Nainital trip planner: best time, cost and things to do
Lake town in the Kumaon hills with boating, viewpoints and nearby lakes. The best time to visit Nainital is March to June and October to November, and July to August is best avoided (monsoon landslides). Plan 2 days; on the ground you can expect about ₹900 to ₹6,700 per person per day.
Plan your Nainital trip and see the full cost
Nainital at a glance
- State
- Uttarakhand
- Best months
- March to June and October to November
- Best avoided
- July to August (monsoon landslides)
- Suggested stay
- 2 days
- Nearest airport
- PGH (in town)
- Nearest railway station
- Kathgodam (KGM)
- Good for
- mountains, nature, chill
- Ground cost per person per day
- ₹900 budget, ₹2,450 mid-range, ₹6,700 comfort
How much does a trip to Nainital cost?
About ₹900 (budget), ₹2,450 (mid-range) or ₹6,700 (comfort) per person per day, two sharing a room and a cab, excluding the journey to Nainital.
What to eat in Nainital
- Bal mithai
- Bhatt ki churkani
- Momos
- Maggi by the lake
Top things to do in Nainital
- Naini Lake: Row across the lake. about 1.5 hours. entry about ₹250
- Snow View Point: A ropeway to Nanda Devi views. about 2 hours. entry about ₹300
- Naina Devi Temple: A Shakti peeth by the lake. about 0.75 hours. free entry
- Mall Road: The lakeside promenade. about 1.5 hours. free entry
- Bhimtal and Sattal: Quieter lakes nearby. about 4 hours. free entry
- Kainchi Dham: Neem Karoli Baba's ashram. about 3 hours. free entry
- Tiffin Top: A pony ride or hike. about 2 hours. free entry
How to get to Nainital
To reach Nainital, Nainital has its own airport (PGH), and Kathgodam (KGM) is the railway station.
Frequently asked questions about Nainital
When is the best time to visit Nainital?
The best months for Nainital are March to June and October to November. July to August: monsoon landslides. Prices for stays and flights rise around holidays and long weekends, so book early for those dates.
How much does a trip to Nainital cost?
On the ground in Nainital a budget trip costs about ₹900 per person per day, a mid-range trip about ₹2,450 and a comfortable one about ₹6,700, assuming two people share a room and a cab. That covers stay, food and local transport but not the journey to Nainital. TripRoast works out the full cost per person from your city, including transport.
How many days do you need in Nainital?
Plan at least 2 days in Nainital. It works well as a short break.
What should you eat in Nainital?
Try Bal mithai, Bhatt ki churkani, Momos, Maggi by the lake.
How do you get to Nainital?
To reach Nainital, Nainital has its own airport (PGH), and Kathgodam (KGM) is the railway station.
Similar places to visit
- Mussoorie, Uttarakhand
- Lansdowne, Uttarakhand
- Munsiyari, Uttarakhand
- Dehradun, Uttarakhand
- Rishikesh, Uttarakhand
- Auli, Uttarakhand
Costs are estimates built from public data, official fares and traveller reports. Always check prices before you book. How TripRoast works.