Lake View Park sits on the northern shore of Rawal Lake off Murree Road and is Islamabad's biggest family park, run by the Capital Development Authority. Entry costs about PKR 20 per person (2026), with rides, boating and the aviary charged separately on top. It is open daily from around 10 am to 10 pm. The park works best as a half-day out: aviary and gardens in the afternoon, rides for the children, then the lake at sunset.
This guide covers what is inside, what things cost, parking and getting there, and how to time a visit to miss the weekend crowds.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Where | North shore of Rawal Lake, off Murree Road |
| Hours | Daily, roughly 10 am to 10 pm |
| Entry | About PKR 20 per person (2026); under-2s free |
| Extra charges | Boating, aviary, go-karting, rides, parking |
| Busiest | Weekend afternoons and evenings |
| Best for | Families with children of most ages |
What is inside Lake View Park
The park is really several zones spread along the lakeshore:
- The main park, with lawns, flower beds, walking paths, the bird aviary and the boating jetty.
- A large bird aviary, one of the biggest in the country, with local and exotic species in a walk-through cage.
- A children's play zone, with swings, slides and smaller rides.
- A go-karting and amusement area, run as a separate section with its own ticketing.
- Adventure activities, including horse riding and rock climbing through a dedicated club within the park.
- Food stalls and sit-down options, scattered through the main park and busiest near the entrance and the boating jetty.
Not every zone suits every age group in the same way: the aviary and gardens work for all ages, the play zone suits younger children, and go-karting and the adventure activities suit older children and teenagers better.
Tickets and costs
Entry to the main park is a flat, modest fee, listed at about PKR 20 per person in 2026, with children under two admitted free. That entry fee gets you into the grounds and the gardens; every activity inside is charged on top:
- Boating on the lake, with pedal and motor boat options at separate rates.
- The bird aviary, ticketed separately from general entry.
- Go-karting and the amusement rides, priced per ride or per session.
- Horse riding and adventure activities, run through their own club with their own pricing.
- Parking, a small fee for vehicles at the main car park.
Individual activity prices change often enough that printing a specific figure here risks being wrong by the time you visit. Budget more than the flat entry fee for a family day out, and expect to pay in cash at each activity as you go, since not everything inside the park works by card.
Boating on the lake
Boating is one of the park's signature activities, with paddle and motor boats normally available from the jetty inside the grounds. Islamabad's district administration has, at different points, restricted boating and swimming on the wider Rawal Lake for public safety, particularly during the monsoon months, so it is worth checking locally on the day, especially if you are visiting between July and September or if there has been recent heavy rain. Outside those restricted periods, boating runs as a normal paid activity within the park.
Getting there and parking
Lake View Park is on Murree Road on the north side of Rawal Lake, a straightforward drive from most of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, and well covered by ride-hailing apps. There is a car park at the main entrance with a small fee; on a busy weekend it fills, so arrive early if you are driving yourself, or use a ride-hailing car that drops you at the gate.
When to visit
Weekday afternoons are the quietest time, with short queues at the rides and space to walk the gardens without a crowd. Weekend afternoons and evenings are by far the busiest, especially in spring and autumn when the weather is at its most comfortable for a family outing, and the car park and ride queues fill accordingly.
Through the year, October to April gives the most pleasant conditions for a few hours outdoors. May to June is hot in the middle of the day, so an early morning or evening visit works better with children. The monsoon, July to September, brings the greenest gardens but also the heaviest rain and, at times, restrictions on the water activities.
Sunset is worth timing a visit around if you can: the light on Rawal Lake with the Margalla Hills behind it is one of the better views in the city, and the park stays open well into the evening.
How much time to allow
An hour covers a walk through the aviary and gardens without any rides. With children wanting the play zone, a boat ride and a stop at the go-karting area, allow two to three hours, more on a busy day when queues slow everything down.
Who Lake View Park suits
Lake View Park suits families with children of almost any age, and it is one of the easiest half-day outings in Islamabad: cheap to get into, close to the city, and varied enough to keep different ages happy at once. Couples and groups without children tend to get less out of it than the aviary and the lakeside walk alone offer, and it is worth combining with something else for a full day.
It suits visitors less well on a hot weekend afternoon, when the crowds, queues and heat together make it hard work rather than relaxing; a weekday or an evening slot is a better use of the same trip. For the lake itself, away from the rides and crowds of the park, see our guide to Rawal Lake. For the rest of the city, our guide to places to visit in Islamabad covers where else to go with a family, and if you would like Islamabad built into a longer trip north, tell us your plans.
Frequently asked questions
What is the entry fee for Lake View Park Islamabad?
About PKR 20 per person in 2026, with children under two free. Rides, boating, the aviary and parking are charged separately.
What are the timings of Lake View Park?
It is open daily, roughly from 10 am to 10 pm, with longer effective hours in spring and summer when evenings stay light later.
Is boating available at Lake View Park?
Usually, yes, from the jetty inside the park as a separately ticketed activity. Boating and swimming on the wider Rawal Lake have at times been restricted by the district administration, particularly in the monsoon, so check locally if that matters to your plans.
Is Lake View Park good for young children?
Yes. The play zone, the aviary and the gardens all suit younger children, and boating and go-karting give older children something more active to do.
How long should I plan to spend at Lake View Park?
An hour for the aviary and gardens alone; two to three hours with rides, boating and the play zone included, more on a busy weekend.
Is Lake View Park the same as Rawal Lake?
No. Rawal Lake is the reservoir itself; Lake View Park is the CDA-run family park with rides and an aviary on part of its northern shore.
