Guidebook for Lahore

Maher
Guidebook for Lahore

Arts & Culture

Hosts regular festivals, concerts, a music school and an art gallery. Look at their website or Facebook page to see what's on during your stay. http://lac.punjab.gov.pk/ https://www.facebook.com/LahoreArtsCouncilAlHamra/
Alhamra Art Center
68 Shahrah-e-Quaid-e-Azam
Hosts regular festivals, concerts, a music school and an art gallery. Look at their website or Facebook page to see what's on during your stay. http://lac.punjab.gov.pk/ https://www.facebook.com/LahoreArtsCouncilAlHamra/
The rather dusty and archaic layout still don't detract from the stunning artefacts which continually reference the polyglot and multi-layered history of Pakistan, and South Asia more widely. Don't miss 'Kim's Gun' or Zamzama, the cannon parked outside of Rudyard Kipling fame.
18 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Museo de Lahore
Mall Road
18 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
The rather dusty and archaic layout still don't detract from the stunning artefacts which continually reference the polyglot and multi-layered history of Pakistan, and South Asia more widely. Don't miss 'Kim's Gun' or Zamzama, the cannon parked outside of Rudyard Kipling fame.
For all your Thursday night Sufi shrine needs, this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Immerse yourself in saints, sinners, devotional songs, whirling, praying and drumming whilst incense, fresh rose petals and more heady scents wreath around you. Take a spare pair of socks and a friendly local.
6 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Data Darbar
Data Darbar Road
6 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
For all your Thursday night Sufi shrine needs, this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Immerse yourself in saints, sinners, devotional songs, whirling, praying and drumming whilst incense, fresh rose petals and more heady scents wreath around you. Take a spare pair of socks and a friendly local.
Well, technically you can't go in unless you're staff or a student. But the Mall is a good place to stroll down and experience some seriously grandiose neo-Gothic colonial architecture. Check out the Law Courts, the Museum and the various campus buildings of Punjab University such as King Edwards Medical College.
National College of Arts (NCA)
4 Shahrah-e-Quaid-e-Azam
Well, technically you can't go in unless you're staff or a student. But the Mall is a good place to stroll down and experience some seriously grandiose neo-Gothic colonial architecture. Check out the Law Courts, the Museum and the various campus buildings of Punjab University such as King Edwards Medical College.

Parks & Nature

Great for families, an evening stroll and people-watching, particularly around sunset when the fountains are lighting up. Some gardener there is seriously into his ornamental flower displays.
9 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Parque Jilani (Parque del Hipódromo)
Jail Road
9 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Great for families, an evening stroll and people-watching, particularly around sunset when the fountains are lighting up. Some gardener there is seriously into his ornamental flower displays.
The British were so homesick for their country gardens that they recreated one right in the heart of Lahore. Lawrence Gardens has had a patriotic rebrand, and remains a lush and lovely oasis to linger with a good book.
12 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Bagh e Jinnah
Shahrah-e-Quaid-e-Azam
12 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
The British were so homesick for their country gardens that they recreated one right in the heart of Lahore. Lawrence Gardens has had a patriotic rebrand, and remains a lush and lovely oasis to linger with a good book.
When the pools are filled and the fountains are spraying in the setting sun, this place is just sublime. When there's a drought on, it's drier but still pretty cool. Get a guide to explain the cunning engineering behind it, and marvel at the genius of its Mughal creators.
Shalimar Bagh (Shalimar Gardens)
When the pools are filled and the fountains are spraying in the setting sun, this place is just sublime. When there's a drought on, it's drier but still pretty cool. Get a guide to explain the cunning engineering behind it, and marvel at the genius of its Mughal creators.

