If you are planning a family trip across India, Udaipur with kids is the perfect pit stop to catch your breath. It is clean, visually spectacular – and famous. But best of all it is easy to navigate with children.
These are our recommended things to do in Udaipur with kids to mark for your India itinerary.
About Udaipur & Visiting with Kids
Udaipur is nestled in the southern ridges of Rajasthan’s Aravalli Hills. Founded in 1559 by Maharana Udai Singh II, it served as the historic capital of the Mewar Kingdom.
Today, its historic centre revolves around a network of stunning lakes flanked by palaces and beautifully restored heritage mansions (havelis).
Is it worth visiting with kids?
If you want your family to experience the grandeur of India without the overwhelming, high-stress chaos of larger municipalities, Udaipur with kids is ideal.
Our family often reflects that it is the easiest, safest, and most relaxed destination in North India.
The compact old city means you are never too far from a quiet spot, and the lakefront is packed with family-friendly rooftop cafes where you can enjoy the views.
How long do you need?
Because Udaipur is relatively small by Indian standards, a two-day, two-night itinerary is the sweet spot for a family. This gives you ample time to explore the primary royal structures, enjoy the water, and relax at local restaurants without feeling rushed.
On our first trip, we stayed for three nights and three full days, which we found was a bit slow for an active family itinerary.
10 Awesome Things to Do in Udaipur with Kids
Here are 10 kid-approved experiences to add to your itinerary when visiting Udaipur with kids.
1. Explore the Massive Udaipur City Palace
The imposing City Palace is Rajasthan’s largest palace complex and an absolute must-visit. It feels like an authentic adventure for kids. Don’t miss the Manak Mahal (Ruby Palace) with its dazzling rainbow-colored stained glass, or the Mor Chowk, a spectacular courtyard featuring three mosaic peacocks representing India’s changing seasons.
2. Take a Boat Trip on Lake Pichola
You cannot visit the City of Lakes without getting out on the water – for adults and in Udaipur with kids! Taking a boat cruise is the ultimate family crowd-pleaser. You’ll cruise past floating palaces and ancient heritage lakeside homes.
The perspective from the water looking back at the City Palace is unmatched.
3. Visit Jagmandir Island Palace
When you are booking your Lake Pichola boat excursion, make sure to book a route that allows you to disembark at Jagmandir Island. Some of the boat trips just go out for a cruise and back to the departure point.
But this floating island palace once served as a summer resort for the royal family. It’s a beautifully contained, vehicle-free space with gorgeous gardens where kids can safely stretch their legs and explore.
4. Walk Along the Lakeside Ghats
A ghat is a series of stone steps leading directly down into the water. (Like the many Ghats that Varanasi is famous for!). Udaipur’s lakefront is lined with beautiful ghats with the largest and most energetic Gangaur Ghat and Ambrai Ghat.
It is a cool place to explore in Udaipur with kids; you will see locals gathering for morning prayers, feeding flocks of pigeons, or doing daily chores beside the lake.
5. Stroll Over the Scenic Daiji Bridge
To cross between the markets of the old city and the quieter, residential waterfront neighbourhoods on the opposite shore, take the Daiji Bridge. It is a narrow, pedestrian-only footbridge that gives a cool vantage point directly over Lake Pichola.
This is another of the things to do that we kind of stumbled upon in Udaipur with kids. But it was a unique way of getting between the old city and where we were staying at Hotel Lake Star.
Plus, from the bridge you can get a view of the women washing colourful laundry along the small Ghats below.
6. Have a Family Dinner in a Waterfront Palace
How cool does that sound?!
Udaipur specialises in dramatic, upscale lakeside dining, and treating the family to a meal at a historic waterfront palace is a cool experience. (Yes; even in Udaipur with kids!).
We recommend booking an outdoor patio table at Ambrai Restaurant or visiting the Jagat Niwas Palace Hotel which is a famous filming location for The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. (I love that movie!).
7. Visit Jagdish Temple
Just outside the main gates of the City Palace, is a vibrant Hindu temple that has sat at the centre of Udaipur’s cultural life since 1651.
It is flanked by large stone elephant statues (more of them) and a steep flight of stairs. The exterior walls are intricately carved with figures of dancers, horses, and deities.
It’s a loud, fascinating cultural stop (typical, India) that gives kids a genuine look into local worship.
8. See a Traditional Dance Show at Bagore-ki-Haveli
Right on the edge of Gangaur Ghat, is Bagore-kipHaveli. It is a sprawling 18th-century mansion which functions as a museum during the daytime.
But the real highlight happens in the evening. The haveli hosts a high-energy performance showcasing traditional Rajasthani folk music, puppet shows, and dancers.
9. Get Lost in the Sights and Sounds of Bada Bazar
The markets are always an adventure in India and visiting Udaipur with kids is no exception. For that fun blast of classic Indian energy, take a walk through Bada Bazar, Udaipur’s main marketplace.
It’s noisy, bright, and an excellent place to let the kids pick out a few unique handmade souvenirs.
10. Pause for Slices and Iced Coffee at Jheel’s Ginger Cafe
When the kids need a well-deserved break from historical sightseeing, head straight over to Jheel’s Ginger Cafe. We kind of lucked upon this one but I recommend it as a cute cafe to head for in Udaipur with kids.
It is tucked away in a small alleyway near the water, with fantastic iced coffees, sweet fruit shakes, and delicious bakery treats.
Family Travel Logistics: Udaipur With Kids
Planning for travel anywhere makes things feel smoother. But especially for family travel in India!
These are a few tips on logistics for visiting Udaipur with kids.
Getting There
Udaipur is located in southern Rajasthan and is easily accessible by air, road, and rail:
- By Train: This is our preferred way to travel across India. Daily trains run directly to Udaipur City Railway Station from Jaipur (7–8 hours) and New Delhi (12–14 hours). This is how we got from Delhi to Udaipur with kids and it was a cool adventure.
- By Air: Maharana Pratap Airport sits roughly 22 kilometres outside the city centre, offering quick domestic flights connecting directly to Delhi, Mumbai, and Jaipur.
Getting Around
The old city of Udaipur features exceptionally narrow, winding lanes that are too tight for standard cars, which keeps the heavy traffic down. The best way to get around Udaipur with kids is simply by foot or by hailing a local auto-rickshaw (tuk-tuk).
Rickshaws are cheap, fun for children, and can easily squeeze through the tightest city gaps.
Where to Stay in Udaipur with Kids
For a peaceful family base in Udaipur with kids, we recommend staying on the quieter, western side of the lake (the Tripura or Hanuman Ghat neighbourhood) rather than the crowded market centre.
We stayed at Hotel Lake Star, which was a small, basic but welcoming family-run guesthouse. They have budget-friendly family rooms within easy walking distance of the footbridges, and a simple rooftop restaurant with great nighttime views to the city palaces.
Final Thoughts: Family Adventures in Udaipur
Exploring the palaces, lakes, and slightly slower yet vibrant culture of Udaipur is an unforgettable experience when travelling in India with kids.
Albeit navigating the narrow, bustling streets of the Old City with a stroller or managing the midday heat can occasionally test your patience; it can do travelling anywhere with kids, right? The magic of a boat ride on Lake Pichola and the warmth of the local hospitality make those efforts worth it.
We reckon Udaipur with kids is a sweet spot for your India itinerary. 🙂
Planning your own family adventure to India? Check out our guide to Amritsar or Jaisalmer with kids to help plan your days.
Have you visited Rajasthan with your little ones yet? Let us know your favourite family-friendly spots and tips in the comments below!
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 and 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 – Make sure you have travel insurance before further planning Udaipur 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.
