10 Best Tourist Places to Visit in Lahore

There is an old Punjabi saying, “He who has not seen Lahore is not alive.” Staring at his rickshaw on the noisy streets of this city, this phrase became more meaningful to me.

Lahore, Pakistan’s cultural heart, and food capital, is full of life, action and colours. With a population of 11.1 million, the city is also known as the ‘City of Gardens’ due to its abundance of parks and greenery.

List of 10 best Places in Lahore

In this article, you will find all the 10 best places to visit in Lahore and the most essential things to know before travelling to Pakistan. I hope that by the end of it, you will be impressed to see this remarkable city for yourself too!

1. Minar-e-Pakistan

Minar-e-Pakistan is one of the best places to visit in Lahore and a historical monument of Lahore. It is considered the tallest tower in Pakistan. Minar-e-Pakistan is the place where the Lahore Resolution was passed which was the official demand for a separate homeland for the Muslims of South Asia as a result of the two-nation theory.

Minar-e-Pakistan is one of the tourist attractions in Lahore. The monument is located in a large park with other tourist attractions, including boats, a children’s play area, snacks, tour guides, a fort, and a museum.

2. Badshahi Mosque

The king of all mosques in Lahore, Badshahi Masjid ruled the throne of being the largest mosque in the world for more than 313 years in history.

The majesty of the mosque can be gauged from the fact that for the first 70 years after its construction in 1673, the mosque was famous only for its unusual and unusual size, which could be seen from a distance of about ten miles.

There is no doubt that the mosque was of such importance earlier and still is! Even today this historic and sacred artifact speaks for itself as it stands with great grandeur.

3. Masjid Wazir Khan

The Wazir Khan Mosque is the most ornate mosque of the 17th-century Mughal era, maintaining its position as the main place of worship in the old city.

Masjid stands tall near the Delhi Gate of the walled city of Lahore, passing through a busy bazaar, where you can hear the clatter of busy customers through the walls of the mosque.

The elaborate Islamic design and architecture of the mosque take you back to the time when Muslims ruled the subcontinent.

4. Lahore Fort

The Qila Lahore (Royal Fort) in Lahore, Pakistan is a large complex of fortifications, marble mosques and palaces built by the Mughal emperor Akbar, known as Akbar the Great.

There were buildings and forts at the site from the 11th century and earlier, it was during the reign of Akbar the Great that the present fort came into being.

5. Data Darbar

Data Darbar, located in Lahore, Punjab, is the largest Sufi shrine in South Asia. It was built to house all the remains of the Sufi saint Al-Hajwiri from Ghazni, commonly known as ‘Data Ganj Bakhsh’.

This place is known as the holiest or holiest place in the city and attracts more than a million tourists to its Urs Mela held every year.

6. Lahore Museum

The Lahore Museum, also known as the Central Museum, in Lahore, Pakistan, is an archaeological museum that opened in 1894 and contains examples of the arts and crafts of the Punjab province, including sculpture, coins, and Kangra (hill) and Mughal paintings and clothes.

Lahore Museum includes the history of many eras including Sikh, British and Mughal. The structure of Lahore Museum is a blend of traditional old Mughal architecture with a fine British touch making it a fine example of architecture in the city.

7. Shalimar Bagh

Shalimar Bagh was built by the great Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. It is a fine example of Mughal architecture. The construction of the garden started in 1641 and was completed in one year. It was used as a royal pleasure garden from the 16th to the 19th century.

Shalimar Garden is located along Grand Trunk Road. The site of Shalimar Garden originally belonged to a prestigious “Mian” family of Lahore. The land for the gardens was donated by Mian Muhammad Yusuf to Emperor Shah Jahan and he gave the Mian dynasty the rulership of Shalimar Bagh.

8. Lahore Wagah Border

Famous for its daily Wagah border ceremony, known for its border tensions, the Wagah border between India and Pakistan sees little traffic. Probably because most people are still wondering if it is possible to cross the land between India and Pakistan!

Wagah border event is a batting retreat event which starts at 4:15 PM in winter and 5:15 PM in summer but you have to check in 45 minutes before the event. The 45-minute ceremony includes the closing of international gates and the lowering of the flags of both countries.

A visit to the Wagah border fills you with a sense of pride and is a great way to end a local sightseeing tour of Lahore. Remember to arrive at the venue 45 minutes before to get good seats.

9. Lahore Zoo

Lahore is known as the “City of Gardens” and over the years the authorities have ensured that the parks across the city are well maintained and maintained.

Like Shalimar Garden, Jallo Park and Jinnah Park, Lahore Zoo is one of the famous places in Lahore that offers open, green spaces.

It is said to be the oldest zoo in the subcontinent and houses a wide range of animals and birds. If you are in Lahore, you must visit this place at least once, especially if you have small children. Let’s explore in this blog why you should visit Lahore Zoo.

10. Tomb of Jahangir

Jahangir’s tomb is located in Shahdara, a suburb of Lahore, in the northwest of the city.

The area had been a favourite of Jahangir and his wife Noor Jahan when they lived in Lahore, and the area was commonly used as a departure point for those travelling to and from Kashmir and Lahore.

When Jahangir died in 1627, he was probably initially buried in one of his many gardens at Shahdara. His son Shah Jahan ordered that a mausoleum be built as a permanent memorial to an emperor.