Let me start the Pakistan blogs with 10 famous places in Karachi, Pakistan that you MUST see. Karachi is the capital city of the Pakistani province of Sindh. If you have been following my travel adventure on Instagram, you know I was in Pakistan just a couple of weeks ago. So, everything is fresh off the oven here.
Below is the list of 10 historical and must-see places in Karachi. And if you are after Instagrammable places in Karachi, these places tick the boxes too!
But first, here are some important things to make your Karachi city travels easier and more enjoyable.
Find out which are the beautiful places in Pakistan you must see.
1. Install the Uber App
First thing first, download the Uber app for going around in Sydney. Better than waiting for taxis and trains, get the reliable and fast door-to-door Uber service. For my readers, I’m giving you $10 off your first ride on the Uber app. To accept, use code ‘k7zapn’ to sign up. Enjoy! Details: https://www.uber.com/invite/k7zapn
2. Accommodation
No matter which area you stay, I recommend using booking.com and sorting with price, then consider the ones with the highest reviews plus within 1km of the center/old town in order to be between all the actions.
3. Tours
For tours, I recommend using get your guide and walking tours available in most places
3. Book Cheap Flights
And lastly, find the cheapest flights through the most trusted sites such as Skyscanner or Momodo.
I have detailed travel resources right here. Save money, learn what and how.
Few handy Urdu words
Hello – Salaam walekum
Thank you – Shukeriya
Okay – Theek Hai
Yes/No – Jee Han/ Jee Nahi
How are you – Aap kaise (for male)/ kaisi (for female) hou?
I want to go to______ (place) – Muje _____ (place) jana hai.
Pardon me/ Excuse me/ Sorry – Maaf Kijea
Good Bye- Khuda Hafiz
10 famous places in Karachi, Pakistan
1. Qaid e Azam Tomb
Quaid-e-Azam (“Great Leader”) Muhammad Ali Jinnah was the founding father of Pakistan. In 1948 he was buried at the Mazar-e-Quaid which is also known as Jinnah Mausoleum or the National Mausoleum. It is located in the heart of the megacity of Karachi. People who came to Karachi from all over the country and travelers like to visit this place and pay their respects to this great leader of Pakistan. Hence making it one of the most famous places in Karachi Pakistan.
The architectural icon is both simple and striking, and it’s no wonder it’s become a symbol of the city. The stoic white marble structure commands attention even from afar. Lines of bubbling fountains lead toward the building, which is a pleasingly simple and striking architectural beauty. Also, don’t forget to check out the gold chandelier inside the tomb which was a gift from China to Pakistan.
The mausoleum also holds the tombs of his sister Fatima Jinnah, the Māder-e Millat (“Mother of the Nation”), and Liaquat Ali Khan, Pakistan’s first Prime Minister.
It is open 24 hours but I recommend going in the morning to skip the crowd. Eid al-Adha (Observed) might affect these hours
Read this for the best places to visit in Lahore, Pakistan. You will love this one!
2. TDF Ghar
Only 6 mins walk away from the Quaid e Azam’s tomb above, you can arrive at the TDF Ghar. This restored bungalow from the 1930s is a little oasis of calm located right in the middle of one of Karachi’s most chaotic traffic junctions.
Entry charge is Rs.50 only and you can enjoy the best views of Jinnah’s final resting spot, drink some chai, display old furniture on the ground floor and you can also witness how Karachi used to be back in the day, the furniture the antiques everything is a good demonstration of the early ’90s.
Having said that, TDF is also a multi-purpose place where you can get food, play card games, board games, chess, Ludu, or Caram board. A good place to hang out with your friends. This can also be the place to do some work on your laptop as it is relatively quiet inside and read/borrow or donate books at a small in-house library.
It is open daily from 10 am to 10 pm.
3. Mohatta Palace
Mohatta Palace was built during the colonial days (1927) by Shivratan Chandratan Mohatta, a Marwari Hindu businessman from the Indian state of Rajasthan. He built the palace for his wife as his summer home but unfortunately, he could only enjoy it for another two decades. After partition, it became the residence of Fatima Jinnah, Quaid e Azam’s sister.
