India’s pink city, Jaipur, is officially one of my favorite cities in the world and all it took on this second visit was being there with someone who knew the place like a local. Now that I see the other side (not the backpacker’s side) of Jaipur, I’m hooked! When I first went to Jaipur, I found it overwhelming and now that I can see it more clearly, I’m really excited to share with you the best places to visit in Jaipur!

Don’t forget to check out my Insider Guide to Goa and my Ultimate Guide to India. Both are ebooks you can read on your phone, PC, or Kindle.

Why Jaipur?

Jaipur is one of the most famous cities in India and on nearly every travelers’ list when they visit India – and for good reason. There is a lot of history here and it’s unique compared to other Indian cities because of its royal monarchy past. You’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time and the regal sites will totally blow you away. Jaipur is part of the Golden Triangle of India: Delhi, Agra (the Taj Mahal is here) and Jaipur, which are the top three cities tourists visit in India.

As a blogger focusing on India, I sometimes do trips mostly to get information and update my blog to help you guys travel better. This is the main reason I went to Jaipur – all the shopping I got to do was a bonus!

I’m going to quickly round-up the iconic attractions in Jaipur you should see as a tourist then share about the best trendy eateries, best places to go party, and where to shop. I’ll also intro with how to get there and around and where I recommend staying.

Before You Go to Jaipur

• Visas: You need a visa to come to Jaipur, India. You can use this link to book it the easiest way for a fee. Read more about visas here.
• Travel Insurance: World Nomads is my go-to (follow this link for a quote).
• Tours: I am a fan of G Adventures and they have Jaipur on many of their tour options.
• SIM information: You can either get a SIM card in India or use Trabug. Follow those links for more information on staying connected.

How long should you stay in Jaipur?

I would stay around 3 days as a traveler who is going all around India for months. If you are on a short two-week trip, then I suggest staying two days. You can see all the top attractions in that time but won’t have a lot leftover for shopping which is a main reason to come here.

Getting to Jaipur

Train/Bus to Jaipur

Jaipur is easily connected to major hubs by train and bus. Read here how to book a train ticket online as a foreigner and also some tips on safety for train and bus travel. A bus from Jaipur to Delhi is around 250 Rs. Taking the train will be more expensive.

Flights to Jaipur

You can check Kiwi.com for flight options. Jaipur is so well-connected that you can often find a one-way flight for just $40 within India.

Taxis in and out of Jaipur

Many people coming from Delhi or within Rajasthan already will prefer to take a private car. You can usually average about 1,000 Rs. per hour journey then negotiate that rate down. It’s technically by km, but this is just an easy way to do it in your head. The main highways are in good condition so road travel is relatively fast.

Getting Around Jaipur

Uber & rickshaws

I took a few rickshaws when it was a short distance, but I overwhelmingly used Uber for my travel in Jaipur. It’s so much easier and there are tons of Uber’s around so not much wait time. Here are some tips for Uber in India.

Where to Stay in Jaipur

Samode Haveli

I spent a few nights at Samode Haveli which is the top boutique hotel in Jaipur and it’s located in the perfect spot. With luxurious rooms, kind staff, and the most incredible architecture you can imagine, it’s my favorite place to stay in Jaipur. Prices aren’t currently listed and range from the type of room to the time of year that you come. Jaipur is the place in India to splurge a bit, and this is the best place to do it.

• I’ve written a full review about the two Samode properties listed here Haveli above and Palace, the next one

Check availability, reviews, and current rates for Samode Haveli

Samode Palace

Samode Palace is outside Jaipur about 30 km away and I recommend staying here if you want to see a real palace built into the wilderness. I’ve never stayed anywhere as luxurious and unique as this. Prices aren’t currently listed. This palace is a real palace owned by the past Maharaja of the area. They still come for visits! While this is outside of town only 30 km, that takes over an hour so I suggest staying here as well as Samode Haveli in Jaipur before as you won’t want to taxi back and forth.

