Editorial ratings by our team — a quick orientation, not visitor data.
🤖Drafted with AI assistance and edited by a person. Prices and hours were checked against official sources in August 2026 and can change — use the official-site link on each attraction before you go. Monument prices differ for Indian citizens and foreign visitors; both are shown. US$ figures are approximate (₹85 ≈ US$1).
1
Delhi essentials — one perfect day
Mughal masterpieces, a garden, and the ceremonial city at dusk
Morning · 7:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Humayun's Tomb
Paid entryMust-see
The first great Mughal garden tomb, built in the 1560s and the clear ancestor of the Taj Mahal. Red sandstone and white marble sit inside a walled charbagh garden that is quiet early in the morning. Allow 90 minutes, including the smaller tombs of Isa Khan near the entrance.
Tip: Nearest Metro is JLN Stadium (Violet Line), then a 10-minute auto-rickshaw. Arrive at opening for empty gardens and soft light on the dome.
Lodhi Garden
Free entry
Ninety acres of lawns and old trees scattered with 15th-century tombs of the Lodi and Sayyid sultans. It is where South Delhi walks its dogs and does its morning yoga, and it is a relaxed way to see pre-Mughal architecture without a ticket. Allow 45–60 minutes.
Tip: Khan Market is a five-minute walk away — a good stop for coffee, a bookshop and an early lunch before heading south.
Afternoon · 1:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Qutub Minar
Paid entryMust-see
A 73-metre sandstone victory tower begun in 1193, ringed with carved Quranic inscriptions, standing in a complex of ruined mosques, gateways and the famously rust-free Iron Pillar. The whole site is a UNESCO World Heritage listing. Allow 1.5 hours.
Tip: The tower cannot be climbed. Walk into the adjoining Mehrauli Archaeological Park afterwards — free, almost empty, and full of tombs and step-wells.
Lotus Temple
Free entry
The Bahá'í House of Worship, a white marble flower of 27 petals set in gardens and pools, open to people of all faiths. Inside is a silent prayer hall; the visit is short but the building is one of Delhi's most photographed. Allow 45 minutes including the queue.
Tip: Shoes come off before the hall and are bagged for you. Silence is enforced inside; photography is outside only.
Evening · 6:00 PM onwards
India Gate & Kartavya Path
Free entryMust-see
The 42-metre war memorial arch anchors the ceremonial avenue that runs to Rashtrapati Bhavan, the presidential palace. After dark the arch is floodlit and the lawns fill with Delhi families, ice-cream carts and balloon sellers. Allow an hour, more if you walk the full avenue.
Tip: Finish with dinner in Connaught Place (10 minutes by auto) or, for a livelier scene, the lakeside cafés of Hauz Khas Village.
3-day Delhi weekend plan
Day 1 — New Delhi & the south: the full 1-day plan above.
Day 2 — Old Delhi: Jama Masjid at opening, a Chandni Chowk food walk, Red Fort, Raj Ghat, and the evening kitchen at Gurudwara Bangla Sahib.
Day 3 — Temples, forts and the new city: Akshardham in the morning, Purana Qila and the National Museum in the afternoon, sunset at Hauz Khas.
Monday warning: Red Fort, Akshardham, the Lotus Temple and the National Museum all close on Mondays. If Day 2 falls on a Monday, swap Days 2 and 3.
2
Old Delhi
Mosque, market, fort — the Mughal capital on foot
Morning · 7:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Jama Masjid
Free entryMust-see
Shah Jahan's great congregational mosque of 1656, with a courtyard that holds 25,000 worshippers and a southern minaret you can climb for a view over the old city's rooftops. Come early, before the heat and the crowds, and dress modestly. Allow 45 minutes.
Hours
7 AM – 12 PM and 1:30 PM – sunset · closed to visitors during prayers
Admission
Free · camera/foreign-visitor fee about ₹300 (US$3.50) collected at the gate · minaret climb extra, around ₹100
Tip: Robes are lent at the gate if your clothing is judged too short. Shoes are left with an attendant — a ₹10–20 tip is expected.
