Islamabad City Tour by Car with a Professional Driver
Book an Islamabad city tour by car with a professional driver, who collects you from where you are staying and waits at each stop. The usual stops are the Faisal Mosque, Daman-e-Koh, Saidpur Village, the Pakistan Monument, Lok Virsa and Rawal Lake, and Rawalpindi's Raja Bazaar can be added. The day can also open or close a longer trip north to Murree, Naran or Hunza.
Islamabad and Rawalpindi: opening days and seasons
Last checked
- Museum days
- The Lok Virsa Heritage Museum and the Pakistan Monument Museum open Tuesday to Sunday; the Monument Museum from 10 am to 8 pm.
- Monsoon months
- July to September. Keep the tour date flexible in those months.
Islamabad sightseeing by car: Faisal Mosque to Rawal Lake
The Faisal Mosque stands at the foot of the Margalla Hills. Daman-e-Koh, a hilltop garden about 500 feet above the city on the road to Pir Sohawa, looks over the mosque and Rawal Lake. Saidpur Village, on the lower slopes, has restored cobbled lanes and restaurants, with a Sufi shrine, a Hindu temple and a gurdwara close together. The Shakarparian hills, south of the centre, hold the Pakistan Monument and its museum, and the Lok Virsa Heritage Museum. Rawal Lake makes a quiet last stop, with gardens along the bank and boat rides.
Which day to go: Fridays, Mondays and weekends
Tuesday to Thursday are the easiest days for an Islamabad tour. On Fridays the Faisal Mosque and its car park fill for the midday prayer. Lok Virsa and the Pakistan Monument Museum open Tuesday to Sunday, so on a Monday you see the monument from outside. At weekends, go up to Daman-e-Koh first thing, before its road gets busy.
Adding Rawalpindi: Raja Bazaar and the Army Museum
Raja Bazaar, near Fawara Chowk, is a web of narrow streets best seen on foot, with smaller markets such as the Kapra, Masala and Sarafa bazaars. The driver sets you down near the chowk, parks at the Rawalpindi Development Authority's plaza in the middle of the bazaar and collects you when you call. The Pakistan Army Museum, in the cantonment, shows tanks, helicopters, old weapons and uniforms. Sources list different opening days for it, so check them before planning the day around it.
Which car for an Islamabad sightseeing day
Two to four people fit easily in a Toyota Yaris or a Toyota Corolla GLi / XLi. A Honda Civic suits a visitor fitting the sights around meetings. School and office outings take the Toyota Coaster 4C, with a current 22-seat listing. If a Coaster group wants Daman-e-Koh, say so when you book, because the road up is narrow and winding.
How your Islamabad city tour is quoted
One quote covers the car and the driver, his meals included, and his overnight stay when the trip runs past one day. Fuel and parking appear in it as separate lines. We take cash, bank transfer, card or online payment, and a company hosting visitors can ask for a monthly invoice. If the car develops a fault during the day, we send a replacement.
Cars for an Islamabad city tour
| Car | Seats | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota Yaris | 4 passengers + driver | Two or three people on the main stops |
| Toyota Corolla GLi / XLi | 4 passengers + driver | A couple or a small family |
| Toyota Corolla Altis Grande | 4 passengers + driver | Visiting relatives who want a smoother ride |
| Honda Civic | 4 passengers + driver | Sightseeing between business meetings |
| Toyota Prado | 6 passengers + driver, 4x4 | Families who want a higher seat |
| Changan Karvaan | 7 seats | Families who prefer a van with sliding doors |
| Toyota Grand Cabin | 14-seat listing, high roof; confirm layout | Groups who want to stay together |
| Toyota Coaster | 22 seats; confirm layout | School and office outings |
Sample itineraries
From Islamabad
A sample plan for Tuesday to Thursday or a weekend, fitted on the day around the traffic, the weather and the prayer times.
Morning: Faisal Mosque
Pickup from your door, then the mosque before the midday prayer.
Late morning: Daman-e-Koh
Up the winding Margalla road to the hilltop garden and its view over the city.
Lunch: Saidpur Village
Lunch in the restored village on the lower slopes.
Afternoon: Shakarparian
The Pakistan Monument and its museum, then the Lok Virsa Heritage Museum.
Evening: Rawal Lake, then home
The lakeside gardens as the day cools, then back to where you are staying.
From Rawalpindi
A sample twin-city plan for visitors staying in Pindi, fitted around the traffic, the weather and the museum's opening days.
Morning: Raja Bazaar on foot
Drop near Fawara Chowk and walk the bazaars while the car waits at the RDA parking plaza.
Midday: Pakistan Army Museum
Tanks, helicopters and uniforms in the cantonment; check the opening days first.
Afternoon: Faisal Mosque and Daman-e-Koh
Across to Islamabad for the mosque outside prayer times and the view from the hills.
Evening: Back to Rawalpindi
Back to where you are staying, with a dinner stop on the way if you want one.
Cars for the trip
Questions people ask
How long does an Islamabad city tour by car take?
A full day. The usual stops fit between a morning pickup and an early-evening drop, with lunch in the middle. Adding Rawalpindi's bazaars makes a fuller day, so start early.
Can we bring a guide on the Islamabad tour?
Yes. The tour comes with a professional driver. If you would like a guide at the mosque or the museums as well, book one and tell us, so we keep a seat for them.
Can the tour start in Rawalpindi or at the airport?
Yes. The car collects you from any address in Rawalpindi or Islamabad, or from arrivals at Islamabad International Airport if you send the flight number.
Can non-Muslims visit the Faisal Mosque?
Yes, outside the five daily prayers, each of which closes it to visitors for 20 to 30 minutes; visitor guides suggest a day other than Friday. Women cover arms, legs and hair and men wear long trousers; abayas and headscarves are lent free at the gate. Entry is free, and shoes are left at the counter.
Where is the Monal restaurant now?
On the rooftop of the Mall of IMARAT at IMARAT Downtown; the driver can take you there for lunch or dinner. Nearer the hills, Saidpur Village is the usual lunch stop.
Can you take us from Lahore for an Islamabad sightseeing trip?
Yes. The car and driver start with you in Lahore and take the M-2, usually four to five hours, then stay for the sightseeing. Two days work better than one, so the city tour gets a fresh morning after the drive. Motorway tolls are extra.
Which car suits a family of six?
The Toyota Prado seats six passengers plus the driver, with a higher seat. The seven-seat Changan Karvaan, a van with sliding doors, is easier for grandparents to climb into.
Can we fit Taxila into the same day?
Taxila works better as a day of its own. The museum and the scattered ruins lie about 35 km out along the GT Road, an hour or so each way. Book two days with the same car and driver, one for Taxila and one for the Islamabad sights.
What if it rains heavily on the day?
Move the tour to a drier day: cancelling an Islamabad booking is free up to 24 hours before pickup, and we quote the new date.
Book your car
WhatsApp +92 311 2847167 with your date, the number of people, where to collect you in Islamabad or Rawalpindi (or the city you start from) and your stops. We will quote the whole day.
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