Finding the best things to do in Jaipur means balancing the royal palaces of the Old City with the rugged military forts of the Aravalli Hills. As the capital of Rajasthan, navigating this city requires a solid plan to handle the chaotic traffic, aggressive touts, and sprawling historical sites. From the intricate lattice windows of the Hawa Mahal to the steep cobbled paths of the Amber Fort, here is exactly how to spend your time.
Best Things to Do in Jaipur: The Pink City and Beyond
1. Explore the Amber Fort (Amer Fort)
Located 11 km north of the city centre, this massive 16th-century sandstone and marble fort was built by Raja Man Singh I. It sits on a hill overlooking Maota Lake and remains the most impressive defensive structure in Rajasthan. You enter through the Suraj Pol (Sun Gate) into the main courtyard, Jaleb Chowk, before heading up to the royal apartments.
The undisputed highlight is the Sheesh Mahal (Mirror Palace). The walls and ceilings are covered in thousands of intricate glass tiles that reflect natural light across the room. Skip the elephant rides to the top for ethical reasons; the walk up the cobbled path takes about 15 minutes and is entirely manageable if you start early in the day.
- Insider tip: Arrive at 8:00 AM right when the gates open to beat the massive tour groups and the midday heat. Read our full Amber Fort Guide for a detailed walking route.
- Cost: $6 to $7 USD (500 INR) for foreigners, or included in the Composite Ticket.
- Time needed: 2 to 3 hours.
2. Wander the City Palace
The City Palace is the historic seat of the Maharaja of Jaipur, located right in the middle of the Pink City grid. It is a striking mix of Rajput and Mughal architecture. The complex is divided into a series of courtyards, gardens, and museums, with the current royal family still residing in the private Chandra Mahal section.
Inside the Diwan-i-Khas (Hall of Private Audience), you will find two massive 1.6-metre silver urns called Gangajalis. These were custom-made to carry water from the Ganges River to England for Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh II. Do not miss Pritam Niwas Chowk, an inner courtyard featuring four stunning painted gates representing the seasons, including the famous Peacock Gate.
- Insider tip: The standard ticket only covers the public museums and courtyards. To see the opulent blue Chhavi Niwas room, you must purchase the expensive Royal Grandeur ticket.
- Cost: Standard entry is roughly $10 USD (700 INR); the Royal Grandeur tour is around $35 to $40 USD (3000 INR).
- Time needed: 1.5 to 2 hours.
3. Photograph the Hawa Mahal
The Palace of Winds is Jaipur’s most recognisable landmark. Built in 1799, this five-storey pink sandstone facade sits directly on the busy Sireh Deori Bazaar. It was designed essentially as a screen, featuring 953 small windows (jharokhas) covered in intricate lattice work. This allowed the royal women to observe street festivals without being seen by the public.
The building is only one room deep at its peak. While you can go inside to see the coloured glass and look out over the Jantar Mantar, the exterior is the main draw. The street directly below is congested, making it difficult to get a good angle of the entire structure.
- Insider tip: Cross the street and climb the narrow stairs to Wind View Cafe or Tattoo Cafe. Buy a bottle of water or a coffee to access their rooftop terraces for perfect, eye-level photographs.
- Cost: $2.50 USD (200 INR) to go inside. The exterior view is free.
- Time needed: 45 minutes.
4. Decode the Jantar Mantar
Located adjacent to the City Palace, the Jantar Mantar is an astronomical observatory built in 1734 by King Sawai Jai Singh II. At first glance, it looks like a collection of giant, bizarre stone sculptures. In reality, these 19 structures are highly accurate astronomical tools used to measure time, track constellations, and predict eclipses.
The centrepiece is the Vrihat Samrat Yantra, a 27-metre-tall sundial that remains the largest in the world. The shadow it casts moves at a visible rate of one millimetre per second, measuring local time to an accuracy of two seconds.
- Insider tip: Hire an official guide at the entrance. Without someone to explain the physics and geometry, the instruments just look like abstract art.
- Cost: $2.50 USD (200 INR), or included in the Composite Ticket. Guide fees are extra (around $3 to $5 USD).
- Time needed: 1 hour.
5. Watch the Sunset from Nahargarh Fort
Perched high on the Aravalli ridge, Nahargarh Fort was built in 1734 to form a defensive ring around the city. Today, it is famous for offering the best panoramic views over Jaipur’s grid-like streets. Inside the fort walls, you can explore the Madhavendra Bhawan, a summer retreat featuring a series of identical royal suites connected by corridors adorned with frescoes.
