2-Day Jaipur Itinerary: See the Best of the Pink City
Two days in Jaipur isn’t long — but it’s enough. Enough to see the forts that put Rajasthan on the map, eat the food that makes people come back, walk through bazaars where your senses don’t know where to look first, and watch the sunset paint the city pink from a hilltop cafe.
This itinerary is designed for international tourists visiting Jaipur for the first time. It covers the major sights, the best food, and the shopping highlights in a realistic, hour-by-hour schedule — with actual costs at every stop so you can budget properly.
Total estimated cost for 2 days: ₹4,500–7,500 per person (mid-range, excluding accommodation). Budget travellers can do it for under ₹3,500. Luxury additions like palace dining push it to ₹15,000+.
Payment note: Every stop in this itinerary accepts UPI. Set up Mony before your trip and you’ll be able to pay at the fort ticket counter, the kachori stall, the rickshaw driver, and the bazaar shopkeeper — all with a quick scan. Carry ₹2,000 cash as backup for tips and the occasional vendor without a QR code.
Day 1: Forts, Palaces & the Old City
Theme: The iconic Jaipur. This day covers the headline attractions that make Jaipur famous.
7:30 AM — Breakfast at Rawat Mishthan Bhandar
Start your Jaipur trip the way locals do: with a pyaaz kachori. Rawat’s on Station Road is the city’s most famous breakfast spot. The deep-fried, onion-stuffed pastry is served with tamarind and green chutney. Add a chai.
Cost: ₹70–120 per person | Payment: UPI or cash
8:30 AM — Amber Fort
Get here early. By 10 AM, the tour buses arrive and it gets crowded. Amber Fort is Jaipur’s most impressive sight: four levels of palaces, the mirrored Sheesh Mahal, painted gateways, and sweeping views of the surrounding hills and Maota Lake.
The walk up the hill takes 15–20 minutes. Jeeps are available (₹500–1,000 return) if you prefer. Allow 2–2.5 hours inside.
Cost: ₹200 entry (foreigner) or ₹1,000 composite ticket covering 5 sites | Payment: UPI at ticket counter
Tip: Buy the composite ticket here. It covers Amber Fort, Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar, Nahargarh Fort, and Albert Hall Museum — saving ₹300 over individual tickets.
11:00 AM — Jal Mahal Photo Stop
On the drive back from Amber Fort, stop at Jal Mahal. The “Water Palace” sits in the middle of Man Sagar Lake and photographs beautifully. You can’t enter, but 10–15 minutes at the viewpoint is worth it.
Cost: Free
11:30 AM — City Palace
Still partly home to Jaipur’s royal family, the City Palace complex includes museums, gardens, and the famous Pitam Niwas Chowk with its four ornate gates representing the four seasons. The textile gallery and armoury collection are excellent. Budget 1–1.5 hours.
Cost: Included in composite ticket (or ₹500 individually) | Payment: UPI
1:00 PM — Jantar Mantar
A 3-minute walk from City Palace. This UNESCO-listed astronomical observatory houses the world’s largest stone sundial and 19 other instruments built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II in the 1720s. Hire a guide at the entrance (₹200–300) — the instruments are fascinating once explained.
Cost: Included in composite ticket (or ₹200 individually) + ₹200–300 for guide | Payment: UPI
1:45 PM — Lunch at LMB (Laxmi Misthan Bhandar)
Walk to Johari Bazaar (10 minutes from Jantar Mantar). LMB has been Jaipur’s most famous restaurant since 1727. Order the Rajasthani thali — it comes with dal bati churma, ker sangri, gatte ki sabzi, and more. This is Rajasthani cooking at its most traditional.
Cost: ₹250–400 per person | Payment: UPI or cards
2:30 PM — Hawa Mahal
A short walk from LMB. The Palace of Winds is best photographed from across the street — grab a seat at the Wind View Café on the rooftop opposite for the iconic shot with a chai in hand. If you go inside, the top floor offers views through the 953 windows that once let royal women observe the street below.
Cost: Included in composite ticket (or ₹50 individually) | Chai: ₹50–100 at rooftop cafe | Payment: UPI
3:00 PM — Bazaar Walking: Bapu Bazaar & Johari Bazaar
This is peak Jaipur. Spend 2–2.5 hours wandering the connected bazaars of the old city. Bapu Bazaar for textiles, juttis (embroidered shoes), and block-print fabrics. Johari Bazaar for gems, silver, and traditional jewellery. Tripolia Bazaar for lac bangles and brassware.