Chandni Chowk food walk
Free
The old city's main street and its side lanes are the reason people talk about Delhi food. Paranthe Wali Gali for stuffed flatbreads, Old Famous Jalebi Wala at the Dariba corner, Natraj for dahi bhalla, Karim's by the mosque for mutton. Walk, eat, repeat. Allow 2 hours.
Hours
Shops from about 10 AM · food stalls from 8 AM · quietest before 11 AM
Cost
Free to walk · ₹300–600 (US$4–7) for a full grazing session
Tip: Stick to busy stalls with high turnover and food cooked in front of you. A cycle-rickshaw through the lanes (₹100–150) saves your feet and is half the fun.
Afternoon · 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Red Fort (Lal Qila)
Paid entryMust-see
The red sandstone palace-fortress from which the Mughals ruled and from whose ramparts India's prime minister addresses the nation every Independence Day. Inside are marble pavilions, gardens and several small museums. Allow 2 hours.
Hours
Tue–Sun 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM · closed Monday · light-and-sound show evenings (seasonal)
Admission
Indians ₹35–50 · Foreigners ₹550–600 (about US$7) · museums and evening show extra
Address
Netaji Subhash Marg, Chandni Chowk, Old Delhi 110006
Tip: Security queues are long at weekends; go on a weekday afternoon. Large bags are not allowed inside.
Raj Ghat
Free entry
Mahatma Gandhi's memorial: a simple black marble platform in a lawn beside the Yamuna, marking the spot of his cremation in 1948. It is deliberately understated and, on a quiet afternoon, moving. Allow 30 minutes.
Tip: Shoes come off at the enclosure. Gandhi Smriti, the house where he was assassinated, is a separate museum in New Delhi — see Day 7.
Evening · 6:00 PM onwards
Gurudwara Bangla Sahib
Free entry
Delhi's principal Sikh temple, gold-domed and floodlit at night, built around a sacred pool. Its community kitchen feeds tens of thousands of people every day regardless of faith, and visitors are welcome to eat and to help roll chapatis. Allow an hour.
Hours
Open 24 hours · kitchen serves roughly 8 AM – 10 PM
Admission
Free (donations welcome)
Address
Ashoka Road, Hanuman Road Area, Connaught Place, New Delhi 110001
Tip: Head covering is required for everyone; scarves are provided free at the entrance. Shoes and socks off, hands washed, then follow the crowd.
3
Temples, forts and the new city
A modern temple, an ancient citadel, and the national collection
Morning · 9:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Swaminarayan Akshardham
Free entryMust-see
A vast Hindu temple complex completed in 2005, carved from pink sandstone and white marble by thousands of artisans, set in formal gardens beside the Yamuna. The scale is the point; the central shrine's carving rewards a slow walk. Allow 2–3 hours, longer with the exhibitions.
Tip: Phones, cameras, bags and electronics are not allowed inside — free lockers are at the entrance. Budget time for security, and dress with shoulders and knees covered.
Afternoon · 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Purana Qila (Old Fort)
Paid entry
A 16th-century citadel built by Humayun and his rival Sher Shah Suri, with three huge gateways, a jewel of a mosque and a stepped library tower. Excavations here have found pottery going back a thousand years before the Mughals. Allow an hour; boating on the moat lake is optional.
Hours
7 AM – 5 PM daily · light-and-sound show evenings (seasonal)
Tip: The National Zoological Park is next door if you are travelling with children (closed Friday).
National Museum
Paid entry
India's largest museum, from Indus Valley seals and Harappan jewellery through Chola bronzes, Mughal miniatures and Buddhist relics. It is big enough to be tiring, so pick two or three galleries. Allow 1.5–2 hours.
Hours
Tue–Sun 10 AM – 6 PM · closed Monday
Admission
Indians ₹20 · Foreigners ₹650 (about US$7.50), audio guide included · students discounted
Tip: Check the official site before you go — parts of the collection are being moved as the government redevelops the Central Vista, and gallery closures change.
Evening
Hauz Khas Village
Free entry
A 14th-century reservoir and madrasa ruins, free to wander until dusk, surrounded by lanes of boutiques, bars and rooftop restaurants. The ruins at sunset and dinner on a terrace overlooking the lake are the classic end to a Delhi day.
