Transportation in Lahore

Lahore's transport mix is built around the Metrobus, a dedicated-lane BRT that cuts straight through the city from Shahdara to Gajju Matta, and the expanding Orange Line metro that shadows it east-west. These two form the spine most visitors ride: cheap, frequent, and far faster than sitting in Mall Road traffic. For shorter hops, yellow-and-green Qingqi rickshaws weave through the old city lanes, while ride-hailing apps (Uber, Careem, inDriver) give you air-conditioned cars at a moderate premium, handy after dark when the BRT stops running. First-timers should grab a Metrobus smart card at any station booth. It works on both BRT and feeder buses and saves you from fumbling for change. Avoid the un-metered "tourist taxis" outside major hotels, they quote fantasy fares. Instead, open the ride-hailing app before you step outside. Pin the pickup to the nearest landmark because Lahore's street numbering is more suggestion than reality. From Allama Iqbal International, the Orange Line is the quickest budget route: board at the airport station, ride six stops to Dera Gujran, then swap to the Metrobus if your hotel is along Ferozepur Road. If you land after the metro shuts down, the official airport cab counter inside arrivals is the only place that issues printed, metered slips, ignore the freelance drivers who swarm the curb.