Bargaining is expected. Start at 40–50% of the first asking price. Pay with UPI once you agree — it removes the “I don’t have change” negotiation tactic.
Cost: Depends on your self-control. Budget ₹500–2,000 for souvenirs | Payment: UPI at almost every stall
5:30 PM — Drive to Nahargarh Fort for Sunset
Book an Uber or Ola (₹150–250 from the old city) for the winding drive up to Nahargarh Fort. The fort itself is interesting, but the real draw is the panoramic view of Jaipur at golden hour. The hilltop cafe serves chai and snacks while you watch the city light up below.
Cost: Included in composite ticket (or ₹200 individually) + ₹150–250 taxi + ₹100–200 at cafe | Payment: UPI for all
7:30 PM — Dinner
Budget option: Handi Restaurant on MI Road. Butter chicken, mutton handi, naan. ₹300–450 per person.
Mid-range option: Spice Court in Civil Lines. Laal maas, paneer dishes, courtyard dining. ₹800–1,200 per person.
Splurge option: 1135 AD inside Amber Fort (book in advance). Royal Rajasthani cuisine by candlelight. ₹2,500–4,000 per person.
Day 1 Cost Summary
| Item | Budget | Mid-Range |
|---|---|---|
| Breakfast (Rawat) | ₹70 | ₹120 |
| Composite ticket (5 sites) | ₹1,000 | ₹1,000 |
| Guide at Jantar Mantar | — | ₹250 |
| Lunch (LMB) | ₹250 | ₹400 |
| Chai at Hawa Mahal rooftop | ₹50 | ₹100 |
| Bazaar shopping | ₹500 | ₹2,000 |
| Transport (autos/Uber) | ₹350 | ₹500 |
| Dinner | ₹400 | ₹1,000 |
| Day 1 Total | ₹2,620 | ₹5,370 |
Day 2: Food, Crafts & Culture
Theme: The deeper Jaipur. Less rushing, more experiencing. Workshops, food, and the parts of the city most tourists miss.
8:00 AM — Lassi at Lassiwala
Start at the original Lassiwala on MI Road (no signboard — it’s the one on the left without the flashy signs). Thick, fresh yoghurt lassi in a clay cup. It’s been the same since 1944. Open early, closes when they run out.
Cost: ₹60–80 | Payment: Cash preferred, UPI sometimes
8:30 AM — Albert Hall Museum
Rajasthan’s oldest museum, housed in a stunning Indo-Saracenic building in Ram Niwas Garden. The collections cover everything from Egyptian mummies to Rajasthani textiles. The building alone is worth the visit. Budget 1–1.5 hours.
Cost: Included in composite ticket (or ₹150 individually) | Payment: UPI
10:00 AM — Block Printing Workshop
Jaipur is India’s block printing capital. Several workshops offer 2–3 hour sessions where artisans teach you the traditional technique of carving wooden blocks and hand-printing fabric. You leave with your own printed cloth and a genuine understanding of a 500-year-old craft.
Recommended: Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing in Amber, or Blue Pottery Art Centre near Jain Mandir.
Cost: ₹1,000–2,500 per person depending on workshop | Payment: UPI or cash
12:30 PM — Lunch at Tapri Central
Head to Tapri’s rooftop location near Central Park. The menu is casual — chai, sandwiches, Maggi, light meals — but the 360-degree view of Jaipur makes it special. A good spot to process the morning and plan the afternoon.
Cost: ₹300–500 per person | Payment: UPI
2:00 PM — Birla Mandir
A quick visit to this striking white marble temple at the foot of Moti Dungri. Modern (1988) but architecturally interesting, with stained glass panels and carvings depicting scenes from multiple religions. Calm and peaceful. 30–45 minutes.
Cost: Free (remove shoes) | Payment: n/a
3:00 PM — Deep Dive: Johari Bazaar Jewellery
If Day 1’s bazaar walk was the overview, this is the focused version. Johari Bazaar is where Jaipur’s centuries-old gem trade lives. Walk through the kundan, polki, and meenakari jewellery shops. Even if you’re not buying, watching artisans work is fascinating.
If you are buying: stick to established shops, ask for certificates of authenticity for stones, and never follow a “friendly local” who wants to take you to their uncle’s shop.
