Staycations Near Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune and Hyderabad

A staycation near your city means a resort or hotel close enough to reach after work on Friday. The rule of thumb is under two hours, because beyond that you've started a weekend trip and the drive becomes part of the plan.

Here's where that radius takes you from each major city.

Near Delhi NCR

• Inside NCR: Aerocity and Gurugram hotels, which are cheapest at weekends and have the best pools in the region.
• Damdama Lake and the Aravalli belt, about 50 km: resorts with grounds, an hour out.
• Neemrana, about 120 km: a fort-palace, and the shortest heritage stay from Delhi.
• Manesar, about 45 km: resort properties built for exactly this.

Best from October to March. April to June, book somewhere the pool is the point.

Near Mumbai

• Inside the city: Juhu and Powai hotels, where a sea or lake view does most of the work.
• Karjat, about 65 km: riverside resorts and villas, the standard Mumbai staycation.
• Alibaug, about an hour by ferry: beach houses and boutique properties.
• Lonavala and Khandala, about 85 km: closest hills, busiest at weekends.

Best from November to February. In the monsoon the ghats are spectacular and rooms cost more, not less.

Near Bangalore

• Inside the city: hotels with pools in the CBD and Whitefield, cheapest at weekends.
• Nandi Hills and the north, about 60 km: resorts with views, and sunrise if you're up for it.
• Kanakapura and Bannerghatta, about 55 km: riverside and forest-edge resorts.
• Ramanagara and Savandurga, about 50 km: rock country, good for a one-night reset.

Works year-round. October to February is best, and the monsoon is fine if you're staying inside.

Near Pune

• Mulshi, about 40 km: lakeside resorts, green from June to October.
• Lavasa, about 60 km: quiet midweek, a full hill town at weekends.
• Lonavala, about 65 km: the default, so book early or go midweek.
• Tamhini, about 60 km: waterfalls in the monsoon.

Pune has the shortest distances of any Indian metro, which makes it the easiest city for a one-night break.

Near Hyderabad

• Inside the city: hotel spas and pools in Jubilee Hills, Banjara Hills and Gachibowli.
• Gandipet and Osman Sagar, about 25 km: lakeside resorts, the closest option anywhere on this page.
• Vikarabad, about 70 km: forest and cooler air.
• Ananthagiri Hills, about 90 km: the nearest thing to hills.

Best from October to February. March to May, stay somewhere with a pool and don't plan to be outside at midday.

What to check before booking

• Is the pool open to guests only? Some resorts sell day passes, which makes weekends crowded.
• Check-in and check-out times. A 2pm check-in and 11am check-out gives you less than a day. Ask for later.
• Is a wedding or event on? Resorts near big cities host a lot of them, and it changes the weekend completely.
• What's included? Breakfast, and sometimes all meals at resorts further out.
• How far is it really? A 60 km drive out of any Indian metro on a Friday evening can take two hours.

When to book

City hotels are cheapest at weekends and most expensive midweek. Resorts outside the city are the opposite. If you can take a Monday off, a Sunday-to-Tuesday break at a resort costs noticeably less than Friday to Sunday, and it's much quieter.

Gifting a staycation

• Luxury Stays, one night at 1,200+ five-star hotels — ₹9,999
• Deluxe City Breaks, two nights at 3,500+ hotels — ₹17,998
• Countryside & Hill Station, two nights at 2,600+ hotels — ₹13,998
• Relaxing Escapes, overnight spa and wellness stay — ₹13,999

Frequently asked questions

Where can I go for a staycation near Delhi?
Aerocity and Gurugram hotels inside NCR, or Damdama Lake, Manesar and Neemrana within about two hours.

What's the best staycation near Mumbai?
Karjat for a resort, Alibaug for a beach house, or a Juhu or Powai hotel if you'd rather not drive.

Is a staycation cheaper than a holiday?
Usually much cheaper, because there are no flights and only one or two nights of accommodation.

When are staycations cheapest?
City hotels at weekends; resorts outside the city midweek.

See also: weekend getaways from Delhi, from Mumbai and from Bangalore. Browse stay vouchers.