Lahore is Pakistan’s second-largest city, considered around the world to be the country’s cultural capital.

The heart of Lahore is the Walled/Inner City, a very densely populated area with many tourist attractions.

Many people tend to say that if you haven’t seen Lahore you haven’t seen Pakistan.

It’s famous for its food and you’ll put on a couple of kilos in their gorgeous restaurants.

It’s also considered to be much safer than most other cities in Pakistan.

if you are a traveler or a tourist or an explorer, you’ll find a bunch of places to explore and visit in Lahore.

Warnings & Dangers in Lahore

OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM

Even though both petty and violent crimes took over the streets of Pakistan, Lahore is much safer than the norm. Still, it’s advised that you remain extremely careful if you’re planning on visiting Lahore.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM

Careem and Uber are available in Lahore so you don’t have to worry about commuting – since the situation, when it comes to public transportation, isn’t great. Avoid all forms of public transport except for Uber and other forms of taxi services.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM

Petty street crime is an issue in Lahore and tourists are strongly advised against carrying valuables with them while on the streets: passports, bank cards, bags, jewelry, laptops, mobile phones, iPads and anything else you can think of is of extreme value to any pickpocket in Lahore.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW

As for natural disasters, Lahore is susceptible to a couple of them that have hit in the past, like earthquakes, floods, and droughts. Monitor the situation and follow the advice from the authorities.

MUGGING RISK: LOW

Violent crime rates aren’t high in Lahore and go for armed robbery, robbery, carjacking, kidnappings, home invasion, and even murder. These are all not common occurrences, but you should still avoid notorious neighborhoods.

TERRORISM RISK: HIGH

Terrorists are somewhat likely to try and carry out attacks in Lahore. The biggest threat comes from Tehrik-e Taleban Pakistan, which is an umbrella organization of groups based in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. TTP carries out attacks throughout Pakistan, and the attacks are usually carried out using Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), including suicide attacks.

SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM

There are scammers in Lahore trying to take advantage of tourists, and the situation with scams is similar to in any other country. Be wary when handling money and of anyone trying to distract you. Taxi drivers might try to trick you into paying more, giving you wrongful information about the price of the ride.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

As a woman in Lahore, you should be smart and careful, especially at night, obviously avoid big crowds or masses of people and you should be just fine.

So… How Safe Is Lahore Really?

Considering other places in Pakistan marred by lawlessness, Lahore is a generally safer place to live.

It is not only a safe place for you to travel but it’s the most adventurous and liveliest city in Pakistan.

You will find peace and harmony there and people living their lives to the fullest.

It doesn’t matter if you know anyone there or not people are nice there with a kind and friendly nature and provide a hospitable environment for outsiders.

Tourists in Lahore are strongly advised against visiting political gatherings, as – though it’s a country filled with friendly people – these gatherings might escalate into a protest that can turn violent and in some cases deadly.

Not all parts of Lahore are safe so a lot depends on which part of the city you’re located in.

Mugging, snatching, getting robbed and similar forms of petty crime does happen in most parts of the city, but it’s not too common.

It mostly happens around crowded areas like Liberty market, the airport, bus stands, the railway station, Anarkali, Ichra shopping center, or Mall road.

Mobile phones, gold jewelry, motorbikes etc are very wanted among petty thieves so always leave your valuables at home.

Useful Information

• Visas – Most countries do need a visa to enter Lahore. Some travelers can get a visa on arrival if traveling as part of a group tour, or for business. Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months past your stay in Pakistan. If you are not sure about your visa status, contact your local Pakistani embassy for further information.
• Currency – The Pakistani rupee is the official currency in Lahore. There are ATMs in the city and they accept foreign credit cards. Top-end establishments accept credit cards, but you are advised to bring cash with you.
• Weather – Lahore has a five-season semi-arid climate, which means that the summers are short, sweltering, humid, and clear and the winters are short, cool, dry, and mostly clear. During the year there is little rainfall.
• Airports – Allama Iqbal International Airport is the third largest civil airport by traffic in the country. It serves Lahore, the capital of Punjab province, but also a large portion of travelers from the Punjab province.
• Travel Insurance – Just like anywhere else, we advise getting travel insurance when traveling to Lahore, because it would cover not only medical problems but also theft and loss of valuables.