Pakistan Overview
My parents immigrated from Pakistan to California before having children – but they always made sure we stayed connected to their motherland. While growing up, our parents regularly brought my sister and me back for extended family visits as well as cultural exchange. Unfortunately, as we’ve aged, this has become less frequent; yet every few years we still make the trip back out there to visit.
Pakistanis are truly some of the most hospitable and loving group of people I can think. I hope to raise my kids with certain Pakistani characteristics, such as welcoming guests with open arms, constantly showing up for not only immediate family, but extended relatives and friends, and having a good humor during even the darkest times.
Our children are Pakistani-American’s, living in Europe. They are blessed to see different parts of the world, but I was incredibly excited to take them to the land of all of their grandparents. We visited Lahore, where my parents have substantial relatives. To see my kids in their ‘grandmother-land’, with all the family members and culture that I love so much, was a special feeling. We hope to continue making trips to explore the rest of the country with the kids in the future.
Key Tips on Enjoying Lahore, Pakistan
Where to stay in Lahore, Pakistan:
Your choice of accommodation in Lahore will ultimately depend on your tastes, budget constraints, and travel plans. Some popular Lahore hotel options for accommodation may include:
Hotel Name | Amenities |
This 5-star hotel is located in the heart of the city and offers luxurious accommodations, multiple dining options, and a range of facilities including a fitness center, swimming pool, and spa. | |
This 5-star hotel is located in the heart of Lahore, the Avari Lahore Hotel offers comfortable rooms and suites, multiple dining options, and facilities like a swimming pool, gym, and spa. | |
This resort is located in the Defense neighborhood, and offers comfortable rooms. It has a an 18-hollow championship golfing path, a tennis courtroom and a health centre, a 24-hour front desk and a eating place on the property, as well as an indoor pool and an ATM. |
What to do in Lahore, Pakistan:
Lahore, located in Pakistan, offers visitors an engaging culturally vibrant city where endless experiences are waiting to be enjoyed. Here are our suggestions for things to do while in Lahore:
Activity
Description
Visit Lahore Fort | This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a must-visit destination for history buffs. The fort features several impressive buildings and structures, including the Sheesh Mahal and Naulakha Pavilion. |
Explore Badshahi Mosque | Lahore’s grand mosque stands as one of its signature landmarks and an exquisite example of Mughal architecture, dating back to 1673. |
Attend the Wagah-Attari border ceremony | The Wagah-Attari border is situated on the road between Lahore and Amritsar. It is the only open-land border crossing between India and Pakistan. The border ceremony happens at the border gate, two hours before sunset each day and is conducted by Pakistan Ranger’s the Indian Border Security Force. |
Shop traditional markets and modern stores | There are traditional bazaar experiences, like Liberty Market. Visit ‘Dupatta Gali‘. You can also visit more modern shopping areas such as the plaza, Raya Fairways Commercial or the Packages Mall. |
Spend time with locals | There is nothing like spending time with the people who live in the city you are visiting, to truly get a sense of the culture and their routines. For my family who live there, they spend weekends at their farmhouses – and doing this was a highlight for our kids! |
We took an official tour through the Lahore Walled City (see here for the tour details) and saw sites including the Lahore Fort. I recommend taking this tour, as it was very informative and we saw sites we would not have otherwise.
Where to eat in Lahore, Pakistan?
Lahore is famous for its cuisine, so visitors should not pass up an opportunity to sample traditional Lahori dishes like Lahori Fried Fish, Nihari, and Pani Puri. We have listed below some of our favorite eating establishments.
Restaurant Name
Notes
This is going to be the most authentic/tastiest food, but also the highest risk of getting sick. I would incorporate the tips from my ‘food hygiene’ section in this blog post, when visiting the market. | |
Situated in the Mughal-era Haveli of a former prime minister, this restaurant offers traditional Pakistani cuisine in a beautiful setting. I personally enjoyed the views more than I enjoyed the food – but I did get mild entrees for the kids that they actually ate, which as any parent knows, is always the priority. | |
One of the oldest and most famous restaurants in Lahore, Salt n Pepper offers a variety of Pakistani and Continental dishes in a cozy setting. | |
Known for its rustic ambiance and traditional Pakistani food, Village Restaurant offers a unique dining experience with dishes such as roasted lamb, kebabs, and curries. | |
The chocolate cake is delicious! | |
This is family friendly for kids. | |
This is basically Dairy Queen | |
Fast food places like Papa Johns and McDonalds | These fast food spots are better quality here! Papa Johns peri-peri chicken pizza and chicken tikka pizza are delicious. |
These are just a few of the many delicious food spots Lahore has to offer. Happy eating!
