Hyderabad walking tour & city guide

The old city and the new

The heart of old Hyderabad is the Charminar, with its four minarets rising over a busy junction. Around it run Laad Bazaar, famous for its glittering lacquer bangles, and lanes of pearl, perfume and fabric shops. The Mecca Masjid, one of the largest mosques in India, stands a short walk away, and the Chowmahalla Palace, once the seat of the Nizams, has restored courtyards and halls.

Across the Musi river, the city opens up around Hussain Sagar, a large lake with a tall statue of the Buddha on an island in the middle. Further west, Banjara Hills and Jubilee Hills are leafy, well-off districts, and HITEC City and Gachibowli are a skyline of offices and new flyovers. On the edge of town, the ruins of Golconda Fort climb a granite hill.

A classic walk: the Charminar and Laad Bazaar

Start in the morning at the Charminar before the traffic peaks, then walk west into Laad Bazaar, where shop after shop sells bangles, bridal wear and perfume. Continue to the Mecca Masjid and on to the Chowmahalla Palace.

In the evening, the streets around the Charminar fill with food stalls, and during Ramadan the old city is busy late into the night with stalls selling haleem. End with a cup of Irani chai and Osmania biscuits, a classic Hyderabad pairing.

Good to know

October to February is the most pleasant time to visit; April and May are very hot, and the monsoon brings rain from June to September. The metro links many parts of the city, and auto-rickshaws and ride-hailing apps cover the rest. Dress modestly and remove your shoes when visiting mosques and temples. Golconda Fort is best visited in the late afternoon, when it is cooler.