Day 4 — Agra day trip: the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and, if time allows, Itmad-ud-Daulah's tomb. Take the Gatimaan or Vande Bharat express from Hazrat Nizamuddin (about 1h40 each way; book on irctc.co.in) or a hired car via the Yamuna Expressway (3–4 hours each way). Taj Mahal: foreigners about ₹1,100 + ₹200 for the main mausoleum (US$15 total), Indians ₹50 + ₹200; closed Friday; opens at sunrise.
Day 5 — South Delhi's quieter side: Mehrauli Archaeological Park (free) and the Jamali Kamali mosque, Safdarjung's Tomb, lunch at Dilli Haat crafts bazaar (₹30 entry, regional food stalls), then Khan Market and Nizamuddin Dargah for evening qawwali (Thursday nights are the classic time; free).
Day 6 — Forts and the ridge: Tughlaqabad Fort (14th century, huge and half-wild; Indians ₹20–25, foreigners ₹250–300), then Sanjay Van or the Garden of Five Senses, and dinner in Champa Gali or Shahpur Jat.
Day 7 — Museums and Lutyens' Delhi: Gandhi Smriti (free; closed Monday), the National Rail Museum (₹50–100; closed Monday), the Rashtrapati Bhavan museum (book online), and a last walk along Kartavya Path with an Old Delhi kebab dinner to finish.
Delhi is India's street-food capital and the birthplace of butter chicken. Prices are typical ranges, not menu quotes; US$ figures are approximate.
Must try
Chandni Chowk chaat
Dahi bhalla, aloo tikki, golgappa and papdi chaat — cold, hot, sour and sweet in one mouthful. Natraj and Bishan Swaroop are the Old Delhi names; every neighbourhood market has its own chaat-wala. The dish that defines Delhi.
$ ₹50–120 a plate (US$0.60–1.50)
Classic local
Butter chicken & dal makhani
Both were invented in Delhi after Partition by Punjabi refugees, and Moti Mahal in Daryaganj still serves them. Tandoor-charred chicken in a tomato-butter gravy and black lentils simmered overnight; eat with naan.
$$ ₹400–700 a person (US$5–8)
Neighbourhood
Old Delhi kebabs
Around Jama Masjid, Karim's and Al Jawahar have served mutton burra, seekh kebabs and nihari (slow-cooked shank stew, a breakfast dish) for generations. Loud, crowded, unforgettable.
$ ₹300–600 a person (US$3.50–7)
Fine dining
Modern Indian tasting menus
Delhi leads India in modern Indian fine dining: Indian Accent at The Lodhi is the benchmark, with Bukhara at ITC Maurya the classic for tandoori and dal Bukhara. Book two to three weeks ahead.
$$$$ ₹5,000–9,000 a person (US$60–105)
Late night
Paranthas & kulfi
Paranthe Wali Gali in Chandni Chowk fries stuffed flatbreads until late, and Kuremal Mohan Lal serves stuffed-fruit kulfi nearby. In South Delhi, the Pandara Road restaurants run past midnight.
$ ₹100–300 a person (US$1.20–3.50)
Breakfast / café
Chole bhature & South Indian
Sita Ram Diwan Chand in Paharganj does the definitive chole bhature (spiced chickpeas with puffed fried bread). For a lighter start, Saravana Bhavan in Connaught Place serves dosas and filter coffee from early morning.
Live forecast by weatherwidget.io · Official Indian forecast and air-quality bulletins at mausam.imd.gov.in
Delhi has four local seasons rather than a temperate calendar. October–November and February–March are the sweet spots; summer is punishing and winter air quality is a real concern.
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Winter
October – February
5–25°C / 41–77°F
Clear, dry and pleasant in October–November; December and January bring cold mornings, fog and the year's worst air quality. Diwali is spectacular but pushes hotel prices up.
Best — Oct–Nov & Feb
🌸
Spring
March – April
15–35°C / 59–95°F
Short and lovely: warm days, cool evenings, Holi in March, flowers in Lodhi Garden. By mid-April the heat is building fast.
