Wondering about visiting Amritsar with kids? Amritsar is another of our favourite cities in North India. It is vibrant, historic, incredibly welcoming, and – best of all for traveling families – absolutely delicious!
We have visited this Punjabi gem four times now, and every single time we return with our boys, we find something new to love.
Here is what we enjoy most, plus some tips for the cool things to do in Amritsar with kids.
About Amritsar
By Indian standards, Amritsar is a relatively compact city of about 2.5 million people. But as the cultural heart of the Sikh religion, it plays host to millions of pilgrims from around the globe.
Why Amritsar?
We have explored Amritsar with kids multiple times as a family. We have visited on trips from Delhi north to Punjab as well as making trips overland from India to Pakistan and back again, via Amritsar (with the kids).
A Quick History of Amritsar
Founded in 1577 by Guru Ram Das, the fourth Sikh Guru, Amritsar is one of India’s most spiritually significant and historic cities.
Historically, it grew as a major trading hub on the Grand Trunk Road, but today it is globally famous for being the heart of the Sikh faith and home to the spectacular Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib).
Visiting Amritsar with Kids
If you are wondering whether the city works for a family trip, the answer is a yes.
Albeit it is still like the adventure of family travel in India. But it offers a gentler, more approachable rhythm than giant transit hubs like Delhi or Mumbai.
The heart of the old city has been transformed into a beautiful, pedestrian-only heritage walkway. There are still the bustling and busy side alleys full of character. But the overall atmosphere in Amritsar with kids is safe and hospitable.
10 Unmissable Things to Do in Amritsar with Kids
We really enjoy Amritsar as a family each time we visit. Here are 10 kid-approved experiences that you cannot miss when visiting Amritsar with kids.
1. The Golden Temple (Sri Harmandir Sahib)
The spiritual centre of Amritsar is Sri Harmandir Sahib, universally known as the Golden Temple. It translates literally to “the abode of God”, and it truly feels kind of otherworldly!
The temple complex is built around a massive, sacred pool known as the Amrit Sarovar (from which the city gets its name). It is a great cultural travel experience in Amritsar with kids.
- Tip: Everyone – adults and children alike – must cover their heads and remove their shoes before entering the complex. You can purchase inexpensive, brightly coloured head coverings from vendors right outside the entrance.
2. Guru Ka Langar (World’s Largest Community Kitchen)
Located right inside the Golden Temple complex is the Guru Ka Langar, a very cool addition to any family trip. This is a community kitchen that feeds roughly 100,000 people every single day for free, regardless of race, religion, or background.
But what makes this a special stop in Amritsar with kids is that it is fully interactive. Visitors are warmly welcomed to join in and volunteer.
Our boys absolutely loved getting involved. You can sit with local volunteers to roll out chapati (flatbread), help chop vegetables in massive troughs, or even join the giant assembly line washing the big metal dishes.
3. Eat a Meal in the Langar Dining Hall
After volunteering, head up to the massive dining halls spread across two floors to experience the Langar as a diner.
As you enter, everyone is handed a large sectional stainless-steel tray, a spoon, and a bowl. You then join the rows of hundreds of people seated side-by-side directly on the floor mats.
Volunteers move swiftly down the aisles with massive buckets, ladling out delicious, hot vegetarian food: creamy dal (lentils), rice, vegetable curry, and fresh chapati. It is completely free (though you can make a discreet donation in a separate area of the complex if you wish).
4. Experience the High-Energy Wagah Border Ceremony
Located about 30 kilometres outside the city centre is the Attari-Wagah Border, the only road crossing between India and Pakistan.
Every single evening before sunset, the two nations stage a military drill that can only be described as a cross between a high-stepping military parade and an intense, theatrical stadium sporting event.
We were all captivated.
Think Bollywood music blasting through stadium speakers, waving flags, and chanting. Plus the soldiers on both sides wear elaborate fan-crested hats and perform dramatic leg kicks, and synchronised stomping before the flags are lowered for the night.
- Tip: Be sure to arrive early to pass through security and secure a good seat in the foreign tourist section.
5. Food Tour with Anil from @FeelMyCityTours
We highly recommend booking a tour with Anil Sharma from @FeelMyCityTours (+91 97802 34705). Anil does all kinds of sightseeing tours, but in Amritsar with kids, the one we recommend is a food tour.
Taking a tour with Anil takes all the stress out of navigating the chaotic lanes of the old city. He is a registered guide who was born and raised in Amritsar, and his passion for his hometown is infectious.
He knows exactly which street vendors are safe for young bellies, handles the crowds for you, and curates a kid-friendly tasting menu of the city’s absolute best bites. Plus, he can arrange trusted auto-rickshaws to ferry your family safely between stops!
6. Try on a Traditional Sikh Turban near Heritage Street
In Amritsar with kids, stop by one of the local turban shops – such as the famous Lal Pagri Turban House – where the shopkeepers will gladly demonstrate how the long lengths of fabric are meticulously folded and wrapped. It looks seriously cool!
