Vadodara, India: travel guide
Gaekwad palaces, parks and a strong arts scene on the Vishwamitri
Cultural capital of Gujarat — the opulent Laxmi Vilas Palace, Baroda Museum, and a thriving arts scene centred on Maharaja Sayajirao University.
About Vadodara
Vadodara, also known as Baroda, is a city in central Gujarat shaped by the Gaekwad dynasty, who left it with large palaces, parks and museums. It is calmer than Ahmedabad and has a deserved reputation for arts and learning.
The grand Laxmi Vilas Palace is the headline sight, set in landscaped grounds. Sayaji Baug holds gardens, a museum and a planetarium, while Sur Sagar Lake offers an evening walk beside a large Shiva statue. Maharaja Sayajirao University gives the city its student and arts energy. Champaner-Pavagadh, a short drive away, adds ancient mosques and a hill temple.
Vadodara travel suits architecture and heritage enthusiasts and works well alongside Ahmedabad and Kutch. The best time to visit Vadodara is between October and March, when temperatures are manageable.
- Country
- India
- Currency
- INR
- Time zone
- Asia/Kolkata
- Nearest airport
- BDQ
Last updated
Top places to visit in Vadodara
Laxmi Vilas Palace
Heritage · 4.6 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
The opulent 1890 Indo-Saracenic palace of the Gaekwads, reputedly the largest private residence in the world — four times the size of Buckingham Palace.
Sayaji Baug (Kamati Baug)
Nature · 4.4 rating · about 2 h · free entry
A sprawling 19th-century garden with a zoo, planetarium, a toy train and the Baroda Museum — the green heart of the city.
Champaner-Pavagadh
Heritage · 4.6 rating · about 4 h · entry ₹600
A UNESCO World Heritage archaeological park ~47 km away with Sultanate mosques, the Jami Masjid and the hilltop Kalika Mata temple reached by ropeway.
EME Temple (Dakshinamurthy)
temple · 4.4 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate
A unique geodesic-dome Shiva temple clad in aluminium sheets, run by the army's EME corps, blending modern engineering with several faiths' symbols.
Sur Sagar Lake
Nature · 4.2 rating · about 0.8 h · free entry
A central lake ringed by a promenade with a towering Shiva statue rising from the water, lit beautifully in the evenings.
Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum
Museum · 4.4 rating · about 1 h · entry ₹200
A museum within the palace grounds displaying the Gaekwad royal art collection — European masters, Raja Ravi Varma paintings and royal artefacts.
Ajwa Nimeta Garden
Nature · 4.2 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
A musical-fountain garden by the Ajwa reservoir ~20 km out, with landscaped lawns and an evening light-and-water show, a family favourite.
Baroda Museum & Picture Gallery
Museum · 4.3 rating · about 1.3 h · entry ₹200
A grand Indo-Saracenic museum in Sayaji Baug with Egyptian, Mughal and European art, a blue-whale skeleton and Gaekwad-era collections.
Mandvi Gate & Old City Bazaars
Market · 4.2 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
The historic Mandvi gateway pavilion at the heart of the walled old city, surrounded by bustling bazaars, havelis and street food.
Kirti Mandir
temple · 4.3 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate
The Gaekwad family's memorial cenotaph (1936) with a soaring shikhara and murals by the painter Nandalal Bose, near the old city.
Things to do
- Laxmi Vilas Palace Tour Cultural · 2 h · from INR 225 per person
- Champaner-Pavagadh Heritage Trip Cultural · 6 h · from INR 1,800 per person
- Vadodara Heritage & Museum Walk Cultural · 2.5 h · from INR 600 per person
- Vadodara Food Trail Cultural · 2.5 h · from INR 800 per person
Day trips and tours
- Vadodara City Heritage Tour 8 h · from INR 1,500
- Champaner-Pavagadh UNESCO Trip 8 h · from INR 1,800
- Vadodara Arts & Food Evening 5 h · from INR 1,000
Where to stay in Vadodara
- City Center about INR 2,500 per night
Main commercial area with mid-range hotels
Hotels
- Vivanta Vadodara (Taj) 5-star · INR 6,000 to INR 11,000 per night
- Welcomhotel by ITC Vadodara 5-star · INR 5,500 to INR 9,500 per night
- Grand Mercure Vadodara 4-star · INR 4,500 to INR 7,500 per night
- Express Hotel Vadodara 4-star · INR 4,000 to INR 7,000 per night
- Hotel Surya Palace 4-star · INR 3,500 to INR 6,000 per night
- Hotel Express Residency 3-star · INR 3,000 to INR 5,500 per night
Where to eat
- Mandap Gujarati Thali (Rajdhani) Gujarati, Rajasthani · about INR 450 per person
- Mahakali Sev Usal Gujarati, Street Food · about INR 100 per person
- Canon (Continental) Continental, Italian · about INR 550 per person
- Jagdish Farsan Gujarati, Sweets, Snacks · about INR 120 per person
- Mandap (Welcomhotel) Gujarati, North Indian · about INR 900 per person
- Peshawri / Barbeque Nation North Indian, Barbecue, Continental · about INR 800 per person
- Vadodara Coffee Culture Continental, Italian, Cafe · about INR 350 per person
- Duliram Lakhmichand (Sweets) Sweets, Gujarati, Snacks · about INR 120 per person
Getting to Vadodara
Airport: Vadodara (BDQ)
Getting around
- Auto Rickshaw
- Ride Hail
- Walking
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Frequently asked questions about Vadodara
- What are the top-rated places to visit in Vadodara?
- The highest-rated places in our Vadodara guide are Laxmi Vilas Palace, Champaner-Pavagadh, Sayaji Baug (Kamati Baug), EME Temple (Dakshinamurthy), Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum.
- Where should I stay in Vadodara?
- Our guide covers these areas to stay in Vadodara: City Center.
- How do I get around Vadodara?
- Ways to get around Vadodara covered in our guide: Auto-rickshaw, Ride-hailing app, Walking.
- Which airport is nearest to Vadodara?
- The nearest airport to Vadodara has the code BDQ.