“Lahore, the second-largest city of Pakistan, the ancient capital of Punjab, home to nearly as many people as New York, layered like a sedimentary plain with the accreted history of invaders from the Aryans to the Mongols to the British.”
― Mohsin Hamid, The Reluctant Fundamentalist.
Lahore, the lively and happening city of Pakistan is known across the globe for its rich culture, warm people, and exquisite cuisine.
In this never-sleeping city, there are so many things you can do. From food to shopping malls to historical sightseeing, well-established institutions, Lahore is packed with hundreds of tourist spots, attractive farmhouses and interesting things to do and all that without having to spend a fortune.
List of Things to do in Lahore
- Explore Old Lahore
- Sufi Dhamals on Thursday
- Food Street/ Dine out
- Shopping
- Sozo Water Park and Joyland
- Tour Bus
- Wagah Border
- Visit Museums
- Explore Art Galleries
- Visit Parks and Gardens
1. Explore Old Lahore
If you want to see the true colors of Lahore city, you need to roam in the old walled city of Lahore. The historic but crowded walled city is full of hidden treasures like artistic buildings, good food, and local shops. Take a stroll around the city and you will come across many shrines, historical mosques, temples, galleries, havelies, gurdwaras, bazaars, street food shops, and monuments. If you are an adventurer or traveler who wants to explore different areas of Pakistan, you should give majestic deserts a visit.
Some of the places you should visit in Lahore are Badshahi Mosque, Lahore Museum, Minar-e-Pakistan, Shalamar Gardens, Wazir Khan Mosque, Jahangir’s Tomb and Chughtai Museum. In short, it is safe to say that Lahore is truly an epitome of culture and art.
2. Sufi Dhamals on Thursday
Lahore is filled with shrines and mausoleums of Sufis and holy men. Every day, hundreds and thousands of devotees visit these shrines and pay their respect to these dignified men. Few of the most famous shrines in Lahore include the Shrine of Madhu Lal Hussain and the Shrine of Mauj Darya. Everyday these shrines host dhamaal, a form of dance.
Dhamal is a type of performing art and has a cultural significance attached to it. The dhamal usually starts late at night. All the area gets lit up and people dance in the glow of oil lamps. Tens and hundreds of people dance at the sound of drums and dhols.
The dhamal is a spectacle for sure. So, if you want to experience this amazing performing art, you should visit these shrines.
Visiting cinemas is an excellent fun way to kill time. Lahore has one of the best cinemas in the country.
3. Food Street/ Dine out
Talking about food in Pakistan is actually being a part of the longstanding friendly food rivalry between Karachi and Lahore. Cafés in Karachi are perfect for hangouts with friends and family. On the other hand, Lahore is known for its food.
From lip-smacking nihari and paaye to piping hot BBQ to delicious kulfi, Lahore is loaded with hundreds of yummy desi restaurants.
Lahore is known around the world for its authentic desi cuisine. If you are a foodie, then you should visit Lahore and trust us, it will be food heaven for you.
From paaye from Manoo Siri Paaye, Sultanpur to falooda from Baba Ji Kulfi Walay, Muslim Town to beef Khoya Tikka from Shafi Tikka Shop, Saddar Bazaar to besan-Fried Rahu from Bashir Dar ul Mahi, Mozang to haresa by Amritsari Hareesa, Nisbat Road, Lahore is loaded with yummy desi cuisine. Lahore also has famous fast food places to eat. Restaurants in Bahria town Lahore are widely recommended.
If you want to have fine dine-in experience in Lahore than do consider the following places to eat:
- Arcadian Cafe Packages Mall
- Monal Lahore
- Yum! Chinese and Thai Restaurant
- Qabail Tribes
- Cafe Aylanto
- Haveli Restaurant
- Cafe Zouk
- Cooco’s Den
Get to know some of the top restaurants in Multan.
4. Shopping
Lahore has several shopping centers, malls, and bazaars from where you can buy local and international products. If you are a shopaholic and a fan of international brands, you should visit Emporium Mall, Packages Mall, Mall of Lahore, Gulberg Galleria and the list goes on.
Similarly, if you are looking for affordable and local brands you can visit local markets and bazaars like Anarkali, Liberty Market, Fortress Market, and the list goes on. Some of the things that you should buy from Lahore are traditional jewelry, clothes, khussas, and local decoration pieces. If you are looking for accommodation visit guest houses in Lahore. You can also opt for amazing hotels in the city as they provide top-class services.
5. Sozo Water Park and Joyland
There are several recreational activities that you can enjoy in Lahore. One of the most common and popular recreational activities in Lahore is Joyland and its amazing selection of rides.
Joyland is a Pakistani amusement park company based in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. The park, adjacent to Fortress Stadium, was established in 1977 and is one of the largest recreation parks in the city. It is spread out over an area of 6 acres (24,000 m2).
If you are a fan of amazing and daring rides, you should visit Joyland.
