How cold does Rawalpindi get in winter?

Winter days in Rawalpindi and Islamabad are usually mild, around 17 to 20 °C, but nights drop to about 3 to 7 °C. January is the coldest month and clear nights can bring frost. February is the wettest winter month.

Does it snow in Islamabad or Rawalpindi?

No, not in the cities. Snow falls only rarely on the higher Margalla Hills, such as at Pir Sohawa. For snow, people drive to Murree or Nathia Gali, usually between mid-December and February.

Are the motorways closed by fog in winter?

Often, from about mid-December to January. Sections of the M-2 and M-1 are closed during dense fog, usually at night and early morning. Motorway Police advise travelling between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. and calling the 130 helpline before setting off.

Are hotel rooms heated in Rawalpindi in winter?

It depends on the hotel. Many homes and older guest houses rely on gas heaters, which suffer when gas pressure drops on cold mornings. At LEORK Hotels on GT Road near Defence Chowk, rooms are heated with inverter ACs, so heating does not depend on the gas supply.

Is the air in Islamabad bad in winter?

The twin cities usually avoid the extreme smog peaks Lahore sees, but December can bring unhealthy air quality days. Check IQAir or Pak-EPA readings, and carry an N95 or KN95 mask if you are sensitive.

Rawalpindi and Islamabad in Winter: Weather, Fog, Things to Do

Winter in Rawalpindi and Islamabad runs from December to February, with mild sunny days of around 17 to 20 °C and cold nights of 3 to 7 °C. It is one of the best times to visit the twin cities: good hiking weather in the Margalla Hills, snow an hour or two away in Murree and Nathia Gali, wedding season in full swing, and the food at its best. It also brings motorway fog, some smoggy days and cold mornings, so it helps to plan around those.

Winter Weather, Month by Month

Month	Average high	Average low	Rain
December	about 20 °C	about 4 to 5 °C	dry, 2 to 3 rainy days
January	about 18 °C	about 3 °C	some rain, frosty nights possible
February	about 20 °C	about 6 to 7 °C	wettest month, 6 or more rainy days

Based on long-term averages for Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

The temperature swing is what surprises visitors most. Midday in December can feel like spring, and you will see people walking around in a light sweater. By 9 p.m. you want a proper jacket. Pack layers: a warm coat for evenings and early starts, lighter things for the day.

December is usually dry and clear, the best month for being outdoors. January is the coldest, with the odd frosty night and the most fog. February brings rain from western weather systems, sometimes hail, and the first warm days by the end of the month.

Fog: The One Thing That Can Wreck a Winter Trip

From about mid-December to January, dense fog settles over Punjab at night and in the early morning. The motorways take the worst of it. In January 2026, Motorway Police closed sections of the M-2 between Islamabad and Lahore and the M-1 toward Peshawar, and the same thing happens most winters. Flights can be delayed too.

The rules are simple:

Drive between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. That is the window Motorway Police recommend.
Call 130 before you set off to check for closures.
Do not plan a pre-dawn departure in December or January. You could sit at a closed entry for hours.
If a closure catches you, stop for the night rather than taking risks on the GT Road in zero visibility.

For anyone driving in from Lahore or Peshawar, our road-trip stopover guide covers the routes in more detail.

Smog and Air Quality

The twin cities usually avoid the extreme readings Lahore sees in November and December, when its AQI regularly passes 300 and 400. But it is not all clear skies. In December 2025, Islamabad logged several “very unhealthy” days, and traffic is the main source of the problem. Islamabad started checking vehicle emissions in response.

View over Islamabad in winter haze from Trail 4 in the Margalla Hills

What this means in practice:

Check the AQI each morning on IQAir or the Pak-EPA readings.
Carry N95 or KN95 masks if you have asthma, are elderly, or are travelling with young children.
Plan outdoor time for the afternoon, when air quality is usually better than at dawn and dusk.
Go up into the hills. Even a few hundred metres up the Margalla trails, the air is noticeably cleaner on most days.

Things to Do in Winter

Hike the Margalla Hills

October to April is hiking season, and winter is the best of it. It is cool enough to climb without overheating, and the views open up after rain clears the haze.

A sunny pine forest trail in Margalla Hills National Park

Trail 3 is the most popular. 3A is a steep 40-minute climb, 3B a gentler hour through the forest.
Trail 1 goes up to Pir Sohawa in about 2 hours.
Trail 2 leads to Daman-e-Koh in an hour or so, with the classic view over Islamabad.

Start by 9 or 10 a.m., take water, and be off the trails before dark. Sunset is early in winter, around 5 p.m., and the trails are no place to be after it.

