Free Things to Do in Ahmedabad: 28 Ideas That Cost Nothing (2026)
Updated 2026-10-12 · 7 min read · by the ahmedabad2go team
You can spend a full weekend in Ahmedabad without buying a single ticket. Sabarmati Ashram is free, and so are the riverfront promenades, the mosques, temples and pols of the World Heritage old city, the art shows around Gujarat University, the Sunday flea market and the darshan at Akshardham in Gandhinagar. A few well-known attractions do charge a small fee, the Atal Bridge and Kankaria Lake among them, and we have listed those separately at the end. For free shows and talks happening now, see our free events in Ahmedabad page.
Free places at a glance
| Place | Area | Entry | Hours / closed | Nearest metro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sabarmati Ashram | Ashram Road | Free | Daily, morning to early evening | Vadaj, Ranip (Red), then auto |
| Riverfront promenade | Both banks | Free | Daily | Old High Court, Gandhigram, Paldi (Red) |
| Sidi Saiyyed Mosque | Lal Darwaja | Free | Daily; avoid prayer times | Gheekanta (Blue) |
| Jama Masjid | Old city | Free | Daily; avoid Friday midday | Gheekanta (Blue) |
| Swaminarayan Temple | Kalupur | Free | 6 am–7 pm | Kalupur Railway Station (Blue) |
| Jagannath Temple | Jamalpur | Free | 4.30 am–1 pm, 3 pm–9 pm | Gheekanta (Blue), then auto |
| Amdavad ni Gufa | University area | Traditionally free | 4 pm–8 pm; closed Mon and public holidays | Gujarat University (Blue) |
| Conflictorium | Mirzapur | No fee listed | 11 am–7 pm; closed Mon | Shahpur, Gheekanta (Blue) |
| Ravivari market | East riverfront | Free to browse | Sundays, mornings best | Gandhigram (Red), across Ellis Bridge |
| Akshardham | Gandhinagar | Free (shows extra) | Tue–Sun, 10 am–7.30 pm last entry | Akshardham (Yellow) |
Ashram Road: Gandhi and Le Corbusier
1. Sabarmati Ashram. Mahatma Gandhi lived here from 1917 to 1930, and on 12 March 1930 he walked out of its gate with 78 companions to begin the Dandi March. You can see Hriday Kunj, the small house he shared with Kasturba, and the museum designed by Charles Correa and opened in 1963. There is no entry fee. A large redevelopment of the surrounding precinct is in progress, so expect some construction nearby. More on the Sabarmati Ashram page.
2. The Mill Owners’ Association Building. Le Corbusier’s 1950s modernist landmark stands further down Ashram Road. Going inside generally needs prior permission, but the ramp and the sun-breaker facade can be seen from the gate at no cost.
The riverfront and the parks
3. Sabarmati Riverfront promenade. The lower promenade runs for more than 11 km on each bank and is open to walkers, runners and cyclists at no charge. The stretch between Ellis Bridge and Sardar Bridge has the best views of the Atal Bridge. See our riverfront area guide.
4. Watch the Atal Bridge light up. Walking on the bridge needs a ticket, but the view of it from the promenade is free and arguably better.
5. Law Garden. The municipal park in Ellisbridge is open through the day, and the evening market along its walls is free to browse.
6. Parimal Garden. An 8.5-acre park in Ambawadi with a pond, a walkway and an amphitheatre.
7. Vastrapur Lake. A lakeside walk with an open-air amphitheatre that sometimes hosts free music evenings.
The old city on foot
The walled city founded in 1411 has been a UNESCO World Heritage City since July 2017, and you do not need a ticket to walk through it. The guided municipal walk costs ₹200 and is worth the money, but everything below can be seen on your own. Our old city guide has more, and the heritage walks page lists guided options.
8. Sidi Saiyyed Mosque. Built in 1572–73 and famous for its carved stone lattice windows, including the tree-of-life jali. Ten minutes is enough.
9. Bhadra Plaza and Teen Darwaza. The pedestrian square between Ahmad Shah’s 1411 fort and the triple gateway completed in 1415, usually full of street vendors.
10. Jama Masjid. The Friday mosque of 1424, with a large courtyard and a prayer hall of carved pillars. Dress modestly and stay away at Friday midday prayers.
11. Rani no Hajiro. The tombs of Ahmad Shah’s queens, surrounded by a market for fabric and jewellery near Manek Chowk.
12. Swaminarayan Temple, Kalupur. The first temple of the Swaminarayan tradition, with brightly painted wooden carving. It is open from 6 am to 7 pm and is where the heritage walk begins.
13. The pols. Wander the gated lanes around Khadia and Kalupur to see carved wooden house fronts, community bird feeders and tiny shrines. People live here, so keep your voice down and ask before photographing anyone.
14. Hutheesing Jain Temple. The white marble temple built in 1848, north of Delhi Darwaja.
15. Dada Harir stepwell. A 15th-century stepwell in Asarwa, smaller than the one at Adalaj and usually far less crowded.
16. Jagannath Temple, Jamalpur. The temple that has organised the city’s Rath Yatra since 1878. It is open from 4.30 am to 1 pm and from 3 pm to 9 pm.
17. Manek Chowk after dark. Watching the square change from a bullion market to an open-air food market costs nothing. Eating there, of course, does.
Art without a ticket
18. Kanoria Centre for Arts. Exhibitions in the galleries of this artists’ campus on University Road are generally free, and openings are a good chance to meet the artists.