Another great option for recreational activities in Lahore is the Sozo water park. Sozo Water Park is the only amusement park in Pakistan that has a huge separate water park dedicated to ladies. It has a canteen, lockers, and washrooms for your comfort as well. It is big enough to entertain 2000 women at the same time. It has two huge slides for the thrill-seekers and small ones for children under 5 and those who just want to have a good time.
Get to know top gyms in Karachi.
6. Tour Bus
If you are visiting Lahore for the first time and want to explore the city in one day, you should try the Lahore Bus. The Sightseeing Lahore tour to see spectacular Lahore through an open roof double-decker Bus. Once inside the bus, you will be enchanted by the city’s fascinating colors, bustling bazaars, rich history & culture, modern architecture, and bastion of the Mughal spirit.
The tour bus will cost you only Rs.400. If you want to experience the true colors of Lahore, we highly recommend this tour.
7. Wagah Border
Wagah is a village and union council located in the Wagah Zone of Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. The town is famous for the Wagah border ceremony and also serves as a goods transit terminal and a railway station between Pakistan and India. Wagah is situated 600 meters (2,000 ft) west of the border and lies on the historic Grand Trunk Road between Lahore and Amritsar in India.
The Wagah-Attari border ceremony happens at the border gate, two hours before sunset each day. The flag ceremony is conducted by the Pakistan Rangers and Indian Border Security Force (BSF), similar to the retreat ceremonies at Ganda Singh Wala/Hussainiwala border crossing and Mahavir/Sadqi International Parade Ground border crossing.
A marching ceremony, known as the “Silly Walk ceremony”, is conducted each evening along with the flag ceremony. The ceremony started in 1986 as an agreement of peace.
8. Visit Museums
Lahore is known across the country for its museums. If you are interested in history and artefacts, you need to visit the museums of Lahore.
- The Lahore Museum was founded in 1865 during the British colonial period. The museum has housed an extensive collection of Buddhist art from the ancient Indo-Greek and Gandhara kingdoms. The collection also includes musical instruments, ancient jewellery, textiles, pottery, armoury, Tibetan, and Nepalese work.
It also has a huge variety of artefacts from the Mughal Empire, the Sikh Empire, and the British Empire in India. Apart from artefacts, the museum also has a decent variety of art pieces including Greco-Buddhist sculptures, Mughal and Pahari paintings on display.
- If you are a patriot and want to explore the national heritage, you need to visit the Army museum as well. It has many artefacts and trophies brought back by our brave soldiers and officers. The museum is divided into different sections including Rebirth of a Nation, Quaid and Armed Forces, Shuhada Corner, Nishan-e-Haider Gallery, Life at Siachen, and Kashmir Corner. There is a gallery at the museum that showcases the war and its heroes.
- Fakir Khana Museum is also an amazing place in Lahore. It is a private museum and house located in Lahore, Pakistan, owned by the Fakir family. It is the largest privately-owned museum in South Asia. The museum has around 20,000 artefacts from the 18th to 20th centuries. It also has 10,000 manuscripts, 180 displayed miniature paintings, Sikh era textiles, statuary, pottery, and carved ivory pieces.
9. Art Galleries
Lahore is famous around the world for its rich culture and artistic vibes. Lahore has always been into the limelight for its artists and literary figures.
Alhamra Art Center, also known as the cultural and artistic hub of Lahore is known for its exhibitions, theatre, and other performing arts. The place regularly hosts a huge range of informative and entertaining programs including music, theatre, festivals, literary (book launchings, poetry reading, seminars, lectures & discussions), school programs, and government-organized programs.
Apart from the Alhamra Art Center, there are many art galleries in Lahore that house some of the most creative contemporary workpieces. Some of the art galleries you may visit include:
- Hamail art gallery
- Revivers galleria
- Ejaz art gallery
10. Parks and Gardens
Did you know that Lahore is known as the city of Gardens? Yes, you heard us right. The city is known across the world for its lush green parks and historical gardens. If you want to see the greenery and natural beauty of Lahore, you need to visit these parks.
- Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park
- Lahore Wildlife Park
- Jallo Park
- Jilani Park
- Model Town Park
- Greater Iqbal Park
Every day hundreds of people come at the border and witness this patriotic sight. If you are a patriot or you are going to start your own a travel agency as a business you should add Wagah on your list for sure. Get to know universities in Islamabad.
Apart from these activities, you can go fishing and swimming. Some of the dams in Pakistan are famous for their swimming spots even they also have beautiful picnic spots hill stations and fishing options. Get to know list of rivers in Pakistan.
Pakistan is packed with hundreds of affordable places to visit beautiful places to visit in Islamabad but to travel across borders you will need a passport. Get to know passport offices in Lahore. Many countries also offer visa-free entry for Pakistani passport holders.
So, these were some of the most interesting things you can do in Lahore city. It is a very colourful and lively city inhabited by warm and loving people. Visit Lahore and do not forget to experience the things we mentioned in the article.
Get to know places to visit in Karachi.
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Happy travelling!
