Gilgit is the capital city of the Gilgit-Baltistan region, an administrative territory of Pakistan. The city is located in a small valley near the confluence of the Gilgit River and Hunza River. Gilgit is a major tourist destination in northern Pakistan, and serves as a hub for mountaineering expeditions in the Karakoram Range.

It was an important stop on the ancient Silk Road, and today serves as a major junction along the Karakoram Highway with road connections to China, Skardu, Chitral, and Islamabad.

The city's ancient name was Sargin, later to be known as Gilit, and it is still referred to as Gilit or Sargin-Gilit by local people.

In the Burushaski language, it is named Geelt and in Wakhi and Khowar it is called Gilt. About 100% of the population of Gilgit is Muslim, with 70% being Twelver Shia Muslims, 12% being Ismaili Shia Muslims and 18% being Sunni Muslims.

Gilgit experiences a cold desert climate (Köppen climate classification BWk).

Weather conditions for Gilgit are dominated by its geographical location, a valley in a mountainous area, southwest of Karakoram range.

The prevalent season of Gilgit is winter, occupying the valley eight to nine months a year.