Jaipur, founded in 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, is India’s famed “Pink City,” its rose-hued walls originally painted to honor an 1876 royal visit. Between its star attractions—Amber Fort, Hawa Mahal, City Palace, and Jantar Mantar—Jaipur showcases Rajput grandeur and scientific brilliance in equal measure.

Beyond palaces, the city thrives in its bazaars: Johari for gemstones, Bapu for textiles and jootis, Tripolia for lac bangles. The food scene runs from street-side kachori and lassi to royal thalis and rooftop dinners under the desert sky.

Practical notes: October–March is the sweetest season; summers are hot. Dress modestly in temples, bargain with a smile in markets, and use rideshares or prepaid autos. For flights and trains, see Trip.com Flights, Trip.com Trains, and Kiwi.com.

Jaipur

Jaipur marries storybook palaces with living craft traditions—blue pottery, block printing, kundan jewelry—shaped by centuries of trade. Sunrise paints Hawa Mahal gold; sunset from Nahargarh turns the city to embers.

• Top sights: Amber Fort, City Palace, Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar, Nahargarh & Jaigarh Forts, Jal Mahal, Albert Hall Museum, Panna Meena Stepwell.
• Must-try eats: laal maas, ghevar, pyaaz kachori, dal baati churma, and sweet lassi.
• Insider picks: Govind Devji Temple aarti, Sargasuli Tower views, Tapri Central chai, and Bar Palladio’s garden lounge.

Where to stay

• Search all stays: Hotels.com Jaipur | VRBO Jaipur
• Palatial icon: Rambagh Palace — suites, gardens, and heritage dining (Steam, Suvarna Mahal).
• Lakefront comfort: Trident Jaipur — near Jal Mahal, great for families.
• City-center classic: ITC Rajputana, a Luxury Collection Hotel — robust dining (Peshawri) and spa.
• Value pick: Holiday Inn Jaipur City Centre — modern rooms, easy metro access.
• Hostel & social: Zostel Jaipur — wallet-friendly, community vibe.

Getting to Jaipur

• By air: JAI (Jaipur Intl.) has frequent 1–1.5 hr flights from Delhi/Mumbai; fares from ~$35–120 one-way on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com.
• By train: New Delhi–Jaipur 4.5–6 hrs (e.g., Shatabdi/Double Decker). AC Chair from ~$12–20 via Trip.com Trains.
• Local transport: Autos and cabs (Ola/Uber) are ubiquitous; expect ₹80–150 for 4–6 km by auto. Jaipur Metro covers a limited corridor.

Day 1: Arrival, First Tastes, and Sunset Arches

Afternoon: Land in Jaipur and check in. Shake off travel with specialty coffee at Curious Life Coffee Roasters (bright Kenyan pour-overs, buttery croissants) or tea at Sahu Chai Wala, simmered over charcoal. Stroll Ram Niwas Garden to admire Albert Hall Museum’s Indo-Saracenic facade and feed the flurry of pigeons.

Evening: Head to Patrika Gate at Jawahar Circle for its kaleidoscopic archways—one of Jaipur’s most photogenic corridors. Dine at Peacock Rooftop Restaurant (butter-soft laal maas, gatta curry, views) or reserve at Peshawri in ITC Rajputana for tandoori classics and famed dal Bukhara. Nightcap in the garden glow of Bar Palladio or climb aboard Steam, the vintage train-restaurant at Rambagh.

Day 2: Old City Icons and Bazaar Browsing (with a local guide)

Morning: Start at Hawa Mahal for its honeycombed “wind palace” facade. Grab a seat at Wind View Cafe opposite for chai and a postcard view of the jharokhas. Dive into the City Palace’s Mubarak Mahal textiles and the armory’s ornate swords; then step into UNESCO-listed Jantar Mantar to decode giant stone instruments that still tell accurate time.

Afternoon: Join a flexible guided experience to deepen the stories behind the monuments and lanes: Private Guided Half Day Tour Jaipur. You can tailor it to the Old City, including Tripolia Gate, artisan workshops, and a gem-cutting demo.

Evening: Browse Johari Bazaar for kundan-polki jewelry and Bapu Bazaar for cotton block prints and mojari shoes. Food picks: Laxmi Misthan Bhandar (LMB) for the signature thali and paneer ghevar; or Anokhi Cafe for organic salads, mezze, and carrot cake. If timings align, witness the electric aarti at Govind Devji Temple. Dinner at Spice Court—order junglee maas and ker sangri—or celebrate at Suvarna Mahal for a regal Rajasthani tasting menu.

