Four of us decided we needed a break, and instead of heading to the usual northern spots we did something different: a seafood and beach weekend in Karachi. Best decision we had made in a while.

The plan

We came in from Islamabad on a Friday evening flight, about two hours, and flew back Sunday night. Two and a half days, one mission: sea, seafood and good company. We split a comfortable apartment-style stay in DHA, which worked out to a very reasonable share each per night and gave us space to hang out.

The seafood, obviously

Karachi seafood is the whole point. We ate grilled fish and prawns at a seaside spot, did a late dinner at Do Darya with the waves crashing below the restaurants, and hit Boat Basin for street-style BBQ on the last night. Coming from the north, where good seafood is rare and expensive, this was paradise. We genuinely planned our days around meals.

Our beach day

The highlight was a day trip out to French Beach, away from the city crowds. We rented a beach hut for the day, swam (carefully — the currents are no joke), played cricket on the sand, and grilled our own food. A cleaner, quieter beach than Seaview, and exactly the reset we needed. Hawke's Bay is another good option nearby.

The city bits

Between beach and food, we squeezed in a sunset at Seaview with the camels and chai stalls, and a quick look at Mohatta Palace. We kept the sightseeing light — this was a relax-with-friends trip, not a checklist.

What it cost

Splitting the apartment and the beach hut four ways kept things very affordable. Excluding flights, each of us spent roughly PKR 35,000–40,000 for the whole weekend including all that seafood. Shared costs are the secret to a cheap Karachi trip.

Tips for a beach weekend

• Come in winter; the sea breeze and weather are perfect then.
• Split a hut and accommodation with friends to slash costs.
• Swim only where it is safe — Arabian Sea currents are strong, especially in monsoon.
• Use ride-hailing apps; the beaches are a fair drive from the city.
• Build your itinerary around the seafood. Trust us.

If your group is bored of the same old trips, a Karachi beach-and-seafood weekend is a brilliant change of pace. We are already planning the next one.