Cost: Window shopping is free. Purchases from ₹200 (silver trinkets) to ₹50,000+ (gem pieces) | Payment: UPI preferred — no change disputes
5:00 PM — Chai & Kulfi Break
Wind down with chai from any old city stall (₹10–20) and kulfi from Pandit Kulfi near Hawa Mahal (₹40–70). Walk the old city lanes as shops start lighting up for the evening.
Cost: ₹50–90 | Payment: UPI or cash
6:30 PM — Dinner: Choose Your Adventure
Cultural experience: Chokhi Dhani on Tonk Road. Folk music, camel rides, traditional dinner served on leaf plates. Budget 3 hours for the full experience. ₹1,000–1,500 per person including entry and dinner.
Palace romance: Bar Palladio at Narain Niwas Palace. Italian food, incredible cocktails, turquoise Mughal interiors and a dreamy garden. ₹2,000–3,000 per person.
Relaxed local: Niros on MI Road. Classic Jaipur restaurant since 1949. Indian thalis, continental dishes, retro charm. ₹400–600 per person.
Day 2 Cost Summary
| Item | Budget | Mid-Range |
|---|---|---|
| Lassi (Lassiwala) | ₹60 | ₹80 |
| Albert Hall Museum | Composite | Composite |
| Block printing workshop | ₹1,000 | ₹2,000 |
| Lunch (Tapri Central) | ₹300 | ₹500 |
| Chai & kulfi | ₹50 | ₹90 |
| Transport | ₹250 | ₹400 |
| Dinner | ₹500 | ₹1,500 |
| Day 2 Total | ₹2,160 | ₹4,570 |
Total Trip Cost: 2 Days in Jaipur
| Category | Budget | Mid-Range |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | ₹2,620 | ₹5,370 |
| Day 2 | ₹2,160 | ₹4,570 |
| 2-Day Total (excl. hotel) | ₹4,780 (~$57) | ₹9,940 (~$118) |
| Hotel (per night) | ₹800–1,500 | ₹3,500–7,000 |
| Grand Total (2 nights) | ₹6,380–7,780 | ₹16,940–23,940 |
All costs are per person, as of early 2026. Accommodation costs assume double occupancy. Prices may vary by season — October–February is peak season with 20–40% higher hotel rates.
Where to Stay
Budget (₹800–1,800/night)
Zostel Jaipur (popular backpacker hostel, dorms and privates), Hotel Pearl Palace (legendary budget hotel with rooftop restaurant, consistently excellent reviews), Moustache Hostel (social atmosphere, clean, central).
Mid-range (₹3,500–7,000/night)
Dera Rawatsar (heritage haveli with courtyard, near City Palace), LMB Hotel (above the famous restaurant, central old city location), Alsisar Haveli (beautiful pool, converted mansion).
Splurge (₹15,000+/night)
Samode Haveli (peacocks, courtyards, royal atmosphere), Rambagh Palace by Taj (the ultimate palace hotel), The Leela Palace Jaipur (modern luxury with heritage design). See our full Jaipur luxury hotel guide for the complete list.
If You Have a Third Day
Three days opens up excellent options beyond the city:
Option A: Pushkar Day Trip
2.5 hours by road. The holy lake, Brahma Temple (one of the few in the world), and the famous Pushkar bazaar. A completely different vibe from Jaipur — smaller, spiritual, hippie-adjacent. Best as a sunrise-to-sunset trip.
Option B: Ranthambore Day Trip
3 hours by road. India’s best chance of spotting a wild tiger in its natural habitat. Morning safaris start at 6 AM so you’d leave Jaipur at 3 AM or stay overnight in Ranthambore. Safari tickets: ₹1,500–2,500 for foreigners. Book in advance on the Rajasthan tourism website.
Option C: Deeper Jaipur
Galtaji (Monkey Temple) in the morning, Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing, pottery class at Blue Pottery Art Centre, and an evening cooking class learning to make dal bati churma and laal maas from scratch (₹2,000–4,000 for a 3-hour class).
Your Jaipur Trip Starts Before You Board
The single best thing you can do for your Jaipur trip is set up Mony before you fly. Every stop in this itinerary — from the kachori stall at 7:30 AM to the bazaar at 5 PM to the sunset cafe at Nahargarh — accepts UPI. You’ll pay the same way locals do, with zero fees and zero fumbling.
Download Mony. Complete your KYC with your passport. Load ₹10,000–15,000. Done in 5 minutes. When you land in Jaipur, you’re already set.
See also: Jaipur Travel Guide for the full destination overview, and Where to Eat in Jaipur for the complete food breakdown.
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