Last Updated on: 18th February 2026, 01:13 pm
Lahore, Pakistan’s second-largest city, is home to the largest concentration of Mughal architecture in the country. Long the most prominent city of the Punjab region, it’s also regarded as Pakistan’s cultural capital. Nevertheless, tourists are rare here. This guide to the top things to do in Lahore details what you can expect if you decide to make a visit.
As we’ll cover below, many of the significant monuments throughout the city were closed during my visit – and it wasn’t because of a holiday, nor due to restorations. But we’ll still be mentioning them should you happen to find them open.
Check the end of this guide to learn more about accommodation in Lahore, along with more thoughts on whether or not this bustling city is worth visiting.
Around The Old City
Lahore’s Old City is the best place to get a sense of what life may have looked like in the Mughal era. While the term ‘Old City’ refers to a broader area, at its core lies the Walled City of Lahore, which features many of the city’s most important Mughal monuments.
But as we’ll be covering shortly, you can find a few worthy attractions outside of the ancient walls.
Normal cars can’t get through much of the Walled City, so if you’re not staying in the area, it would be wise to have your driver drop you off at the Delhi Gate and walk from there.
The Wazir Khan Hammam
As we’ll cover shortly, I had bad luck during my visit to Lahore, with most of the Walled City’s monuments being completely closed to visitors throughout my entire stay.
One place that was open, however, was the Wazir Khan Hammam , not far from the Delhi Gate.
At the time of writing, entrance to the hammam costs PKR 500 for foreigners. It should be open daily from 8:00–20:00.
The hammam was built in 1635 AD by Hakim ‘Ilmuddin Wazir Khan, the governor of Lahore at the time. But As the Mughal Empire declined, it fell into disuse in the 18th century, and it was later used for various different purposes during the British period.
Incredibly, its splendid wall paintings were not even discovered until 1991. And from 2013-2015, the hammam was restored by the Aga Khan Cultural Service-Pakistan with additional funding from Norway.
As you walk around, in addition to the beautiful paintings, you’ll also get to see the exposed subterranean furnace section where the water was heated for guests.
Around Wazir Khan Chowk
Walking deeper into the Walled City, you’ll find yourself in Wazir Khan Chowk, one of the most photogenic parts of the district. In the center of the roundabout, for example, is a beautiful old well surrounded by potted flowers.
And just across the road is the stunning Wazir Khan Mosque.
Wazir Khan Mosque
Built between 1634 and 1641 during Shah Jahan’s reign, the Wazir Khan Mosque is considered the most ornately decorated Mughal-era mosque in existence.
It’s named after the same Wazir Khan mentioned above, and it originally served as the city’s main congregational mosque.
It’s known for its extraordinary tile work, with nearly every surface covered in kashi-kari (glazed tile mosaic). The tiles feature floral patterns, calligraphy, and geometric designs in various colors.
The complex originally included a forecourt bazaar, shops for calligraphers, and bookbinders.
Unfortunately, access was forbidden at the time of my visit. There seemed to be construction going onside, though it may have simply been closed for the same reason many other places were during my visit: the arrival of so-called ‘VIPs.’
Lahore Fort
Occupying the northwest corner of the Old City, Lahore Fort is a massive UNESCO World Heritage Site. Emperor Akbar laid the foundations in 1566, with his successors gradually adding to it over the following century.
Highlights include the Sheesh Mahal (Palace of Mirrors), the marble Naulakha Pavilion, Jahangir’s Picture Wall, and Aurangzeb’s Alamgiri Gate.
Unfortunately, we can’t show any of them here.
The fort was completely closed to tourists at the time of my visit, with explanations ranging from ambassadors visiting to cricket teams to an eco-summit.
One tout who approached me tried to sell me his guide services, offering me special access to the fort if I’d hire him. I declined, as I’d have several more days in the city and planned to return.
But not only did I later see him get turned away at the entrance with another tourist, but the fort would also remain closed for the remainder of my stay.
Badshahi Mosque
Constructed between 1671 and 1673 during the reign of Emperor Aurangzeb, the Badshahi Mosque is arguably Lahore’s most iconic piece of architecture.
It was built to commemorate Aurangzeb’s military campaigns in southern India. Inspired by Delhi’s Jama Masjid, it was largely built of red sandstone like many Mughal monuments of the era.
