The places to visit in Kashmir, picked by our Srinagar team: Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg, the day trips most people miss, the offbeat valleys for a second trip, and how many days each one needs.
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In This Article
- Best places to visit in Kashmir at a glance
- Srinagar: lakes, gardens and the old city
- Gulmarg: gondola, snow and meadows
- Pahalgam: the Lidder river and three valleys
- Sonamarg: glacier country
- Day trips most visitors miss
- Offbeat places in Kashmir for a second trip
- How many days do you need for Kashmir?
- When is the best time to visit?
- Frequently asked questions
Quick Answer: The best places to visit in Kashmir are Srinagar (Dal Lake and the Mughal gardens), Gulmarg, Pahalgam with the Aru and Betaab valleys, and Sonamarg. With a spare day, add Doodhpathri, Yusmarg or the South Kashmir springs. Gurez, Bangus and Lolab need two nights each and suit a second trip.
Last updated: 14 November 2026. By Kashmir Pulse Editorial. Kashmir Pulse is Via Kashmir's editorial channel, written by locals.
This list of places to visit in Kashmir is written by our team in Srinagar, the people who drive these roads every week. It is grouped by region, because in Kashmir the direction from Srinagar shapes a plan more than fame does. Distances are by road from Dalgate in Srinagar, the same figures our drivers use for cab fares.
At a Glance
First trip, 5 to 7 days: Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonamarg
Easy extra day trips: Doodhpathri, Yusmarg, Manasbal, the South Kashmir springs
Second trip: Gurez, Bangus, Lolab, Wular, Sinthan Top
Plan with locals: Via Kashmir trip planning
Best places to visit in Kashmir at a glance
| Place | From Srinagar | Best for | Best season | Time to give |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Srinagar | Base | Houseboats, shikara, Mughal gardens, old city | All year; tulips late March to April | 2 days |
| Gulmarg | 50 km, 1.5 hr | Gondola, snow, skiing, meadows | December to March for snow; May to September for green | 1 day or 1 to 2 nights |
| Pahalgam | 90 km, 2.5 hr | Lidder river, Aru, Betaab, Chandanwari | April to October; snow in winter | 2 nights |
| Sonamarg | 80 km, 2.5 hr | Thajiwas Glacier, river, high meadows | May to October; snow walks in winter | 1 day or 1 night |
| Doodhpathri | 42 km, 1.5 hr | Quiet meadow and streams | May to October | Day trip |
| Yusmarg | 47 km, 1.5 hr | Pine forest meadow | May to October | Day trip |
| Manasbal Lake | 30 km, 1 hr | Lotus and quiet boating | June and July for lotus | Half day |
| Achabal, Kokernag, Verinag | 58 to 80 km | Spring-fed gardens | April to October | One day for all three |
| Gurez Valley | About 140 km, 5 to 6 hr | Remote valley on the Kishanganga | About May to October | 2 to 3 nights |
| Sinthan Top | About 130 km, 4 hr | High pass at about 3,750 m | Summer only | Long day |
Exact distances to every spot are in our Kashmir tourist places distance table.
Srinagar: lakes, gardens and the old city
Give Srinagar two full days. Take a shikara on Dal Lake early, when the floating market trades. The Mughal gardens sit in a line on the lake's east shore: Chashme Shahi, Nishat and Shalimar fit into one morning, with Pari Mahal above them for sunset.
Climb to the Shankaracharya Temple for the city view, and walk the old city around Jamia Masjid. In spring, the Tulip Garden opens for about a month from late March. Our top places to visit in Srinagar guide has timings for each. For a night on the water, compare Dal Lake houseboats.
Related reading: Kashmir in January: Weather, Snow and What to Expect in 2027
Gulmarg: gondola, snow and meadows
Gulmarg is 50 km west of Srinagar at about 2,650 m. The Gulmarg gondola is the reason most people come: Phase 1 rises to Kongdoori at about 3,080 m, and Phase 2 to Apharwat at about 3,980 m, which runs only when the weather allows. From December to March Gulmarg is India's main ski resort. In summer, walk to Khilanmarg or visit St Mary's Church.
A night lets you ride the gondola before the queues. See things to do in Gulmarg and the live Kashmir snowfall page in winter.
