Getting around · Jaipur · India
Getting around Jaipur
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Sanyam Bahga, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Jaipur is spread out, and the main sights sit in three clusters: the walled city, the Amber–Jaigarh–Nahargarh ridge to the north, and the newer southern districts. Most visitors use app cabs or a car with driver for the forts and auto-rickshaws for shorter hops; the old city itself is best explored on foot, despite the traffic. You do not need to drive yourself.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Ride-hailing
- Airports
- JAI
- Need a car?
- Sometimes
- Travel pass
- Composite monument ticket
Ways to get around
Ride-hailing
Uber and Ola operate across the city, including autos and cars, and remove the need to bargain. They are usually the easiest way to reach Amber, Nahargarh and the airport.
Pick-ups inside the crowded old-city bazaars can be slow; walk to a main gate such as Ajmeri Gate or Sanganeri Gate.
Tuk-tuk
Green-and-yellow auto-rickshaws are everywhere; agree the fare before setting off, as meters are rarely used. Electric rickshaws also run short routes in the old city.
Decline offers of 'free' tours that end at a gem or textile shop paying commission.
Car
Hiring a car with driver for a full day is common and affordable, and it is the most comfortable way to combine Amber, Jaigarh, Nahargarh and Jal Mahal.
Metro
One metro line runs east–west from Mansarovar through Civil Lines, Jaipur Junction station and Sindhi Camp to Chandpole and Badi Chaupar inside the walled city. It is useful for station transfers but covers few sights.
Walking
The walled city is compact: Hawa Mahal, the City Palace, Jantar Mantar and the main bazaars are within a 15-minute walk of each other, though pavements are crowded and traffic is heavy.
Train
Jaipur Junction has fast trains to Delhi (about 4–5 hours), Agra (about 4 hours), Ajmer for Pushkar and Sawai Madhopur for Ranthambore.
Book trains on the Indian Railways IRCTC system several days ahead in peak season.
Tickets and passes
Composite monument ticket
A two-day ticket sold at the main state-run monuments covers Amber Fort, Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar, Nahargarh, the Albert Hall Museum and several smaller sites. The City Palace is privately run and not included.
From the airport
Jaipur International Airport is in Sanganer, about 12 km south of the old city; the drive takes about 30–45 minutes depending on traffic. App cabs and a prepaid taxi counter are available at arrivals. Most international travellers connect through Delhi.
Do you need a car?
You do not need to drive yourself. Traffic is chaotic, and a car with driver hired for a day or for a Golden Triangle tour costs little more than a rental and removes all navigation and parking stress.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Ranthambore National Park | About 2–3 hours by train or road | Train to Sawai Madhopur, or a car with driver |
| Pushkar and Ajmer | About 2.5–3 hours by road | Car with driver, or train to Ajmer then taxi |
| Abhaneri (Chand Baori) | About 1.5–2 hours by road | Car with driver, often on the way to Agra |
| Bhangarh Fort | About 2 hours by road | Car with driver |
| Sambhar Salt Lake | About 2 hours by road | Car with driver |
| Samode | About 1 hour by road | Car with driver |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Jaipur?
You do not need to drive yourself. Traffic is chaotic, and a car with driver hired for a day or for a Golden Triangle tour costs little more than a rental and removes all navigation and parking stress.
+How do you get from the airport to Jaipur?
Jaipur International Airport is in Sanganer, about 12 km south of the old city; the drive takes about 30–45 minutes depending on traffic. App cabs and a prepaid taxi counter are available at arrivals. Most international travellers connect through Delhi.
+What is the best way to get around Jaipur?
Ride-hailing: Uber and Ola operate across the city, including autos and cars, and remove the need to bargain. They are usually the easiest way to reach Amber, Nahargarh and the airport.