Islamabad International Airport is the main gateway into Pakistan’s capital city. It’s around thirty to thirty-five kilometers (nineteen to twenty-two miles) from the city center. And while that might seem like quite a distance, several options are available for travel between the airport and Islamabad. There are Radio Metro Taxis, ride-hailing services like Indrive and Yango, and even a MetroBus connection that is particularly cheap. Arriving at the airport on our flight from Bahrain was much calmer than I initially thought it would be, yes, even after leaving arrivals! The best option for traveling to the city from Islamabad airport really depends on your arrival time, your budget, and how quickly you want to get to the city. Here’s my guide on how to go from Islamabad airport to the city.
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Most international visitors will stay somewhere around the Blue Area, F-6, F-7, or the diplomatic enclave areas of Islamabad. All of these areas are around forty to fifty minutes from the airport by car, depending on traffic. The roads are Islamabad are generally wide and well-maintained, but you’ll get congestion during rush hours and on Fridays around prayer time. If you’re taking any transport option other than a prepaid transfer, then you’ll have to pay cash (Pakistani Rupees). So read on for your options and what to look out for when traveling between Islamabad and the airport.
Where is Islamabad Compared to the Airport?
Islamabad International Airport is located to the south, south west of the city of Islamabad. It’s about thirty to thirty-five kilometers (nineteen to twenty-two miles) from the center to Islamabad Airport. It will generally take forty to fifty minutes to get to the Blue Area, F-6, F-7, and the diplomatic enclave, which is where most foreign visitors base themselves in the city. The traffic generally flows on the motorway, but once you get to the city, you can expect delays during rush hours.
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How to Go from Islamabad Airport to the City
You can travel between Islamabad and the city using several transport methods, which are
- Metro Taxi (official airport taxi)
- Ride-hailing apps (only Indrive and Yango)
- MetroBus (budget option)
- Taxi
- Private transfer (pre-booked)
Taking a Private Transfer from Islamabad Airport to the City
There are limited options when it comes to ordering a pre-booked transfer in Islamabad. A lot of the usual companies do NOT operate here. The best option I’ve found for prebooking (and prepaying, just removing your requirement ot obtain Pakistani Rupees before you arrive in Islamabad is Viator.
This is the easiest and smoothest way to get from Islamabad Airport to your hotel. Your driver will meet you in arrivals, help with luggage, and take you straight to the door of your accommodation. It will avoid the getting cash issues (ATMs at the airport frequently do not work with foreign cards), haggling with taxi drivers, or potential crowds on the Metro bus. Travel time is usually forty to fifty minutes. Check prices and book here.
Islamabad Airport to Islamabad Taxi (Metro Taxi – Official Radio Cabs)
Metro Taxi is the official airport taxi operator, and you’ll find their desk and dedicated queue inside the arrivals hall. You can’t miss it. There’s a large, tall sign and an official desk.
They’re reliable, easy to use, and operate on set pricing. There’s even a price list on the desk. (There’s a photo of it below.) Expect to pay 3,000 PKR for the trip from the airport to the Blue Area, where many foreign visitors stay. Fares are paid in cash to the driver. Taxis are generally comfortable, and drivers usually know the main hotel areas.
Check in at the desk, explain where you’re going, and the staff there will complete a form, hand it to one of the other members of staff (wearing a hi vis jacket), and they’ll take you to the assigned driver, who will be waiting one floor up in the ground-level parking lot. You’ll officially be handed over to the driver, along with the completed form, which details where you’re going and what the price is.
This is an easy way to travel. It’s more expensive than Indrive or Yango, but it’s a great, easy way into Pakistan, and I recommend it.
Our driver was safe, the car was clean, and it was an easy way to get from the airport to Islamabad’s blue area, which is so named as that’s the colour it was on the original plans for the city, which became Pakistan’s capital in 1966.
Using Ride-Hailing Apps at Islamabad Airport (Indrive & Yango)
Careem and Uber no longer operate in Pakistan, but you still have two major app-based choices: Indrive and Yango. Both allow you to request a car and agree on a fare directly within the app. You’ll need to pay cash for both Yango and Indrive (unless you have access to EasyPaisa or Jazz Cash).
Islamabad Airport has free WiFI, so you’ll be able to hail a ride from there, but the WiFi doesn’t stretch as far as the parking lot, so you’d be wise to get yourself an esim so you can connect as soon as you get off the plane. (Airalo is generally seen as one of the best.)
Indrive from Islambad Airport to the City
Indrive is hugely popular across Pakistan because you propose your fare, and drivers counteroffer. Although the app does suggest what fare you should offer, you can make your offer higher or lower. Indrive can be downloaded here.
