Defence Raya Golf & Country Club

Getting to Lahore

Allama Iqbal International Airport, Lahore, lies about 6.5 km in a straight line from central Lahore, so the airport is close to the city rather than out in open country. The airport sits south-east of the city centre and handles domestic flights to Karachi, Islamabad and other cities as well as international arrivals. From the terminal, arrivals usually continue by road: taxis and ride-hailing apps are the easiest way to reach the monuments and the districts where stays are listed, while auto-rickshaws are common for short trips.

Around Lahore

Lahore is the capital of Punjab and a large, spread-out city, and it sits at an altitude of about 217 metres. The old walled city and the newer districts around it feel very different from each other, which shapes how a stay here works: the historic core holds the lanes, gates and monuments, while the districts beyond it carry much of the everyday business and residential life of the city.

Within Lahore, the metro bus line runs along the main corridors, taxis and ride-hailing apps are the easiest way to reach the monuments, and auto-rickshaws are common for short trips. Traffic is heavy for much of the day, so allow extra time between sights. The evening is a good time for food streets near the old city, and if time allows, a walk along a section of the old city wall and gates that remain gives a sense of the historic core.

Lahore has an international airport south-east of the city centre, with domestic flights to Karachi, Islamabad and other cities, and long-distance buses use several terminals around the city. Faisalabad, Gujranwala and Sialkot are all within a few hours by road or rail and make easy onward stops from Lahore.

Lahore through the year

Winters in Lahore are mild and clear, which makes them the best months for walking the old streets and gardens; October to March is the recommended window, with January, February, October, November and December the best months and March still good. April and September are possible, though less comfortable.

Summers are long and hot, with monsoon rain from July, so May, June, July and August are the quietest months for a stay. Winter mornings can be foggy, which sometimes delays flights and trains, so build some slack into travel plans in those months.

Places to stay in Lahore: what to expect

Hotels in Lahore form a large group, mostly simple to mid-range, with a few upscale options. Almost all list car parking, and most list free Wi-Fi, air conditioning and a 24-hour front desk, while many list breakfast, family rooms, room service and a shuttle service. A restaurant, a kitchen and a garden appear at some hotels, and a swimming pool and a fitness room at a few. The parking and front desk make this kind suit drivers and families arriving late, and the shuttle service helps with airport transfers.

Guest houses in Lahore also form a large group, mostly simple to mid-range, with a few upscale options. Almost all list car parking, and most list free Wi-Fi, air conditioning and a 24-hour front desk, while many list breakfast, family rooms and a kitchen, which suits families who want to prepare some of their own meals. A restaurant, room service and a shuttle service appear at some guest houses, and heating, a garden and a swimming pool at a few. The combination of parking and family rooms makes guest houses a practical choice for families travelling by car.

Serviced apartments in Lahore form a large group with a mix of simple, mid-range and unrated stays. Almost all list free Wi-Fi, car parking, a kitchen, air conditioning and family rooms, so this kind of stay suits longer visits and families who want to cook and settle in rather than move between rooms. Some list a 24-hour front desk, room service and a garden, a few list a restaurant, a shuttle service and a fitness room, and a swimming pool appears at some.

Resorts and lodges in Lahore form a small group with a mix of simple, mid-range and unrated stays. Almost all list car parking and air conditioning, and most list free Wi-Fi, family rooms, a kitchen, room service and a garden, which gives more space and outdoor room than a standard city room. Breakfast is listed by many, while a restaurant, a 24-hour front desk and a shuttle service appear at some, and a swimming pool and a fitness room at a few. The garden and kitchen make this kind of stay work well for families and groups who want room to spread out.

Staying in Lahore: questions