Flights from Abu Dhabi to Lahore

A unique cultural and historical centre

The ancient city of Lahore is an exciting mix of historic Sikh and Mughal architecture, colonial mansions and bustling modern shopping malls, and a great destination for the intrepid traveller.

Best time to explore Lahore

The best time to visit the city is from November to March as it can be very hot from May until September. It is also monsoon season between June and September.

Advance Lahore travel information

All British passport holders need a visa for visits to Pakistan. ID must be valid for at least 6 months upon the date of application.

Lahore is located in a malaria risk zone. Some vaccinations including Polio, Hepatitis A, Tetanus, Diphtheria and Typhoid are also recommended with the addition of the Rabies vaccine for certain visitors.

To ensure safety in Pakistan, travellers should be aware that alcohol consumption is prohibited in public places. There are extremely severe penalties for blasphemy, adultery and the possession or use of drugs for example. Check on the foreign office website before you leave. 

Tips on arrival

Pakistan is far less expensive than the UK. A cheap restaurant meal should not cost more than about 200 PKR. Typical Pakistani dishes include "Nihari" a lamb or beef stew and "Mithai" sweets. Non-alcoholic drinks are around 50 PKR per bottle and bottled water from a supermarket is also about 50 PKR.

A taxi from the airport to central Lahore should cost approximately 600 PKR to Gulberg or 800-1,000 PKR to the Old City and takes around 20-30 minutes. The public bus service is the cheapest transport mode and fares are about 35 PKR on the B-08 to the bus station. Many hotels provide a shuttle service.

A cheap hostel bed is about 500 PKR per night while a 3-star hotel is approximately 4,500 PKR. 

Local bus fares start at about 18 PKR. Lahore Metrobus is a faster option thanks to its separate bus track, a single fare being around 20 PKR. A rechargeable ticket or token can be obtained for a deposit of approximately 130 PKR.

The city is currently building a Metro system. Visitors should either walk to the Walled City or take a rickshaw after negotiating the fare. Taxis are not used frequently in the city and should be booked in advance. Minivans are very crowded and best avoided by tourists.