Walking in Islamabad: Trails and Villages
Travel advisory, 31 October 2026. The US State Department lists Pakistan at Level 3, Reconsider Travel (page dated 16 June 2026), and advises against or to reconsider travel to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. The UK FCDO page, updated 27 October 2026, does not name Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree or Taxila, but it advises against all or all but essential travel to other parts of the country, including parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Islamabad has seen serious attacks, among them a district-court bombing in November 2025 and a mosque bombing at Tarlai on the city edge on 6 February 2026. Read travel.state.gov and the UK travel advice before you book. Expect checkpoints, protest road closures and mobile-network shutdowns, stay away from crowds and demonstrations, and carry your original passport.
Walking in Islamabad
No international free walking tour runs in Islamabad. Walks here are self-guided or arranged with a local guide, and the best ones are on the hill trails, in a restored village and around the markets.
Margalla Trail 5 and Trail 3
Trail 5 starts on Margalla Road near F-5 and is the easier trail. Trail 3 starts on Margalla Road opposite Sector F-6, climbs steeply and takes about 1.5 hours up. Both are in Margalla Hills National Park. See the CDA adventure page .
Trails 2 to 5 and the trail behind Saidpur were closed for rain by the district administration in April 2026, and closures recur, so check the notice on the day. Leopards live in the park. Sightings led to the closure of Trail 3 in 2022 and a warning on Trail 5 in 2023. Walk in daylight, in a group, never at dawn or dusk, and finish before sunset. Expect macaques and wild boar, and keep food in a bag. There are no waterfalls on these trails.
Saidpur Village
The restored village at the foot of the hills has alleys you can walk in about an hour. The old temple is empty, and part of its apron serves as a restaurant terrace. Des Pardes and Dera Pakhtoon are the restaurants named in guides, so check they are open before you plan a meal.
Fatima Jinnah Park
Fatima Jinnah Park in F-9 has walking loops and playgrounds, and it suits an easy morning walk.
Kohsar Market and F-6
Kohsar Market is in F-6/3. A stroll through the market and the surrounding F-6 streets takes in cafes and street food.
Walking tips
Wear sturdy shoes and carry water. Avoid crowds and demonstrations, and expect checkpoints around the city. Photographing government buildings, checkpoints and embassies is illegal, so keep the camera away from the Red Zone and the Diplomatic Enclave. Carry your original passport.
Read more: Sightseeing in Islamabad and Solo activities .
For a guided city walk, look at GetYourGuide .