Jaipur City Palace is one of the top places to visit and a significant landmark in Jaipur. Located in the heart of the pink city, the heritage building is a striking blend of Rajasthani and Mughal architecture. In short, no holds were barred in its extravagance.
One of the many architectural wonders in Jaipur, the royal complex is made up of a series of gardens, courtyards, and buildings. As keen photographers, we found this place a dream for taking photos. And we are not alone. The grandeur city palace is somewhat Insta-famous thanks to the iconic ‘four-season’ gates that feature inside. (Are you following us on Instagram? Follow us here!)
While the City Palace is generally an essential addition to most Jaipur Itineraries, in all honesty, we didn’t have an entirely positive experience. I will touch more on this later in the article.
So without further ado, here is our honest review of the Jaipur City Palace. Including opening times, entrance fees, what to expect, and more.
Jaipur City Palace – An Honest Review
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How to get to Jaipur City Palace
Jaipur is an essential addition to any India itinerary. It is one of the most popular tourist spots in the country and forms a part of the Golden Triangle Route. You can conveniently reach Jaipur via bus, train, or plane from all over the country.
Set in the old town of Jaipur, the city palace is easy to reach from anywhere in the city.
If you are staying in these parts, it pays to explore the city on foot. Jaipur is the perfect example of organised chaos. And we found it fascinating being in amongst it all.
If you’d prefer to take transportation to the palace, taxis, rickshaws, and buses are easy to come by in Jaipur. For us personally, using the Ola Taxi app was the cheapest and easiest way to get around. Similar to Uber, you can order a taxi directly through the app. And you can even book a driver for the whole day if you wanted to.
Any way you choose to travel, there is never a dull moment when exploring Jaipur. And you’ll be amazed by what other wonders you may come across along the way.
Jaipur City Palace Map Location

Things to Know Before Visiting
Here is all the key information you’ll need ahead of visiting Jaipur City Place.
Opening Times
The City Palace is open to visitors between 9.30 am and 5.00 pm. It pays to arrive early if you want to avoid the crowds.
Entrance Fee
Here comes our first bugbear of the City Palace.
The entrance fee for foreigners to access the premises is 700 Indian Rupee – equivalent to around £8; however, if you want to access the unique museums and secret rooms, the price is 2000 IDR/£22.70.
All things considered, this is an extortionate price relative to other tourist attractions in India.
Understandably, the entrance fee for Indian visitors is far lower. Nationals are charged 200 rupees to access the premises and 1500 rupees to access the museums and secret rooms.
Be sure to check out the official Royal Jaipur website for more information on entrance fees and timings for the Jaipur City Palace.
Guided Tours
Guided Tours of Jaipur City Palace are available in a multitude of languages; however, you should be prepared to pay a hefty price for it. Some people we know paid up to 3000 rupees (£35) per person!
After exploring the city palace independently, I can assure you that it isn’t necessary to explore the complex with a guide. If you are interested in the history of the city palace, there are written facts all over the complex. You can also find plenty of information online.
Time Required
I would allow 1-2 hours to explore the City Palace. Perhaps longer if you visit the museum as well.
Photography
While there is a charge to use your camera inside the complex grounds, you will find that photography is restricted to certain areas. That said, there are many incredible photo opportunities which ultimately justify the extra cost.
Tripods
To use a tripod is forbidden throughout the grounds, and there is security staff consistently patrolling each area. Nevertheless, we arrived early and were able to snap some pictures before being told off by the guards!
Our Experience at Jaipur City Palace
Visiting the City Palace was always a priority when planning our Jaipur Itinerary. We had previously been blown away by the Udaipur City Palace, and we were excited to find out how they differed in design.
Being the keen photographers and Instagrammers that we are, we planned to arrive at the City Palace early. The complex gets busy shortly after opening, so it pays to come around 8.30 am so to be one of the first when the ticket office opens. Along the way, we stopped at the Patrika Gate, which is another popular attraction in Jaipur.
Naively, we hadn’t checked the entrance fee of the city palace. We assumed it would be similar to Udaipur, and therefore almost toppled over when they said it was over double the price. Anyhow, we paid the fee without the museum tour and politely declined the offer of a guide. We figured it ought to be worth the hefty price tag.
