Jaipur Weekend from Delhi
Friday night train, two full days, Sunday evening back — the weekend trip that Delhiites have been doing for 30 years, done properly
Jaipur is 5.5 hours from Delhi by the Shatabdi Express — leave Friday evening, arrive Saturday morning, leave Sunday evening. It works perfectly and hundreds of Delhiites do it every weekend. This itinerary is built around that train pattern with the Jaipur Metro as the spine of your two days in the city.
Before You Go
Must Book in Advance
- Shatabdi Express train tickets (Delhi-Jaipur-Delhi)
- Amber Fort tickets online
- Hotel near Railway Station or Civil Lines for easy metro access
Early bird tip: Book Shatabdi Express tickets 30-60 days ahead — it sells out on weekends. Book Amber Fort tickets online from Delhi the night before departure.
Saturday — Forts & Heritage
Hit the ground running
Arrive Saturday morning on the Shatabdi (departs New Delhi at 6:05 AM, arrives Jaipur at 10:35 AM) or the Friday night train. Drop bags at your hotel near Railway Station or Civil Lines metro and start immediately — you have limited time and it cannot be wasted on slow mornings.
Check in and head straight to Amber Fort. Metro to Chandpole, shared cab from there. You're arriving later than ideal (11:30 AM) so it'll be somewhat crowded, but there's no avoiding it on a weekend trip. Focus on the Sheesh Mahal and the upper ramparts and spend less time in the courtyard areas that don't require much attention. Keep to 2 hours so you're back in the city for a proper lunch.
Pre-book tickets online the night before from Delhi so you don't queue. The shared cab from Chandpole is ₹50 per person — don't let a taxi tout grab you.
These two back-to-back are the most efficient use of your limited Saturday afternoon. City Palace in 90 minutes, Jantar Mantar in 60 minutes — they're adjacent and your ticket covers both areas. The silver urns, the textile museum, and the Pritam Niwas Chowk courtyard in the palace; the Samrat Yantra sundial and the Ram Yantra in the observatory. Get the Jantar Mantar audio guide — it's the only way these instruments make sense on a first visit.
Combined visits work efficiently here because they're next to each other. Don't feel you need to spend equal time in both — City Palace deserves the longer portion.
Late afternoon light hits the Hawa Mahal facade at its best between 4 and 6 PM — the pink stone turns gold. Go inside for the upper floor views of the old city at golden hour. This is one of those moments where the combination of architecture and light is specifically beautiful rather than just impressive.
The Badi Chaupar crossing photograph of the Hawa Mahal facade in warm late-afternoon light is the definitive Jaipur shot. Compose it from the small rise in the road just past the crossing.
Evening in Johari Bazaar is an experience rather than a shopping mission — the lanes are lit, the silver jewellery shops are busy, and the street food vendors have their full evening spread out. Walk the main road and the lanes off it, have a lassi or chai, buy something if anything catches your eye. This is Jaipur at its most alive.
If you're buying jewellery, stick to the established shops on the main road rather than recommendations from your hotel or anyone who approaches you.
Lunch
Lunch after Amber Fort, back in the city — Rawat Mishthan Bhandar on Station Road is a Jaipur institution for kachori, samosa, and lassi. Fast, cheap, genuinely good. ₹200-300 for two.
Evening
Dinner near Johari Bazaar or the old city. 1135 AD at Amber Fort runs an evening service — premium but memorable. For budget, Laxmi Mishthan Bhandar (LMB) on Johari Bazaar itself does excellent thali.
Metro Spend
₹50-70 for Saturday
estimated for this day
Sunday — Temples, Markets & Train
The slower side, then home
Sunday is your deeper Jaipur morning before catching the evening Shatabdi back to Delhi (departs Jaipur at 5:50 PM, arrives New Delhi at 10:30 PM). Keep the pace relaxed — you've seen the monuments, Sunday is for the parts of Jaipur that feel more personal.
Start early at Nahargarh for the morning view over the city — it's completely different from the sunset view and far less crowded on a Sunday morning. The walk around the ramparts in cool morning air with the city waking up below is a genuinely restorative hour. The fort is quiet at this time and you can take your time with the Madhavendra Bhavan rooms.
Take a thermos of chai from a stall near the Chandpole metro exit — drink it at the top of the ramparts. Few better ways to start a Sunday.
Sunday morning at Albert Hall is one of the more pleasant museum experiences in Rajasthan — the building is magnificent, the collection is varied, and on a Sunday it fills with local families rather than tour groups. The Egyptian mummy room, the Rajput miniature painting gallery, and the textile collection are the three areas that reward careful attention.
Take the time to read the labels here — the context makes the objects interesting rather than just decorative.
Your last window for shopping before heading to the station. Jaipuri quilts pack well and last for years — this is the best practical souvenir from the city. Block-print kurtas and dupattas are good for gifts. The Mojari leather shoes are genuinely handmade and wear well. Sunday midday is slightly more relaxed than Saturday evening in terms of crowd pressure.
Weigh your bags — the Jaipur-Delhi train has baggage limits. A Jaipuri razai is bulky but weighs very little. Two quilts in a large carry bag fit in the overhead luggage rack.
Calm end to the trip — white marble, no entry fee, and a peaceful 45 minutes before heading to the station. The temple is close to Railway Station metro, so after here you head directly to catch your train.
Sunday afternoon prayer is at 4:30 PM — if your train is later, try to catch it.
Lunch
Sit-down Sunday thali at Laxmi Mishthan Bhandar (LMB) on Johari Bazaar — the dal baati churma and gatte ki sabzi here is the most authentic version you'll find. ₹500-700 for two.
Evening
At the station by 5 PM for the 5:50 PM Shatabdi to Delhi. Platform-side chai (₹10) is the traditional send-off.
Metro Spend
₹60-80 for Sunday
estimated for this day
Plan the journey details
Calculate exact metro fares, check first and last train times, and explore stations on your route.