Check availability, reviews, and current rates for Samode Palace

Shahpura House

This hotel also is done in authentic Maharajas style. It has a pool, rooftop restaurant, and is a perfect boutique hotel. Rooms range from 3,000 Rs to 11,000 Rs. This is a mid-range property.

Check availability, reviews, and current rates for Shahpura House

Hotel Pearl Palace

This adorable boutique hotel has a popular restaurant, the Peacock Rooftop Restaurant. This is a budget property and goes for around 2,000 Rs per night.

Check availability, reviews, and current rates for Hotel Pearl Palace

Zostel

Zostel is a chain hostel group in India that tries to match European style hostel standards. Travelers rave about Zostel in Jaipur and although I haven’t been, I will vouch for it as so many of my trusted friends have stayed. Rooms as low as 400 Rs. per night in a shared dorm.

Check availability, review, and current rates for Zostel

39 Places to Visit in Jaipur

9 Classic Places to Visit in Jaipur

1. Hawal Mahal

This is the most epic pink building in the city and it’s where the royal women used to watch the street parades – and was built for just that reason. Jaipur is known as the pink city like Jodhpur is the blue city, but it’s not for a real reason. It was said to be done to impress the Queen when she visited and now it’s the law to stay pink. The name means “Palace of the winds”. It’s right next to City Palace so you can visit them at the same time. It’s 50 Rs.

2. City Palace

This is located in the center of the city. Jaipur is India’s first “planned city” and it was built with infrastructure in mind. It’s now a museum and is 150 Rs. to enter. It’s open only 10 am – 5 pm.

3. Jantar Mantar

Here you’ll find the world’s largest stone sundial. There are 19 instruments there built in 1734 that allow you to see astronomical positions with the naked eye. If you’re into science, it’s a do-not-miss. Read more about it here.

4. Amber Fort (Amer Fort)

This is a 10 km drive and with panoramic views across the city and countryside, it’s even better to see at sunset. To reach, take a rickshaw from the city center. The king lived here with 12 of his wives back in the day – and 350 mistresses. Busy guy! There are elephant rides here. Don’t do them! It’s torture how the elephants are treated. 300 Rs. There is also the Jaigarh Fort which was built to protect the Amber Fort which you can see while there at an additional fee.

5. Galta Monkey Temple

This is also outside the city, but I still remember this temple from 5 years ago on my first visit, so it’s something that really stands out and worth a visit, especially if you have never been to a monkey temple. It’s kind of in the hills and has multiple temples in a complex. This “Galti Ji” site is a place people come on pilgrimage for its natural water springs and the Ramgopalji temple. Free to enter. Some people might just call this Hanuman’s temple.

6. Jal Mahal

In the middle of Man Sagar Lake, you’ll see this beautiful palace floating (a little romantic Udaipur vibe). Only half is still floating and the bottom half is submerged. You can’t go into this beautiful sandstone palace though and have to view it from the other side of the lake.

7. Nahargarh Fort

Built in 1734, this fort gives a huge sweeping view over the entire city of Jaipur.

8. The Raj Mandir Cinema for a Bollywood Film

The theatre is beautiful and seeing a Bollywood film while you are in North India is the best time to do this. It’s an experience as the movie-watchers get really into here and jump up and yell and are totally entertaining.

9. The Iconic Stepwells

Like Jodhpur, there are stepwells here and actually, the Jaipur ones are incredibly famous and a photographer’s dream. You can see ladies during laundry, people bathing, and kids playing in the well. You can read more about these here.

9 Delicious Places to Eat in Jaipur

10. Palladio Cafe

This is the best of the best for lunch in Japuir. It’s meant to be mostly Lebanese, but you’ll find just about anything on the menu and it’s healthy western food. The cafe is one of the cutest buildings in Jaipur!

11. Taruveda

This super cute cafe has the best paninis and crepes in town.