Pahalgam: the Lidder river and three valleys
Pahalgam is 90 km south-east of Srinagar, on the Lidder river. Its three valleys are reached by the local union taxi, not by outside cabs: Aru is about 12 km away, Betaab about 15 km and Chandanwari about 16 km. Rafting runs from May to September. Baisaran meadow has stayed closed to visitors since April 2025, so check its status before you plan around it.
Stop at Pampore's saffron fields and the Awantipora ruins on the way. Read Aru, Betaab and Chandanwari for the taxi system, and give Pahalgam two nights.
Related reading: Gulmarg in January: Snow, Skiing and How to Plan the Trip
Sonamarg: glacier country
Sonamarg is 80 km north-east along the Sindh valley, at about 2,800 m. Walk or ride a pony to Thajiwas Glacier, the view in our photo above. When Zoji La is open, a local taxi goes on to Zero Point. Since the Z-Morh tunnel opened in January 2025, Sonamarg can be reached in winter too, for snow walks.
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Day trips most visitors miss
- ✓Doodhpathri (42 km): a high meadow at about 2,730 m with streams and almost no crowd. See our Doodhpathri guide.
- ✓Yusmarg (47 km): a pine-ringed meadow in Budgam.
- ✓Manasbal Lake (30 km): Kashmir's deepest lake, with lotus in June and July. Go before 9 am.
- ✓Achabal, Kokernag and Verinag (58 to 80 km): spring-fed gardens in South Kashmir. Verinag's spring, the source of the Jhelum, sits in an octagonal stone basin built for Emperor Jahangir in 1609.
Offbeat places in Kashmir for a second trip
- ✓Gurez Valley: about 140 km north over the Razdan Pass, open roughly May to October. Plan two or three nights; see our Gurez guide.
- ✓Bangus Valley: an alpine meadow at about 3,000 m in Kupwara, reachable from late May to mid-October.
- ✓Lolab Valley: walnut and apple orchards about 100 km north, with no hotels inside the valley.
- ✓Wular Lake: one of Asia's largest freshwater lakes, 60 km north near Bandipora, busy with migratory birds from October to March.
- ✓Sinthan Top: a pass at about 3,750 m on the road to Kishtwar, open only in summer.
How many days do you need for Kashmir?
| Trip length | Route | Total driving |
|---|---|---|
| 3 days | Srinagar with a Gulmarg day trip | About 200 km |
| 5 days | Srinagar 2 nights with Gulmarg, Pahalgam 2 nights | About 330 km |
| 7 days | Srinagar 3 nights with Gulmarg and Sonamarg, Pahalgam 2 nights, Srinagar 1 night | About 500 km |
| 10 days | The 7-day route plus Doodhpathri, Yusmarg and the South Kashmir springs | About 750 km |
Our 7-day Kashmir itinerary lays out the most popular route day by day. Ready-made trips with hotels and a private cab are on our Kashmir packages page, with live prices, and fixed fares for each road are on Kashmir cabs.
When is the best time to visit?
April to June and September to November suit most places; December to February brings snow. Zoji La, the Razdan Pass and the Mughal Road close in winter and usually open between April and June. Month-by-month detail is in our best time to visit Kashmir guide, and verified stays for every town are on Kashmir hotels.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the most beautiful place in Kashmir?
Gulmarg in snow, Pahalgam and Sonamarg in summer, and Dal Lake all year. For quiet beauty, our team picks Doodhpathri or Gurez.
Can I see Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg in one day?
No. They lie in three different directions from Srinagar, with no road between them, and together mean more than 400 km of driving. Give each its own day.
Which places in Kashmir are open in winter?
Srinagar, Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg. Gurez, Sinthan Top, Zoji La and the Mughal Road close in winter.
What are the best places to visit in Kashmir with family?
Srinagar for the shikara and gardens, Gulmarg for the gondola, and Pahalgam for the river. Doodhpathri and Yusmarg make gentle day trips with children.
Is it safe to visit these places?
The main tourist places receive visitors every day. Read our Kashmir safety guide for current advice, and check road and site status before each day out.
Planning a trip to Kashmir? Via Kashmir offers custom itineraries, verified hotels, and local cab services, planned by people who live here.
Planning more than this? Get a full itemised Kashmir quote