Udaipur is the perfect place to unwind in Rajasthan. With this expertly curated three-day itinerary, you’ll be well-equipped with everything you need to know for an epic trip to Udaipur. Here are the 17 best things to do in Udaipur, with advice on where to stay, where to eat, and how to get there.

Welcome to Udaipur— India’s “City of Lakes” and romance. Located in the heart of Rajasthan, Udaipur is a popular destination thanks to its rich culture, breathtaking architecture, and vibrant art. If you're planning a trip to Udaipur, I’ve crafted this perfect 3-day itinerary for Udaipur. Whether you're a first-time visitor or a seasoned traveler, this itinerary will take you on a journey through the best of Udaipur, from the majestic City Palace to the serene Lake Pichola. We'll also guide you through some of the hidden gems that only locals know about, giving you an authentic experience of Udaipur.

Our itinerary has been carefully curated to ensure that you make the most of your time in Udaipur. You'll have the opportunity to explore the history and culture of the city, savor the local cuisine, and indulge in some shopping at the vibrant markets. Whether you're traveling solo or with family and friends, Udaipur has something for everyone. So, let's dive into the perfect 3-day itinerary and make your Udaipur trip a memorable one.

when to visit udaipur ↴

I recommend visiting Udaipur during the winter months. The temperatures are bearable, and may even get a little chilly in the mornings and evenings. This is peak tourist season, however, so be prepared for crowds at major city attractions.

Summer | From March through July, Udaipur is unbelievably hot, so I’d avoid Udaipur during these months.
Winter | Winter runs from roughly November through March
Monsoon | July through September is the monsoon season. Heavy rains may affect your travel plans throughout India, and they might dampen (no pun intended) your Udaipur itinerary.

how many days to spend in udaipur ↴

We spent an enormous chunk of time in Udaipur, simply because our plans happened to time that way around the dates for Holi. Because we so much time in Udaipur, we were able to explore the city and its surrounding area in great depth. You really only need three days in Udaipur to see the highlights and get a sense of the city’s rhythm.

quick tips for travel in udaipur ↴

Power outages | Power outages occur every so often in Udaipur, but they don’t typically last very long.
ATMs + cash withdrawal | Many of the cash withdrawals/ATMs throughout Udaipur pop out 2000 rupee notes, which can be hard to spend at small shops where the tellers don’t have change.
Cows + dogs | There are lots of stray dogs and street cows mozying throughout the lanes in Udaipur. Be aware that bulls can charge when they feel intimidated and stray dogs may bite. Avoid getting too close to wild animals— leave them be and they’ll leave you alone.

where to stay in udaipur ↴

There’s no shortage of accommodation in Udaipur for visitors to stay in. From budget bunks to ultra-luxury stays, Udaipur has plenty of hotels, hostels, and guesthouses for travelers to choose from.

Treebo Hotel | This budget-friendly stay has a reputation for its clean rooms and central location.
Lassi Guest House | The best decision we made was to spend part of our time in Udaipur at Lassi Guest House. Not only was it beautiful, but it was also clean, cool, and in a quiet, more local part of town. Breakfast was included with our deluxe room stay and we were within walking distance from the art school and cooking class we took.
Udai Kothi | Possibly the most Instagrammable hotel in Udaipur with deluxe rooms starting at £60 per night.
Amet Haveli | Lakeside luxury at its finest, with rooms starting at £95 per night.
Taj Lake Palace | Another high-spend luxury hotel in Udaipur, dripping in romance
The Oberoi Udaivilas | If you’re willing to spend upwards of £500 per night, The Oberoi Udailvillas is the epitome of Indian luxury.
Lake Pichola Hotel | One of the city’s heritage hotels known for its stellar lakeside breakfast buffet.

We love using Booking.com to book the best places to stay around the world.

how to get to udaipur ↴

If you're looking to explore the beauty and culture of Udaipur, India, there are several ways to get there. The city is well-connected by air, rail, and road, making it easily accessible for both domestic and international travelers.

The quickest and most convenient way to reach Udaipur is by air. Maharana Pratap Airport is located 25 minutes from the city center. There are daily flights provided by several domestic airlines including Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Vistara. You can easily book a flight to Udaipur from major cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore, and enjoy a hassle-free journey to this beautiful city.

