The best things to do in Hyderabad

The Charminar, built in 1591, is Hyderabad’s heartbeat: four soaring minarets, a mosque on the top floor and a bazaar bustling from its base. Walk the Charminar precinct early to dodge the crowds, and watch vendors set up for the day. From here, you can go on foot to Chowmahalla Palace, where the Nizams of Hyderabad were crowned, then plunge into Laad Bazaar for lacquered bangles and bridal finery. Visit early to dodge the crowds. 

Time Out tip: Don’t miss Cafe Nimrah (adjacent to the monument) for a late-morning Irani chai and Osmania biscuit - it’s been a local fixture since the 1990s. 

Time taken: Around 4-6 hours, depending on where you want to stop and browse. 

Visiting the Falaknuma Palace (which translates, literally, to mirror of the sky) is a non-negotiable in Hyderabad. Its history is best seen for yourself in person. You’ll walk the same steps as Queen Elizabeth II and the last Tsar of Russia. It’s the full deal: Italian marble staircases, glittering chandeliers and a dining room built for royal largesse. 

The palace, which was built in 1954, today operates as a luxury hotel where the dining experience of the Adaa restaurant channels Nizami cuisine. A dining table there, at 101 feet, is said to be the longest in the world!

From haleem to biryani, it serves all the knockout dishes from the fabled Hyderabadi cuisine, including the very special Jauzi halwa (the surprise ingredient is nutmeg!) which we like to say is ‘world famous in Hyderabad’. 

Time Out tip: Visit the library which houses over 5,900 books, including some old editions preserved in neem leaves. and the lovely Jade Room, which houses objects across the history of the Nizams’ travels.

Time taken: Around 4 hours, especially if you visit in the evening.

Hyderabad’s heritage walks are a brilliant way to unpack the layers of the city in one, curated go: architecture, bazaars, cuisine and lesser-told social histories. Two popular weekend formats are Old City/Charminar routes and Golconda/Golkonda Fort trails; groups are usually led by young, trained locals who mix storytelling with street food stops and architectural context. Typically, these walks last around two hours.

Two groups in particular (@deccanarchive and @thathyderabadiboy on Instagram) conduct regular walks over weekends, including slightly nicher ones sometimes, like decoding the Art Deco heritage of the city or tracing its lost palaces. Another local group (@jonty_detoursindia on Instagram) does customised tours around food and heritage as well. 

Salar Jung Museum is home to 46,000 art pieces, plus thousands of manuscripts and printed books, all amassed by the city’s Prime Minister Salar Jung III during the early 1900s. Expect everything from Mughal miniatures and European sculptures to an iconic double-statue and a famous in-house ‘library’ of rare manuscripts. And the statue of the Veiled Rebecca that has a following of its own!

Time Out tip: Map your must-see items before you enter. The collection is vast and can be overwhelming; audio guides help. The best times are weekday mornings to avoid school trips. 

Price: ₹50 for Indian adults, ₹20 for Indian children (over 5), and ₹500 for foreign visitors

Time taken: Around 3-4 hours

In 2025, Hyderabadi biryani cracked the top 10 of the world’s 50 best rice dishes on TasteAtlas. It was the only Indian dish to make the cut, and so, when you’re in Hyderabad, biryani’s almost a religion. Obviously. 

There’s the classic kacchi version (raw-meat layered, sealed, dum-cooked) or the pakki (pre-cooked meat layered with rice). There’s also the slow-dum version, where the pot is sealed tight with dough, trapping steam in so the rice and meat stew together. All three are magical. It’s also worth mentioning that while many regional favourites have been replicated to perfection across different Indian cities, local Hyderabadi biryani is absolutely unmatched. Pair yours with a side of mirchi salan or raita. 

Where: Try popular haunts like Paradise, Shah Ghouse and Bawarchi – all have multiple branches across the city. Green Park Hotel and Chichas are great choices too. 

Time Out tip: As a local, let me tell you: ‘bad’ ambience is no sign of poor food in this city.

A few kilometres away from the Old City lie the Paigah Tombs of the late 18th century. To put it short – they’re an overlooked marvel. Eight distinct influences, ranging from Islamic to Hindu architectural styles, come together in this blend of marble, stucco and fretwork. The necropolis, constructed by the erstwhile aristocratic Paigah family, showcases craftsmanship you won’t see elsewhere in the city.

Time Out tip: Go in the cooler months (November-February) and combine the visit with nearby Old City walks. 

Time taken: 2-3 hours

At Sattva – a savvy hangout spot for tech-crowd downtime – you’ll find a cluster of good restaurants, cafés, and alfresco eating spots that make for a good afternoon or evening out, especially once you’re done exploring the slightly more hectic areas of the city. 

