Flight Routes from Dammam to Lahore

The Cultural Heart of Pakistan

Lahore is the thriving cultural epicentre of Pakistan, the capital of the Punjab province with 11 million people and one of the world's largest cities. An ancient city, it plays host to the majority of the country's festivals, cuisine, publishing, arts, film and music, not to mention being the centre for education and literature. Lahore is also an important religious centre with hundreds of mosques, temples, churches and shrines.

When to visit Lahore

Most visitors to Lahore come during the winter. The climate between November and March is at its most temperate at this time with average temperatures hovering around the 20°C mark. The months from May to September can be overbearingly hot with temperatures at an average of 40°C. Monsoon season hits from late June to early September, so visitors during this time should be prepared for heavy rainfall.

Lahore - before you go

A visa is required for travel to Pakistan for UK passport holders and this should be obtained before you travel. Passports must be valid for six months from the date of application. 

It is recommended to receive vaccines against polio, tetanus, diphtheria, hepatitis A and typhoid. Lahore is a high-risk area for malaria, so visitors should consult their doctor before travelling about anti-malarial tablets.

Visitors should note that alcohol consumption in public places is forbidden in Lahore, and there are harsh penalties for blasphemy, adultery and drug possession and use. 

The cost of living is much lower than that of the UK. A cheap restaurant meal, such as a 'nihari', a beef or lamb stew, costs around 200 PKR and a non-alcoholic drink around 50 PKR.

Local hotels and buses 

A taxi from Allama Iqbal Airport to Lahore centre takes around 20-30 minutes and costs approximately 600 PKR to Gulberg, or around 800-1000 to the old walled town. A cheaper option is to take the public bus, which costs about 35 PKR. Some hotels operate an airport shuttle service. 

In terms of accommodation, a night in a hostel will set you back around 500 PKR per person per  night, whereas a three-star hotel is ca. 4,500 PKR.

Travelling around the city can be tricky and traffic can be very busy at times. The Lahore Metrobus, with its own track, is the fastest option, as it avoids the traffic. It costs about 20 PKR for a single ticket, and a rechargeable ticket requires a deposit of around 130 PR.