Things to consider when taking kids to Lahore, Pakistan
Visa
Most people need a visa to enter Pakistan, except for citizens of a few countries that have visa-free travel agreements with Pakistan. Visa requirements for Pakistan vary based on the traveler’s nationality, purpose of travel, and length of stay. Pakistan hosts several different types of visas that visitors need to enter its territory: tourist, business, and student.
To obtain a visa for Pakistan, travelers should apply through an Embassy or Consulate of Pakistan in their home country or an authorized visa processing center. Processing times can take anywhere between 0-7 weeks. Once approved, applicants should bring hard copies of their passport visa with them when traveling through an airport terminal.
Where to buy things for baby
We had great success at the store chain, Al Fatah, which has several branches around Pakistan. From there, we purchased a portable baby playpen/cot, as well as formula and baby food pouches. I was pleased with the quality!
Car Seat Safety in Lahore
Car seats for children have not historically been commonplace in Pakistan; however, their use has increased recently in urban areas. Car seats to protect young passengers is required by some laws as they significantly reduce injuries or fatalities caused by collisions; but not mandatory in Pakistan. It is ultimately up to parents whether or not to install one.
Vaccines in Pakistan
Before traveling to Pakistan, a healthcare provider should be consulted to determine which vaccines are necessary.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the US recommends that tourists to Pakistan be immunized towards the following illnesses:
Hepatitis A and typhoid
Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR)
Diphtheria-tetanus-pertussisD
Varicella (chickenpox)
Polio
Hepatitis B (Optional)
Rabies (Optional)
Japanese encephalitis (Optional)
Cash Culture in Pakistan
Although some major restaurants might take credit cards, cash is more commonly used. Always have a variety of cash notes to pay larger sums or smaller tips, which are given out often (i.e., parking attendants, servers, etc.)
Urdu Lessons
Want to optimize your trip and empower your kiddies to learn some urdu phrases? Upcademy provides great interactive urdu lessons with your kids. We have tried a few other languages, but this class is by far the most engaging for littles. The teachers have an understanding on how to capture the kids attention, and impart urdu vocabulary and phrases. Sign up here today for a free trial session!
Food, Water, and Milk Safety in Pakistan
Food Hygiene
Maintaining safe food hygiene practices is essential to prevent food-borne illnesses in Pakistan. Here are some tips to help maintain food hygiene practices or request your hosts to ensure it is incorporated.
Cleanliness and practice good personal hygiene: Always wash your hands with soap and water before handling food or assess if the cooks are doing this. Making certain all cooking utensils, countertops, and reducing forums are smooth and disinfected can be difficult when traveling with others, so any help that ensures this happens is really worth your even. Remember to clean your palms regularly after the use of the bathroom and earlier than coping with meals; wash after the usage of the bathroom and before handling meals as nicely. Also, keep away from touching your face or hair whilst making ready it and put off meal waste properly which allows you to restrict the spread of organisms.
Safe storage, proper cooking, and safe disposal: Food should always be kept at safe temperatures when being stored in either the fridge or freezer, to avoid cross-contamination between foods. Thorough cooking kills any harmful bacteria present while safe water can be used for washing vegetables as well as cooking purposes. Afterward, dispose of food waste hygienically to limit bacteria growth.
Avoid purchasing food from unhygienic sources: Be wary when purchasing food from unreliable sources and look out for any signs of spoilage such as an unusual odor or mold growth. Street food is popular in Pakistan but can also pose the threat of foodborne illness; only buy street food from vendors that practice proper hygiene standards.
Water Safety
Accessing clean and safe drinking water may present challenges in certain parts of Pakistan, especially in rural regions or those affected by natural disasters.
Tap water in Pakistan may not be secure to consume without treatment, as it is able to contain bacteria and viruses that could doubtlessly cause waterborne illnesses like cholera, typhoid, and hepatitis A. To be at the secure side, it’s miles suggested to purchase bottled or filtered water alternatively. When purchasing such items from Pakistan stores seals on bottles must be intact from trusted brands – we only used this product ourselves and for our children.
Additionally, it is best practice to avoid consuming ice made with tap water or eating raw fruits and vegetables that have been washed in this type of water, since they could potentially contain contaminants.
Milk Safety
We personally opted to not have our kids drink milk while we were in Pakistan, which was a huge adjustment to them as their nightly milk bottle is part of their routine. We contemplated taking Oatly Oat Milks with us, to give them something that was familiar, but ended up not having space in our suitcases – so our kids had to go a week without it
One of the primary routes to take to Lahore, Pakistan is through Qatar Airways, which allows a layover in Doha. We chose to stay the overnight layover so that we could experience a new country. for my full post on optimizing a layover in Doha, visit here.
Affiliate Disclosure: This blog post may contain affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase using these links, Traveling with Tots may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you. We appreciate your support!