Locals say there is a secret passage underground that leads to a temple 1km away but I wasn’t allowed to try it. Let me know if you get lucky though! Oh, and locals also told me, this place is haunted!
Entrance is only 30cents but cameras aren’t allowed inside however you’re free to photograph the stunning exterior of the building. Today it is used as an art gallery and museum. There are always thought-provoking exhibitions happening at this grand building surrounded by trees and a nice garden.
The museum is open from 11 am to 6 pm Tuesday to Sunday. It’s closed on Mondays. So plan your trip accordingly.
4. Masjid e Tooba
Masjid e Tooba is a great masterpiece of architects, located adjacent to the DHA Phase I commercial area and built in 1969 keeping acoustics in mind. So that a person speaking inside at one end of the dome can be heard at the other end! This makes it special.
A mosque (without even a single pillar) gives a spectacular view both inside and out. It is one of the tourist attractions that are worth seeing in Karachi.
It is also known as Gol Masjid and is claimed to be the largest single-dome mosque in the world. 5000 people can pray in the central prayer hall.
5. French Beach
French Beach is an excellent place to get rest and peace of mind if you want to escape from the hustle and bustle of Karachi. It is considered one of the best places to visit in Karachi and used to be a small fishing village frequented by Karachi’s elite. It is also known to the locals as Haji Ismill Goth.
Going to the beach has a different meaning in Pakistan. I recommend respecting their culture and cover-up. Not to the extreme but at least your body, shoulders, and knees.
You can also rent the huts there as there are over 50 of them and don’t forget to bring extra clothes to change if you end up swimming with your clothes on. The ocean must look welcoming with blue water on a sunny day. Bringing your own food is a good idea too as there is no shops or restaurants around the beach. Alternatively, you can also visit Clifton Beach.
6. Frere Hall
Frere Hall is an iconic building from colonial times as the local town hall and still is currently hosting city festivals like the “Karachi Food Festival” amongst others. The inauguration of this building placed in 1865 and maintained by the Sindh Government.
The ground floor has a big library with books and archives dating back to pre-Pakistan years! Their Sunday book bazaar is a must-go-to-place for any and all book lovers. The quality and range of books are amazing. The sellers present there have their own bookshops so they offer a wide range of books of different genres. Frere Hall also has a museum in it, and an amazing art gallery to die for.
It is open M-S 9 am to 5 pm except for Sunday.
7. Karachi Street food
Karachi is called the City of Lights (even from my Hotel window at 1 am there was still traffic and cars on the road) but I feel it can also be called the city of food! If you don’t believe me, witness it yourself by visiting Burns Road, which is a food street in the former part of Karachi and is popular for its traditional, mouth-watering, appetizing items such as bun Kebabs, Haleem, Nihari, fried fish, and sweet things such as Rabri and traditional beverages such as Lassi.
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Burns Road is the epicenter of all Karachiites foodies whole year round and especially in Ramadan. Every local in Karachi knows of Burns Road and its delicious traditional food. Even if you happen to come by it at 2 am or 3 am at night, the street is still buzzing with the sounds of searing oils and delectable aromas all around. And that reason alone makes Karachi Street Food on this list of famous places in Karachi Pakistan. No better way to know a country than through their food.
Alternatively, you can also try Bohra Food Street.
8. Saint Patrick’s Cathedral
St. Patrick’s Cathedral was built in 1881 and stands tall at 52 meters, in one of the most congested areas of Karachi. Even though 96.4% of the population is Muslim in Karachi, Christians come second with 2.42%, Hindu (0.86%), Ahmadis (0.17%), and other (0.10%) which makes Christians one of the two largest (non-Muslim) religious minorities in Pakistan, along with Hindus. (This data is correct according to a 1998 census of Pakistan) couldn’t find the new one!
This Catholic Cathedral is full of beautiful architecture and history. You can also attend Sunday’s English language mass in the evening. It can fit 1000+ devotees inside the church and after the visit, it is worth walking around all the way towards the historic Empress Market nearby.
