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Peak season:
Indulge in some local cuisine and explore Pakistan’s rich culture when you take cheap flights to Islamabad. Located nine miles from the sprawling metropolis of Rawalpindi, the capital city is a great place to relax and enjoy serene accommodation. The five distinct seasons (winter, spring, summer, autumn and monsoon) determine when most travellers book their flights to Islamabad. The humid subtropical climate makes it best for sightseeing in March and April or September and October, when the temperatures are warm but not overbearing. Hiking is a popular reason to visit in the winter months when there is less rainfall, and the Margalla Hills give amazing views of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. A great time to find flights to Islamabad, if you want to immerse yourself in authentic Pakistani culture, is during the holidays and festivals. These are usually linked to the various religions practiced within Pakistan. One such example is the festival of Eid ul-Fitr which comes at the end of Ramadan.
Off season:
The summer months (May and June) can be extremely hot with temperatures regularly reaching over 38C. The subsequent monsoon (July and August) with torrential rain, thunderstorms and strong winds can disrupt sightseeing plans. If you score cheap flights to Islamabad during the hot season, there are cool mountain retreats such as Murree, a former British Raj mountain station, to escape the summer heat and the mosques can look imposing with a monsoon sky as a backdrop.
The best time to search for cheap flights to Islamabad is at any time between October and May to avoid the summer and monsoon seasons. Islamabad’s rose and jasmine gardens are at their best and most fragrant between March and May. For the cheapest flights to Islamabad aim for the months of January to March. There are more flights, and more competition for low priced flight tickets, as this is when rainfall is low and temperatures are around 25C to 30C.
Flights from London to Islamabad: 7 hours 40 minutes.
Flights from Manchester to Islamabad: 7 hours 35 minutes.
Flights from Birmingham to Islamabad: 7 hours 40 minutes.
Flights from Glasgow to Islamabad: 9 hours 20 minutes.
Pakistan International, the national carrier, operates several direct flights to Islamabad a week from London Heathrow. You could also fly Turkish Airlines and stopover in Istanbul if you don’t mind a longer flight. If you’re flying from another UK city, such as Birmingham or Manchester then Emirates is an option.
Flights to Islamabad land at Benazir Bhutto International Airport (ISB) in Punjab. The best way to reach the city centre is by taxi and several companies have manned desks at the airport. Some local hotels provide shuttle services for guests. The average journey time to the city takes approximately 30 minutes. Renting a car is also possible from the airport, driving around Islamabad is much safer than other Pakistani cities because of the grid system.