Stand at the edge of Liaqat Bagh on a quiet morning and the city's layers are plain to see: a formal garden, a cricket ground beyond, and the Grand Trunk Road carrying traffic north. Rawalpindi is not a city of grand monuments; it is a city you wander, eat in and shop in, with Islamabad a short hop away.
It suits travellers who are based in the twin cities and want the bustle rather than the calm, and those using Pindi as a staging point before Taxila, Azad Kashmir or Gilgit-Baltistan. This guide covers the gardens, bazaars, museums and side trips the sources actually describe, with practical notes on how to combine them.
Top things to do in Rawalpindi
1. Moti Bazar, Sarafa Bazaar and Purana Qilla
These adjoining bazaars are among the oldest and most traditional in Rawalpindi. Moti Bazar is known for clothes and artificial jewellery, Sarafa Bazar is the city's best-known gold market, and Purana Qilla specialises in fancy wedding clothes. Along the way you will pass old temples and Lal Hawali, buildings with old architecture.
Come hungry: the traditional snacks — gol gappay, dahi bhally, samosa chaat, chana chaat and fruit chaat — are a large part of the appeal. Take a van or a cab, and allow 20 to 40 minutes from the airport depending on traffic.
2. Raja Bazar, Bara Bazar and Murree Road
These three connected shopping stretches are where you will find good things at good prices, though the traffic can be difficult. Plan to spend a few hours rather than a quick stop.
Be careful in Raja Bazar in particular; it is not recommended for lone female travellers. Pair this with the Moti Bazar area if you want a full day of browsing.
3. Ayub Park
Beyond the old Presidency on Grand Trunk (G.T.) Road, Ayub Park covers about 2,300 acres and has a play area, a lake with boating, an aquarium, a garden-restaurant and an open-air theatre.
It gives you hours of walking in green meadows without having to worry about anything else. Bring the family and bring your own snacks if you want to keep costs down.
4. Liaqat Bagh
These gardens carry a heavy political history: the first prime minister of Pakistan, Khan Liaqat Ali Khan, was assassinated here in 1950, and Benazir Bhutto was assassinated here on 27 December 2007.
It is a straightforward place to wander, and its position makes it easy to fold into a day that also takes in the city's central bazaars.
5. Jinnah Park
Near Kachehri Chowk, Jinnah Park is a modern leisure stop with McDonald's, Pappasalis, Cinepax and COSMO (Cash and Carry) built inside it.
It works best as an evening stop, especially if you are combining it with a film at Cinepax next door.
6. Nawaz Sharif Park
On Murree Road near Shamsabad, this park opened in 1991 and has a play area for children, lawns, fountains and flower beds. A cricket stadium was built opposite in 1992, and the 1996 World Cup cricket matches were held on that ground.
It is an easy add-on if you are already travelling along Murree Road.
7. Army Museum
At the end of Murree Road, the Army Museum was established in 1961 to collect and display material relating to the Pakistan Army and the British Indian Army.
It is a natural companion to the cantonment side of the city, and a sensible stop on the way in or out along Murree Road.
8. Cinepax
Next to Jinnah Park, Cinepax is a modern western-style cinema complex showing a range of South Asian and Hollywood films.
Because it sits inside Jinnah Park, you can eat, watch a film and walk the grounds in a single evening without moving the car.
9. Bahria Town
To the south of Pindi, this new-build suburb offers mini-golf, karting, a luxury spa, and a copy of Trafalgar Square in Safari III.
It is a different side of the city from the old bazaars, and worth a half-day if you want activities rather than shopping.
10. Rawat Fort
Rawat Fort lies 15 km away off the Grand Trunk Road and makes a straightforward half-day outing from the city.
Combine it with a drive along the G.T. Road, which also takes you past Ayub Park.
11. Taxila tourist train
On the first Sunday of each month a tourist train, possibly steam-hauled, runs from Rawalpindi to Taxila, stopping at Golra Sharif station where there is a small museum. From Taxila a coach can take you to Khanpur dam, or you can visit the Taxila museum and ruins.
The train leaves Pindi around 9am and returns in the late afternoon; the fare is Rs 1,200. Book your day around the first Sunday if this is a priority.
12. Helicopter tours
Askari Aviation provides helicopters and aircraft for adventures and safaris, with several itineraries listed on their website. Each trip starts from Islamabad.
The office is at 5-A The Mall, AWT Plaza, and can be reached on +92 51 9272-4004. Plan this as a separate morning rather than slotting it into a city day.
13. Eidgah Sharif
Eidgah Sharif is one of the city's religious sites and can be visited as part of a wider wander through Rawalpindi's older quarters.
Dress modestly and keep the visit short and quiet if you are passing through as part of a longer day.
14. Shah Chun Charagh
Shah Chun Charagh is another of the city's religious sites, best folded into the same outing as Eidgah Sharif rather than treated as a standalone trip.
As with any shrine visit, go with a local if you can, and keep photography discreet.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at Liaqat Bagh while it is still cool, then walk or take a cab into Moti Bazar, Sarafa Bazaar and Purana Qilla. Stop for gol gappay, dahi bhally or chana chaat in the bazaars before the crowds build.
Afternoon: Head along Murree Road to Nawaz Sharif Park, then continue to the Army Museum at the end of the road. If you have energy left, push on to Ayub Park on the G.T. Road for a long walk around the lake and gardens.
Evening: Finish at Jinnah Park near Kachehri Chowk, where you can eat at one of the restaurants inside the park and catch a film at Cinepax next door.
Frequently asked questions
Is Rawalpindi worth visiting if I am staying in Islamabad?
Yes. Rawalpindi is an interesting place to wander, especially if you are based in Islamabad and are looking for some hustle and bustle.
Which bazaars should I visit for gold and wedding clothes?
Sarafa Bazar is the best-known gold market, known for good quality gold and unique designs, while Purana Qilla is known for a variety of fancy wedding clothes. Moti Bazar, next to them, is known for clothes and artificial jewellery.
Are there any safety concerns in the bazaars?
Be careful in Raja Bazar in particular, as it is not recommended for lone female travellers.
How do I get to Taxila from Rawalpindi?
On the first Sunday of each month a tourist train runs from Rawalpindi to Taxila, stopping at Golra Sharif station where there is a small museum. It leaves Pindi around 9am and returns in the late afternoon, and the fare is Rs 1,200.
Pick your first Sunday, pack for a long day of walking and eating, and start mapping out your route through the bazaars and gardens.