7. Grab a Lassi at Ahuja Milk Bhandar
Lassi all around India is great. But in Amritsar with kids, when the kids need a break from walking and a sweet treat to beat the Punjabi heat, head for Ahuja Milk Bhandar. This is one of the oldest and most legendary milk bars in Amritsar.
It is rich enough to be a meal in itself, and it is a guaranteed hit with kids. 🙂
8. Share Crispy Jalebi at Ram Das Jalebiwala
What about Jalebi? Have you tried Jalebi in India yet? Ram Das Jalebi is the oldest and most famous Jalebi shop in the city.
Here you can watch the chefs masterfully squeeze batter from a cloth bag directly into giant, bubbling vats of hot Ghee, frying them into swirling pretzel shapes. Then, once they are crispy and golden, they are dunked into a warm, sticky sugar syrup.
Watching them being made on the street corner is half the fun; eating them fresh, sugary and hot is the other!
9. Treat the Kids to Rana Fruit Cream
On our Food Tour in Amritsar – with kids – one of all our favourite stops was the small ice cream shop, Rana Fruit Cream.
This is a local favourite that consists of chopped fruits mixed with a heavily sweet, chilled cream, and topped with scoops of local ice cream, nuts, and sweet syrups. It is cold, refreshing, and seriously sweet. But it is the ultimate reward for a busy day of sightseeing.
10. Eat at the World’s Only Vegetarian McDonald’s
For a(nother) fun novelty stop, take the kids to the McDonald’s located right on Heritage Street near the Golden Temple entrance. Because of the sacred nature of the area, this location is entirely vegetarian, and the first of its kind in the world.
It is officially the only vegetarian McDonalds restaurant that exists!
You won’t find any Big Macs here. Instead, the menu features unique Indian vegetarian options like the McAloo Tikki (a spiced potato and pea patty burger), the McSpicy Paneer, and Pizza McPuff.
It’s a great, familiar backup option in Amritsar with kids and a fun trivia spot to tick off your travel bucket list.
Amritsar Logistics for Families
As always in India, a bit of planning goes a long way to keeping things smooth(er) – and especially for travel in India with kids.
Getting There
Amritsar is well-connected to the rest of India by air, road, and rail:
- By Train (Recommended): If you are traveling from Delhi, the fastest and most convenient option is the Vande Bharat Express (#22487). It departs Old Delhi in the afternoon and arrives in Amritsar in just under 6 hours. These modern, air-conditioned chair-car trains are clean, fast, and include meals served right to your seat—making train travel with kids in India, sweet as.
- By Air: Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport has daily domestic flights connecting to major cities like Delhi and Mumbai, as well as select international hubs.
Getting Around in Amritsar with Kids
The historical centre around the Golden Temple is largely pedestrianised (Heritage Street), making it very safe and easy to walk with children without worrying about traffic.
For traveling between your hotel, the train station, and outlying sights (like the Durgiana Temple or the Wagah Border), the easiest options are auto-rickshaws or taxis (which can easily be booked via ride-sharing apps like Uber or Ola).
If you book a day tour with Anil from @FeelMyCityTours, he can easily coordinate trusted rickshaw drivers or private cars to pick your family up directly from the station or hotel. Even after visiting many times, Anil makes Amritsar with kids a whole new level of coordinated!
Where to Stay in Amritsar with Kids
When it comes to family accommodation in Amritsar, we recommend the Hyatt Regency. We stay here every time we visit.
The hotel features immaculately clean, comfortable, and quiet rooms that offer a sanctuary from the busy city streets. Their massive buffet breakfast is awesome, with a mix of Western kid favourites and local Punjabi delicacies.
It is located just a short taxi ride from Heritage Street, and sits right next door to the Nexus Alpha Mall, which is highly convenient if you need to pop out for snacks or supplies for the kids. 🙂
Enjoy Amritsar With Kids
Book a food tour, find a coloured turban, and enjoy our recommendations for the Things To Do in Amritsar With Kids!
Do you have questions about traveling in India with kids? Ask us in the comments—we love sharing our tips!
Safe travels, adventurers!
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Travel Planning for India & Beyond
These are the companies we use while traveling and that we would recommend to anyone planning and booking travel.
- Booking.com – The best all-around accommodation booking site. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation. It’s easy to filter and sort into price and availability with all the extras you are looking for personally.
- 12GoAsia – Book trains anywhere in Asia through 12Go.
- Skyscanner – Our favourite flight search engine. They can search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites often miss. We book all our flights through Skyscanner.
- GetYourGuide – A huge online marketplace for tours and excursions offered all around the world. Everything from walking tours to street-food tours, cooking classes, desert safari’s and more!
- SafetyWing – A global travel insurance that covers people from all over the world while outside their home country. You can buy short or longterm; and even if you are out of the country.
- World Nomads – Travel insurance tailored for short or longterm travel and nomads (including those who have already left home). Make sure you have travel insurance before planning these things to do in Amritsar with kids!
Hi! I’m Sarah. I am the self-confessed dreamer, travel-schemer and the main editor behind this blog. I love to write, and it is a dream come true to share so many experiences together and inspire others in our stories.
