The City Palace in Jaipur: Worth a Visit?
The City Palace is one of the most visited places in Jaipur and offers fantastic photo opportunities. A must-visit for those who want to immerse themselves in the history of India. But are the overpriced tickets worth the visit? Scroll down to read our honest review of the City Palace and what to expect during your visit.
This ultimate Jaipur City Palace guide includes everything you need to know before visiting.
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Where is the City Palace?
It is located near Jantar Mantar and Hawa Mahal in Jaipur’s Pink City, India.
The City Palace was built between 1729 and 1732 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, the founder of Jaipur.
Best Time to Visit Jaipur
The best time to visit Jaipur is from November to March when the weather is more pleasant during the day. This is the perfect time to explore the famous Pink City without the discomfort of extreme heat or humidity.
The busiest period in India is from October to March. In high season, we strongly recommend booking accommodation, train tickets, and tours in advance!
We visited the City Palace at the end of March and had fantastic weather. As it’s a popular attraction in Jaipur, we recommend arriving early to avoid the crowds (especially if you want to take good photos).
How to Get to the Jaipur City Palace
You can get to the City Palace by taxi, Uber, or tuk-tuk. Alternatively, you can join an organized group or private tour, which includes transport.
Most city tours include a visit to the City Palace. You can easily combine your visit with Amber Fort, Hawa Mahal, Gaitor Ki Chhatriyan (Royal Gaitor), Jal Mahal, and Panna Meena ka Kund.
Book your full-day sightseeing tour via Viator or GetYourGuide.
Another option is to hire a tuk-tuk driver for a whole day and customize your city tour. We have also been on such a tour, and we do not recommend it, because they will take you to shops that you probably won’t be interested in, but will force you to visit them.
City Palace Jaipur Opening Time
It is open daily from 9:30 AM to 6 PM. The last entry is at 5 PM, and the galleries start to close at 5:15 PM.
Jaipur City Palace Entry Fee & Ticket Price
The entrance fee is 1000 INR (11,60 USD) for foreign adults and 500 INR (5,80 USD) for foreign children (5-12 years), disabled persons, and students (with valid ID). Tickets can be purchased upon arrival at the entrance or in advance online.
There is no entry fee for children below 5 years (Indian and foreign).
The admission fee is 300 INR (3,50 USD) for Indian adults and 150 INR (1,75 USD) for children (5-12 years), senior citizens, and students with valid ID.
The ticket counter offers different ticket types, such as Basic, Composite, Royal Splendour, and Royal Grandeur.
Important note
The basic ticket gives access to all palace courts and galleries, but does not include the Blue Room.
City Palace Jaipur Blue Room
The Chandra Mahal is a magnificent seven-story palace in the City Palace complex. The Royal Splendour ticket gives access to the upper floors of the Chandra Mahal and includes a guide and refreshments.
This tour gives you exclusive access to the best parts of the palace, such as the Sheesh Mahal (Mirror Room) and the Blue Room. You can also gain an insight into the life of the Jaipur royal family. However, photography is not allowed in many places, which can be disappointing for this overpriced price.
The Royal Splendour (Blue Room) ticket costs 4000 INR (46 USD) for foreign adults and 3000 INR (34,60 USD) for Indians.
See also → Best Sunset Point in Jaipur
Our own experience of City Palace Jaipur
The City Palace is home to the Jaipur royal family, but some parts are open to visitors.
We bought the basic ticket and explored the palace complex at our own pace, taking photos of the colorful doors and seeing the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum. You will need about 2-3 hours to explore the City Palace.
The garden offers nothing special. But you can spend a few relaxing minutes sitting on a bench and talking to the locals.
Good to know
Tripods are not allowed inside the palace.
We visited the palace in the afternoon, and although the temperature was pleasant for exploring, it was very crowded. However, we were lucky because the large crowd dispersed.
During our visit, some guards offered to show us and other tourists some of the secret spots in the palace. But they only wanted to ask for money from tourists.
We were incredibly disappointed that there were rope barriers in front of most of the doors, so we couldn’t get close and take good photos. In our opinion, this place is very overrated, and tickets cost almost as much as the Taj Mahal.
If you think the City Palace is not worth the money, visit Patrika Gate instead, which is similarly beautiful and has no entrance fee.
Where to Stay in Jaipur
Jaipur has some luxury hotels, but accommodation options are available for all budgets. These are our recommendations.
Best hotels in Jaipur
- Luxury: Fairmont Jaipur
- Mid-Range: Trident Jaipur or Radisson Jaipur City Center
- Budget: Dera Rawatsar
We have a detailed post on the best areas and hotels in Jaipur.
Photo credit: Fairmont Jaipur
We hope you found our guide to Jaipur City Palace useful and help you decide if it’s worth a visit. If you have any questions or thoughts, let us know in the comment below.
Travel Resources
Hotels – Booking.com
Car Rentals – Discover Cars
Flights – Skyscanner
eSIM – Airalo
Travel Insurance – SafetyWing
Tours & Attractions – GetYourGuide
Bus/Ferry/Transfer – 12Go
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