When the gates opened, we are guilty of rushing to Pitam Niwas Chowk, more commonly known as the gates of the four seasons. Many of you will have seen the iconic gate shot on Instagram; however, the other 3 gates in the courtyard often get overlooked. After seeing how beautiful each of them are, I’m not sure why one, in particular, has shot to fame. Perhaps it has something to do with it representing Summer.
After successfully snapping some shots, we went on to explore the rest of the complex. There is no doubt that the grounds are an architectural masterpiece. From the pink sandstone architecture in the pavilion, the intricate design of Mubarak Mahal, and the chiselled marble stone structures, the city palace is both elegant and artistic.
Why the City Palace Left us Disappointed
After exploring a small selection of courtyards, rooms, and galleries, we realised that much of the city palace is inaccessible to those with the cheaper tickets. Instead, we got ushered into numerous rooms where pushy salesman tried to sell us anything from a postcard to an expensive piece of artwork.
When you consider the money paid to visit the attraction, it felt exploitative to have then experienced this pushy behaviour. In all honesty, the whole experience felt like a tourist trap, which is a pity.
If you have your heart set on visiting the Jaipur City Palace, we wouldn’t want to deter you. However, while it is one of the most beautiful palaces in India, it’s essential you know what to expect. There is no doubt you will be impressed by the grandeur architecture. But please be aware of the exploitation of tourists and do not feel pushed into anything you don’t want to do.
Where to Stay in Jaipur
Hostel – Hostel Lumb’s Nest – For affordable, clean & comfortable dorms or private rooms, we can personally recommend Hostel Lumbs Nest. They are located outside of the city, which may not be convenient if you are only in Jaipur for a short time; however, for longer stays it’s perfect to escape the hustle and bustle.
Budget Private – Blue King – If you are on a budget and wish to be a bit closer to the city attractions, perhaps Blue King would be more suitable. Located in the heart of the Pink City you can enjoy the view from the hotel rooftop.
Luxury – Umaid Bhawan – If you are looking to spend a bit more on accommodation, Umaid Bhawan is a touch of luxury in the city. The heritage style hotel boasts a swimming pool and rooftop restaurant.
For more places to stay in Jaipur, you can check the latest prices.
More on Jaipur
Are you planning a trip to Jaipur? Check out our other articles to help plan your trip.
- One month in India – Ultimate itinerary & guide
- The Best Rajasthan Itinerary for 5 Days or More
- THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE INDIA – ITINERARY & GUIDE
- 2 DAYS IN JAIPUR – ITINERARY & GUIDE
- GAY IN: JAIPUR – A LGBT+ TRAVEL GUIDE
- AMER FORT IN JAIPUR – A RELIABLE GUIDE
- NAHARGARH FORT JAIPUR – A RELIABLE GUIDE
- MONKEY TEMPLE JAIPUR – A RELIABLE GUIDE
- PATRIKA GATE IN JAIPUR – A RELIABLE GUIDE
Did you enjoy our Honest Review of Jaipur City Palace, India?
Well, that concludes Honest Review of Jaipur City Palace, India. We hope you enjoy your time in this magical country. If you have any questions or feel we have missed anything, please reach out to us in the comment section below, through our contact us page. Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram here where we share further travel advice & inspiration.
Stay adventurous and Happy travels.
Charlotte & Natalie x
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Our Taste For Life
Monday 13th of January 2020
We are so glad you enjoyed the article, thank you for such lovely comments!
Ceci Rey
Wednesday 25th of September 2019
Your honesty is refreshing. This looks like an interesting place to visit, but there seems to be numerous rules that need to be followed. Your description of the accommodations was informative...thank you for sharing!
Amila@leisureandme.com
Wednesday 25th of September 2019
It's a beautiful place with this beautiful palace.Glad you shared all the information including how to go there.
Mommy Sigrid
Wednesday 25th of September 2019
What a beautiful place! I would like to visit Jaipur City Palace if we are in the area. We like these historical and cultural places!
susietruett
Wednesday 25th of September 2019
The architecture sure is gorgeous but I would find the marketing tactics very irritating. Thank you for sharing such great detailed info about this beautiful city!