Best time to visit Islamabad
The best time to visit Islamabad is March and November, judged on twenty years of weather records and the events worth going for.
Islamabad, Islamabad, Pakistan
°C
mm
- Average daily high and low
- Precipitation
- Good month
- Best month
- Made good or best by an event
| Month | Average daily high | Average daily low | Precipitation | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 16 °C / 61 °F | 6 °C / 43 °F | 68 mm / 2.7 in | good month |
| February | 18.8 °C / 66 °F | 8.9 °C / 48 °F | 100 mm / 4 in | good month |
| March | 23.5 °C / 74 °F | 13.2 °C / 56 °F | 100 mm / 3.9 in | best month |
| April | 29 °C / 84 °F | 17.7 °C / 64 °F | 72 mm / 2.8 in | good month |
| May | 34.5 °C / 94 °F | 22.2 °C / 72 °F | 32 mm / 1.2 in | neither best nor good |
| June | 36.7 °C / 98 °F | 25.5 °C / 78 °F | 50 mm / 2 in | neither best nor good |
| July | 34.1 °C / 93 °F | 26 °C / 79 °F | 158 mm / 6.2 in | neither best nor good |
| August | 32.8 °C / 91 °F | 25.2 °C / 77 °F | 153 mm / 6 in | neither best nor good |
| September | 32.6 °C / 91 °F | 23.3 °C / 74 °F | 64 mm / 2.5 in | neither best nor good |
| October | 29.4 °C / 85 °F | 17.7 °C / 64 °F | 25 mm / 1 in | good month |
| November | 22.8 °C / 73 °F | 11.6 °C / 53 °F | 25 mm / 1 in | best month |
| December | 18.2 °C / 65 °F | 7.1 °C / 45 °F | 27 mm / 1.1 in | good month |
Good and best months depend on more than temperature, rain and events. How they are chosen
Each activity on this page has its own good and best months, rated on twenty years of daily weather records. Which measures count, and how much, depends on the activity: humidity for exploring outdoors, wind for the beach, hiking and skiing, snow for skiing alone. Between them, the activities are rated on:
- Daytime highs
- Night-time lows
- How warm it feels
- Humidity
- How much of the day is sunny
- Hours of daylight
- Monthly rainfall
- How many days it rains
- Days of heavy rain
- Wind
- Snowfall and days with snow
- Major events, such as festivals
The chart shows the good and best months for exploring outdoors.
The event icon marks a month that an event lifts to good or best, such as a festival or a natural spectacle. Choose “Weather only” in the toolbar to rate the months on weather alone.
Best months by activity
Exploring outdoors
Mild days and nights, mostly dry and bright. The default for 'when should I go'.
- JJanuary: good
- FFebruary: good
- MMarch: best
- AApril: good
- MMay: neither
- JJune: neither
- JJuly: neither
- AAugust: neither
- SSeptember: neither
- OOctober: good
- NNovember: best
- DDecember: good
- Best
- March, November
- Good
- April, October, December–February
Islamabad is best in March and November when it's mild and dry; January, February and December are cooler but pleasant, while the pre-monsoon heat from April through June and the hot, humid monsoon from July to September rule out comfortable sightseeing.
Why these months
January · good
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 83%, precipitation 68 mm / 2.7 in, feels like (high) 13.9 °C / 57 °F, average daily high 16 °C / 61 °F, wet days 6.5 days, days with heavy rain 2.1 days, relative humidity 71%, average daily low 6 °C / 43 °F.
February · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 17.4 °C / 63 °F, average daily high 18.8 °C / 66 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 81%, precipitation 100 mm / 4 in, average daily low 8.9 °C / 48 °F, relative humidity 68%.
Against: days with heavy rain 2.8 days, wet days 8.6 days.
Also on: Eid-ul-Fitr shopping and celebration.
Watch out for: Eid-ul-Fitr business closures, Kashmir Solidarity Day rallies.
March · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 23.2 °C / 74 °F, average daily high 23.5 °C / 74 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 82%, precipitation 100 mm / 3.9 in, average daily low 13.2 °C / 56 °F, relative humidity 64%.
Against: days with heavy rain 3.5 days, wet days 9.2 days.
Also on: Eid-ul-Fitr shopping and celebration, Pakistan Day parade.
Watch out for: Eid-ul-Fitr business closures.
April · good
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 86%, precipitation 72 mm / 2.8 in, days with heavy rain 2.1 days, average daily high 29 °C / 84 °F, average daily low 17.7 °C / 64 °F, relative humidity 56%.
Against: feels like (high) 29.9 °C / 86 °F, wet days 8.3 days.
October · good
In its favour: precipitation 25 mm / 1 in, share of daylight that is sunny 92%, wet days 3.6 days, days with heavy rain 0.8 days, average daily high 29.4 °C / 85 °F, average daily low 17.7 °C / 64 °F, relative humidity 58%.
Against: feels like (high) 29.6 °C / 85 °F.
November · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 21.4 °C / 71 °F, average daily high 22.8 °C / 73 °F, precipitation 25 mm / 1 in, share of daylight that is sunny 91%, wet days 3.2 days, days with heavy rain 0.6 days, average daily low 11.6 °C / 53 °F, relative humidity 65%.
December · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 16.1 °C / 61 °F, average daily high 18.2 °C / 65 °F, precipitation 27 mm / 1.1 in, share of daylight that is sunny 92%, wet days 2.9 days, days with heavy rain 0.9 days, relative humidity 69%, average daily low 7.1 °C / 45 °F.
Hiking and trekking
Cool enough to climb in, dry enough to enjoy, long enough days.
- JJanuary: good
- FFebruary: good
- MMarch: best
- AApril: neither
- MMay: neither
- JJune: neither
- JJuly: neither
- AAugust: neither
- SSeptember: neither
- OOctober: neither
- NNovember: best
- DDecember: good
- Best
- March, November
- Good
- December–February
November is the standout month for trekking, with January, February, March and December cool and dry enough to enjoy; the pre-monsoon heat from April and the hot, wet monsoon from July through September are too hot for climbing.
Why these months
January · good
In its favour: average daily high 16 °C / 61 °F, precipitation 68 mm / 2.7 in, wet days 6.5 days, days with heavy rain 2.1 days, feels like (high) 13.9 °C / 57 °F, average daily low 6 °C / 43 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 83%, wind (daily max) 10 km/h / 6 mph, daylight per day 10.2 h.
Against: sunshine per day 8.5 h.
February · good
In its favour: average daily high 18.8 °C / 66 °F, precipitation 100 mm / 4 in, feels like (high) 17.4 °C / 63 °F, average daily low 8.9 °C / 48 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 81%, daylight per day 11 h, wind (daily max) 11 km/h / 7 mph.
Against: days with heavy rain 2.8 days, wet days 8.6 days, sunshine per day 8.9 h.
Also on: Eid-ul-Fitr shopping and celebration.
Watch out for: Eid-ul-Fitr business closures, Kashmir Solidarity Day rallies.
March · best
In its favour: average daily high 23.5 °C / 74 °F, precipitation 100 mm / 3.9 in, average daily low 13.2 °C / 56 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 82%, daylight per day 12 h, feels like (high) 23.2 °C / 74 °F, wind (daily max) 12 km/h / 7 mph.
Against: days with heavy rain 3.5 days, wet days 9.2 days.
Also on: Eid-ul-Fitr shopping and celebration, Pakistan Day parade.
Watch out for: Eid-ul-Fitr business closures.
November · best
In its favour: average daily high 22.8 °C / 73 °F, precipitation 25 mm / 1 in, wet days 3.2 days, days with heavy rain 0.6 days, feels like (high) 21.4 °C / 71 °F, average daily low 11.6 °C / 53 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 91%, wind (daily max) 9 km/h / 6 mph, daylight per day 10.4 h.
