Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is Pakistan's northwestern province, a mountainous region bordering Afghanistan that holds Peshawar, one of South Asia's oldest living cities, the Gandhara Buddhist ruins of Takht-i-Bahi, and the Himalayan, Karakoram and Hindu Kush valleys of Swat, Kaghan, Chitral and Dir. Travel conditions vary sharply by district, and official advisories advise against all or most travel to much of the province.
- Public
- Peshawar has the Zu Peshawar BRT line and rail links to Lahore, Rawalpindi and Karachi; outside the city, public transport is local vans, Daewoo/NATCO coaches and Flying Coach buses between the major towns.
- Taxi
- Careem, inDrive and Bykea operate in Peshawar and larger towns, and rickshaws and yellow-cab taxis are common but usually unmetered.
- Rental
- Self-drive rental is uncommon; most visitors hire a car or 4x4 with a local driver, which is cheaper and safer on mountain roads.
- Walking
- Peshawar's Old City bazaars are walkable but crowded; footpaths are limited and intercity travel always needs vehicles.
Transport at a glance
- Public
- 2/5
- Taxi
- 3/5
- Rental
- 3/5
- Walking
- 3/5
Airport transfers
Getting from the airport to your accommodation.
| Option | Cost | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
Local transport
Getting around the city.
Taxis & rideshare
What to expect from taxis and apps.
- Overview
- Yellow taxis and rickshaws in Peshawar rarely use meters; ride-hailing apps give a fixed fare and are recommended for visitors.
- Typical City Fare
- PKR 400-1,500 (approx $1.45-5.40) for a trip within Peshawar
- Airport To Center Fare
- PKR 800-2,000 (approx $2.90-7.20) from Bacha Khan International Airport to central Peshawar
- Tips
- Confirm the fare before leaving; use apps at night and avoid unlicensed pickups.
Intercity travel
Getting between cities and regions.
Peshawar - Islamabad
Peshawar - Abbottabad
Peshawar - Mingora/Swat
Peshawar - Chitral
Abbottabad - Naran/Kaghan - Babusar
Transportation details
Full breakdown of how to get around.
Most visitors arrive via Islamabad International Airport (ISB), about 2.5 hours from Peshawar on the M-1 motorway, or fly directly to Bacha Khan International Airport (PEW) in Peshawar. From Peshawar, N-5 (the Grand Trunk Road) runs east to Rawalpindi and west to the Torkham border, N-35 (Karakoram Highway) runs through Abbottabad, Mansehra and Besham toward Gilgit-Baltistan, and N45 runs north through Mardan, Dir and Chitral via the Lowari tunnel. Intercity coaches, trains and flights are limited; the practical choice is a hired car or 4x4 with a driver. Security advisories restrict much of the north.
Airports
Bacha Khan International Airport
Chitral Airport
Saidu Sharif Airport
Islamabad International Airport
Useful apps
Download before you arrive.
Careem
inDrive
Bykea
Yango
Pakistan Railways e-ticketing
Transport tips
Travel smarter, not harder.
Islamabad (ISB) is the main international gateway; Peshawar is about 2.5 hours away by the M-1 motorway.
Book Daewoo Express and other coaches a day ahead on busy weekends and before Eid.
Mountain roads can close with snow or landslides; confirm the Lowari tunnel, Babusar Pass and Kaghan road status the day before.
Flights to Chitral are weather-dependent and frequently cancelled; keep a road fallback and flexible dates.
Carry passport copies; checkpoints on N-5, N-35 and N45 are frequent.
Avoid night driving on mountain roads.
Agree car-with-driver prices and what is included (fuel, tolls, driver food) before departing.