Tourist Attractions in Pakistan

The most interesting and beautiful tourist sites in Pakistan

Photos, reviews, descriptions, and links to maps

About Pakistan

Pakistan is home to some of the most picturesque places in South Asia and has a history that is over 5,000 years old. The ancient kingdom of Harappa, which existed in the XXIII-XVII centuries BC, the early Buddhists of Gandhara, the successors of Alexander the Great, the Seleucids and the Great Moguls left their mark here. Remnants of the grandest Buddhist monasteries are still hidden in the foothills of the Himalayas, medieval Muslim mystics – Sufis – live in the old cities, and the magnificent temples of Lahore hold the secrets of Akbar the Great.

Pakistan is still waiting for a stormy dawn of tourism in the future, but so far the infrastructure is underdeveloped. Not bad and comfortable hotels are concentrated in the capital Islamabad, as well as Lahore and Karachi. Due to tension and frequent military conflicts in the region, many areas are dangerous for foreigners to visit. But the authorities try to offer guests a varied and interesting holiday. Excursions and ethnographic tours rank first in Pakistan, followed by sports and extreme tourism.

Top-12 Tourist Attractions in Pakistan

Lahore Fort

 4.6/5

24305 reviews

A 12th century building that served as the residence of Muhammad Guri. It was located at the crossroads between Tibet, India and Persia, so it was repeatedly conquered, destroyed and rebuilt. The surviving structure is a red sandstone fortress, which was built on the initiative of Akbar the Great.

Open time

Monday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Mazar-e-Quaid-e-Azam

 4.6/5

12086 reviews

The tomb of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, in the city of Karachi. It is a modern construction of the 1960s, made of white marble. The mausoleum is considered an iconic landmark, one of the symbols of the country. Thousands of Pakistanis come daily to honour the founding father of their nation.

Open time

Monday: 2:00 – 5:30 PM
Tuesday: 2:00 – 5:30 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Friday: 2:00 – 5:30 PM
Saturday: 2:00 – 5:30 PM
Sunday: 2:00 – 5:30 PM

Hazuri Bagh

 4.6/5

1044 reviews

Located in Lahore. The temple was built by the last of the Mughals, Emperor Aurangzeb, who was also involved in the creation of the Taj Mahal. The mosque was erected in the 17th century when the Mughal style of architecture was in its heyday. It is an austere and monumental building made of red sandstone with minarets and white domes pointing to the sky.

Open time

Monday: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Thursday: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Saturday: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Sunday: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Faisal Mosque

 4.8/5

60468 reviews

This temple was erected at the expense of King Faisal bin Abdulaziz al-Saud of Saudi Arabia. More than 120 million dollars were spent on the construction. The building does not follow the traditional canons of Muslim mosques, it is made in a modern style designed by the Turkish architect Balokay.

Open time

Wazeer Khan Mosque

 4.8/5

9619 reviews

A picturesque mosque in Lahore built during the reign of Shah Jahan. The building is an architectural masterpiece with richly decorated and brightly painted walls. The interior decoration has not been changed since the 17th century. Many tourists come to admire the temple every day, for the locals it is an important and revered shrine.

Open time

Monday: 5:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Tuesday: 5:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Wednesday: 5:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Thursday: 5:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Friday: 5:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Saturday: 5:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Sunday: 5:00 AM – 8:00 PM

Rohtasgarh Fort

 4.2/5

811 reviews

A Punjabi fortress in Islamabad built by the warlord Sher Shah. It served the purpose of defence against the formidable Hamayun, the second Mughal emperor. The Mughal army was defeated here. The height of the fortress walls is 18 metres and the width is almost 12.5 metres. Hamayun failed to take the fortress, the traitor commandant himself opened the gates to his soldiers.

Open time

Monday: 5:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Tuesday: 5:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Wednesday: 5:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Thursday: 5:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Friday: 5:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Saturday: 5:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Sunday: 5:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Baltit Fort Hunza

 4.6/5

6277 reviews

A three-storey structure with a rectangular base in the city of Karimbad. It was conceived for the purpose of ensuring control and order during the seasonal trade between Central and South Asia. The top floor of the fort houses rooms for the reception of foreign delegations, while the remaining floors are given over to a museum.

Open time

Monday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Derawar

A majestic medieval fortress in the desert of Kholistan. One of the most striking sights of Pakistan. The fortress walls are almost 30 metres long and seem to disappear into the sky. The fort is well preserved, but it is difficult to reach and explore as it is remote from cities and off the beaten track.

Mohatta Palace Museum

 4.4/5

4422 reviews

One of the popular attractions in the city of Karachi. The building dates back to the early 20th century and served as a residence for businessman Shivratan Mohatta and his family. Nowadays, tours are organised around the luxurious apartments, accompanied by fascinating stories from the lives of the former owners.

Open time

Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Thursday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Friday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Taxila Museum

 4.5/5

5770 reviews

The capital of the historical region of Gandhara, located in the Indus Valley. As early as in the 5th century BC Taxila was a city-city, in the 4th century BC the troops of Alexander the Great entered here. The great general made an alliance with the king of Gandhara against the ruler of East Punjab. In the first century, Taxila was destroyed by a powerful earthquake.

Open time

Monday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Thursday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Sunday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Mohenjo Daro

 4.4/5

4327 reviews

The remains of the city of the ancient and mysterious Harrap civilisation. According to some sources, Mohenjo-Daro perished about 3,500 years ago as a result of an unexplained catastrophe. Some researchers even suggest that the buildings and inhabitants were destroyed by a “nuclear explosion”, as the destruction is similar to that of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Open time

Shalimar Gardens

A public park that was laid out by Emperor Jahangir in the early 17th century. The ruler built these gardens for his wife Nur Jahan. They are a remarkable monument of Mughal garden art – waterfalls flowing here, ornamental ponds, mosques and marble palaces richly decorated with mosaics.