If you prefer to travel by train, Udaipur is well-connected to several major cities in India, including Delhi, Mumbai, and Jaipur. There are several direct and indirect trains that operate to Udaipur, with two railway stations - Udaipur City Railway Station and Rana Pratap Nagar Railway Station. Once you arrive in Udaipur, you can hire a taxi or a rickshaw to explore the city at your own pace.

For a more scenic journey, you can also travel to Udaipur by road. You can easily hire a private car or take a bus from nearby cities along the major highways including Jaipur, Jodhpur, and Ahmedabad. The roads to Udaipur are well-maintained, and you can enjoy gorgeous views of the Aravalli Mountains along the way.

how to get around udaipur ↴

Udaipur is almost entirely walkable, and there is sidewalk infrastructure around the city. However, the Ahar cenotaphs, Bahubali Hills hike, and ropeway may require you to get a rickshaw. If you’d like to plan a half-day excursion, you can hire a rickshaw for roughly INR 1000.

suggested 3-day itinerary for Udaipur ↴

day 1: Jagdish Temple, City Palace, Gangour Ghat, Folk Museum, Dharohar Cultural Show

Your introduction to Udaipur begins at Jagdish Temple, before walking up the road to the City Palace, which opens at 9 AM. Grab a lunchtime dosa at the nearby Shree Nath Dosa. Wander the winding streets to Gangour Ghat located along the lake. Pop in the Folk Museum to local culture and traditional art forms. Finish your first day in Udaipur by attending the Dharohar Cultural show.

Day 2: sunrise yoga, Pichola Lake Hotel, Art School, + ropeway to Karni Mata temple

Start Day 2 with sunrise yoga before grabbing breakfast at Pichola Lake Hotel. Spend the afternoon at art school learning the delicate process of miniature painting that Udaipur is famous for.

Day 3: Ahar Cenotaphs, Bahubali Hills, + sunset boat cruise

Explore the Ahar Cenotaphs in the morning, which are free to visit, and then head to Bahubali Hill for a golden hour “hike”. Cap off your time in Udaipur with a sunset boat cruise around Lake Pichola.

17 best things to do in udaipur ↴

visit the City Palace

Udaipur boasts Rajasthan’s largest palace, Udaipur City Palace. Sitting above the city and Lake Pichola, the palace was constructed by the founder of Udaipur, Maharana Udai Singh II. Over time, the kings of Udaipur added to the palace complex transforming it into the sprawling grounds you see today. We spent two hours wandering the grounds; exploring each room and its colorful frescoes. We took care to read nearly every placard because the history of the palace and its artifacts was so fascinating.

I highly recommend going for open at 9 AM, so that you can beat the group tours that arrive around 10 AM. If you’re feeling spendy, you could always enjoy a cold beverage from the palace’s café, but you will be charged nearly 3x the prices you’ll find outside of the palace walls.

ADMISSION | INR 300 per foreign tourist

hike Bahubali Hill

Bahubali Hill was one of the highlights of our time in Udaipur, which is a big call given how deeply we fell in love with Udaipur. Located beside Badi Lake (Tiger Lake), the hill lookout is considered a bit of a local gem that most tourists don’t make it to, and it’s wildly popular with Indian wedding photographers. For a long time, locals referred to it as Badi Hill, but the hill looks similar to those featured in the Telugu movie “Bahubali” that it’s been renamed. Calling it a hike is maybe a bit of a stretch, as it takes roughly 10-15 minutes to get to the top. The path is made of dirt and rock, so I’d recommend good shoes to help you get to the lookout safely. The view is genuinely stunning at sunset, but I would make sure to hike down the trail before you lose all the light so that you don’t risk tripping on the aforementioned rocks. The top also has a small chai stand if you want to grab a refreshment while you watch the sun sink.

It takes approximately 30 minutes to get to Bahubali Hill by car or rickshaw, and drivers charge roughly INR 700-900 to take you there and back. We arranged our rickshaw driver with our accommodation. Bring cash for the security guards at the top that hand out “entry tickets”.

