Karachi

DESTINATIONS pakistan karachi

Karachi

Karachi is Pakistan's largest city, located on the coast of the Arabian Sea. Explore historic landmarks like the Quaid-e-Azam's Mausoleum and Mohatta Palace, or unwind at Clifton and Manora Island beaches. Savour diverse cuisine at Burns Road and Do Darya, and discover unique finds at Zainab Market and Dolmen Mall. Karachi’s nightlife, cultural festivals and art galleries provide endless entertainment. Known as the City of Lights, Karachi dazzles with its unique charm and vibrant energy all year long.

The City Nightlife

The City

Saddar, the commercial heart of Karachi, is a magnet for visitors. Its wide boulevards and narrow side streets host a variety of markets and bazaars, showcasing the city's bustling street life. Along Zaibunnisa Street, you’ll find fine examples of Victorian architecture, a legacy from colonial times, while Muhammad Ali (MA) Jinnah Road features Karachi’s most famous landmark — the Quaid Mausoleum. Saddar is also a good area for budget accommodation, and for affordable eats, Burns Road is a must-visit, known for its mouth-watering street food and traditional dishes. South of Saddar, along the coastline, lie the upscale neighbourhoods of Clifton and DHA (Defence Housing Authority). Clifton’s marine promenade is a popular evening spot for locals, who gather to dine at the numerous restaurants by the boatyard or to enjoy a stroll while admiring one of the world’s tallest water fountains. Clifton Beach is another highlight, where you can ride camels or horses along the shoreline. In the neighbouring DHA area, Zamzama Boulevard offers a range of designer boutiques, coffee shops, and stylish restaurants, attracting a well-heeled crowd. For art enthusiasts, the nearby Canvas Gallery showcases contemporary Pakistani art.

Nightlife

Nightlife in Karachi centres around dining, with restaurants typically staying open late. Alcohol sale and consumption are not legally allowed in Pakistan, so alcohol-free drinks, such as teas and juices, often substitute wine and beer during evening outings. Parties involving alcoholic drinks do happen, but these are largely kept hidden, and information about when and where they take place can only be obtained by word of mouth. Non-Muslim foreign visitors may be served alcohol at some high-end hotels.

Do & See Dining Cafes Shopping Tourist Information

Do & See

There is plenty to see in sprawling Karachi, the biggest megacity in Pakistan and a fascinating melting pot of cultures. Most visitor attractions are concentrated in the southern district, while the outlying beaches and islands make for excellent short trips out of the city. If you're keen on learning more about the city’s history, museums like the National Museum of Pakistan and Mohatta Palace Museum are not to be missed.

Mazar-e-Quaid

Karachi’s most prominent landmark is a memorial to Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder and first head of state of Pakistan. The mausoleum is where Pakistan's great leader remains buried, making the location of immense historical significance to the local …

Tooba Mosque

This splendid Midcentury modern white marble mosque can accommodate 5,000 worshippers and is reportedly the largest single-domed mosque in the world. Bear in mind that visits may only be arranged by prior appointment and are restricted to male …

Mohatta Palace Museum

This spectacular 1920s palace, once officially belonging to the country's government, is now a museum showcasing the cultural heritage and narrating the history of Pakistan via a few dozen galleries belonging to its jurisdiction to-date. Check the website for current …

National Museum of Pakistan

The National Museum of Pakistan provides an excellent insight into the history of the region. Although the maintenance leaves something to be desired, the museum houses a collection of 58,000 old coins, hundreds of well-preserved sculptures, and other interesting artefacts dating back to various points in Pakistan's …

Karachi’s Victorian Architecture

The best places to admire the splendid monuments of the colonial era are Ibrahim Ismail Chundrigar Road, Zaib-un-Nissa Street and M.A.Jinnah Road. Be sure to check out Liaqat Hall on Abdullah Haroon Road, the Empress Market, and the Karachi Port Trust …

Chaukhandi Tombs

East of Karachi lie the Chaukhandi tombs, a vast Islamic burial ground full of incredibly ornate tombs that date back to somewhere during the 15th through 18th centuries. The sandstone structures are believed to be a burial site for the late Jokhio tribe …

Beaches

Escape the heat of the city and catch the breeze at one of the nearby beaches. The best ones are Sandspit Hawkes Bay, Clifton Beach, French Beach (privately owned, with clear water) and Paradise Point, with its scenic rock jutting out into the Arabian Sea. Camel rides are available for …

Pakistan Air Force Museum (PAF)

The museum adjacent to a Pakistan Air Force base in Faisal is Karachi's prime attraction for aviation enthusiasts. The grounds contain an extensive collection of military aircraft, some of which are even open to be looked inside, and a small amusement park operates …

Dining

Eating in Karachi is a gourmet's dream, with a seemingly endless selection of eateries ranging from the cosmopolitan finery of upmarket restaurants to the traditional delights served by street vendors. Among the most popular local dishes are nihari, a stew made from beef or lamb, and biryani; these are almost always accompanied by a variety of breads such as naan, paratha, or chapati. After a rich, spicy meal, it’s always nice to refresh the palate with one of the traditional desserts, a particular Pakistani favourite being kulfi (a type of ice cream). Don’t forget to bring cash, as restaurants outside the city centre may not accept cards.