12. Sujan

Sujan is one of the most well-known hotel brands in Jaipur and is PURE luxury. The price of a meal for two here could easily by over 10,000 Rs once you add the many taxes. It’s beautiful from photos, but I haven’t eaten here.

13. Anokhi Cafe

This is inside the shop Anokhi and has all organic food, grown by the owners. They do pizza, salads, and pasta. You can at least stop for a drink to take a break from shopping! I had the margarita pizza and it was tasty.

14. OTH (On The House)

This is a European style cafe with a menu that covers just about every type of Western food from nachos to pasta.

15. Niros

This is the best place for a true North Indian feast at the lowest price possible. If you are on a budget and want to pig out on the best Indian food around, come here.

16. Spice Court

While they have dishes from all over North India, they are known for their spicy Rajasthani dishes. It’s a great place to eat local food at a cheap price.

17. Jaipur Modern Kitchen

Really tasty intercontinental food (meant to be solely Italian) like pasta, pizzas, and sandwiches as well as starters from Europe and the USA.

18. Chokhi Dhani

Touristy but cool ethnic village showcases Rajasthani food and dance, puppet shows, and even snake charmers. It’s commercialized but does serve good authentic local food.

6 Cool Places to Visit in Jaipur at Night

19. Shikaar Bagh

A new addition to the going out scene in Jaipur, this is located right next to Bar Palladio so you can go to both in one night. The music was awful lounge music but there were tons of expats here and young local people. Some women had on sarees and others were in leather trousers – everything seems to go here. Free to enter.

20. Bar Palladio

You can come here early for sunset drinks and dinner with their Italian menu. It’s pricey and a really pretty place to hang out. Free to enter.

21. Polo Bar

The rooftop bar has indoor soundproof area and a had full-on trance party while I was there. For me it was surprising, but the local friends we went out with said it’s the norm. Depending on the party there could be a cover charge.

22. Club Naila

Does after parties, I was meant to end my night here for some pool party but was too tired by 3 AM when everyone wanted to go. They charge a cover charge.

23. Blackout

A upscale bar with views but you might have to pay a 1,000 Rs cover to get in.

24. The Dragon Club

This is a really popular party place for young people to eat, drink, listen to music, and dance late into the night. There is a cover charge.

15 Places to Visit in Jaipur for Shopping

For a more complete shopping guide, check my best places for shopping in Jaipur post

25. Anokhi

I loved this shop and got some keychains and a bag here. Anohki is known for block-printing and they are in the museum at the Amber Fort if you want to go learn how. Prices are higher than export shops but they also have some nicer stuff. They have adult Indian-style clothing, cute kids clothes, and homewares. There is a cafe inside.

26. Tokree

This is a fashion shop for men and women which has Indian clothing but you can still pop in for some scarves and adorable knickknacks. Many people like to wear Indian clothing while traveling here, and this would be a trendy place to stock up.

27. Soma

Soma is all about block-printing which is a famous technique from Jaipur (but used all over the world I think). You can buy clothing, accessories, and homewares here.

28. Concept French Jewelry

This is a shop run by the designer, Diane Singh, who’ve I’ve gotten to know through friends. Her gold-plated and silver jewelry is designed so well that I bought 14 pieces and spent over 20,000 Rs. here. It’s fixed price which makes jewelry shopping a lot less stressful, (clearly, since I was relaxed enough to spend a fortune, lol).

mom: one of these is for you… hmmm, which one!?

29. Hot Pink

This store has housewares and clothing. It’s very cute and well-curated. Don’t miss stopping in here! Located inside Narain Niwas complex.

30. Narain Niwas

Hot Pink is located inside the complex of the Narain Niwas Palace Hotel. There are a couple other shops here that I did not mention like Anataya Decor (stunning homewares, but so pricey), Umrao Jewels, and Andraab, among others. This is also where Bar Palladio is so you can come here and do some shopping and have dinner. Shops close early here, I think by 7 pm.

