DoubleTree by Hilton Multan DHA

Getting to Multan

Multan International Airport lies about 11 km in a straight line from the centre of Multan, and the airport handles domestic flights from major cities, including Lahore and Karachi. Arrivals usually continue into the city by road, and the drive is short enough that the airport feels close to the city rather than remote from it.

Road access into Multan is straightforward, and the city sits on the flat Punjab plain in southern Punjab, roughly 350 km south-west of Lahore. The pace in Multan is busy, with traffic and commerce in the bazaars, so a road arrival may find the approach slower when the bazaars are at their liveliest. Stays that list a shuttle service can arrange the airport run, and car parking is common across the city's hotels and guest houses.

Around Multan

Multan is a large, crowded city on the flat Punjab plain in southern Punjab, standing about 122 m above sea level. It is a working city with a long history and a strong religious character rather than a resort town, and the pace is busy, with traffic and commerce in the bazaars. The old city rewards a slower walk, and the area around the shrines is lively in the evening, when pilgrims gather.

The shrines are the heart of a visit and are quieter places, especially in the early morning or evening. The remains of Multan Fort are also worth a look, though much of the original structure is gone. A full day is enough to see the main shrines and the old city; with a second day, the fort remains and a slower walk through the old city fit comfortably.

The city is roughly 350 km south-west of Lahore, which makes it a natural stop for travellers moving through southern Punjab. Multan's climate is hot and dry, and the contrast between the busy commercial streets and the calmer shrine quarters shapes how a stay here feels.

Multan through the year

Winters in Multan are mild and dry, making November to March the most comfortable months for walking the old city and visiting the shrines. December is the best month, with January, February, March and November close behind as good months for a visit.

April and October are possible months, when the heat begins to build or is easing off. May, June, July, August and September are off-season, when the city's hot, dry climate is at its most intense and long walks are less pleasant.

Places to stay in Multan: what to expect

Hotels in Multan form a large group, mostly simple to mid-range, with a few upscale options. Car parking is listed by almost all of them, and a 24-hour front desk is just as common, which suits travellers arriving late or by road. Free Wi-Fi and breakfast are listed by most, while many also list air conditioning and a shuttle service. A restaurant, room service, family rooms, heating and a garden appear at some hotels, and a kitchen, a swimming pool and a fitness room are listed by a few. The mix works for families who want breakfast and family rooms among the listings, and for drivers who value parking and a staffed front desk.

Guest houses in Multan make up a fair number of the stays, mostly simple to mid-range, with a few upscale options. Car parking and a 24-hour front desk are listed by almost all of them, which helps guests arriving by road or late in the evening. Breakfast is listed by most, free Wi-Fi by many, and a shuttle service by most as well. Family rooms, heating, a kitchen, a restaurant, room service, a garden and air conditioning are listed by some, and a swimming pool by a few. They tend to suit families and longer stays where a quieter setting and a kitchen matter more than a large hotel's facilities.

Serviced apartments in Multan are a small group, mostly without a star rating. A kitchen is listed by almost all of them, and air conditioning and car parking are just as common, which makes them a practical choice for guests who prefer to cook and to keep a vehicle. Free Wi-Fi is listed by most, room service by many, and breakfast, family rooms, a 24-hour front desk and a shuttle service by some. They suit families and longer visits where space and a kitchen count for more than a hotel's front desk.

Staying in Multan: questions