19. Amdavad ni Gufa. The underground gallery designed by B. V. Doshi with paintings by M. F. Husain opens from 4 pm to 8 pm, except on Mondays and public holidays. The neighbouring exhibition gallery changes shows almost weekly. See the Amdavad ni Gufa page.
20. Ravishankar Raval Kala Bhavan. The gallery at Law Garden shows local painters and photographers, with free entry to most exhibitions.
21. Conflictorium. The participatory museum of conflict in Mirzapur is open from 11 am to 7 pm, Tuesday to Sunday, and does not list an entry fee.
22. Public lectures. The Ahmedabad Management Association lists free open lectures and webinars on its programme, usually with registration, and the Gujarati Sahitya Parishad and other literary bodies hold free readings.
23. Abhivyakti. The city arts festival, which describes itself as free to attend, runs from 27 November to 13 December 2026 with theatre, dance, music and visual art.
Markets
24. Ravivari. The Sunday market on the east bank near Ellis Bridge has more than 1,600 vendor platforms selling tools, furniture, books, clothes and odds and ends. Browsing is free, and bargaining is expected. More on our flea markets page.
25. Law Garden night market. Rows of stalls selling mirror-work chaniya cholis, bandhani and oxidised jewellery, at their busiest in the weeks before Navratri.
A little further out
26. Swaminarayan Akshardham, Gandhinagar. Entry to the 23-acre complex and darshan are free, from Tuesday to Sunday. Phones and cameras are not allowed inside and can be left at the free cloakroom. The exhibitions and the water show are paid extras. The Yellow Line’s Akshardham station makes it a cheap trip. See the Akshardham page.
27. Sarkhej Roza. The 15th-century mosque and tomb complex around a stepped tank in Makarba is a place of worship and open to respectful visitors without a ticket.
Free festivals
28. Garba, kites and chariots. The city’s biggest experiences are free. During Navratri, street garba in pols and housing societies is open to anyone dressed for it. On 14 January, Uttarayan fills every rooftop with kite flyers, as our Uttarayan guide explains. The Rath Yatra procession passes through the old city in the monsoon, and the Kankaria Carnival brings a week of stage shows to the lake from 25 to 31 December.
Almost free: small fees worth knowing
These are often described as free online, but they are not.
- Atal Bridge and the Riverfront Flower Park: both ticketed. Check the current price at the counter.
- Kankaria lakefront: a small entry ticket, with rides, the toy train, Kids City and the zoo charged separately.
- Gujarat Science City: ₹50 for general entry, and ₹200 each for the Aquatic, Robotics and Astronomy galleries.
- Akshardham extras: ₹60 for the exhibitions and ₹100 for the water show for adults.
- Municipal heritage walk: ₹200 for Indian citizens, ₹300 for foreign citizens.
- Calico Museum of Textiles: visits are by pre-booked guided tour only, so it is free of spontaneity even where it is free of charge.
Tips for a free day out
- Avoid Mondays for Akshardham, Amdavad ni Gufa and the Conflictorium, which are all closed.
- Start early. The old city is cooler and emptier before 10 am, and the Ravivari market is best before noon.
- Carry a scarf. It covers your head or shoulders at mosques and temples and keeps the sun off.
- Use the metro. The Blue Line reaches the old city and the university galleries, and the Red Line runs parallel to the riverfront. A day of metro rides costs far less than autos.
- Pair places that are close: Sidi Saiyyed Mosque with Bhadra and the Jama Masjid, or the Kanoria Centre with the Gufa.
Planning with children? Our guide to weekend activities for kids in Ahmedabad has more low-cost ideas, and the this weekend page lists everything on in the next few days.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sabarmati Ashram free to enter?
Yes. Entry to Sabarmati Ashram and its museum is free, and it is open every day.
Is the Sabarmati Riverfront free?
The promenades are free to walk. The Atal Bridge, the Riverfront Flower Park and some riverfront gardens charge an entry ticket, and events such as the flower show are ticketed separately.
Is Akshardham in Gandhinagar free?
Entry to the complex and mandir darshan are free. The exhibitions cost ₹60 for adults and ₹40 for children aged 3–11, and the evening water show costs ₹100 for adults and ₹70 for children. It is closed on Mondays.
Which museums in Ahmedabad are free?
Sabarmati Ashram's museum is free. The Calico Museum, the L. D. Museum and the Conflictorium have not traditionally charged an entry fee, but the Calico Museum needs a pre-booked tour. Confirm current arrangements before you go.
Is the Ahmedabad heritage walk free?
No. The municipal heritage walk costs ₹200 for Indian citizens and ₹300 for foreign citizens. Walking the old city on your own is free.
Where can I find free events in Ahmedabad this week?
Ahmedabad2Go's free events page lists free exhibitions, talks, performances and community events across Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar, updated daily.
Sources checked
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabarmati_Ashram
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabarmati_Riverfront
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atal_Pedestrian_Bridge
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_Garden
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parimal_Garden
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vastrapur_Lake
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historic_City_of_Ahmadabad
- heritagewalkahmedabad.com/
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidi_Saiyyed_Mosque
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhadra_Fort
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teen_Darwaza
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jama_Mosque
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rani_no_Hajiro
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swaminarayan_Temple
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hutheesing_Jain_Temple
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dada_Harir_Stepwell
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jagannath_Temple
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manek_Chowk_(Ahmedabad)
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amdavad_ni_Gufa
- www.conflictorium.org/
- www.amaindia.org/
- abhivyaktiart.org/
- akshardham.com/gujarat/visitor-info/
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarkhej_Roza
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rath_Yatra_(Ahmedabad)
Researched and written by the ahmedabad2go editors. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