ADMISSION | INR 10

Ahar Cenotaphs

The Ahar Cenotaphs are a collection of more than 250 cenotaphs of the Maharanas of Mewar. A cenotaph is an empty tomb that represents a resting place, though there are no actual bodies in the tombs because the deceased royals have been cremated and floated down the Ganges River. They were built over the course of 350 years in an Indo-Islamic architectural style. Everything from the giant pillars and domes to the stairs and animal statues is intricately carved. The cenotaph gates close at 5 PM every night.

ADMISSION | free

Dharohar cultural folk show

Typically, Luke and I tend to avoid cultural shows. But we kept hearing how amazing the performances at the Dharohar Folk Dance show were, so we bought our tickets to see what the fuss was about. It was easily one of the best things we did in Udaipur. Days later we were still talking about the traditional outfits, the music, and the incredible dancing. Indian and international tourists alike gather in the Bagore-Ki-Haveli courtyard every night to watch a set of Rajasthani musical performances including puppets, dances, skits, and music. It’s so popular that it regularly sells out, so be sure to buy your tickets when the counter opens at 5 PM every night.

ADMISSION | INR 200 per foreign tourist for entry + INR 100 if you want to take photos

watch sunset at Gangaur Ghat

Sunsets at Gangaur Ghat are like something from a movie. Each night the steps of Gangaur Ghat fill with people waiting to watch the sun sink down behind the Aravalli Mountains. Small children chase hordes of pigeons, while tourists and locals alike find a seat on the stone steps leading to the lake’s still water. A sort of silence sets in across the city, marking the end of another day in the city. This is a budget-friendly alternative to taking a boat cruise.

ADMISSION | free

sunset boat cruise

Udaipur’s sunsets are the stuff of legend. You can enjoy the city’s epic sunsets for free from the ghats around the lake, but a boat cruise on Lake Pichola at golden hour is something that simply cannot be missed. Many of the boat cruises can be booked from the luxury lakeside hotels around Udaipur. You can also book a boat cruise from the City Palace ticket counter, and these are the only cruise boats on the water that stop at the Jagmandir. The cheapest sunset cruises can be booked at Lake Pichola Municipal Boat Ride Point.

COST | sunset cruises from the City Palace costs INR 700 per person,

take an art class

Udaipur has a world-class reputation for its miniature paintings. The history of artistry is displayed along the city’s narrow lanes and around every street corner. The ancient art form is believed to have been brought to India from (what was) Persia. It was used in Udaipur as a way to record the daily life of royals and military pursuits. The tiny paintings take hours to complete and expert precision is required. I highly recommend taking an art class in Udaipur to learn more about the history of miniature art and to try it for yourself.

We took a family-owned art class with Lucky Art School in Chandpole (across the bridge). Our teacher has been a miniature painter his whole life. Generations of his family have mastered the fine lines and delicate hand strokes, making them true experts. We spent two hours layering detail onto detail with our tiny paintbrushes until we finally had beautiful animal images in front of us.

COST | varies by art school, most classes start at INR 300 per person

shop the markets

Udaipur is, in my opinion, one of the best places in all of Rajasthan for meaningful souvenir shopping. Some of the best textiles, leather goods, and artwork in the state are found being sold along the winding streets of the city. I bought little postcards covered in the miniature paintings Udaipur is famous for and they only set me back INR 30 per card.

Some of the best places to shop in Udaipur:

get something tailored

You might be surprised to learn that Udaipur is filled with custom tailors. Walking around the back alleys of old town Udaipur, you’ll hear the humming of sewing machines as the people meticulously move fabric through thumping needles to expertly construct suits and hem trousers. Whether you’re looking for a dress shirt or a perfect-fitting pair of pants, you can get something tailored in Udaipur for an affordable price in as little as a day.

Jagdish Temple

Constructed over 25 years during the 17th century, Jagdish Temple stands tall above Udaipur’s old town. There are two entrances to the temple: one at the top of a steep set of stairs surrounded by elephants on either side, the other is through a side street on the right side. The temple is three stories tall and adorned with images of elephants, dancers, and horses. Jagdish Temple is widely considered one of the best examples of architecture from the Mewar dynasty. If you enter the temple, you’ll be asked to cover your shoulders and legs and refrain from taking photos or videos.