31. Jaipur Modern

This is at the restaurant Jaipur Modern Kitchen and you’ll find contemporary bags, scarves, bedding, homewares, and jewelry. It’s a great place to shop all around. This is located in C-Scheme

32. Teatro Dhora

You can buy unique contemporary jewelry with a Rajasthani influence; great combo. It’s gorgeous pieces, some of which have been in CN Traveler but you can also find affordable gold-plated items at around 2,000 Rs. This shop has clothing and accessories, too.

33. Hawa Mahal Street

You can shop around the main market here for fabric, silver, gold, and gems. Jaipur has great pottery and beaded slippers. You’ll find all the regular tourist items here too that I mentioned above but usually not as nice of quality and you’ll have to haggle a lot.

34. Kripal Kumbh

Jaipur is known for a specific blue pottery and this is the best place to buy it.

35. Gem Palace

This place is famous for it’s jewelry but it’s expensive so I didn’t even go inside. If you have a lot to spend on jewelry and want solid gold and gemstones, you can go here for a trusted place to shop.

Most of the homewares places that I have mentioned so far for where to shop in Jaipur are on the pricey side because they are in a curated shop. You can buy these items in export shops if you feel like digging through for some gems.

I’m going to share the best shops I went to for cheap finds below (not cheap things, but the cheapest you’ll get nice things). The friend I was with has been shopping from these same people for years on wholesale prices and knows them well. While on Instagram stories, I showed you the export houses, I can’t give out that information – I will give you their showroom addresses instead. The owners of these shops know that I’m blogger and that readers will come from this blog post, so if you say you came because you’ve read about them on “Hippie in Heels” – they promise they will give you a fair price that does not need to be negotiated down (not wholesale but fair). AKA they won’t try to rip you off. It’s worth a shot!

36. BR Enterprises

29-C, Govind Nagar West Amer Road, Near Jorawar Singh Gate

This is a smaller shop but with a focus on block-printed fabric like sarongs and robes, and amazing quilts. I got both of those things, plus a few pieces of fabric to make my own stuff. He can also order in other designs or colors if you don’t see what you want.

37. Vimla International

Gupta Garden, Near Brahmpuri Police Station, Amer Road

Rugs galore! I mean really, don’t by a rug anywhere other than here. I waited to come here until the day before I went to the palace and had already spent way past my shopping budget on jewelry at Diane’s shop but ended up buying five rugs, as one does when encountered with a room full of the prettiest rugs you’ll ever see at the lowest price you will probably ever find. You climb over piles of rugs to get to the ones you want!

38. Ridhi Sidhi Textiles

This place has everything. They customize and design these items for huge brands who sell them at way higher prices. They have the cutest sarongs and lungis, quilts, sheets, huge Rajasthani-style duvets, textiles to make your own clothes, and more. I spent about 10k in here buying a mix of bedding, sarongs, and fabric I’ll make clothing with. It’s hard to keep track of all the prices if you are buying a lot and you’ll see I wasn’t the only crazy foreigner with a paper and pen writing it down to see what I could afford, haha!

39. Saurashtra Impex

7-8 Inside Jorawar Singh Gate, Opp. Ayurveda College, Amer Palace Road

You will also find rugs here as well as sheets, bags, and textiles. This place is huge and has a couple floors to explore. You can get a huge variety of quilts, wool shawls and blankets (like REALLY nice blankets), and traditional pieces of Rajasthani mirrorwork.

For more on Rajasthan:

• Have The Perfect Rajasthan Trip By Copying This Two-Week Itinerary
• My Little Guide to Jodhpur, India’s Blue City
• Top 8 Must-See Places to Visit in Udaipur For the Best Photography and Views

For general India travel tips and advice, check out this post on planning your trip to India and this post on how to dress in India. Plus, you can join my India travel Facebook group!

Don’t Forget These India Travel Essentials

Pin for later!

Join my email list and get exclusive updates & news straight to your inbox. 

I will never give away, trade or sell your email address. You can unsubscribe at any time.

SUBSCRIBE!

You have Successfully Subscribed!