Things to Do in Hyderabad: Charminar, Golconda, Palaces, Biryani & More

See the Charminar

The Charminar, built in 1591, is a square monument with four minarets about 56 metres high, standing at the heart of the old city. Visitors can climb to the first floor for views of the bazaars. It is lit up in the evening, and the area is busiest and most atmospheric during Ramzan nights.

Time needed

1 hour

Best time

Morning or evening

Shop in Laad Bazaar

Laad Bazaar, leading west from the Charminar, is famous for lacquer bangles studded with stones, along with bridal wear, perfumes (attar) and pearls. Hyderabad has long been known as the city of pearls; buy from reputed shops.

Good for

Shoppers

Visit Mecca Masjid

Mecca Masjid, near the Charminar, is one of the largest mosques in India, begun in the 1610s. Bricks made with soil brought from Mecca are said to be set above the central arch. Visitors should dress modestly and avoid prayer times.

Tour Chowmahalla Palace

Chowmahalla Palace, the seat of the Asaf Jahi Nizams, has four palaces around courtyards, a grand Durbar Hall with crystal chandeliers, and collections of vintage cars, clothes and arms. It is closed on Fridays.

Time needed

1.5 hours

Good to know

Closed on Fridays

Explore the Salar Jung Museum

The Salar Jung Museum holds one of the world's largest collections assembled by a single person, Salar Jung III, including the Veiled Rebecca marble sculpture, a musical clock that draws crowds at every hour, Mughal miniatures, jade, textiles and European art. It is closed on Fridays.

Time needed

3 hours

Good to know

Closed on Fridays

Climb Golconda Fort

Golconda Fort, west of the city, was the capital of the Qutb Shahi kingdom and a centre of the diamond trade; the Koh-i-Noor is believed to have come from mines in the region. A clap at the Fateh Darwaza gate can be heard at the top of the hill, an early acoustic warning system. The climb to the Baradari at the top takes about 30 to 45 minutes.

Time needed

2–3 hours

Best time

Late afternoon

Watch the light and sound show

The evening sound and light show at Golconda narrates the fort's history, with shows in English, Hindi and Telugu on different days.

Best time

Evening

See the Qutb Shahi tombs

The Qutb Shahi tombs, a short drive from Golconda, are a group of domed tombs of the dynasty's rulers and their families, set in gardens. A long restoration has brought the complex back to life, with a heritage park and stepwells.

Time needed

1.5 hours

Take a boat to the Buddha statue

Hussain Sagar, a lake built in 1562, has a large monolithic Buddha statue on a rock in the middle, reached by boat from Lumbini Park or Eat Street. Necklace Road around the lake is lively in the evening, and a laser show is held at Lumbini Park.

Best time

Evening

Visit Birla Mandir

Birla Mandir, a white marble temple to Venkateswara on Naubat Pahad, has views over Hussain Sagar, especially at sunset. Phones and cameras are not allowed inside.

Spend a day at Ramoji Film City

Ramoji Film City, about 30 km from the city, is one of the world's largest film studio complexes, with film sets, shows, rides and gardens. It is a full-day outing popular with families.

Time needed

Full day

Good for

Families

See the Statue of Equality

The Statue of Equality at Muchintal, unveiled in 2022, is a 216-foot seated statue of the 11th-century philosopher Ramanuja, with a complex of 108 shrines and a musical fountain show.

Visit Chilkur Balaji

The Chilkur Balaji Temple, on the city's edge, is popularly known as the visa temple, as many devotees pray here for successful visa applications.

See the Paigah Tombs

The Paigah Tombs, the burial ground of a noble family closely linked to the Nizams, have remarkable marble lattice screens, stucco work and inlaid decoration. They are rarely crowded.

Visit Falaknuma Palace

Falaknuma Palace, built in the 1890s on a hilltop and later owned by the Nizams, is now a luxury hotel. Access is generally for guests and for dining or heritage experiences booked in advance.

See Taramati Baradari and Shilparamam

Taramati Baradari, a Qutb Shahi pavilion near Golconda, hosts cultural events. Shilparamam, a crafts village in Madhapur, has stalls of handicrafts from across India and folk performances.

Good for

Shoppers, families

Walk around Durgam Cheruvu

Durgam Cheruvu, a lake in the tech district, has a cable-stayed bridge that is lit up at night and a lakeside walkway, a favourite modern evening spot.

Best time

Evening

Eat Hyderabadi biryani and haleem

Hyderabadi biryani, made in the kachchi (raw marinated meat) style, is the city's pride. During Ramzan, haleem, a slow-cooked wheat and meat dish with a GI tag, is sold from evening stalls. Try double ka meetha and qubani ka meetha for dessert.

Good for

Food lovers

Drink Irani chai with Osmania biscuits

The city's Irani cafés serve sweet, milky chai with Osmania biscuits and bun maska. Some near the Charminar have been open for generations.

Celebrate Bathukamma or Numaish

Bathukamma, a floral festival of Telangana in September or October, fills the city with flower towers and dancing women. The Numaish, an annual industrial exhibition and fair, runs from January to February.

October to February

Pleasant weather for the old city, Golconda and the lakes. The Deccan Festival and Numaish exhibition bring events and food fairs.

March to June

Very hot days; plan indoor museums at midday and forts in the late afternoon. Ramzan, when it falls in these months, brings night food markets around the Charminar.

July to September

Monsoon showers cool the city; Bathukamma and Bonalu festivals add colour.

What are the best things to do in Hyderabad?

See the Charminar and Laad Bazaar, Mecca Masjid, Chowmahalla Palace, the Salar Jung Museum, Golconda Fort and the Qutb Shahi tombs, take a boat on Hussain Sagar, visit Ramoji Film City and eat biryani.

What are the best things to do in Hyderabad at night?

The Golconda light and sound show, Necklace Road and the Hussain Sagar laser show, Birla Mandir at dusk and, in Ramzan, the food stalls around the Charminar.

How many days are enough for Hyderabad?

Two to three days.

What is the best time to visit Hyderabad?

October to February.