ADMISSION | free

sunrise yoga

Trying yoga in India is on most visitor bucket lists, and Udaipur is an ideal place to “tick it off”. Udaipur’s morning rooftop yoga scene is booming, thanks in part to the impossibly beautiful sunrises that awaken the city. Imagine starting your day with 90 minutes of stretching, meditating, and moving your body intentionally against a backdrop of mountains and still, blue lake water. If you’re worried about joining a class because of a language barrier, don’t be. There are a few English-speaking classes offered throughout Udaipur.

ADMISSION | cost varies based on class

visit Monsoon Palace

Most people visit Monsoon Palace for sunset, but the overlook is pretty no matter the time of day. You can book a visit to Monsoon Palace at one of the many tourist offices around town. Watch out for the monkeys here! They’re known for trying to steal any snacks they can smell.

ADMISSION | free, but the Land Rover driver will cost you depending on your booking office

ride the ropeway up to Karni Mata temple

Take the ropeway (cable car) to Karni Mata temple. The cable car ride itself can be a little hot, but the view at the top is completely worth the journey up. While you can walk up the hill to Karni Mata temple, I wouldn’t recommend it. You’ll see warning signs for cobras all over and they are frequently spotted along the trail. On your way down, you’ll have to head to the ticket counter where you’ll receive a number. Once your number is called over a loudspeaker, you’ll be ushered into a cable car headed down the mountain.

ADMISSION | INR 100 per person

take a day trip to Chittorgarh

If you have extra time to explore in Udaipur, consider taking a day trip to Chittorgarh. This 7th-century fort is known for its honey coloring. The fort complex is vast, filled with the remains of temples. The complex also houses a 15th-century tower made from red sandstone and white marble.

climb Khumbarlargh Fort

Khumbarlargh Fort is the second largest in the world after the Great Wall of China. The fort walls stretch across 36 kilometers of Indian wilderness, surrounded by the Aravalis mountains. Khumbarlargh Fort was built during the 15th century by Rana Khumbha and is a gigantic piece of local history. You can visit Kumbarlargh Fort and Ranakpur Jain Temple in one excursion, so if you’re planning on visiting both, consider lumping them into a day trip. There is plenty to see within the fort, but the areas you simply cannot leave without seeing are:

Neelkanth Mahadev Temple
Mammadev Temple
Palace Of Clouds

Ghantaghar

Go for a wander around the city and make your way to Ghantaghar, the first public clock tower in Udaipur. The white tower is located in the heart of the old city, in the middle of a number of narrow alleys and winding roads. Surrounded by market stalls and streetside restaurants, it’s a great place to grab a chai and observe the scenes of the day. Built in 1876, the clock tower is a remnant of the Mewar era.

ADMISSION | free to walk around, but when we visited they weren’t allowing people to climb up

Mahalaxmi Temple

This Hindu temple is dedicated to the goddess of wealth and prosperity. While you’ll see Hindu devotees visiting the temple daily, it becomes overrun by people during the Diwali festival when practicing Hindus wait in long lines to pay tribute to the goddess. The ornate temple was built by a Hindu merchant in 1831 and is considered one of Udaipur’s most beautiful.

ADMISSION | free

where to eat in udaipur ↴

Little Prince | Without a doubt our favorite restaurant in Udaipur (and maybe all of Rajasthan). I ate the entire menu here a few times over, and I don’t think I could ever tire of it.
Mavi | heaps of vegan options available including smoothies, breakfast bowls, and delicious iced coffee
Café Boho | Breakfast with a rooftop view of Lake Pichola
By the Bamboo | Set in a bamboo garden and serving delicious Indian curries and breads, beware of the mosquitoes here
Lakeshore Restaurant | Fantastic Indian food served lakeside on low tables with cushion seating
Jheel’s | Great for a simple early-morning breakfast, try the Indian fried egg
Edelweiss Café | A German bakery with locally-made kombucha
Yummy Yoga | Delicious, affordable Indian food served on a rooftop overlooking Lake Pichola