The fort has recently become a cultural hub, hosting the Madhavendra Sculpture Park, which places contemporary art against the historic stone walls. The real reason people make the trek up here, however, is to watch the sun drop behind the city.
- Insider tip: Take an Uber or a pre-negotiated auto-rickshaw up the winding 15 km road. Do not attempt to walk up or down the steep, unlit pedestrian paths after dark due to the presence of leopards in the surrounding forest.
- Cost: $2.50 USD (200 INR), or included in the Composite Ticket.
- Time needed: 2 hours, plus transit time.
6. Visit the Monkeys at Galta Ji
Galta Ji is a Hindu pilgrimage site built into a narrow crevice in the hills, 10 km east of the city centre. Known widely as the Monkey Temple, the complex features a series of pavilions, rounded roofs, and natural freshwater springs (kunds) where pilgrims come to bathe. The pink stone architecture looks striking against the barren, rocky landscape of the Galta Gorge.
The site is completely overrun by rhesus macaques and langurs. The monkeys are used to humans and will approach you, especially if you buy peanuts from the vendors at the entrance. The hike up to the Sun Temple at the top of the ridge offers great views over Jaipur.
- Insider tip: Secure your belongings, take off your sunglasses, and do not carry food in your hands. The macaques are bold and can become aggressive if they spot something they want.
- Cost: Free entry, but expect to pay a small camera fee of about $1 USD (50 INR) and a tip to the priests.
- Time needed: 1.5 hours.
7. Step Down Panna Meena ka Kund
Before modern plumbing, stepwells were essential communal gathering spots and water sources across Rajasthan. Panna Meena ka Kund is a 16th-century stepwell located in Amer, just a short detour from the Amber Fort. It features a mesmerising, symmetrical zig-zag pattern of recessed stairs leading down to the water level.
It is much smaller and less crowded than the famous Chand Baori stepwell further east of Jaipur. The geometry of the steps makes for excellent photography, reflecting the ingenuity of ancient water conservation techniques.
- Insider tip: Security guards no longer allow tourists to walk down the steps due to safety regulations. You can only view and photograph the stepwell from the perimeter, making this a quick stop.
- Cost: Free.
- Time needed: 15 minutes.
8. Shop the Bazaars of the Pink City
The old city of Jaipur is laid out in a grid, with specific streets dedicated to different trades. Jaipur is a major global hub for textiles, block printing, and gemstones. Johari Bazaar is the centre for silver, gold, and Kundan jewellery. Bapu Bazaar is the best place to find camel leather shoes (mojaris) and block-printed cotton fabrics.
Walking through the bazaars is an intense sensory experience. You will share the narrow pavements with vendors, motorcycles, auto-rickshaws, and cows. The shop owners are assertive, so you need to be comfortable saying no and walking away.
- Insider tip: Bargaining is mandatory in the street stalls. Start at 40 percent of the asking price and negotiate from there. Fixed-price government emporiums are available if you hate haggling, but prices are higher.
- Cost: Free to browse.
- Time needed: 2 to 3 hours.
9. Admire the Albert Hall Museum and Patrika Gate
These two distinct architectural landmarks sit in the southern part of the city. Albert Hall is Rajasthan’s oldest museum, housed in a striking Indo-Saracenic building designed by Sir Samuel Swinton Jacob in 1887. The collection includes an Egyptian mummy, ancient coins, and miniature paintings, but the exterior architecture is the main attraction.
Further south near the airport is Patrika Gate, a massive, modern monument at Jawahar Circle. The gate features nine pavilions, each covered in vibrant, hand-painted murals depicting the different regions, cultures, and rulers of Rajasthan. It has become one of the most photographed spots in the city.
- Insider tip: Visit Patrika Gate early in the morning before the crowds arrive. The light shines directly through the arches, illuminating the pastel colours of the murals.
- Cost: Patrika Gate is free. Albert Hall is $4 USD (300 INR) or included in the Composite Ticket.
- Time needed: 1 hour for both.
10. See the Floating Jal Mahal
The Jal Mahal (Water Palace) sits in the middle of Man Sagar Lake on the main road between Jaipur and Amer. Built as a duck-hunting lodge for the maharajas by Maharaja Madho Singh I, the palace is a brilliant example of Rajput symmetry. When the lake is full, four of the building’s five storeys are submerged underwater.
You cannot go inside the palace or take a boat out to it. The site is strictly a viewpoint from the promenade along the edge of the lake, where street vendors sell snacks and souvenirs.
- Insider tip: Stop here at dusk on your way back from the Amber Fort. The palace is illuminated with golden lights that reflect beautifully on the dark water.
