AreaStays
The Taj Lake Palace floating on Lake Pichola at sunrise, seen from the City Palace

Navneet Sharma / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

India

Where to Stay in Udaipur

Udaipur is built around Lake Pichola and Fateh Sagar Lake, with the City Palace complex rising along the eastern shore and the white marble Lake Palace appearing to float in the middle of the water. It's known for heritage havelis converted into hotels, rooftop restaurants with lake and palace views, and a walkable old city dense with temples, markets, and courtyards. Boat rides on Lake Pichola, visits to the City Palace and Jagdish Temple, and evenings on a rooftop terrace are the core of most stays here.

Quick facts

Best time to visit
Visit October through March, when days are warm and pleasant. April to June is hot, often above 40°C, and the monsoon (July–September) fills the lakes but brings humidity and occasional heavy rain.
Renting a car
You don't need a rental car for Udaipur itself — auto-rickshaws and ride-hailing apps cover the distance between the old city and Fateh Sagar Lake easily. A car matters more if you're continuing on to other parts of Rajasthan afterward.

Where to stay

Udaipur's City Palace glowing gold at sunset above Lake Pichola, seen from a boat on the water

Arian Zwegers / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

Lal Ghat

Best for: Couples, Architecture lovers

Fateh Sagar Lake at dusk, with the boat-shaped Nehru Garden food court silhouetted against the Aravalli hills

Kshitiz Sikka / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Fateh Sagar Lake

Best for: Couples, Families

Compare neighborhoods

AreaBest forAdvantageTrade-off
Lal GhatCouplesPuts you inside Udaipur's old city, with the City Palace, Jagdish Temple, and Lake Pichola's boats all a walk away.Narrow, crowded lanes and heavy foot traffic make it busier and less restful than a calmer area like Fateh Sagar Lake.
Fateh Sagar LakeCouplesA quieter, greener base with lake and hill views, away from the old city's crowds and narrow lanes.A rickshaw or taxi ride from the City Palace, Jagdish Temple, and Lake Pichola's boat docks rather than a walk.

Our picks for Udaipur

A handful of editorial calls across every neighborhood above, not just the highest star rating — see each hotel's own card further down for the full case for and against it.

🏆 Our overall pickJagat Niwas PalaceLal Ghat💰 Best valueThe Grand FatehFateh Sagar Lake❤️ Best for couplesThe Leela Palace UdaipurLal Ghat✨ Best luxuryThe Leela Palace UdaipurLal Ghat📍 Best locationJagat Niwas PalaceLal Ghat

A couple of hotels in Lal Ghat

Lal Ghat is the top-recommended area to stay in Udaipur.

The Leela Palace Udaipur

★★★★★
  • ✨ Best luxury
  • ❤️ Best for couples

Our take Udaipur's most polished luxury address — landscaped grounds, lake-facing rooms, and a level of service that matches its palace styling.

Good for

  • Luxury travelers
  • Couples

Couples and travelers who want a full-service luxury stay with direct lake and City Palace views, and don't mind paying for it.

Why we like it

  • Rooms and grounds face directly onto Lake Pichola, with views of the City Palace and the Lake Palace out on the water
  • Three distinct restaurants plus a spa and outdoor pool, enough to spend a full day on-site without leaving
  • Landscaped courtyards and gardens that feel calm and private despite sitting right at the edge of the old city

What to know

  • Priced at the top of this guide — a splurge stay, not a budget-conscious option
  • Sits at the edge of the old city rather than inside its lanes, so exploring the City Palace and Jagdish Temple on foot means a short walk or a hotel boat
Check availability on Booking.com

Jagat Niwas Palace

★★★★
  • 📍 Best location
  • 🏆 Our overall pick

Our take The best all-around pick in Udaipur's old city — real 17th-century haveli architecture, lake-facing rooms, and a location you can't beat, at a fraction of the big palace hotels' prices.

Good for

  • Architecture lovers
  • Couples

Travelers who want a genuine heritage haveli stay with lake views, right inside Udaipur's old city, without paying palace-hotel prices.

Why we like it

  • A genuine early 17th-century haveli with traditional Mewar architecture, not a modern build styled to look historic
  • Directly on Lal Ghat Road, inside walking distance of the City Palace, Jagdish Temple, and the lake's boat docks
  • Rooftop restaurant with clear views across Lake Pichola to the City Palace, especially good at sunset

What to know

  • A heritage property, so room layouts and sizes vary even within the same category — some rooms face the lake, others face the inner courtyard
  • The old-city location means some street and foot-traffic noise reaches lower floors during the day
Check availability on Booking.com

Useful travel information

India uses the rupee. The old city around Lal Ghat and the City Palace is walkable, with narrow lanes best covered on foot; auto-rickshaws or taxis cover longer trips, including out to Fateh Sagar Lake.

Tips

  • Book a sunset boat ride on Lake Pichola a day ahead in peak season (October–March), when demand is highest.
  • Many old-city rooftop restaurants have a clear view of the City Palace lit up at night — worth timing dinner around.

Frequently asked questions

How many days do I need in Udaipur?
Two to three days covers the City Palace, a Lake Pichola boat ride, Jagdish Temple, and time to explore the old city's lanes and rooftop restaurants at an unhurried pace.
Where should first-time visitors stay in Udaipur?
Lal Ghat, on Lake Pichola's eastern shore by the City Palace, puts you inside the old city's main sights and lake views; Fateh Sagar Lake, a short ride north, is calmer and greener, with its own hilltop and lakeside hotels.

Related destinations