It was used to store ammunition during the Sikh Empire and then as a military garrison before it was finally restored in 1939. Even today, it remains the second-largest mosque in Pakistan after Islamabad’s Faisal Mosque.
After encountering multiple closed attractions, I felt sure that an important place of worship would remain open to the public. But it too was closed. I did, at least, get a nice overhead view of it from a nearby restaurant.
Minar-e-Pakistan
Just outside of the Walled City is the massive Iqbal Park, which is home to one of Lahore’s most well-known modern symbols. Standing at 70 m high, Minar-e-Pakistan was completed in 1968, blending together traditional and modern influences.
Iqbal Park which surrounds it, meanwhile, is the place where the All-India Muslim League passed the Lahore Resolution on March 23, 1940, an event which would lead to the formation of Pakistan in 1947.
Even after finding the Badshahi Mosque closed, I was sure that I’d at least get to enjoy a public park. But no, even Iqbal Park was closed during my visit to Lahore!
Locals and domestic tourists were just as confused as I was, as there were apparently no public announcements about the closure of all these monuments, nor any clarity on how long the closures would last.
(I’ve since discovered this page, which may or may not provide reliable updates.)
The Faqeer Khana Museum
A little bit south of the Walled City is a place I actually did find open, and what could be considered one of Lahore’s top destinations for fine arts lovers.
The Faqeer Khana Museum is a privately-run museum situated in a residential area. While I’m not entirely sure of the system, I just happened to arrive when a private tour was about to start, and was allowed to join. But some sources online say that an advanced reservation is normally required.
The history of the Faqeer family itself is fascinating, as members of the family once served directly under Maharaja Ranjit Singh, founder of the Sikh Empire.
Their collection – comprised of around 20,000 artifacts in total – consists of items that were gifted to the family by Singh, and some accumulated by family members during their travels.
The museum has been open to the public since 1901, and it houses items like miniature paintings, Chinese porcelain, and numerous Gandhara artifacts.
It shouldn’t be seen as a replacement to the much larger Lahore Museum, but more as a compliment to it.
Mall Road
For a glimpse of a more recent side of Lahore, be sure to check out Mall Road, the colonial-era boulevard laid out by the British in the 19th century.
The main highlight here is the Lahore Museum, one of South Asia’s finest museums. We’ve already covered it in-depth in a separate guide.
Other notable landmarks in the area, meanwhile, include the High Court and Punjab University.
Various Mughal Tombs
In the north part of the city is a collection of Mughal-era tombs – including one belonging to a prominent emperor – that a lot of visitors seem to miss.
While not the easiest area to reach, you can get there by taking a Metro Bus to Shahdara Metro Bus Station, the northernmost stop at the end of the line.
From there, it takes about twenty minutes on foot to reach the closest tomb, which is that of Noor Jahan. Or, you can use the Careem or InDriver apps instead.
Noor Jahan's Tomb
Noor Jahan was the wife of Emperor Jangir, whose tomb is situated nearby. But she wasn’t your typical Mughal queen.
During Jahangir’s final years, the emperor struggled with alcohol and opium addiction, and he was unfit to manage his vast territory. So he essentially remained as a figurehead, with Noor Jahan running things in his place.
During this time, she issued imperial orders and even issued coins bearing her name.
Originally born in Kabul, she died in Lahore in 1645 at the age of 72. And she was buried in this square sandstone tomb with her daughter Ladli Begum.
Unfortunately, the tomb was looted and stripped of its ornamental stones during Sikh rule. But the mausoleum seems to currently be under restoration.
Though there’s not much to see, you’ll still be asked to pay PKR 500 as a foreigner. It wouldn’t be worth going out of your way for on its own, but, as mentioned, it’s on the way to the more impressive tomb of Jahangir.
The walk there from this tomb is roughly ten minutes, and you’ll have to walk across some train tracks along the way. The entrance can be a bit tricky to find, but the Organic Maps app has it properly labeled.
The Shahdara Complex
The Shahdara Complex is home to several different structures, the most notable of which is the tomb of Emperor Jahangir. Tickets for the entire complex cost PKR 500 at the time of writing (the tickets are separate from those to the Tomb of Noor Jahan).
