Where to stay · Jaipur · India
Where to stay in Jaipur
7 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Sanyam Bahga, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Pink City (Old City). Walled 18th-century grid of bazaars, havelis and the City Palace. Best alternatives — families: Bani Park; budget: Bani Park.
Key facts
- First visit
- Pink City (Old City)
- Families
- Bani Park
- Budget
- Bani Park
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Pink City (Old City) | Walled 18th-century grid of bazaars, havelis and the City Palace |
| Families | Bani Park | Leafy residential streets of heritage guesthouses near the railway station |
| Couples | C-Scheme | Upmarket central district of cafés, boutiques and Central Park |
| Budget | Bani Park | Leafy residential streets of heritage guesthouses near the railway station |
| Luxury | Civil Lines and Rambagh | Broad avenues, government bungalows and palace hotels |
| Food lovers | C-Scheme | Upmarket central district of cafés, boutiques and Central Park |
| Solo travellers | Bani Park | Leafy residential streets of heritage guesthouses near the railway station |
| Shopping | Pink City (Old City) | Walled 18th-century grid of bazaars, havelis and the City Palace |
| Quiet stays | Bani Park | Leafy residential streets of heritage guesthouses near the railway station |
Jaipur neighbourhoods in detail
$$ · Best for first-timers, culture and shopping
Pink City (Old City)
Inside the old walls, the Hawa Mahal, City Palace and Jantar Mantar are a short walk apart, and the arcaded bazaars of Johari, Bapu and Tripolia run between the gates. A handful of restored haveli hotels, such as Samode Haveli in the north-east corner, offer courtyards and rooftop views, but traffic, horns and crowds are intense from late morning until night.
- Good
- Walk to the main monuments; Bazaars on the doorstep; Characterful haveli hotels
- Watch out
- Heavy traffic and noise; Few calm places to walk; Limited parking for drivers
- Nearby
- Hawa Mahal, City Palace, Jantar Mantar, Johari Bazaar, Govind Dev Ji Temple
$$ · Best for budget, families, quiet stays and solo travellers
Bani Park
North-west of the walled city, Bani Park is where many family-run heritage hotels occupy old bungalows and havelis with lawns, small pools and rooftop restaurants. It is quiet at night, about 10 minutes by auto-rickshaw from the Pink City and close to Jaipur Junction railway station and the Sindhi Camp bus stand.
- Good
- Good-value heritage guesthouses; Quiet nights; Easy station access
- Watch out
- Need transport to every sight; Few restaurants outside hotels
- Nearby
- Jaipur Junction station, Sindhi Camp bus stand, MI Road
$$$ · Best for food lovers, couples, shopping and first-timers
C-Scheme
South of MI Road, C-Scheme is Jaipur's polished modern centre, with tree-lined roads around Statue Circle, design shops, the Anokhi store and café on Prithviraj Road and many of the city's better independent restaurants. Central Park has a long walking track, and the old city is about 10–15 minutes away by car.
- Good
- Best cluster of cafés and restaurants; Calmer streets; Central for app cabs
- Watch out
- Not walkable to the forts; Hotels pricier than Bani Park
- Nearby
- Central Park, Statue Circle, Albert Hall Museum, Raj Mandir Cinema
$$ · Best for budget, first-timers and food lovers
MI Road
Mirza Ismail Road runs along the southern edge of the Pink City and is lined with mid-range hotels, banks, jewellers and long-running restaurants such as Niro's, open since 1949, and the original Lassiwala. Raj Mandir Cinema and the Albert Hall Museum are a few minutes away, and the Jaipur Metro has stations at Sindhi Camp and Chandpole close by.
- Good
- Central and well connected; Classic restaurants; Plenty of hotel choice
- Watch out
- Busy, polluted road; Little character between the shops
- Nearby
- Raj Mandir Cinema, Albert Hall Museum, Ajmeri Gate, Sindhi Camp
$$$$ · Best for luxury, couples and quiet stays
Civil Lines and Rambagh
South-west of the old city, this leafy area holds Jaipur's grandest hotels: Rambagh Palace, the former royal residence converted into a hotel in 1957, and the Jai Mahal Palace with its Mughal-style gardens. Narain Niwas Palace in Kanota Bagh is a more modest heritage option nearby. It is calm and green, but you will need a car or cab for everything.
- Good
- Palace hotels with large gardens; Quiet and green; Short drive to C-Scheme restaurants
- Watch out
- Expensive; Nothing within walking distance
- Nearby
- Rambagh Palace, Jai Mahal Palace, Central Park, Birla Mandir
$$ · Best for couples, culture and quiet stays
Amer
Staying in Amer, 11 km north of the centre, puts you at the foot of Amber Fort before the tour buses arrive, with Panna Meena ka Kund stepwell and the Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing a short walk away. A few boutique guesthouses occupy restored havelis, and evenings are quiet. The trade-off is a 30–45 minute drive to the old city and restaurants.
- Good
- Amber Fort first thing in the morning; Rural, quiet feel; Historic stepwells and temples
- Watch out
- Far from the city's restaurants; Few accommodation options
- Nearby
- Amber Fort, Panna Meena ka Kund, Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing, Jaigarh Fort
$$ · Best for budget, families and shopping
Malviya Nagar and Jawahar Circle
Close to the airport in the south of the city, Malviya Nagar has malls such as World Trade Park, chain business hotels and plenty of everyday restaurants. Jawahar Circle's large garden and the painted Patrika Gate are nearby. It suits short stopovers and travellers who prefer modern hotels, but the old city is 30–40 minutes away in traffic.
- Good
- Close to the airport; Modern hotels and malls; Wide, less congested roads
- Watch out
- Far from the historic sights; Little local character
- Nearby
- Patrika Gate, Jawahar Circle, World Trade Park, Jaipur Airport
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Pink City (Old City) | $$ | Hawa Mahal, City Palace, Jantar Mantar, Johari Bazaar, Govind Dev Ji Temple |
| Bani Park | $$ | Jaipur Junction station, Sindhi Camp bus stand, MI Road |
| C-Scheme | $$$ | Central Park, Statue Circle, Albert Hall Museum, Raj Mandir Cinema |
| MI Road | $$ | Raj Mandir Cinema, Albert Hall Museum, Ajmeri Gate, Sindhi Camp |
| Civil Lines and Rambagh | $$$$ | Rambagh Palace, Jai Mahal Palace, Central Park, Birla Mandir |
| Amer | $$ | Amber Fort, Panna Meena ka Kund, Anokhi Museum of Hand Printing, Jaigarh Fort |
| Malviya Nagar and Jawahar Circle | $$ | Patrika Gate, Jawahar Circle, World Trade Park, Jaipur Airport |
Getting to your hotel
Jaipur International Airport is in Sanganer, about 12 km south of the old city; the drive takes about 30–45 minutes depending on traffic. App cabs and a prepaid taxi counter are available at arrivals. Most international travellers connect through Delhi.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Jaipur for first-time visitors?
Pink City (Old City). Inside the old walls, the Hawa Mahal, City Palace and Jantar Mantar are a short walk apart, and the arcaded bazaars of Johari, Bapu and Tripolia run between the gates.
+Where should families stay in Jaipur?
Bani Park: Good-value heritage guesthouses.
+Which area of Jaipur is best for a budget stay?
Bani Park ($$): Leafy residential streets of heritage guesthouses near the railway station.