Lahore’s the architecture has defined the tastes of the Subcontinent, and artists, writers, film stars and dancing girls still crowd the old Walled City. Liberal and cosmopolitan, home to several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Lahore is a city which challenges your expectations on every corner.

Things to do

A former capital of the Mughal Empire, Lahore is packed with historic monuments. Many of these are within the Walled City of Androon Shehr. Six of the original city gates survive, where the Roshnai Gate and its shrub-lined gardens link to the Lahore Fort and Badshahi Mosque.

Covering 20 hectares, Lahore Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that was inhabited for a thousand years, dating back to the Mughal period. The white marble Naulakha Pavilion is exceptionally elegant, once inlaid with precious and semi-precious stones. Make sure to admire the Picture Wall, an artistic triumph built in the 1600s that stretches more than 400 metres in length.

Lahore Fort is only a hop, skip and a jump from the Badshahi Mosque, Lahore’s most iconic landmark and the worship place of kings. For more than 300 years it was the largest mosque in the world. The architectural style was heavily influenced by Persian mosques, made of red sandstone with white marble inlay.

Getting around

A sprawling city, the most comfortable way to get around Lahore is on the air-conditioned Metro Bus. While many visitors prefer to traverse the old town on foot, tuk-tuks are also popular and offer an escape from the heat.