Day 3: Amber, Stepwells, and Hilltop Forts

Morning: Beat the heat at Amber Fort. Explore mirror-laced Sheesh Mahal and the frescoed Ganesh Pol; opt for the eco-jeep or walk up rather than riding elephants. Continue to Panna Meena ka Kund, an 8th-century stepwell with mesmerizing zigzag symmetry—perfect for photos.

Afternoon: Head to Jaigarh Fort to see the massive Jaivana cannon and sweeping views over the Aravalli hills. Pause for a royal lunch at 1135 AD inside Amber (dal bati, safed maas) or grab quick kachori at Rawat Mishthan Bhandar back in town.

Evening: Stop by Jal Mahal for reflections at golden hour, then ride to Nahargarh Fort for sunset over the Pink City. Casual dinner at Masala Chowk lets you graze: try pyaaz kachori, mirchi vada, and kulfi from different stalls; or choose The Forresta Kitchen & Bar for alfresco grills under trees.

Day 4: Taj Mahal Day Trip from Jaipur (full-day)

Depart pre-dawn for Agra on a private car excursion: Taj Mahal Tour from Jaipur by Car - Private Day Trip. Greet the marble masterpiece in soft morning light, then continue to Agra Fort’s red sandstone ramparts and the delicate Itimad-ud-Daulah (Baby Taj). Expect 12–14 hours door to door with time for a North Indian lunch in Agra before returning to Jaipur for a late, light bite—Niros on MI Road is a reliable classic for butter chicken and tandoori rotis.

Day 5: Ranthambore Safari from Jaipur (full-day)

Chase stripes in the wild on a same-day tiger safari: Ranthambore Day Trip from Jaipur with Jeep / Canter Safari. Drive 3–3.5 hours to Sawai Madhopur, then board a shared jeep/canter into zones famed for Bengal tigers, leopards, sloth bears, and marsh crocodiles. Best sightings are Oct–June. Return by evening and restore with hearty handi-laal maas at Handi Restaurant or comforting dal and naan at The Rajput Room.

Day 6: Crafts, Gems, and a Flavor-Filled Night

Morning: Explore Jaipur’s artisan heritage. Visit a blue pottery studio to see quartz-based ceramics fired to that signature turquoise. Pop into the Anokhi store for contemporary block prints, or if you’re keen, detour to their museum another day for the full story of wooden blocks and dyes.

Afternoon: Get hands-on with stones at the Jaipur Jewelry and Gemstone Crafting Experience, learning how raw gems are sourced, cut, and set. It’s an illuminating window into Johari Bazaar’s legacy and a chance to design a keepsake.

Evening: Tea with a view at Tapri Central—order the vada pav, pani puri, and cheese toast alongside cutting chai. For dinner, choose your adventure: Masala Chowk for a curated street-food bonanza (Rajasthani thali, kathi rolls, kulfi), or Chokhi Dhani for a cultural village experience with folk dances, puppet shows, and a lavish Rajasthani thali.

Day 7: Museum Morning and Farewell Flavors

Morning: Step inside Albert Hall Museum to admire 19th-century artifacts and the famous Egyptian mummy. Swing by Sargasuli Tower (Isarlat) for a last panorama over Jaipur’s grid-plan streets.

Afternoon: Brunch at Anokhi Cafe (pumpkin soup, hummus plate, excellent brownies) or Zolocrust (wood-fired pizzas, fresh salads). Pick up last-minute sweets at LMB or try the iconic sweet lassi at Lassiwala (since 1944) before your afternoon departure.

Evening: Departure day—if time allows, one last stroll through Bapu Bazaar for textiles and souvenirs. Airport transfers typically take 25–45 minutes depending on traffic.

Optional swaps and add-ons

• If you prefer a guide-led overview in Jaipur, consider a comprehensive day with transport: Jaipur Full-Day Private Tour By Car, Guide & Skip-the-Line Entry.

In seven days, you’ll trace royal corridors, taste time-honored recipes, and watch the Pink City glow from its hilltop forts. With thoughtful day trips to Agra and Ranthambore, the itinerary balances heritage, wildlife, and the everyday rhythms of Jaipur’s markets and cafes.