Shopping

Our local market, known across Lahore for fashion and handmade leather sandals and shoes. There's also a great bookstore, Variety Books, which you can disappear into for hours. Leave plenty of time if you decide to purchase anything, as you'll be subject to their comedy days-of-the Raj payment system. Visit famous Dupatta Gully and get your dupatta (scarf) matched and dyed to the perfect shade whilst you watch. We recommend masala chips from the street vendors. The fresh jalebis are amazing too. And the samosas. And juices...
21 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Mercado Liberty
1 Noor Jehan Rd
21 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Our local market, known across Lahore for fashion and handmade leather sandals and shoes. There's also a great bookstore, Variety Books, which you can disappear into for hours. Leave plenty of time if you decide to purchase anything, as you'll be subject to their comedy days-of-the Raj payment system. Visit famous Dupatta Gully and get your dupatta (scarf) matched and dyed to the perfect shade whilst you watch. We recommend masala chips from the street vendors. The fresh jalebis are amazing too. And the samosas. And juices...
A world-famous ancient Aladdin's cave of glittering fabrics, bridal outfits and jewellery stretching for miles. Named after a tragic courtesan who came to a sticky end after falling in love with the prince.
8 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Bazar Anarkali
8 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
A world-famous ancient Aladdin's cave of glittering fabrics, bridal outfits and jewellery stretching for miles. Named after a tragic courtesan who came to a sticky end after falling in love with the prince.
Lovely casual and formal clothes for men and women, with unique and funky prints, and gorgeous cotton and silk fabrics.
Khaadi
43L MM Alam Rd
Lovely casual and formal clothes for men and women, with unique and funky prints, and gorgeous cotton and silk fabrics.
The biggest mall in Lahore. High-end fashion, and high-end fashionable ladies. A 30-40 minute drive from our place, but worth checking out at least once.
34 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Centro comercial Emporium
16M Abdul Haque Rd
34 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
The biggest mall in Lahore. High-end fashion, and high-end fashionable ladies. A 30-40 minute drive from our place, but worth checking out at least once.
Our local mall. Clothes, perfumes and shoes.
Gulberg Galleria
18 Main Boulevard Gulberg
Our local mall. Clothes, perfumes and shoes.
A big mall. Good for coffee, fast food and mooching around shops selling popular Western brands when it's too hot or too cold outside.
Mall Of Lahore
172 Tufail Road
A big mall. Good for coffee, fast food and mooching around shops selling popular Western brands when it's too hot or too cold outside.
Everything household-related you could possibly think of. Packed with locals stocking up. Great place to get bedlinen, towels and unusual plastic gadgets. We love this place, but then we've got a thing about weird plastic gadgets.
Ichhra Bazar
Zaildar Road
Everything household-related you could possibly think of. Packed with locals stocking up. Great place to get bedlinen, towels and unusual plastic gadgets. We love this place, but then we've got a thing about weird plastic gadgets.

Sightseeing

Wow. Just wow. If you can try and ignore the bridal and fashion shoots happening at every corner, this is an awe-inspiring and moving experience whatever your religious persuasion.
Badshahi Mosque
Fort Road
Wow. Just wow. If you can try and ignore the bridal and fashion shoots happening at every corner, this is an awe-inspiring and moving experience whatever your religious persuasion.
Make like a Mughal emperor and stamp up the elephant steps to this colossal and weirdly accessible ancient fortress. There's a lovely park to picnic in, and probably the best located chai and ice-cream garden cafe in the Punjab
27 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Lahore Fort Museum
Fort Road
27 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Make like a Mughal emperor and stamp up the elephant steps to this colossal and weirdly accessible ancient fortress. There's a lovely park to picnic in, and probably the best located chai and ice-cream garden cafe in the Punjab
Our favourite 'secret' mosque. Tucked away in the heart of the old walled city, this dreamy place dazzles with its jewelled tiling, enormous terracotta courtyard and mellow light. Watch out for the pigeons!
10 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Mezquita Wazir Khan
Dabbi Bazar
10 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Our favourite 'secret' mosque. Tucked away in the heart of the old walled city, this dreamy place dazzles with its jewelled tiling, enormous terracotta courtyard and mellow light. Watch out for the pigeons!
Go back a thousand years to the old walled and gated city of Lahore and the era of the Mughals, in these tiny winding streets and markets packed with atmosphere, piles of spice, donkey carts, kamikaze motorcyclists and jostling crowds.
Mochi Gate Bazaar
Mochi Gate Bazaar
Go back a thousand years to the old walled and gated city of Lahore and the era of the Mughals, in these tiny winding streets and markets packed with atmosphere, piles of spice, donkey carts, kamikaze motorcyclists and jostling crowds.
Watch the dramatic spectacle of the border between Pakistan and India being closed every sunset. Stamping soldiers, cheering crowds, patriotic songs and a whole load of fun.
12 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Wagah
12 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Watch the dramatic spectacle of the border between Pakistan and India being closed every sunset. Stamping soldiers, cheering crowds, patriotic songs and a whole load of fun.
Lahore's long history is knitted tightly together with the history of the Sikhs, as well as Muslims, Hindus, the British and others. This monument to Ranjit Singh built by his son, nestles poignantly in a garden between the Fortress and Badshahi Mosque.
Samadhi of Ranjit Singh
Lahore's long history is knitted tightly together with the history of the Sikhs, as well as Muslims, Hindus, the British and others. This monument to Ranjit Singh built by his son, nestles poignantly in a garden between the Fortress and Badshahi Mosque.

