Jaipur, Rajasthan’s “Pink City,” was founded in 1727 by astronomer-king Sawai Jai Singh II and planned on a grid long before urban planning became a buzzword. Today its rose-hued facades, mirror-studded palaces, and hilltop forts frame a city that balances regal heritage with contemporary craft, design, and food.

Highlights range from the honeycombed Hawa Mahal and the UNESCO-listed Jantar Mantar observatory to Amber Fort’s frescoed halls and the serene Jal Mahal floating on Man Sagar Lake. Between monuments, you’ll find block printers, blue-pottery ateliers, bangle makers, and spice stalls perfuming the air with cardamom and asafoetida.

Visit October–March for the most pleasant weather; summers run hot, and monsoon showers arrive July–September. Dress modestly for temples, carry small bills and digital payment options, and bargain kindly in bazaars. Come hungry: dal baati churma, laal maas, ghevar, lassis, and roadside chai belong on your daily menu.

Jaipur

Jaipur rewards unhurried travelers. Start with palaces and forts, then step into living traditions: hand-block printing in Amber, gem-cutting lanes of Johri Bazaar, and tea breaks with skyline views. Evenings are for the sunset ramparts of Nahargarh, courtyard dinners, and old-cinema showtimes.

• Top sights: Amber Fort, Jaigarh Fort, Nahargarh Fort, City Palace, Jantar Mantar, Hawa Mahal, Jal Mahal, Panna Meena ka Kund, Galtaji (Monkey Temple), Albert Hall Museum, Jawahar Kala Kendra, Patrika Gate.
• Where to eat and drink: Tapri Central (tea and toasties), Anokhi Café (salads, quiches, carrot cake), Laxmi Mishthan Bhandar/LMB (ghevar, thali), Rawat Mishtan Bhandar (pyaz kachori), Lassiwala on MI Road (thick lassi in clay cups), 1135 AD at Amber (Mughlai-Rajput), Steam at Rambagh Palace (pizza and grills in a vintage train car), Bar Palladio (aperitivo in a blue salon), Spice Court (laal maas), Samode Haveli (courtyard dining), The Forresta Kitchen & Bar (alfresco).
• Fun facts: Jaipur’s walled city gained UNESCO World Heritage status in 2019; Jantar Mantar’s stone instruments still deliver startlingly precise readings; the “pink” was a 19th-century makeover to welcome the Prince of Wales.

Where to stay (handpicked):

• Rambagh Palace — the former royal residence with manicured lawns and a storied Polo Bar.
• Trident Jaipur — lake-facing rooms near Jal Mahal; great value for location and views.
• ITC Rajputana, a Luxury Collection Hotel — sandstone grandeur, excellent North-West Frontier cuisine at Peshawri.
• Holiday Inn Jaipur City Centre — modern comforts, central base for shoppers and food lovers.
• Zostel Jaipur — social, budget-friendly stays with hostel energy near the walled city.
• Browse more apartments and heritage stays on VRBO Jaipur or hotels via Hotels.com Jaipur.

Getting there & around: Fly into JAI (Jaipur International). Search fares on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com; Delhi–Jaipur flights are ~1 hr (~$25–80), Mumbai–Jaipur ~1 hr 50 min (~$45–120), depending on season. Prefer trains? Check schedules on Trip.com Trains; Delhi to Jaipur Shatabdi/Tejas services take ~4–5.5 hours (~$10–25 in AC classes). From JAI, app cabs or prepaid taxis to the old city take ~30–45 minutes (~$5–10).

Day 1: Arrival, the Pink City glow, and a first taste of Jaipur

Morning: Fly or train into Jaipur. If you arrive early, stretch your legs with a masala chai at Tapri Central and pair it with ajwain paratha or their popular pesto-paneer sandwich while scanning the skyline for Hawa Mahal’s turrets.

Afternoon: Check in, refresh, then head to the City Palace. Visit the Mubarak Mahal textile gallery and peek at the Pritam Niwas Chowk’s peacock doorways. Step across to Jantar Mantar to decode 18th-century astronomical instruments.

Evening: Watch the honeycomb windows of Hawa Mahal glow at twilight from Wind View Café with kachori and chai. Dinner at Steam (a vintage train car at Rambagh Palace) for wood-fired pizza and kebabs, or book Bar Palladio for aperitivi and small plates in its indigo drawing room. Finish with a sweet, frothy lassi at the original Lassiwala on MI Road.

Day 2: Amber Fort, stepwells, and sunset from the hills

Morning: Reach Amber early to explore Sheesh Mahal’s mirrored ceilings and Ganesh Pol’s frescoes. Wander up to Jaigarh Fort for cannon lore and Aravalli views. Coffee stop: The Stag Rooftop opposite Amber serves omelets and views of the fort walls.

Afternoon: Drop to Panna Meena ka Kund, a symmetrical 17th‑century stepwell perfect for photographs (respect local rules—no climbing into the water). Catch Jal Mahal’s lakeside breeze, then lunch at 1135 AD inside Amber for rich qorma and saffron phirni served in regal rooms.