You will need to pay cash for this ride.
Prices from the airport to the city are typically lower than taxis, but they vary by demand. Pick-up is usually outside the terminal, but the app will guide you to where you need to meet your driver. It’s best to have mobile data (I recommend Airalo) so that you can negotiate your rate. Bear in mind that you’ll often find that the driver asks for more money than you’ve negotiated when you get to your destination. It’s up to you whether you pay more or stick to your agreed rate.
Yango from Islamabad Airport to the City
Yango works with fixed or near-fixed fares based on the route. It tends to be more predictable than Indrive, though it’s often slightly more expensive. It’s better if you prefer not to negotiate, aka haggle. You can download Yango here.
You will need to pay cash for this ride.
Pick-up zones are the same as Indrive — outside the main terminal — and you’ll need data or Wi-Fi to use the app (the airport Wi-Fi is good, but doesn’t extend to outside the main terminal, and so data is better).
Both of these ride-hailing apps are excellent for flexibility and price, but neither guarantees larger cars for heavy luggage, so double-check the vehicle type when booking. You can opt for A/C or non-A/C cars or even a motorbike.
You can also expect to get car swaps – where the driver has registered an AC car and a wreck pulls up instead. It’s your choice whether you cancel the ride or continue. We got this on our first Yango ride and just went with it, but we wouldn’t have done it if it had been a longer journey.
Taking the Bus/MetroBus from Islamabad Airport to the City
The MetroBus offers the cheapest way into Islamabad. The airport line connects to the main MetroBus network, though the journey takes significantly longer than a taxi or transfer. It’s around a 30-minute journey to get to the main Orange line, as well as any connections you’ll then need to get to your hotel.
You’ll need to leave arrivals and go up to the main ground level parking, and make your way to the parking line number 22. You can either take the sloping bridge up or use the elevators. The Metro bus station is behind that. It’s also marked on Google Maps; you can find it here.
The ticket, which you’ll buy from the ticket booth, will cost you 90 PKR. Cash only.
The buses are air-conditioned, and they take you to the N5 in about 30 minutes. The N5 stop is the end of the Orange MetroBus line, also known as N-35 Station/ 26 Number Chungi.
If you’re taking the Metro Bus from the airport to the Blue Area, then you’ll need to get the N5 Orange Line to the Faiz Ahmed Faiz Station, where you can get onto the red line, which will take you to the three stops within the Blue Area (Stock Exchange, 7th Avenue, and Shaheed—Millat).
Most tickets, aside from the airport connector, cost 30 PKR for your trip. Cash only.
A great map of the Metro Bus system in Islamabad is here. Or you can download the official map here as a PDF.
What to Expect Arriving at Islamabad Airport
Far from a crush of people that I was expecting, Islamabad Airport was well organized, both before arrivals and once we departed. There’s free WiFi here, but you will need to register with your name, phone number (it doesn’t need to be a Pakistani phone number), and your passport details before you can connect. The login page is a wee bit slow, but it gets there in the end.
If you’re arriving using the Visa before arrival, then you do NOT need to print out the visa granted notice to get through immigration; your visa grant is appended to your passport number, so the immigration officer can see it there. You will need a printout of your visa grant notice; however, if you’re planning on changing money at a currency exchange.
You CANNOT buy a SIM card at the airport as a tourist. There are no counters for tourists to buy SIM cards at Islamabad airport, so either get yourself an esim before you arrive, or plan on just using the airport WiFi until you get to your hotel.
The Quickest Way to Get from Islamabad Airport to Islamabad
A private transfer is the fastest, most reliable way to get into the city, with no waiting for a taxi queue, dealing with app delays, or needing to find cash. You can prebook and prepay a transfer here. The next quickest is a taxi with Metro Radio Cabs.
The Easiest Way to Go from Islamabad Airport to the City
Again, the private transfer is the easiest way to get to the city from Islamabad airport. It removes the hassle of cash, negotiation, or navigating the pick-up zones. Your driver simply meets you at arrivals, and off you go. Check rates and car types here.
The Cheapest Way to Go from Islamabad Airport to Islamabad
The MetroBus is the cheapest option by far, though it’s slow and not great if you’re carrying luggage. If you want the sweet spot between cheap and convenient, Yango and Indrive tend to be the best value.
Final Words on Getting from Islamabad Airport to the City
Getting from Islamabad Airport to the city is straightforward once you know your options. Most first-time visitors choose a private transfer or Metro Cab for simplicity, while Indrive and Yango offer a cheaper alternative, as does the ultra-cheap MetroBus. No matter which option you choose, give yourself extra time during rush hour or on Fridays, and make sure you have some cash on hand.
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