- Cost: Free.
- Time needed: 15 minutes.
11. Marvel at the Jaigarh Fort Cannon
Built in 1726 to protect the Amber Fort complex below, Jaigarh Fort is a rugged, utilitarian military structure. It lacks the ornate palaces and delicate mirror work of Amber, focusing instead on thick sandstone walls, watchtowers, and an extensive water harvesting system.
The fort is connected to Amber Fort by subterranean passages. Its main attraction is the Jaivana cannon. Cast in 1720 within the fort’s own foundry, it was the world’s largest wheeled cannon at the time. It was only fired once, allegedly covering a distance of 35 km.
- Insider tip: You can walk up a steep, paved tunnel from Amber Fort to Jaigarh, which takes about 30 minutes. It is physically demanding in the heat, so taking a taxi up the road is a better option for most.
- Cost: $2.50 USD (200 INR).
- Time needed: 1 to 1.5 hours.
12. Drink at Bar Palladio
Located inside the historic Narain Niwas Palace Hotel, Bar Palladio is an upscale lounge and restaurant that offers a break from the dust and noise of the city. Designed by Marie-Anne Oudejans, the interior is an explosion of vibrant electric blue, block-printed floral motifs, and Mughal-style arches.
It is a stark, modern contrast to the historical sites and a favourite spot for expats and travellers to unwind. You can sit inside the air-conditioned lounge or outside in the garden under tented canopies while peacocks roam the grounds.
- Insider tip: Book a table in advance, especially if you want one of the outdoor garden cabanas. A strict smart-casual dress code applies, so leave the flip-flops and hiking shorts at your hotel.
- Cost: Cocktails cost around $10 to $12 USD.
- Time needed: 1.5 hours.
Things to Do in Jaipur by Area
Grouping sights by neighbourhood makes navigating Jaipur’s heavy traffic much easier. Trying to cross the city multiple times in one day will leave you exhausted and stuck in gridlock.
| Neighbourhood / Area | Key Sights | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| The Pink City (Old City) | City Palace, Jantar Mantar, Hawa Mahal, Johari Bazaar, Bapu Bazaar | Royal history, architecture, and chaotic, vibrant shopping. |
| Amer and the North | Amber Fort, Panna Meena ka Kund, Jaigarh Fort, Jal Mahal | Military history, stepwells, and massive defensive structures. |
| The Aravalli Hills & Outskirts | Nahargarh Fort, Galta Ji (Monkey Temple) | Sunset views, hiking, and wildlife. |
| South Jaipur | Albert Hall Museum, Patrika Gate, Bar Palladio | Museums, modern photography spots, and upscale dining. |
How Many Days Do You Need in Jaipur?
To see the main highlights without rushing, you need two full days. This allows you to dedicate one day to the Pink City sights (City Palace, Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar, and the bazaars) and one day to the northern outskirts (Amber Fort, stepwells, and Nahargarh Fort). For a detailed breakdown, read our Jaipur Itinerary: How to Spend 1, 2 or 3 Days.
If you have three days, you can add Galta Ji, spend more time shopping for textiles, and take a slower pace enjoying the city’s upscale cafes and restaurants. Three days also gives you a buffer in case you experience travel fatigue or stomach issues.
Anything less than two days means you will be in a constant rush. Trying to cram the Amber Fort and the City Palace into a single afternoon usually results in “fort fatigue,” where the history and architecture blur together.
Plan Your Trip
Best time to go: The ideal time to visit is between October and March. During these winter months, daytime temperatures sit comfortably between 15°C and 25°C (59°F to 77°F). Avoid May and June when temperatures regularly exceed 42°C (107°F). For a detailed breakdown of the weather, check our Best Time to Visit Jaipur: Month-by-Month Guide.
Getting around: Uber and Ola work exceptionally well for booking cars and auto-rickshaws in Jaipur. Using these apps eliminates the need to haggle over fares. If you plan on doing a full day of sightseeing, especially out to Amer, you can hire a private driver through your hotel for about $20 to $25 USD for the day.
The Composite Ticket: If you plan to visit the Amber Fort, Nahargarh Fort, Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar, and Albert Hall, buy the Jaipur Composite Ticket. It costs approximately $12 USD (1000 INR) for foreign tourists. It is valid for two consecutive days and saves you both money and time queuing at individual ticket counters.
Further reading: For hotel recommendations and safety advice, read our complete Jaipur guide. If you are planning a wider trip across the country, our India guide covers logistics, visas, and transport for the entire subcontinent.