9. State Bank Museum
Behind me is the founder of Pakistan Muhammad Ali Jinnah and sideboards filled with unsung heroes who fought for freedom.
State Bank of Pakistan Museum & Art Gallery is one of the national museums which was established in 2004 to introduce the first Monetary Museum of Pakistan. The entire premises has multiple galleries of coins, notes, machinery, art, and stamps for visitors. The best part is every group is offered a guided tour by the team explaining each and every detail about the past n present related to the currency and beyond.
You can learn here about the history of money in Pakistan and also how to tell fake notes from a real one. Watch my “Pakistan highlight” on Instagram for video stories.
The whole tour is cost-free and I also got shredded money in a little bag as a souvenir! It is open M-S 9:30 – 5 pm except for Sunday.
10. Jodia Bazaar
Jodia bazar is the oldest market in Karachi, Pakistan. Located in the port city of Karachi, this market symbolizes the heart of the trading business in Pakistan. It is one of the famous places in Karachi Pakistan for locals and visitors mainly for shopping and/or photographing. There are many streets for spices, food, homeware, steel, jewelry, clothes, and everything else. You can buy it in bulk at wholesale prices or separately.
In 1947 soon after the independence of Pakistan, the Jodia market played a vital role in the economic development of the newly born state. It is one of the must-see markets in Karachi, just make sure to arrive early as it gets super crowded as the day goes on.
I hope some of these famous places in Karachi Pakistan inspire you to visit and create that Instagrammable pictures!
Let me know in the comments-
Which famous places in Karachi Pakistan do you want to see?
Do you know of any other Karachi attractions that I should add here?
See all the most beautiful places in Pakistan in this blog post.
Read this for the best places to visit in Lahore, Pakistan. You will love this one!
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I’ve never been to any of these, but I need to see these famous places! Mohatta Palace looks really cool! Or the old market!
Pakistan is such a beautiful place, and I had no idea. I’ve never really thought about Pakistan as a travel destination before, but I think it’s time reconsider that. The architecture is so pretty.
Karachi, Pakistan seems like a great place to visit! I hope I can visit soon and capitalize on the great tourist spots!
Pakistan sounds like a beautiful place. You never see pictures of places like this from there. I would love to visit there some day!
Oh my goodness, this place looks beautiful! Although I’ve never been to Pakistan before myself, I would love to make my way over in the near future. Thanks for sharing all of this! 🙂
Karachi looks like an interesting place to visit. The architecture is amazing!
I’ve never been to Pakistan before. Sounds like an interesting place to visit.
Hey Anna, I must say you are doing a great job. I born and grew up in Karachi. It’s a beautiful and very fast city. I am hoping to visit it again next year. Thanks for writing a post on my city.
Thank you for writing this. I’m from Karachi but hardly lived in Pakistan ever. I didn’t know about most of these place. Loved your post as well as tour photos.
Thank you for sharing many Pakistan’s beauty. I admire the proud architecture of Mohatta Palace! That is love 😀
You’ve presented such beautiful place in Pakistan! I’ve not visited before but I would absolutely love to. From the French Beach to the State Bank Museum (stunning from the looks of it!) I can easily see why Pakistan has such an allure.
Thank you for showing the brilliant side of Pakistan! Huge respect for you!
Thank you for stopping by and commenting here!
Love your Post too much……..fully informative and such a wonderful click.
I liked the way you have shared a concise list of the most frequently used Urdu words. I am sure it will benefit many first-time visitors. The pictures of the popular tourist places of Pakistan are also beautifully captured.
Thanks for dropping by Serene!
Wow, what a comprehensive list of must-see places in Karachi! As a frequent visitor to the city, I can vouch for the beauty and cultural significance of each of these landmarks. The Clifton Beach and Beach Park are definitely on my list for my next trip, along with the Mohatta Palace and the Quaid-e-Azam Museum. The Frere Hall and the St. Patrick’s Cathedral are also stunning examples of colonial architecture. Thank you for sharing this informative post and giving me some new travel ideas!