Food Scene

Eat traditional Lahori delicacies at night on a rooftop in the old red light district, gazing at the very very best view in the whole of Lahore. Unmissable.
6 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Cooco's Den
2168/A Food St Fort Rd
6 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Eat traditional Lahori delicacies at night on a rooftop in the old red light district, gazing at the very very best view in the whole of Lahore. Unmissable.
Moments from our house, this is street food that won't make you sick, served with starched white napkins and polite waiters channelling rural Punjabi culture. And candy floss and fairy lights. And an eat-all-you-can menu. Fun local option and great for kids.
Salt'n Pepper Village Lahore
B-103 MM Alam Rd
Moments from our house, this is street food that won't make you sick, served with starched white napkins and polite waiters channelling rural Punjabi culture. And candy floss and fairy lights. And an eat-all-you-can menu. Fun local option and great for kids.
This is the laziest possible option available to you, being about 20 paces from where you are staying. And they do pretty tasty Chinese food too.
X2 Pan Asian Dining
Near Hussain Chowk
This is the laziest possible option available to you, being about 20 paces from where you are staying. And they do pretty tasty Chinese food too.
When you just want really good creamy pasta in a pretty place for lunch.
Café Aylanto
12 C1 MM Alam Rd
When you just want really good creamy pasta in a pretty place for lunch.
You won't fulfil those charred, sticky, smoky, juicy kebab cravings until you blow out on a huge meaty barbecue. This place is local and does the job.
Bar.B.Q. Tonight
3 میاں محمود علی قصوری روڈ
You won't fulfil those charred, sticky, smoky, juicy kebab cravings until you blow out on a huge meaty barbecue. This place is local and does the job.
You've blown out at a barbecue joint last night, and need something sour, cold, crunchy, chilli and sweet the next day to recover. With no meat. This place does excellent chaats and Indian street food.
Bombay Chowpatty
9 Tariq Road
You've blown out at a barbecue joint last night, and need something sour, cold, crunchy, chilli and sweet the next day to recover. With no meat. This place does excellent chaats and Indian street food.
Have lunch in the slightly surreal ambiance of a polo club - yes, a real one with horses and mallets and riders charging about, eating European food and reminding yourself that these acres of lush greenery and dark polished wood are in fact in the middle of Lahore.
The Polo Lounge
11 Golf Lane
Have lunch in the slightly surreal ambiance of a polo club - yes, a real one with horses and mallets and riders charging about, eating European food and reminding yourself that these acres of lush greenery and dark polished wood are in fact in the middle of Lahore.
Just nice to stroll over in the morning, nurse a decent coffee and listen to music.
Second Cup
Fashion Avenue
Just nice to stroll over in the morning, nurse a decent coffee and listen to music.
You can't go to Lahore without trying as much of its famous street food as possible. Food Street is the culmination of this Lahori obsession. You could spend months hunting down the best off-the-beaten-track fried fish guy in the old city. Or you could come to the old city and enjoy this! As much about the spectacle as the food - but the food's pretty good too.
Food Street
Anarkali Road
You can't go to Lahore without trying as much of its famous street food as possible. Food Street is the culmination of this Lahori obsession. You could spend months hunting down the best off-the-beaten-track fried fish guy in the old city. Or you could come to the old city and enjoy this! As much about the spectacle as the food - but the food's pretty good too.