HOW TO GET TO ISLAMABAD

 

By plane

• Islamabad / Rawalpindi Airport (IATA: ISB) situated in the middle of Rawalpindi receives flights from a variety of international destinations, including in Europe via Turkish Airlines' hub in Istanbul (from London, Manchester, Birmingham, Amsterdam, Geneva, Zurich, Frankfurt, Paris, and many more), the middle east Dubai (via Emirates, Pakistan International Airlines PIA [2]),Shaheen Air [3]), Sharjah (AirBlue [4]), Muscat, Doha, and Baghdad (Iraqi Airways)) and other Asian cities such as Urumqi (China Southern Airlines) and Bangkok (Thai Airways). Worth noting that other international destinations are served direct from Karachi and Lahore, including the only link to central Asia (Uzbekistan Airways fly from Lahore to Tashkent). A taxi from the airport to Islamabad is around Rs400 (in a yellow non a/c cab). You can easily walk out of the airport and hail a taxi to get a cheaper price.The white Toyota Corolla aircon radio cabs will set you back Rs800/

Islamabad airport can get busy and groan under the weight of departing passengers, meaning giving yourself 2 hours prior to departure is a good idea. As with most places in Pakistan queuing is a optional concept and hence checking-in can involve getting those elbows out and pushing to the front.

By bus

• Niazi Express, Skyways and Daewoo Sammi [5] (+92 51 111 007 008) are some of the nicer long-haul operators. Skyways offer some direct services to/from Islamabad and Lahore, Peshawar and Karachi. Daewoo has its own terminal on the road from Islamabad just outside Rawalpindi. The majority of buses arrive and depart from Rawalpindi, a few kilometers and a 45 minute taxi ride from Islamabad. It's best to book Daewoo by phone in advance if possible. At the moment they serve Karachi, Peshawar, Lahore, Murree, Sialkot, Abottabad, Bahawalpur, Faisalabad and Multan.

By train

Since First Class travel with Pakistan Railway is good, it's worth knowing that Rawalpindi, the neighbouring city, has railway connections with various major cities including Karachi, Lahore & Peshawar.

 

Get around

Metro Bus goes through the center of the city from one end to the other, covering whole of Blue Area and most of the 9th Avenue. Metro Buses have good air conditioning systems and free wi-fi. Cost is fixed at Rs.20 for all distances. One can travel via combination of Metro and Taxis for getting into the sectors.

Taxis in Islamabad are abundant, popular and generally safe. Cost is around Rs70 - Rs100 per sector traveled, depending on your bargaining skills. Prices will be higher at night, especially departing from places like Jinnah Super (F-7). It is always advisable to agree the fare before traveling.

Car Hire is also a good way of getting around. Although road signs and directions are only available on main roads, the city's grid and numbering system make it relatively easy to find your way around. There are various car hire companies in Blue Area F-6 and also in G-8 Markaz where cars can be hired with drivers. Most major hotels have their own car hire services and are relatively cheap. A tip to the driver at the end of the booking period is appreciated but not mandatory.