Time Out tip: This is a great spot for people watching and generally appreciating Hyderabad’s transformation from a sleepy city to India’s premier IT destination.  

The Crafts Council of Telangana is the place to see, buy and celebrate Telangana’s craft traditions, from Cheriyal scroll painting to handloom textiles and artisanal jewellery. The building hosts rotating exhibitions, workshops, talks and a crafts bazaar where makers sell directly. Ideal for souvenir shopping. 

It also houses studios of city designers, such as revivalist Sourav Das, who works on Benares, as well as an in-house Italian restaurant, Novve. Hare Krishna Golden Temple – a big draw for devotees – is also a short walk away. 

Time Out tip: The best maker markets and demonstrations happen on weekends and during festival months (Diwali, Sankranti). If you’re short on luggage space, buy small items (metalwork, painted ceramics) or request flat-pack shipping. 

Locally known as the Seven Tombs, these are spread across a sprawling 106-acre heritage park, with over 70 other monuments. If you’ve watched South Indian movies dating back to the 80s and 90s, chances are you’ve seen a vigorous dance number shot in its precincts.

Now being restored to a heritage park by the Aga Khan Foundation, the site’s great for a stroll at sunrise or golden hour. 

Time Out tip: Carry a bottle of water. Pair the visit with a trip to the nearby Golconda Fort for a full-day heritage binge. 

Time taken: Around 2-3 hours

Bizarre as it may seem, the massive IKEA outlet in Hyderabad’s a huge draw, especially for Indian tourists. Admittedly, it makes for a full day out, and home to some of the best Swedish wonderland classics – Billy bookcases, Poäng chairs, Malm beds, Frakta blue bags. And then there’s the food: Swedish meatballs, cinnamon buns, fries, and that strangely addictive IKEA coffee. Out-of-towners often treat IKEA like a one-stop experience: browse, buy, eat, and linger. 

Time Out tip: If you want a quieter experience, go on weekday mornings. Try the food court’s seasonal specials.

The 17th-century Bansilalpet Stepwell has been restored and now doubles as an atmospheric events venue for intimate concerts and heritage evenings, known for their acoustics and dramatic lighting. 

Time Out tip: Concerts sell out fast because of limited seating. Book early, and combine with a short walk through nearby lanes to see restoration galleries. 

Address: Parsigutta, Bhoiguda, Secunderabad, Telangana 500003

Tucked onto the slopes of Mahendra Hills, Ananda Buddha Vihara is a calm Buddhist monastery and meditation centre, marking a major contrast to Hyderabad’s bustle. The Vihara, built in the 1970s, features a stupa, prayer halls, and large gardens, home to meditation and chanting sessions.  

Time Out tip: Morning visits are peaceful and you may catch an early chanting session. The site makes a compact side-trip if you’re exploring the Hussain Sagar area. 

Ramoji Film City’s the only place that could possibly pack in desert forts, snow gardens, Victorian streets and Wild West-esque saloons in a one-day trip. The world’s largest film studio, situated on Hyderabad’s fringe, is spread across a whopping 2,000 acres. It’s clocked in over 2,500 films across dozens of Indian languages, including blockbuster epics like RRR and Baahubali.

For visitors, it’s all sets and stunts and corn dog-stand glamour: live stunt shows, vintage bus rides, themed gardens, ‘foreign’ streets. A sort of whimsical fusion of Tollywood, Hollywood, and a bit of Disneyland. Grab an early-morning ticket and pre-book shows to pack in the most fun. 

Time Out tip: It’s the best way to spot a Tollywood actor! There are two hotels inside the property for overnight stays too. 

Time taken: They have one-day and two-day tours.

Address: Abdullahpurmet, Vijayawada Highway, Hyderabad, Telangana 501512

Long before glass towers and flyovers, Hyderabad’s biggest draw was its man-made lakes. Hussain Sagar, the 16th-century lake that stitches together Hyderabad and Secunderabad, is arguably the most famous. It’s open to boat rides and a bunch of eating joints have come up by the lakeside.

Durgam Cheruvu, once called the ‘secret’ lake, is a bit quieter. Ringed by rock formations and flanked by a modern promenade and cable bridge, it’s big among joggers, couples, photographers, and post-work wanderers. 

Malkam Cheruvu’s another good one for jogs and walks. 

Time Out tip: The lakeside’s often crowded through the weekend – early mornings are best if you want a peaceful walk. Be warned though – the lakes’ condition depends a little bit on factors like season, pollution levels, and the likes. They CAN be a little pungent-smelling from time to time – check with a local before deciding to show up. 

Time taken: An hour or so per lake