The Pakistani

The Pakistani is located at the swanly Movenpick Hotel. They offer delicious Pakistani cuisine (grills and curries) in a sumptuous setting, with live entertainment of traditional song and chefs at work accompanying evening dining. No alcohol …

Fujiyama

An excellent Japanese restaurant serving some of the best sushi and sashimi in Pakistan - and beyond. You will find Fujiyama at the top floor of the Avari Towers, offering sweeping views of the city. Some dishes are cooked teppanyaki-style, guests watching the chef work before their …

Dynasty

Exquisite Szechuan food served in imperial Chinese surroundings. On the menu you will find everyone's favourite dim sum, spicy Szechuan dishes, classic Cantonese creations, and much more. The restaurant is open for both lunch and …

LaL Qila

Atmospheric restaurant set in a Mughal-style red fort, serving an excellent, abundant buffet that allows you to try a range of traditional dishes in one meal. The selection on offer is truly incredible, with an impressive variety of desserts accompanying the varied …

Bar-B-Q Tonight

One of the most popular restaurants in Karachi serving a fabulous assortment of Pakistani dishes, Afghani and Middle Eastern specialities, barbecued meats and seafood dishes. There is a dinner buffet on Mondays and Wednesdays, and a seafood buffet on Tuesdays and Thursdays …

Burns Road & Boat Basin

For cheap and delicious traditional Pakistani cuisine head down to Burns Road. Every night legions of food vendors take to the street to sell their delicious, freshly cooked-on-the-spot delicacies. Boat Basin, in Clifton, is a building complex housing a plethora of international …

Student Biryani

Another long-established Karachi restaurant serving delicious biryani and nihari dishes is Student Biryani, a budget eatery that long has been enjoyed by students and otherwise. They offer a comfortable dining experience and quality service with countless locations across the …

Cafes

After a long day of sightseeing, it can be nice to sit down in a café and relax with a cup of tea or coffee. You will notice that the city has plenty of cafés to choose from, thanks to the flourishing café culture in Karachi. Many places offer tasty ice creams, hot beverages and delicious pastries.

Cafe Flo

Looking for something other than Asian flavours? Then try this excellent bistro that serves a range of gourmet dishes of the French cuisine. Tables are laid with crisp white table cloths, each graced with fresh flowers. Seating available in the outdoor …

The Hot Spot

The Hot Spot is a funky hangout place whose walls are adorned with humorous signs and posters of Bollywood horror movies. They serve a delicious array of snacks and treats, coffee and ice …

Gelato Affair

Gelato Affair is a chain of cafés, serving the very best of Italian ice cream and a great selection of coffees. They also offer an impressive selection of scrumptious cakes, such as chocolate chip cake and strawberry delight …

Peshawari Ice Cream Parlour

Peshawari Ice Cream is the oldest ice cream parlour in Karachi, and, with that, one of the most popular. The parlour's own flavour, "Peshawari", is so well-liked that other city ice cream parlours have picked up and now sell it at businesses of their …

Baloch Ice Cream

This well-liked ice cream parlour offers a substantial selection of reasonably priced, high-quality ice creams. Be sure to try their falooda, a traditional Pakistani dessert drink that often comes topped with a scoop of ice cream. They also offer many delicious milkshakes. There are several locations across …

Shopping

Saddar, the old area of the city, is home to a number of markets. Zainab Market and Bhori Bazaar are full of stalls selling handcrafted items such as woodwork, clothes and leather garments. For jewellery, head to Sarafa Bazaar, which is a gold and silver market, while the Empress Market is great for spices and worth a trip for the atmosphere alone. Aside from the souks, Zaibunnisa Street is lined with fashionable boutiques and jewellers, while Tariq Road in the neighbouring PECHS district offers much of the same. Need a new carpet for the living room? Then head down to Abdullah Haroon Road, where you can pick up quality new or antique carpets from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran. If the thought of haggling leaves you in a cold sweat, head to the Clifton and DHA areas, where you will find a number of malls offering a range of brand-name outlets in air-conditioned surroundings.