Evening: Drive up to Nahargarh for the best citywide sunset; the ramparts glow over the Pink City. Dine courtyard-side at Samode Haveli—order the Rajasthani thali or tangy ker sangri with bajra roti.

Prefer a guided deep-dive? Book the Jaipur Amer Fort, Jal Mahal & Stepwell Private Half-Day Tour for curated storytelling and comfortable transport.

Day 3: Markets, crafts, and royal rooms

Morning: Breakfast at Anokhi Café—think almond croissants, seasonal salads, and excellent coffee. Drive to the Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing in Amber to see block-carving and resist-dyeing up close; if available, join a mini workshop to print your own scarf.

Afternoon: Return to the walled city for Bapu Bazaar’s block-print textiles and Tripolia Bazaar’s lacquer bangles. For lunch, try LMB’s pure-veg thali with gatte ki sabzi and churma. Gem-curious? Browse Johri Bazaar, but buy only from reputed stores and ask for a certificate.

Evening: Stroll through the brilliantly lit bazaars, then dine at Spice Court for fiery laal maas (mutton in red-chili gravy) and jungli maas, or choose Samrat for classic vegetarian fare like paneer handi and crisp tandoori rotis.

No logistics, all highlights: The Full-Day Jaipur City Tour - Private covers City Palace, Jantar Mantar, Hawa Mahal photo stops, and more with a local expert.

Day 4: Sunrise balloon, monkey temples, and a street-food crawl

Morning: Rise before dawn for a hot-air balloon flight over Amber’s hills and villages—seasonal and weather-dependent, typically Oct–Mar. After landing, warm up with masala chai and kachori from Rawat Mishtan Bhandar.

Afternoon: Visit Galtaji (Monkey Temple) tucked in a rocky gorge—carry nothing shiny and keep snacks away. Continue to the painted pavilions of Sisodia Rani Garden. Pause at Tapri Central for kadak chai, vada pav, and skyline views.

Evening: Do a gentle street-food crawl: Lassiwala for sweet or salted lassi, Sahu Chai Wala for coal-brewed chai, and Pandit Kulfi for kesar-pista kulfi. Settle in for dinner at Peshawri (ITC Rajputana) for dal Bukhara, seekh kebabs, and tandoori platters.

Bucket-list experience: Reserve the SkyWaltz Hot Air Balloon Safari for panoramic shots of Amber Fort and rural Rajasthan at sunrise.

Day 5: Ranthambore Tiger Safari day trip

Leave early for Ranthambore National Park (approx. 3–3.5 hours one way). Morning and afternoon game drives give you the best chance to spot Bengal tigers, along with sambar deer, crocodiles, and a kaleidoscope of birdlife. Prime season is Oct–June; the core zones typically close during the monsoon (July–Sept). Carry binoculars, a hat, and a light scarf for dust, and keep cameras ready as the light in the forest changes fast.

Hassle-free option: book the Private Day Trip to Ranthambore Tiger Reserve from Jaipur, which manages permits, transfers, and guides.

Day 6: Museums, modern design, and a Bollywood night

Morning: Classic breakfast at Indian Coffee House on MI Road—south Indian dosas, scrambled eggs, and filter coffee. Explore Albert Hall Museum’s eclectic trove (miniature paintings, arms, and decorative arts). If you love photography, the pigeons in the forecourt make for lively frames.

Afternoon: Head to Jawahar Kala Kendra, a contemporary arts complex inspired by Vastu geometry—peek into galleries and the bookstore. Swing by Patrika Gate at Jawahar Circle for its kaleidoscopic painted arches. Lunch at RJ14 for Rajasthani and North Indian plates or at OTH (On The House) for continental comfort food.

Evening: Catch a Bollywood show under the twinkling, art-deco ceilings of Raj Mandir Cinema—arrive early for photos. For a celebratory finale, book Chokhi Dhani’s village-style experience: folk dances, puppet shows, and an unlimited Rajasthani thali featuring dal baati, ker sangri, and churma.

Day 7: Last sips, last shops, and departure

Morning: Brunch at Peacock Rooftop (Hotel Pearl Palace) for parathas, pancakes, and fruit platters amid murals and plants. Pick up final souvenirs: soft block-printed quilts at Bapu Bazaar, blue pottery at local studios, or handmade mojari shoes near Hawa Mahal.

Afternoon: Spa time if your hotel has it, or a leisurely walk through the quieter residential lanes of Civil Lines. Transfer to the airport or station (plan 60–90 minutes buffer for traffic). Search or adjust return plans on Trip.com Flights, Kiwi.com, or Trip.com Trains.

Evening: If you’ve got a late departure, sneak in a sunset tea at The Terrace Grill (Hotel Park Prime) or an early dinner at The Forresta Kitchen & Bar—reserve a garden table under the trees.

Optional add-ons if you have extra energy: A private half-day overview like the Full-Day Jaipur Private Sightseeing Tour by Car with Guide is a flexible way to tailor your final day’s stops.

Across seven days, you’ll walk palace corridors, sip street-side chai, and bargain for textiles as centuries of craft and kingship come alive. Jaipur is a city that rewards curiosity—linger, look up, and let Rajasthan’s color and cadence set the pace.