Udaipur is the city where we most often get asked one question before anything else: where should we stay? It matters more here than in Jaipur or Jodhpur. Pick the right side of the lake and you'll walk to dinner along the water. Pick wrong and you'll spend twenty minutes each way in a car on roads that were never built for one.

So we've built this guide around neighbourhoods. The sights come after, and they're easier to plan once you know where you're sleeping.

How many nights in Udaipur?

Two nights is the minimum. Three is better, especially if you want a day trip to Ranakpur or Kumbhalgarh, or if you've just done a long drive and want a slower day. Udaipur is the stop on most Rajasthan routes where guests stop rushing, and we build that in on purpose.

It's roughly 400 km from Jaipur, around six to seven hours by road with a lunch stop, and a shorter run from Jodhpur if you go via Ranakpur. There's also a small airport about 22 km east of the city with direct flights to Delhi, Mumbai and a few other hubs.

Where to stay in Udaipur: the areas compared

1. Lal Ghat and Gangaur Ghat (old city, east bank of Lake Pichola)

Best for: first-timers who want to walk everywhere.

This is the historic core, right below the City Palace. Heritage havelis turned into hotels, rooftop restaurants with lake views, Jagdish Temple a few minutes away. Bagore ki Haveli, with its evening folk dance show, is on the same waterfront.

The catch: the lanes are narrow and one-way, so your car often can't reach the door. Hotels send porters or a tuk-tuk for bags. It's also busy and a bit noisy in the evenings. Rooms run from about ₹3,000 for simple guesthouses to ₹15,000 or more for the better heritage properties (roughly €35 to €160).

2. Hanuman Ghat and Ambrai (west bank, across the bridge)

Best for: the view of the City Palace, and a quieter night.

Cross the Chand Pol bridge and you're in a slightly calmer neighbourhood with the best-known sunset view in the city, looking back at the palace from Ambrai Ghat. It's still walkable to the old city, about 10 to 15 minutes over the bridge. We like it a lot for couples.

The catch: same lane problem as the east bank, and fewer good places to eat at night once you leave the handful of lakeside restaurants.

3. The palace hotels on and around Lake Pichola

Best for: a special occasion, a honeymoon, or simply splurging once on a trip.

The Taj Lake Palace sits in the middle of the lake and is reached only by the hotel's boat. You can't visit unless you're staying or have a reservation. Shiv Niwas and Fateh Prakash are part of the City Palace complex itself. Rates here start well above ₹30,000 a night and climb fast, particularly from October to February and during wedding season.

The catch: price, obviously. And if you're only in town for two nights with a packed day of sightseeing, you'll barely use what you paid for. We'd rather see guests stay there for three nights and do less.

4. Fateh Sagar Lake

Best for: families, travellers with a car, and anyone who wants a bit more space.

North of Pichola, around the second big lake, hotels are newer and roads are wider. The lakeside promenade is where local families go in the evening for corn on the cob and tea. It's a short drive, 10 to 15 minutes, to the old city, and parking is easy.

The catch: it doesn't feel like the Udaipur of the postcards, and you'll need your driver or a tuk-tuk for most outings.

5. The outskirts (big luxury resorts)

Best for: resort stays where the hotel itself is the point.

A few of India's best-known luxury hotels sit on the far shores of Pichola or out of town, with huge grounds and pools. Beautiful, quiet, very expensive. Getting into the old city and back means a 20 to 40 minute drive each time, which adds up over a few days.

Our honest pick

For a first visit on a mid-range budget: a heritage haveli at Lal Ghat or Gangaur Ghat, with a room that actually faces the lake. Ask about that before you book, because "lake view" sometimes means a glimpse from the rooftop restaurant.

What to see in Udaipur

City Palace. Give it two to three hours and go in the morning, before the tour groups peak. Foreign visitors pay noticeably more than Indians, and the museum section and some courtyards need extra tickets, so ask your guide which combination is worth it. The upper terraces have the views.

Lake Pichola boat ride. Boats leave from the jetty inside the City Palace complex. The sunset departure costs more than daytime rides and is worth it. Some rides stop at Jag Mandir island. Lake levels depend on the monsoon; after a weak rainy season parts of the lake can look low, so manage expectations if you're travelling in late spring.

Jagdish Temple. A working temple, steep steps, beautiful carving. Twenty minutes is fine.

Saheliyon ki Bari. A garden with fountains and lotus pools. Pleasant, not essential. Fine for families.

Sajjangarh (Monsoon Palace). Up on a hill west of the city, and the drive up is part of the fun. The building itself is fairly bare; you go for the sunset over the lakes. It gets crowded on weekends.

Bagore ki Haveli dance show. An hour of Rajasthani folk dance in the evening, including the woman who dances with a tower of pots on her head. Touristy, yes, but well done and good value. Arrive early for a decent seat.

Honestly, skip the vintage car museum unless you're a car person, and skip the cable car on a hot afternoon when the queue sits in full sun.

Day trips from Udaipur

  • Ranakpur: about two and a half hours away, with the finest carved Jain temple in Rajasthan. The temple sets fixed visiting hours for non-worshippers, usually around midday, so plan the drive around that.
  • Kumbhalgarh: the fort with the famously long wall. Around two to two and a half hours. You can combine it with Ranakpur in one long day or, better, on the drive to Jodhpur.
  • Chittorgarh: roughly two hours east. A huge, battered fort full of history. Works as a day trip or as a stop on the way to Bundi or Jaipur.

For these we usually put two to four guests in an Innova Crysta. The hill roads to Kumbhalgarh are twisty, and the extra comfort matters after two hours.

When is the best time to visit Udaipur?

October to March. Days are warm and nights cool, and in December and January you'll want a jacket on the boat. April to June is very hot. July to September brings rain, green hills and, after a good monsoon, full lakes, which some of our repeat guests actually prefer. Our guide to the best time to visit Rajasthan goes month by month.

Udaipur on a longer Rajasthan route

Udaipur usually sits in the second half of a Rajasthan loop, after Jaipur and before or after Jodhpur. Our 15-day Rajasthan itinerary shows where it fits. If your time is shorter, the Golden Triangle with Udaipur adds the city to Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. More on the city itself is on our Udaipur page.

Udaipur FAQ

Is it worth paying for a lake-view room in Udaipur?

Yes, more than in almost any other Indian city. Just confirm the view is from the room, not only from the rooftop.

Can I visit the Taj Lake Palace without staying there?

Generally not. Access is for hotel guests and people with a confirmed restaurant booking, and availability for outside diners is limited, so ask well in advance.

Is Udaipur walkable?

The old city is, on both sides of the lake. The rest of the city isn't, so you'll use your car or a tuk-tuk for Sajjangarh, Fateh Sagar and the gardens.

Is Udaipur crowded in winter?

Around Christmas, New Year and big wedding dates, yes, and prices rise. Book three to four months ahead for that period.

We send guests to Udaipur every week of the season, and we know which rooms actually face the lake and which hotels the car can reach. Tell us your dates, budget and pace, and we'll suggest a hotel and a route that fit: start your enquiry here.