Lok Virsa and the Pakistan Monument

On a cold or rainy day, the Lok Virsa Heritage Museum in Shakarparian is one of the best museums in the country, with crafts, costumes and music from every region. It is closed on Mondays. Tickets are Rs 150 for adults and Rs 100 for students. The Pakistan Monument is next door and looks best in the clear late-afternoon light winter often brings.

Snow Day in Murree or Nathia Gali

The snow is close. Murree is 1.5 to 2 hours away and Nathia Gali a bit further. The first snow in the Galiyat usually comes in late December, and the heaviest falls are in December and January. Murree’s official snow season ran from 15 December to 25 February last winter.

Snow on the pine forest along the road to Nathia Gali

This is the one winter trip that needs real care. In January 2022, more than 20 people died in Murree when thousands of cars got trapped overnight in a snowstorm that had been forecast. Since then the rules are stricter: in January 2026, cars without snow chains and winter tyres were turned back, and on the busiest snow day the police stopped all new traffic entering Murree.

A snowy hairpin road in thick fog near Nathia Gali

If you go:

Check the PMD forecast and do not go if heavy snow is predicted.
Carry snow chains and keep the fuel tank full.
Go early and come down before dark. Black ice forms fast once the sun goes.
Never sit in a stuck car with the engine running if snow may be blocking the exhaust.
Save the numbers: Police 15, Rescue 1122.

Or do it as a day trip from a warm base in the city, rather than trying to find a room up the mountain on a snow weekend. Our Murree day trip guide covers the route and timing.

Eat Like It Is Winter

The best reason to visit in winter is the food.

Fried fish. Fish stalls appear across the twin cities in the cold months, in Saddar, Raja Bazaar and Committee Chowk, frying rahu and other river fish to order. Our Saddar guide covers the area.
Gajar halwa, slow-cooked carrots with milk and ghee, is everywhere from December.
Doodh jalebi, hot jalebi in warm milk, is the late-night treat.
Chicken corn soup from roadside carts, best eaten standing in the cold.
Kashmiri chai, pink, salty-sweet and topped with nuts.
Nihari for a slow weekend breakfast.

Gajar halwa, a carrot dessert, served with fresh carrots

Wedding Season and School Holidays

December is peak wedding season in Pakistan. If you are coming for a wedding, book early, because hotel rooms near the venues go fast on the big weekends. Our wedding guest guide covers the planning.

Winter school holidays usually run from the last week of December to early or mid January, which is when families from other cities travel. Expect busier roads and fuller hotels in those weeks.

Where to Stay in Winter

In winter, homes in the twin cities can have low gas pressure on cold mornings, and power cuts mean family houses often run on UPS. That is part of why visiting relatives often book a hotel instead of squeezing into a guest room.

LEORK Hotels on Main GT Road near Defence Chowk heats its rooms with inverter ACs, so warmth does not depend on gas pressure, and has fiber Wi-Fi on backup power, breakfast every morning, a 24-hour attendant on call, and free secure parking for anyone driving up for a snow trip. The Family Room suits families on school holidays, and the Deluxe King suits couples. For more, see our weekend getaway guide and the day trips from Rawalpindi.

Planning a winter visit? Book your stay or WhatsApp us at +92 333 9588862.

FAQ

How cold does Rawalpindi get in winter?: Winter days in Rawalpindi and Islamabad are usually mild, around 17 to 20 °C, but nights drop to about 3 to 7 °C. January is the coldest month and clear nights can bring frost. February is the wettest winter month.
Does it snow in Islamabad or Rawalpindi?: No, not in the cities. Snow falls only rarely on the higher Margalla Hills, such as at Pir Sohawa. For snow, people drive to Murree or Nathia Gali, usually between mid-December and February.
Are the motorways closed by fog in winter?: Often, from about mid-December to January. Sections of the M-2 and M-1 are closed during dense fog, usually at night and early morning. Motorway Police advise travelling between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. and calling the 130 helpline before setting off.
Are hotel rooms heated in Rawalpindi in winter?: It depends on the hotel. Many homes and older guest houses rely on gas heaters, which suffer when gas pressure drops on cold mornings. At LEORK Hotels on GT Road near Defence Chowk, rooms are heated with inverter ACs, so heating does not depend on the gas supply.
Is the air in Islamabad bad in winter?: The twin cities usually avoid the extreme smog peaks Lahore sees, but December can bring unhealthy air quality days. Check IQAir or Pak-EPA readings, and carry an N95 or KN95 mask if you are sensitive.