Best time to visit
☀️
Summer
May – June
28–45°C / 82–113°F
Brutal, dry heat with hot winds; sightseeing is only realistic before 10 AM and after 5 PM. Hotel rates are at their lowest and monuments are empty.
Avoid unless heat-tolerant
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Monsoon
July – September
26–36°C / 79–97°F
Humid, with heavy but usually short afternoon downpours that flood roads and snarl traffic. The air is cleaner and the gardens are green; early mornings are fine.
Good for budget travel
🏨 Where to stay
Connaught Place and Aerocity are the most convenient for the Metro; South Delhi's residential colonies are quieter and better for restaurants. Ranges below are typical nightly rates before taxes and vary a lot by season — always check with the property.
Budget · Hostel / guesthouse
Paharganj, Majnu ka Tilla & South Delhi hostels
Paharganj, Majnu ka Tilla, Hauz Khas
Paharganj by New Delhi station is cheap, chaotic and central; Majnu ka Tilla (the Tibetan colony) is calmer with good food; Zostel and goSTOPS run clean hostels in South Delhi. Check reviews carefully in Paharganj.
From about ₹700–2,000 a night (US$8–25)
Mid-range · Hotel
3-star chains & boutique guesthouses
Connaught Place, Karol Bagh, Greater Kailash
Reliable chains (Lemon Tree, Bloom, Ginger) and boutique guesthouses in South Delhi's residential colonies. Connaught Place is the most convenient for the Metro; South Delhi is quieter.
From about ₹4,000–9,000 a night (US$45–105)
Upscale · Hotel
Aerocity & the diplomatic enclave
Aerocity, Chanakyapuri, Saket
Airport-adjacent Aerocity has JW Marriott, Andaz and Pullman with fast Metro access; Chanakyapuri is leafy and quiet. Good value by international standards for the quality.
From about ₹10,000–18,000 a night (US$120–210)
Luxury · Iconic
The grand hotels of Lutyens' Delhi
Janpath, Lodhi Road, Mansingh Road
The Imperial (1930s art deco), The Oberoi by the golf course, The Lodhi with its private plunge pools, and the Taj Mahal Hotel — the grand old names of the capital.
From about ₹25,000–60,000+ a night (US$300–700+)
🚇 Getting around Delhi
The Metro is the answer to almost everything; autos and app taxis fill the gaps. Metro fares below reflect the August 2025 revision. Agree auto-rickshaw fares before you get in, or book them through Uber/Ola at a fixed price.
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Delhi Metro
Fast, clean, air-conditioned and the single best thing about getting around Delhi; twelve colour-coded lines reach every major sight. Buy a QR token, use the DMRC app, or get a Tourist Card (1-day ₹200, 3-day ₹500, each including a ₹50 refundable deposit) for unlimited rides. The first coach of every train is reserved for women.
Red and green buses go everywhere the Metro doesn't and are very cheap, but slow in traffic and confusing without Hindi. Women ride free on DTC buses. Useful mainly for short hops; the One Delhi app shows routes.
The green-and-yellow three-wheelers are ideal for the last mile from a Metro station. Meters exist but drivers rarely use them with visitors; agree a fare before you get in, or book through Uber/Ola, which fixes the price.
₹30 minimum, roughly ₹15–20 per km · ₹60–150 (US$0.70–1.80) for a typical hop
Widely available, cheap, air-conditioned and the easiest way to cross the city in the heat. Uber and Ola also offer auto-rickshaws and bikes at fixed prices; BluSmart runs an all-electric fleet. Surge pricing applies in rain and at rush hour.
The Airport Express (Orange Line) Metro runs from Terminal 3 to New Delhi station in about 20 minutes and is by far the quickest option; Terminal 1 is on the Magenta Line. Pre-paid taxi counters inside arrivals give fixed fares to Central Delhi; Uber/Ola pick up from a designated zone. Allow 60–90 minutes by road at rush hour.
Pedal rickshaws work the lanes of Old Delhi where nothing else fits. They are the right way to see Chandni Chowk's side streets, and the drivers know every shop.
₹50–150 (US$0.60–1.80) for a short ride; agree first