Lucknow, India: travel guide
Nawabi monuments, kebabs and the gentle manners of Awadh
The 'City of Nawabs' — celebrated for its Mughal-era monuments, refined Awadhi cuisine, chikankari embroidery, and gracious tehzeeb culture.
About Lucknow
Lucknow is the capital of Uttar Pradesh and the former seat of the Nawabs of Awadh, whose taste for architecture, poetry and food shaped the city. It has a reputation for courtesy, expressed in its refined way of speaking known as tehzeeb.
The Bara Imambara and Chota Imambara are the great monuments, along with the Rumi Darwaza, a ceremonial gateway. The British Residency stands in ruins as a reminder of 1857. Beyond monuments, Lucknow is known for Awadhi cooking such as kebabs and biryani, and for chikankari, a delicate white embroidery sold in the old markets.
Lucknow suits food lovers, history readers and those who like to wander markets. The best time to visit Lucknow is from October to March, as summers are fierce.
- Country
- India
- Currency
- INR
- Time zone
- Asia/Kolkata
- Nearest airport
- LKO
Last updated
Top places to visit in Lucknow
Bara Imambara
mosque · 4.6 rating · about 2 h · entry ₹500
A magnificent 1784 Nawabi monument with one of the world's largest vaulted halls (built without pillars) and the labyrinthine Bhulbhulaiya maze.
Chota Imambara
mosque · 4.5 rating · about 1 h · entry ₹500
The ornate "Palace of Lights", a gleaming 1838 imambara with chandeliers, gilded domes and silver thrones, dazzling when lit for Muharram.
Hazratganj Market
Market · 4.4 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
Lucknow's elegant colonial-era shopping boulevard, lit with Victorian lamps, famed for chikankari boutiques, bookshops and old eateries.
Rumi Darwaza
Heritage · 4.5 rating · about 0.5 h · free entry
The grand 60-ft Awadhi gateway of 1784, an iconic symbol of Lucknow modelled on a Constantinople gate, glowing beautifully when floodlit.
Rumi/State Museum & Zoo
Wildlife · 4.2 rating · about 2 h · entry ₹60
The Nawab Wajid Ali Shah Zoological Garden in the city centre, with a state museum, toy train and green family grounds.
Ambedkar Memorial Park
Heritage · 4.3 rating · about 1.3 h · entry ₹20, ₹20 per person
A vast sandstone memorial park of domes, columns and elephant statues honouring Dalit icons, especially striking when lit at night.
Chowk & Aminabad Bazaars
Market · 4.4 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
The bustling old-city bazaars famed for chikankari embroidery, ittar (perfume), Awadhi street food and the lanes of Nawabi Lucknow.
Janeshwar Mishra Park
Nature · 4.4 rating · about 1.5 h · free entry
One of Asia's largest parks in Gomti Nagar, with lakes, cycling tracks and lawns — a vast green lung popular for morning walks.
British Residency
Heritage · 4.4 rating · about 1.5 h · entry ₹300
The atmospheric ruins of the British Residency, scarred by cannon fire from the 1857 siege, now a tranquil garden-museum of the Revolt.
Chhatar Manzil & La Martiniere
Heritage · 4.3 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate
Nawabi-era riverside palaces and the magnificent 1840s La Martiniere college, fine examples of Awadhi-European fusion architecture.
Things to do
- Bara Imambara & Bhulbhulaiya Tour Cultural · 2.5 h · from INR 500 per person
- Awadhi Food Walk Cultural · 3 h · from INR 1,200 per person
- Chikankari Heritage & Shopping Walk Cultural · 2 h · from INR 800 per person
- British Residency History Tour Cultural · 1.5 h · from INR 500 per person
Day trips and tours
- Lucknow Nawabi Heritage Tour 8 h · from INR 1,500
- Awadhi Food & Bazaar Evening 4 h · from INR 1,200
- Lucknow & Dewa Sharif/Kakori Trip 5 h · from INR 1,500
Where to stay in Lucknow
- City Center about INR 2,500 per night
Main commercial area with mid-range hotels
Hotels
- Taj Mahal Lucknow 5-star · INR 8,000 to INR 15,000 per night
- Renaissance Lucknow 5-star · INR 7,000 to INR 13,000 per night
- Hyatt Regency Lucknow 5-star · INR 6,500 to INR 12,000 per night
- Lebua Lucknow 5-star · INR 6,000 to INR 11,000 per night
- Hotel Clarks Avadh 4-star · INR 4,500 to INR 8,000 per night
- Fortune Park BBD Lucknow 4-star · INR 4,000 to INR 7,000 per night
Where to eat
- Tunday Kababi Awadhi, Mughlai · about INR 300 per person
- Idris Biryani Awadhi, Biryani, Mughlai · about INR 250 per person
- Royal Cafe Awadhi, Chaat, Continental · about INR 500 per person
- Dastarkhwan Awadhi, Mughlai · about INR 450 per person
- Sharma Ji Ki Chai Cafe, Snacks, North Indian · about INR 80 per person
- Prakash Ki Kulfi Sweets, Snacks · about INR 120 per person
- Moti Mahal Restaurant Awadhi, Mughlai, North Indian · about INR 450 per person
- Bajpai Kachori Bhandar North Indian, Snacks, Chaat · about INR 100 per person
Getting to Lucknow
Airport: Lucknow (LKO)
Getting around
- Auto Rickshaw
- Metro
- Ride Hail
- Walking
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Frequently asked questions about Lucknow
- What are the top-rated places to visit in Lucknow?
- The highest-rated places in our Lucknow guide are Bara Imambara, Chota Imambara, Rumi Darwaza, Hazratganj Market, Chowk & Aminabad Bazaars.
- Where should I stay in Lucknow?
- Our guide covers these areas to stay in Lucknow: City Center.
- How do I get around Lucknow?
- Ways to get around Lucknow covered in our guide: Auto-rickshaw, Metro, Ride-hailing app, Walking.
- Which airport is nearest to Lucknow?
- The nearest airport to Lucknow has the code LKO.