Jaipur city guide

Things To Do In Jaipur

Rajasthan's pink capital, with the Palace of Winds, a hilltop fort, an astronomical observatory, and the best bazaars for crafts in the country.

Where to stay What it costs

Hostels in the city

8.4

Average, from 9,944 reviews

1727

Jaipur founded

1876

Painted pink

2019

The walled city joins UNESCO

The pink city

Jaipur was founded in 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, one of the first planned cities in India, laid out on a grid according to Hindu architecture. The old city was painted pink to welcome the Prince of Wales in 1876, and it has stayed pink ever since. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Above the city, Amber Fort crowns a hill, and the royal family still lives in part of the City Palace.

Jaipur completes the Golden Triangle with Delhi and Agra. Two or three days is right.

Where to stay

Stay near the old city, or in Bani Park and C-Scheme for quieter streets.

Old city

First-timers

Inside the walls.

Bani Park

Quieter

West of the old city.

C-Scheme

Restaurants

South of the old city.

Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 9 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.

Things to do

Things to do in Jaipur

Jaipur, the 'Pink City', was founded in 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II and painted pink to welcome the Prince of Wales in 1876. Its walled old city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Amber Fort, on a hill above Maota Lake, is a honey-coloured fort palace with mirrored halls; walk or take a jeep up rather than an elephant ride, which raises serious welfare concerns. Nahargarh Fort, on the ridge above the city, is the place for sunset, and Jaigarh, beside it, holds a giant cannon.

In the old city, the Hawa Mahal, the Palace of Winds, is a honeycomb facade of 953 small windows built so royal women could watch street life unseen; see it from a café opposite at sunrise. The City Palace is still partly home to the royal family, and Jantar Mantar, next to it, is a UNESCO-listed observatory of giant stone instruments built in the 1720s.

Shop the bazaars for block-printed textiles, gems and blue pottery, and see block printing in Sanganer. Patrika Gate, at Jawahar Circle, is a colourful gateway popular with photographers.

Free things

Free things to do in Jaipur

The old city's bazaars, the Hawa Mahal from the street and Patrika Gate are free. Walking up to Nahargarh for sunset costs only a small entry fee.

Galta Ji, the Monkey Temple, in a gorge outside the city, is free.

Food and drink

Eating and drinking in Jaipur

Rajasthani food is rich and built to last in the desert: dal baati churma, baked wheat balls with lentils and sweet crumbled wheat, laal maas, a fiery mutton curry, and ker sangri, desert beans and berries. Pyaaz kachori, an onion-filled pastry, is Jaipur's breakfast, best at Rawat Mishthan Bhandar. Lassi is served in clay cups.

A meal is €1.50 to €6.

Nightlife

Going out in Jaipur

Jaipur has rooftop bars and restaurants with views of the forts, and a few bars in C-Scheme and the hotels.

A beer is €3 to €5.

Getting around

Getting around Jaipur

Jaipur Airport is about 30 minutes from the centre. Trains reach Delhi in about four and a half hours, and buses reach Pushkar and Udaipur.

Uber, Ola and autos cover the city; Amber Fort is about 30 minutes away.

Costs

What Jaipur costs

Jaipur is cheap. Dorms start around €6 and a careful day is €20 to €30.

A composite ticket covers Amber Fort, the Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar, Nahargarh and other sites for about €12 over two days. The City Palace charges separately, around €8.

The currency is the rupee (INR), at roughly 95 to 100 rupees to the euro; prices here are euro equivalents. UPI phone payments are everywhere, and some apps now accept foreign cards; carry cash for small shops, autos and markets.

Safety

Staying safe in Jaipur

Jaipur is safe, but the gem scam is famous: friendly strangers persuade visitors to buy gems to resell at a profit abroad; it is always a scam.

Avoid elephant rides at Amber Fort. Women travellers often face staring and comments, and sometimes groping in crowds; dress conservatively, use women's carriages on metros and trains, and book cabs through apps. Drink only bottled or filtered water, and be wary of raw salads and ice; stomach upsets are common.

Most visitors need an Indian e-Visa, applied for online before travel. Since 1 April 2026, all foreign nationals flying in must also submit the free e-Arrival Card online within 72 hours before landing; screenshot or download the QR code, as it cannot be retrieved later.

Emergency number is 112.

Day trips from Jaipur

Forts and villages.

Amber Fort

About 30 minutes · Auto or bus

The hilltop fort.

Sanganer

About 30 minutes · Auto

Block printing.

Pushkar

About 3 hours · Bus or train

The holy lake town.

Ranthambore

About 3 hours · Train

Tiger reserve.

What's on

What is on while you are there

The Jaipur Literature Festival is one of the biggest in the world.

Staff pick

8 November

Diwali Festival

Experience the vibrant and joyous celebration of Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, in India. With millions of attendees from around the…

22–26 October

A Touch of Class Shopping Celebration

Jaipur's biggest Diwali shopping fair brings together fashion, jewellery, home décor, and lifestyle vendors under one roof for the festive season. You can browse…

10 October

Bangr Arena

Bangr Arena transforms Jaipur into a multi-sensory playground where music, fashion, food, and culture converge under one sprawling event. You can catch high-energy performances…

13–15 October

Shilpkaaree

Shilpkaaree brings together a curated collection of festive handlooms and handcrafted pieces from master artisans across India. You can explore everything from traditional loom…

15–18 October

Garba Raas

Four nights of traditional Garba and Raas bring Navratri celebrations to life at Fun Kingdom from October 15th to 18th, 2026. The energy here…

17–18 October

Lagan Mandap Exhibition

Lagan Mandap Exhibition brings together a curated collection of wedding, fashion, and lifestyle brands to inspire your special occasions. You will find everything from…

24–25 October

The Festive Market

A fashion and lifestyle exhibition brings together festive wear, wedding collections, jewellery, handicrafts, home décor, and gifting options all in one space. You can…

24–25 October

42nd Edition Shimmer: Diwali & Decor Exhibition

A long-running Diwali shopping exhibition returns for its 42nd edition, bringing together festive fashion, home décor, lifestyle goods, and gifts in one convenient location.…

All events in Jaipur

Hostels

Where to stay in Jaipur

The top-rated places to stay in Jaipur right now, live from Hostelworld.

10.0 533

When to go

October to March. January brings the Jaipur Literature Festival.

22°

Jan

Literature Festival

25°

Feb

Good

31°

Mar

Holi

37°

Apr

Hot

41°

May

Extreme heat

39°

Jun

Extreme heat

34°

Jul

Monsoon

32°

Aug

Teej

33°

Sep

Humid

33°

Oct

Diwali

29°

Nov

Excellent

24°

Dec

Peak

Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets: quiet busy peak

Average highs.

What your trip will cost

Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros.

Prices are in rupees locally; these are euro equivalents.

Nights 3

—

Beds—
Food and drink—
Getting around—
Doing things—

Jaipur travel questions

The ones we get asked most.

Should I ride an elephant up Amber Fort?

No, it raises serious welfare concerns; walk or take a jeep.

Is there a combined ticket?

Yes, a composite ticket covers several monuments over two days.

What is the gem scam?

Strangers persuade visitors to buy gems to resell abroad; it is always a scam.

Why is it pink?

The city was painted pink to welcome the Prince of Wales in 1876.

How many days do you need?

Two or three.

When is the best time to visit?

October to March.

What should I eat?

Pyaaz kachori and dal baati churma.

Say yes to hostels, meet the world

Compare Jaipur hostels — live prices, real reviews and free cancellation on most bookings. Then meet the people already there in the app.

Find hostels in Jaipur Get the app