lake is an artificial reservoir that serves as a picnic point and water source for Islamabad and Rawalpindi. You take a boat ride on the lake. Boating, sailing, water-skiing and diving are also available through private clubs at your own cost.

How old is Saidpur Village, and what history does it hold?

Saidpur Village is more than 500 years old and sits on the slopes of the Margalla Hills. It carries a rich history shaped by Muslim, Hindu and Sikh influence across three eras, making it one of Pakistan's oldest villages and a completely different experience to visit in daylight versus calm evenings.

What does the tour include, and what costs extra?

The tour includes an air-conditioned vehicle, an English-speaking guide, lunch at Abpara market, entrance tickets to the Pakistan Monument, Lok Virsa Museum, Rawal Lake and Saidpur Village, all taxes and service charges, and hotel pickup and drop-off. Boat rides and the aviary bird park ticket at Rawal Lake cost extra. Gratuities are optional.