Most hotels in Gilgit are in three parts of the city. Jutial, along the main road on the south-eastern side, has the quieter streets and the best-known upmarket hotels, including the Gilgit Serena and Avari Xpress. The city centre, around the bazaars and Airport Road, has the budget and mid-range places closest to the airport and the shops. The riverside, along River View Road by the Gilgit river, has smaller hotels and guesthouses. For comfort choose Jutial; on a budget or for an early flight, the centre.
This guide compares the areas, names the established hotels in each, gives rough 2026 room rates, and lists what to ask before you book, which in Gilgit matters as much as the address.
| Area | Best for | Price level | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jutial | Families, comfort, quiet | Mid-range to top | Gilgit Serena, Avari Xpress |
| City centre and Airport Road | Budget stays, the bazaar, early flights | Budget to mid-range | Park Hotel, Madina Hotel 2 |
| River View Road | Evenings by the river, simple stays | Budget to mid-range | Small hotels and guesthouses |
| Sakwar, on the main road south-east of Jutial | A resort-style stay with a pool | Top | Ramada Resort by Wyndham |
Jutial: quieter, greener and more expensive
Jutial is the newer, more spread-out side of Gilgit along Shahrah-e-Quaid-e-Azam, the main road into the city. The Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly and many government offices are here, and so is the NATCO bus terminal, which makes it convenient if you arrive by coach from Rawalpindi.
It suits families and anyone who wants a comfortable base and a proper night's sleep before the drive north. It is less convenient on foot for the bazaar, so plan on taxis.
- Gilgit Serena Hotel. On Sherullah Baig Road in Jutial, open since 1985, with 43 rooms, gardens and views towards the mountains. It is the city's longest-established upmarket hotel and runs an airport shuttle for guests.
- Avari Xpress Gilgit. A newer four-star hotel in Jutial, opened in 2023, with around 60 air-conditioned rooms and a restaurant. It is about three kilometres from the airport.
Jutial is also the starting point for two of the city's best short walks: up the Jutial Nala behind the Serena, and up to the Taj Mughal monument on the ridge.
The city centre and Airport Road: convenient and cheaper
The centre is where Gilgit does its business: the bazaars, the gem and dried-fruit shops around the NLI market area, Chinar Bagh and the old British cemetery. Airport Road runs east from here through Kashrote towards the airport, which is only about two kilometres from the city.
Stay here if you want to walk to dinner and the bazaar, have an early flight, or are travelling on a budget. It is noisier and busier than Jutial, and rooms facing the street pick up traffic until late.
- Park Hotel. A well-reviewed, reasonably priced hotel on Airport Road, and a practical choice for a night either side of a flight.
- Madina Hotel 2. For many years the favourite of backpackers, with simple rooms round a garden courtyard, a small restaurant and owners who help with onward transport. Several places use the Madina name, so check you have the one you meant.
The riverside: River View Road
River View Road follows the Gilgit river near Chinar Bagh, towards the bridge on the way to Kargah. It is lined with small hotels, guesthouses and restaurants, several with terraces facing the water.
It suits couples and friends who want somewhere simple with an evening view and are happy to take a taxi into the bazaar. Standards vary from one building to the next, so read recent reviews and look at photos of the actual rooms. In July and August the river runs high and loud with meltwater, which some people love and some don't.
Sakwar: a resort on the edge of town
Ramada Resort by Wyndham Gilgit opened in 2024 in Sakwar, on the main road south-east of Jutial, about seven kilometres from the airport. It has an outdoor pool, a gym and a free airport shuttle, and is the most resort-like hotel in the city. It suits families who want a pool after a hot day in the car, but it is a drive from everything else in Gilgit.
What does a room in Gilgit cost?
These are rough per-room, per-night rates from booking sites in September 2026, converted to rupees. Prices rise in June, July, August and over Eid, and can fall in winter.
| Type | Rough rate per night (2026) |
|---|---|
| Guesthouses and budget hotels | PKR 4,000 to 7,000 |
| Mid-range hotels | PKR 10,000 to 20,000 |
| Top hotels: Serena, Ramada | PKR 22,000 to 32,000 |
Check whether tax and breakfast are included, because the difference between listings can be large. For the busy months, and for any night before or after a flight, book ahead, and choose a booking you can move by a day in case the flight is cancelled.
What to ask before you book
Gilgit's weather and power supply make a few questions worth asking directly, whatever the hotel's rating.
- In summer: air conditioning and backup power. Afternoons reach the mid-30s, and load-shedding can switch the air conditioning off. Ask whether the hotel has a generator or solar backup.
- In winter: heating and hot water. Nights fall below freezing from December to February, and power cuts in Gilgit-Baltistan can last most of the day. Ask how rooms are heated when the mains is off. Our Gilgit weather guide covers the seasons.
- Parking. If you have driven up, check there is secure parking inside the compound.
- Airport pickup. Many hotels will send a car; agree the price in advance.
- Which side of the building. Street-facing rooms in the centre are noisier; river-facing rooms on River View Road are louder in the melt season.
Should you stay in Gilgit at all?
Many travellers use Gilgit only as a stop, and that is often the right call. The city is hot in summer and busy all year, and if Hunza is your destination, two to two and a half more hours on the road puts you in Karimabad by evening. Our guide to where to stay in Hunza compares the areas there.
A night or two in Gilgit makes sense if you fly in or out, arrive tired off the KKH or the overnight coach, or want a day for the city itself: the Kargah Buddha, Danyor and the bazaars, which our guide to places to visit in Gilgit covers. It is also the natural base for Naltar and for a day in Bagrot.
Our Gilgit, Hunza and Khunjerab tour spends its first two nights in Gilgit for exactly those reasons, before moving north. For the wider region, see our Gilgit and Hunza page.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best area to stay in Gilgit?
Jutial for comfort and quiet, the city centre for a budget stay close to the bazaar and airport, and River View Road for a simple place by the water.
Which is the best hotel in Gilgit?
The Gilgit Serena in Jutial is the longest-established upmarket hotel, and the Ramada Resort in Sakwar, opened in 2024, is the newest resort. Avari Xpress in Jutial is a newer four-star option.
How much is a hotel room in Gilgit?
On booking sites in September 2026, budget rooms were roughly PKR 4,000 to 7,000 a night, mid-range PKR 10,000 to 20,000, and the top hotels PKR 22,000 to 32,000. Expect more in peak summer.
Which hotels in Gilgit are close to the airport?
The airport is only about two kilometres from the city centre, so hotels on Airport Road and in the centre are a few minutes away. Most hotels in Jutial are within a short drive too.
Do hotels in Gilgit have heating in winter?
Better hotels usually do, but power cuts are long in winter, so ask how rooms are heated when the mains is off and whether there is a generator.
Is it better to stay in Gilgit or Hunza?
Stay in Hunza if the valley is your main goal; it is cooler and closer to the sights. Stay in Gilgit for a night or two if you are flying, arriving late off the highway, or visiting Naltar and the city's sights.