December · good
In its favour: average daily high 18.2 °C / 65 °F, precipitation 27 mm / 1.1 in, wet days 2.9 days, days with heavy rain 0.9 days, feels like (high) 16.1 °C / 61 °F, average daily low 7.1 °C / 45 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 92%, wind (daily max) 9 km/h / 5 mph.
Against: sunshine per day 9.2 h, daylight per day 10 h.
An activity is listed only where it applies: skiing at ski destinations, beach and swimming at beach destinations. The nearest ski area is Gulmarg Ski Resort area Phase 2, 125 km away.
Weather averages
Monthly averages over twenty years, 2006–2025. Highs, lows and precipitation are in the chart at the top.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feels like (high) | 13.9 °C | 17.4 °C | 23.2 °C | 29.9 °C | 35.8 °C | 39.3 °C | 39.2 °C | 38.5 °C | 36.2 °C | 29.6 °C | 21.4 °C | 16.1 °C |
| Days with heavy rain | 2.1 days | 2.8 days | 3.5 days | 2.1 days | 0.7 days | 1.1 days | 4.2 days | 3.3 days | 1.2 days | 0.8 days | 0.6 days | 0.9 days |
| Time rain usually falls | 3 pm | 4 pm | 4 pm | 4 pm | 4 pm | 6 am | 3 am | 3 am | 4 am | 2 am | 4 am | 4 pm |
| Sunshine per day | 8.5 h | 8.9 h | 9.9 h | 11.2 h | 12.8 h | 13.3 h | 11.4 h | 11 h | 11.5 h | 10.4 h | 9.5 h | 9.2 h |
| Relative humidity | 71% | 68% | 64% | 56% | 45% | 46% | 68% | 74% | 65% | 58% | 65% | 69% |
Air quality
Averaged over a shorter period (2022–2025) than the twenty-year averages above, and not counted towards good or best months.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air pollution (PM2.5) 2022–2025 | 58.6 µg/m³ | 38.2 µg/m³ | 29.6 µg/m³ | 23.6 µg/m³ | 27.8 µg/m³ | 34.3 µg/m³ | 41.6 µg/m³ | 37.7 µg/m³ | 38.8 µg/m³ | 34 µg/m³ | 43.9 µg/m³ | 50.5 µg/m³ |
| Air pollution (PM2.5, daily peak) 2022–2025 | 97.7 µg/m³ | 64.1 µg/m³ | 49 µg/m³ | 37.9 µg/m³ | 44.3 µg/m³ | 49.4 µg/m³ | 58.4 µg/m³ | 58.7 µg/m³ | 58.2 µg/m³ | 54.8 µg/m³ | 73.6 µg/m³ | 86.9 µg/m³ |
- Good 15 µg/m³ or less
- Fair 15 to 25 µg/m³
- Moderate 25 to 37.5 µg/m³
- Poor 37.5 to 50 µg/m³
- Very poor 50 to 75 µg/m³
- Extremely poor over 75 µg/m³
Each figure is compared with the World Health Organization's guideline for a day's air, 15 µg/m³ or less, and with its interim targets above that. The words are ours: the WHO does not name its steps. The figures are modelled monthly averages, so single days can be well above them. The daily peak is the average of each day's highest hour, shaded on the same scale.
Events and seasons
What the weather records cannot show. A major event can lift a month to good or best. The warnings are there to help you plan, and never count against a month.
Reasons to go
- Eid-ul-Fitr shopping and celebration
February and March, dates vary from year to year
- Pakistan Day parade
23 March
- Independence Day celebrations
1–14 August
Worth knowing before you go
- Kashmir Solidarity Day rallies
5 February
- Eid-ul-Fitr business closures
February and March, dates vary from year to year
- Labour Day rallies
1 May
- Ashura mourning processions
June, dates vary from year to year
World Heritage sites nearby
UNESCO World Heritage sites within 25 km, nearest first.
- Taxila
24 km away