Things to do in Multan
And where to stay, the best time to visit, what a day costs, and the traps to skip.
Best time to visit Multan
• a note or something on ✦ an occasion worth the trip
The season and the only recommendation, with highs from about 30 down to 21 degrees, plus fog and smog risk in midwinter.
Warming fast, from about 33 to 38 degrees. Sightsee morning and evening only, with a long indoor midday.
Do not come for leisure. Highs of 43 to 45 degrees, dust storms, a recorded extreme of 51 degrees, then monsoon rain in July.
Monsoon tail, still about 39 to 40 degrees and humid, the least comfortable months after June.
The shoulder reopens late in the month, with hot days around 37 degrees falling and cooler nights.
What's on
- Urs of Bahauddin Zakariya Three days in Safar, around July in 2027, moving about 11 days earlier each year
Devotees from across Pakistan, a Zakariya conference and heavy security around the fort mound shrines.
- Urs of Shah Rukn-e-Alam Three days in Jamadi al-Awwal, Gregorian date moves yearly
The second great Multan Urs, centred on the Rukn-e-Alam tomb in Qasim Bagh with national attendance.
- Multan Mango Festival July, at peak mango season
A city celebration of Chaunsa and Sindhri mangoes, held in the worst of the summer heat.
Best things to do in Multan
Tomb of Shah Rukn-e-Alam
A vast blue tiled tomb on the fort mound, Multan's defining monument and the tomb of Bahauddin Zakariya's grandson.
Tomb of Bahauddin Zakariya
The 13th century tomb that set Multan's style, square to octagon to dome, covered in blue kashi tile work.
Shrine of Hazrat Shah Shams Tabrez
A plainer, older feeling shrine in the old city lanes, busy with devotees and ringed by small shops.
Hussain Agahi Bazaar
The old walled city's main bazaar, lanes of khussas, ajrak, blue pottery, camel skin lamps and sohan halwa.
Ghanta Ghar
The 1884 British clock tower at the old city's main chowk, best as an exterior landmark and orientation point.
Multan Museum
Multan's long promised museum in the Ghanta Ghar building, with stalled openings, so check on the day before going.
Shahi Eidgah Mosque
A large 18th century Eidgah mosque west of the old city, notable for its scale and its tile and fresco work.
Qila Kohna Qasim Bagh
The fort mound park between the two great shrines, with the Damdama viewpoint and views over the old city.
Where to stay in Multan
Abdali Road and Cantt
first trip, full service hotels and hosted dinners
Home to the Ramada and the Abdali Road dining strip, a short drive from the fort mound shrines.
Old Bahawalpur Road
quieter mid range base
Avari Boutique sits opposite the High Court on this road, away from the Abdali Road event hotels.
Nawan Shehr and LMQ Road
budget stay at local prices
Hotel Pak Continental on LMQ Road opposite the MCC ground is the best budget base.
Think twice about
- Old Walled City as a place to sleep
Not a safety call, but there is no heritage hotel or reliable visitor lodging inside the old city. Visit it by day, sleep in Cantt, Gulgasht or on LMQ Road.
- City outskirts on the Muzaffargarh and Bahawalpur roads as a base
Isolated for sightseeing, with no walkable sights or dining. Stay there only with a car and driver arranged.
Best restaurants in Multan
London Courtyard
Multan's most cited splurge dinner, continental and desi menus in a courtyard setting in Gulgasht.
Shahjahan Grill
The Gulgasht desi institution for handis, biryani and barbecue, a family dinner locals recommend by name.
Zanzibar Restaurant
A long running Abdali Road restaurant for continental, Chinese and desi dishes at upper mid local prices.
Bundu Khan Restaurant
The Multan branch of the Lahore barbecue name, for kebabs, tikka and karahi in a reliable family dining room.
Hafiz Ka Multani Sohan Halwa
The Cantt address most often named for Multani sohan halwa, the hard, nut filled sweet that defines the city.
Rewari Sweets
Another old name for sohan halwa and Multani sweets, the standard gift box to carry out of the city.
Best coffee in Multan
Chaaye Khana
A tea house cafe for dozens of teas, breakfasts and a calm air conditioned pause, the social drink in a dry city.
Outdoor things to do in Multan
Head Muhammad Wala
A Chenab river headworks and picnic bank outside the city, known locally for fried fish and winter outings.
Uch Sharif
A day trip to ruined blue tiled tombs including Bibi Jawindi, among the finest medieval monuments in Pakistan.
Multan mango orchards
In June and July the orchards outside the city produce the Chaunsa and Sindhri mangoes sold across Pakistan.
Best hotels in Multan
Ramada by Wyndham Multan
Multan's best known full service hotel on Abdali Road, with a pool, the top end of a thin local luxury tier.
Faletti's Grand Hotel Multan
A large four star hotel with a pool and balconies, one of the few Multan properties aiming at the top tier.
Avari Boutique Multan
A small four star boutique hotel on Old Bahawalpur Road, a quieter mid range base near the courts and Cantt.
Hotel Pak Continental
A well reviewed budget hotel on LMQ Road at Nawan Shehr, simple rooms at local rather than chain prices.
Is Multan expensive? What a day costs
| Budget | PKR 7,000 a person |
|---|---|
| Classic | PKR 18,000 a person |
| Splurge | PKR 40,000 a person |
A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room
What to book ahead
- Uch Sharif: a few days ahead
- Multan mango orchards: a few days ahead
- London Courtyard: a few days ahead
- Book hotels for Urs periods and wedding season weekends, and flights into MUX well ahead.
- Arrange the Uch Sharif car and driver at least a day ahead through your hotel.
- Check Islamic festival dates for your year, because Urs dates move about eleven days earlier each year.
Is Multan safe?
- Avoid demonstrations and forming crowds, and expect security checks at the airport, big hotels and shrine entrances.
- From May to July, treat heat as a health risk: sightsee at dawn, rest indoors at midday and carry water at all times.
- Drink sealed bottled water only, and keep passport and visa accessible on intercity road trips.
Multan travel tips: tourist traps to skip
- Do not assume the Multan Museum is open. Its Ghanta Ghar project has stalled repeatedly, so check on the day.
- Do not pay the first Hussain Agahi price for pottery or lamps, and never buy a camel skin lamp without seeing it lit.
- Do not take a Chenab boat in high water or without life jackets for everyone aboard.
- Do not book the cheapest summer room without confirming air conditioning and generator backup.
Getting around Multan: public transport and more
- Walk only the old city and fort mound clusters. Use app ride hailing or auto rickshaws beyond them, agreeing rickshaw fares before the ride.
- Hire a car and driver by the day for the shrines plus Eidgah, and for Uch Sharif, arranged through your hotel.
- Multan airport, MUX, is a short drive from the Cantt hotels, with thin domestic schedules that change at short notice.
Who Multan suits
| Solo travellers | OK |
|---|---|
| Groups of friends | Good |
| Couples | OK |
| Bachelor parties | Not ideal |
| Families | Good |
| Bachelorette parties | Not ideal |
Make Multan your trip
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