Murree in winter means average days of 8 to 10 °C, nights below freezing, and, from late December through February, a real chance of snow. It is also, since the disaster of January 2022, a season with tightly controlled roads: vehicle counts at the toll plazas, entry stopped once the town is full, and hotel bookings sometimes required before you are allowed in at all.
Handled with a bit of planning, winter is one of the best reasons to make the trip: snow on the pines, a warm hotel room, and a town that empties out compared with a summer Saturday. Handled badly, it is how people end up stuck on the road in the cold. This guide covers the safety rules, what a winter day in Murree actually involves, and what to have in the car.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Winter days | Around 8 to 10 °C |
| Winter nights | Around −3 °C, colder in a storm |
| Snow season | Late December to February, most reliably in January |
| Road control | Vehicle counts at 17 Mile and Phulgran; entry stopped once Murree is full |
| Carry | Snow chains, full tank, warm clothes, blankets, food, water |
| Emergency | Police 15; Rescue 1122 |
How cold does it get?
Winter days average around 8 to 10 °C and nights fall to roughly −3 °C, colder during an active snow spell. That is the average; a storm can push temperatures well below that for a day or two, and wind at the viewpoints makes it feel colder still. For the full month-by-month breakdown, see our guide to Murree weather by month.
Snow itself is not guaranteed on any given trip. Some winters are dry through January; others bring heavy falls. Our Murree snowfall guide covers how to read the forecast and time a trip around an actual spell rather than the calendar.
Why the roads are controlled
On 7 and 8 January 2022, more than 157,000 vehicles tried to enter Murree at once, the roads jammed solid, and 23 people died, many from carbon monoxide poisoning after being trapped in stationary cars with the engine running. Since then, winter entry to Murree has been actively managed:
- Vehicles are counted at the 17 Mile toll plaza on the old road and at Phulgran on the Expressway, and police stop further tourist traffic once the town reaches its safe capacity, even if the roads themselves are still passable.
- In heavy snow, roads can be closed to tourists altogether for hours or days, and at times only visitors with a confirmed hotel booking have been allowed in.
- Inside the town, several roads become one-way in winter, parking is banned on the main routes, and cars left there are impounded, to keep space clear for snowploughs.
None of this should put you off; it means a well-prepared visit is safer than it used to be. It does mean checking the situation before you set off rather than simply driving up. Our guide to getting from Islamabad to Murree covers both routes and how the closures work in practice.
Fuel, heating and the practical side
- Fill the tank before you leave the plains. There is no guarantee of a working fuel station once you are queuing in traffic near Murree, and a stalled engine in cold weather is a real problem.
- Ask about heating before you book. Hotel heating in Murree ranges from central systems to room heaters and gas heaters; check which your hotel uses, and ask about backup power, since parts of Murree lost electricity during the heavy snow of January 2026.
- Keep the car's antifreeze and battery in good order. Cold nights are hard on an old battery, and a car that won't start in a hotel car park at 2,291 metres is a bad start to the day.
- Pack a power bank. Mobile signal and power can both fail during a storm, and a charged phone matters if you need to call for help.
What there is to do in winter
Beyond watching the snow fall, a winter day in Murree has a fixed, simple rhythm:
- Walk the Mall. In snow it is at its most atmospheric, though paths and steps get slippery; watch children and older relatives near the edges.
- Sledging. Vendors rent sledges in open, snow-covered ground near the Mall and Kashmir Point, a simple, low-cost activity that works for most ages.
- The viewpoints. Kashmir Point and Pindi Point both look better under snow, though the walk up can be icy; wear proper shoes, not trainers.
- Patriata's chairlift, snow permitting. It stops in high wind, heavy snow or storms, and may run only part of its route on a bad day. Check before you drive over; our Patriata chairlift guide covers current status and tickets.
- Simple pleasures: hot food, tea stalls, and a slow morning are, for many families, the actual point of a Murree winter trip.
Don't plan a winter day around a long drive to a second place. Roads are slower, daylight is shorter, and one solid activity plus the Mall is a realistic day.
What to carry
- Snow chains, bought in Islamabad or Rawalpindi where they are cheaper, and fitted before a climb, not halfway up it.
- Warm coats, gloves, hats and waterproof shoes for everyone, kept in the car rather than packed in a bag in the boot.
- Blankets, food, water and any regular medication, in case you are held on the road for hours.
- A full tank, working lights and good tyres and brakes.
- A charged phone and a power bank.
Staying safe if you are stuck
If traffic or snow leaves you stationary on the road, the danger is not usually the cold itself but carbon monoxide from a blocked exhaust. Keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow and check it periodically. Don't run the engine for long periods with the windows sealed; use blankets and warm clothes instead, and run the engine only in short bursts with a window cracked. Call 15 for police or 1122 for rescue, and follow their instructions rather than trying to push on past a closed road.
Take particular care with infants, older parents and anyone with a heart or lung condition; a long wait in the cold is harder on them than on anyone else.
Is a winter trip to Murree worth it?
Yes, for most people, and it is genuinely different from Murree the rest of the year. The catch is that winter demands more planning than any other season: a booked hotel, a full tank, chains in the car, and a willingness to change your dates if the forecast turns bad. Go on a weekday if you can, avoid the first weekend after a big snowfall, which is by far the most crowded and dangerous time, and keep the day simple.
If the roads are closed or the town is full when you arrive, don't push against the police at the checkpoint; the Galiyat ridge and the valleys of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have their own snow and are covered in our guide to snowfall places in KPK. For where to stay through the season, see our guide to where to stay in Murree, and if you would like a longer winter trip built around the north, tell us your dates.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to travel to Murree in winter?
Yes, with preparation: a booked hotel, a full tank, chains, warm clothing and a willingness to turn back if police say a road is closed. Avoid driving during an active storm or after dark.
How cold does Murree get in winter?
Average days are around 8 to 10 °C and nights around −3 °C, colder during a snowstorm. Wind adds to the chill at the viewpoints.
Are the roads to Murree open in winter?
Usually, but entry is actively controlled: vehicles are counted at 17 Mile and Phulgran, and traffic is stopped once Murree is full or a road is unsafe. Heavy snow has closed both main routes for periods in recent winters.
What should I pack for a Murree winter trip?
Snow chains, warm coats, gloves, hats, waterproof shoes, blankets, food, water, a full tank and a charged phone with a power bank.
What can you do in Murree in winter besides look at snow?
Walk the Mall, try sledging near Kashmir Point, visit the viewpoints, and ride the Patriata chairlift if the weather allows. Keep the day simple rather than planning a long drive.
What should I do if I get stuck in traffic in the snow?
Keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow, avoid running the engine for long periods with the windows shut, use blankets rather than the heater, and call 15 or 1122 if you need help.
