Pune is not as popular as it’s neighbour Mumbai, but the city slowly becomes a favoured place for a short holiday. Situated close to hill stations such as Lonavala and Khandala, Pune has become a favourite stopover point for many tourists.

Besides tourists, the town attracts a young working crowd, thanks to the IT hubs set up in the city. If you are planning on visiting this fabulous city and are confused about what to do, when you are in Pune, follow our guide to the best things to do in Pune.

Best Things to Do in Pune | Place to Visit in Pune

1. Go on a Heritage Walk

The best way to explore Pune is by going on a heritage walk. Walks are conducted regularly and take you to all the historical sites and monuments in Pune. During the walks, a guide will fill you in all the historical facts about each place you are taken too. Some heritage walk tours include lunch or tea with the tour.

Ticket Price: Rs. 500

2. Take a Walk Along the Shaniwar Wada Palace

Once a glorious palace, the Shaniwar Wada Palace now lies in ruin. A historical site, many tourists come here to visit and browse through the gorgeous architecture of the palace. Book a guided tour for the best experience, you can get one at the entrance gate.

Where: Shaniwar Peth

Timings: 7 am to 6 pm

Ticket Pricing: Rs. 5 per head

3. Go Trekking at Andharban

The Andharban Hills offer the perfect setting for a trek. The route to the top of the hill is not that hard to hike on and the route is surrounded by amazing landscape views. Along the way, you will come across a few streams and rivers, these are excellent places to unwind on your journey. 

Where: Andharban 

4. Shop at Laxmi Road

Laxmi Road in Pune is a great place to buy clothes and accessories at throwaway prices. The street is crowded in the evenings with shoppers looking to get good bargains. At this street market, you can get yourself copies of big branded clothing as well as trendy accessories. Once you are done shopping, stop for snacks at R. Bhagat Tarrachand. The place serves delicious samosas, vadas and jalebis. 

Where: Laxmi Road 

Budget: Shop for less than Rs.1,000 at Laxmi Road 

5. Visit

An old Gothic-style church in the heart of Pune, St. Mary’s is a nice place to learn about the old British architecture. As usual, the church has outstanding stain glass paintings and it preserves an old 2-blade fan that has been in existence since the church was built. Sit at the church for a while and then head out to the neighbouring garden to catch a glimpse of the lovely greenery around. 

Where: Sholapur Road

Visiting Hours: 8 am to 6 pm 

Where to Stay in Pune

If you are looking to spend a few days in the city, your best bet is to book a room at any of the budget hotels in Pune by Treebo. Treebo offers an excellent room at amazing prices. Added benefits of booking a room at Treebo is free Wi-Fi, free breakfast and money back guarantee if your stay at a Treebo Hotel is not satisfactory.  You can also try Treebo’s hotel booking App for an amazing booking experience and the best prices. 

6. Watch the Stars at the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics

Visit the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics to watch the stars and learn astronomy from leading experts of the university. Watch star formations like the Great Bear and learn about how the sun sign star formations look. You will also get to see glimpses of the moon from a telescope at the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics.

Where: Pune University

Timings: 6.30 pm to 8.30 pm

7. Visit the Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park

 Visit the Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park and check out the fascinating wildlife in the park. There are also some lovely trekking trails to explore. If you are visiting in a group. Book a safari tour of the park. The tour takes you to all the interesting places inside the park. No cameras are allowed, so avoid carrying one. 

Where: Pune – Satara Road 

Ticket Prices: Rs. 15 for Adults; Children: Rs.5 

8. Visit the Baneshwar Temple

Visit the Baneshwar Temple as it has an interesting piece of history behind it. Built in the year 1749, this temple has some interesting artefacts within its premises. One of the artefacts is a church bell and a cross. Many people visit the temple to seek Lord Shiva’s blessings and to browse through the interesting artefacts at the temple. 

Where: Nasarapur

Timing: Monday to Sunday, 8 am to 6 pm

9. Play Underwater Hockey at Finkick Adventures

If you are looking for something interesting to do in Pune, visit Finkick Adventures, they have an underwater pool facility. It is fun to play the game and if you are going with your gang of friends, it gets even more exciting.

Where: Finkick Adventures, Yerwada

10. Cafe F.R.N.D.S

You would have probably watched the sitcom show F.R.I.E.N.D.S and would have seen the iconic Central Perk cafe. In Pune, relive the experiences that cast of  F.R.I.E.N.D.S did at the Cafe F.R.N.D.S. The cafe has décor that almost matches the Central Perk and the food here is amazing. Must try at this cafe are the pizzas, pastas and burgers.

Where: Kothrud

Average Cost: Rs. 300 for two./.