Past the ticket gate, you’ll find yourself in the Akbari Sarai which was built during the reign of Shah Jahan (1627-1657). It’s a large courtyard surrounded by a series of rooms, while it’s also home to the Akbari Sarai Mosque.
From here, Jahangir’s Tomb is to the right, but I decided to save it for last.
In the opposite direction is a dilapidated structure known as Asif Khan’s Tomb, which belongs to the brother of Noor Jahan. It was constructed by Shah Jahan, his son-in-law.
A major reason for its current condition is that it was stripped of its outer marble coating during the Sikh Empire era. It does, at least, offer a rare glimpse into how many Mughal-era tombs really look beneath the surface.
The Taj Mahal was commissioned by the same emperor, and this is also likely how that world-famous structure would appear if its marble were stripped (albeit on a much bigger scale, obviously).
Next, it was finally time to visit Jahangir’s Tomb, the only tomb of a Mughal emperor situated in modern-day Pakistan. Jahangir’s father, Akbar, had made Lahore the capital (after a period at Fatehpur Sikri), and it remained a major imperial seat during Jahangir’s reign.
The tomb is situated in the middle of a large garden that was already here at the time of the emperor’s death in 1627.
The mausoleum is a large one-story building that stretches to 81.4 m on each side. It also has a towering minaret at its corners, each of which stands at 30.5 m high.
Like the tombs already mentioned, many of the structure’s ornamental stones were stripped by Sikh rulers. Allegedly, some of them were even used to decorate Amritsar’s Golden Temple.
But a lot of the decoration has been meticulously restored thanks to recent efforts. You’ll even find a small on-site museum which details the process. Fascinatingly, some of the stones even change color when light is shone on them!
All in all, Jahangir’s Tomb is a beautiful piece of architecture that’s absolutely worth the effort to go out and see for those staying in Lahore.
Personally, however, I would still rank it behind the tombs of Humayun and Akbar.
Shalimar Bagh
Yet another prominent Mughal landmark in Lahore is Shalimar Bagh, a well-preserved traditional garden created by Shah Jahan.
It’s located to the east of the city (not far from the Wagah Border) and is accessible via the Shalimar Garden metro station.
After experiencing all of the closures in the Old City mentioned above, and hearing from a domestic traveler that he found Shalimar Bagh closed, I waited a few days before making the trip out here.
Unfortunately, it was still closed. The reason? More VIPs, according to one guard, while another mentioned a Sufi festival that had just happened. So my long journey via Metro Bus and then Metro ended up in vain.
Additional Info
Unfortunately, as mentioned above, I found visiting Lahore as a tourist to be rather frustrating due to the fact that most of its important monuments were closed throughout my entire stay.
I was, at least, able to visit the Lahore Museum and the Tomb of Jahangir. But I’d just arrived from India, and neither was a major departure from what I’d already seen there.
On that note, since I’d just crossed the Wagah Border from Amritsar, Lahore was naturally my first stop in Pakistan and I didn’t have to go out of my way.
But nowadays, a lot of people visit Pakistan mainly to explore the fantastic Gilgit-Baltistan region in the north, so you might find yourself entering the country via a flight to Islamabad.
In that case, I don’t think Lahore has enough to offer to warrant the roundtrip detour. And at the time of writing, the Wagah Border is still closed.
But if you do find yourself passing through, then yes, it would be worth giving yourself at least three days in the city to explore.
Lahore is a huge, sprawling and congested city. And surprisingly, accommodation can be rather expensive compared with neighboring India, likely due to limited tourism and low competition.
For most visitors, there are two ideal areas. Staying in or near the Old City places Lahore’s main historical sights within easy reach. Mall Road is a good middle ground, as it has plenty of hotel options while it’s still relatively close to Lahore’s main sites (and the Lahore Museum is located directly on it).
Although Gulberg is considered the city’s most modern and upscale area, it’s too far away from Lahore’s main attractions to be a practical base for sightseeing.
In any case, even if you can’t find somewhere in the Old City or by Mall Road, at least look for somewhere near either a Metro station or a Metro Bus station. You can certainly get around with ridesharing apps like InDriver or Careem, but public transport really comes in handy in such a congested city.
Those willing to splurge might want to consider the Four Points by Sheraton Lahore. A highly-rated midrange option is the Lawrence View Hotel, while a popular budget option in Lahore is the Dimora Hotel Anarkali.