Shimla: Top Hotels, Restaurants & Places to Visit
Best Hotels in Shimla
The Hosteller Shimla
Hosteller is located in the heart of the hill town, making it very convenient for travelers to explore the area.The staff is friendly and helpful, and the dorms and rooms are clean and comfortable. Female-only dorms are also available.
Willow Banks
This property has an excellent location, right at the beginning of Mall Road, with some breathtaking views of the valley. They have all sorts of luxuries including a spa, nightclub, multiple restaurants and cafes offering some delicious food.
Wildflower Hall, An Oberoi Resort, Shimla
Wildflower Hall Resort is a gem in the high hills. The property offers various activities, including nature walks and a heated outdoor jacuzzi with stunning views. Tip: if you are looking for a luxury stay near the city center, see 'WelcomHeritage Elysium Resort & Spa'.
Marley Villa - 5 BHK Cottage, Shimla
Situated at just 2km away from Kasauli Mall road, Marley Villa provides its guests with a unique blend of tranquility and accessibility. It has 5 bedrooms and can host 13 guests max. This is a perfect option for a large family, or a group having 7 or more people.
Best Restaurants in Shimla
Café Simla Times
This beautiful café with its artistic interiors and warm ambience is a perfect spot to watch the mesmerizing sunset. Food menu incorporates cuisines like Italian, Chinese and Indian and is famous for its appetizing Bruschetta, scrumptious wood fired pizzas!
Wake and Bake Cafe
A great place for casual meetings or perhaps some me-time, this Cafe, is a must visit. Lap up delicious breakfast servings of Cheese Omelettes, Pancakes & Waffles and Nutella crepes. The most popular is the Chicken and Sun Dried Tomato pizza paired with their freshly ground organic coffees!
Himachali Rasoi
If you want a taste of authentic, local himachali cuisine, this place is for you. It is a small, homely place providing some traditional, flavorful dishes which include sidu, babroo and rich thalis. Kangri Dham thali is a must try!
Amayaa
This is a perfect fine-dining restaurant which serves Indian, Chinese and Italian cuisines. It has a royal atmosphere and amazing staff that has good knowledge of food and drinks. Do try out the cocktails and chicken tikka there!
Eighteen71 - Cookhouse & Bar
This is another fine dining restaurant offering a mix of Indian, Asian and Grilled foods. It is located across the Ridge in Shimla making it super accessible at all times. Kebabs and Dimsums are my personal favourite.
Honey Hut Cafe
Honey Hut is a great place for grabbing a quick bite or spending hours luxuriating in the beauty of this hill station. Order a hot cuppa with their signature honey drip bottles and indulge in the goodness of freshly baked desserts from the bakery.
Best Places to Visit in Shimla
Ice Skating
Shimla has a huge and only natural open-air ice-skating rink in India and is a must try during peak winters. The ice is formed by a special technique that the British taught the Garhwali highlanders.
Jakhu Temple - Trek to the top
At an elevation of 2,455 m above the sea level, the Jakhu Hill is said to be the highest peak in Shimla and one of the best things to see in Shimla. It is a fun trek to the temple and it is believed that there are footprints of Hanuman when he came here to take Sanjeevani booti for Lord Lakshman.
Shimla Ridge
Popular as the cultural hub if Shimla, Ridge is a perfect place for a quiet cup of coffee after a long day of sightseeing. You can stroll around at the mall road which is nearby and can also visit the Scandal point, for a beautiful sunset view.
Army Museum, Annandale
If arms and ammunition excite you, then you must visit the Army Museum located in Annandale. The museum exhibits various guns, uniforms, and the document of India – Pakistan war of 1971.
Lakkar Bazaar
When the sun reaches the horizon in the evening, Lakkar Bazar is a different sight, altogether. The long stretch of shops on either side offers some of the finest woodwork artefacts. It is a good place to pick souvenirs and little gifts for your loved ones.
Tips
The best time to visit Shimla would be around spring (Feb–April) or before peak winters (Sept–Nov). If you can tolerate cold weathers, then peak winters of Dec and Jan have their own fun where you get to try skiing and witness snow!
You can reach Shimla via Chandigarh, which has good connectivity by air, road as well as rail. From Chandigarh, you can either take a bus or a cab. You can also consider the Toy Train ride from Kalka to Shimla. Kalka has a good connectivity with all major cities of India.
Most of the places in Shimla are at a walking distance from the city center, so you won't need any vehicle as such for commuting in Shimla, unless you are visiting some farther destinations.
If you have some time left in your itinerary, you can also consider visiting Kufri (for snow) or Chail (for camping) near Shimla.
Coming Soon: Trip Board
Plan and organize your travel itineraries, then share them with others
Be the first to know when Trip Board launches!