Things to do in Delhi
Top things to do in Delhi include Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Old Delhi and Chandni Chowk. Plan each day around one neighborhood to avoid backtracking, then add your dates to check opening hours and booking needs.
First visit? Start with these — and plan each day around one neighborhood:
- Red Fort★ 4.5 · 179.4k reviewsThe 17th-century Mughal palace-fort in Old Delhi, built for Shah Jahan's Shahjahanabad.
- Jama Masjid★ 4.5 · 68.8k reviewsLarge 17th-century mosque in Old Delhi, a short walk from Red Fort through Chandni Chowk.
- Old Delhi and Chandni ChowkShahjahanabad core with Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk, Chawri Bazaar, and Daryaganj.
- Getting aroundThe Delhi Metro is the practical backbone, with Yellow Line useful for Chandni Chowk, New Delhi station, Hauz Khas, and Qutb Minar, and Blue Line useful for Akshardham.
By TripSapien Research · Updated May 20, 2026
About Delhi
City overview
Delhi is a Yamuna River metropolis where Old Delhi's Shahjahanabad lanes, British-planned New Delhi, and South Delhi's older sultanate sites sit in one National Capital Territory. The Red Fort, Connaught Place, Mehrauli, Nizamuddin, and Akshardham form a city map built by at least eight historic settlements.
Food & drink
Delhi is a street-food and north-Indian restaurant city: parathas in Paranthe Wali Gali, chaat around Bengali Market and Chawri Bazaar, kebabs near Jama Masjid, chole bhature in Karol Bagh, and butter chicken or dal makhani across New Delhi menus. Prices can stay low if you eat in markets rather than hotel restaurants, although Connaught Place and Khan Market push costs toward Mumbai levels. The regional fact is that Punjabi, Mughlai, Bengali CR Park, and Old Delhi Muslim cooking all operate as distinct food maps inside the same Metro system.
What Delhi is best for
Delhi is best for architecture, history, shopping, food, and nightlife.
- How long to stay
- A few days to a week
- Typical budget
- Budget-friendly
Top sights
Ranked using weather, setting, ratings, and review volume.
- 1Qutb Minar
- 2India Gate and Kartavya Path
- 3Purana Qila
- 4Lotus Temple
- 5Akshardham Temple
- 6Connaught Place and Rajiv Chowk
- 7Hauz Khas Complex
1Qutb Minar
4.5★ · 159,82973m tower in Mehrauli, begun under Qutb-ud-din Aibak and completed in 1220. The surrounding complex includes early Delhi Sultanate tombs, arches, and carved stonework.
Wikipedia- 2
Humayun's Tomb
Vast 16th-century Mughal garden tomb near Nizamuddin. Its charbagh plan prefigures later Mughal tomb architecture and makes it one of the best half-day anchors in South East Delhi.
3India Gate and Kartavya Path
4.7★ · 1,009New Delhi ceremonial axis from Rashtrapati Bhavan toward India Gate, a walk of about 3-4km according to Wikivoyage. The broad lawns and roundabouts show the Lutyens plan at city scale.
Show 3 more sights
- 4Purana Qila
- 5Lotus Temple
- 6Akshardham Temple
Neighborhoods
1New Delhi and Connaught Place
Lutyens Delhi around Connaught Place, Janpath, Kartavya Path, India Gate, and Rashtrapati Bhavan. Wide avenues and colonial blocks replace Old Delhi lanes.
2Paharganj and Karol Bagh
Central Delhi hotel-and-market belt near New Delhi station, RK Ashram Marg, and Karol Bagh. It is convenient for trains and budget stays, with heavy street traffic and constant touting.
3South Delhi, Mehrauli, and Hauz Khas
Qutb Minar, Mehrauli Archaeological Park, Hauz Khas, Saket, and Vasant Kunj spread along the Yellow and Magenta lines. This is the upscale restaurant and medieval-ruins side of Delhi.
Day trips
230km / 2-5h by train from New Delhi or 3h by Yamuna Expressway
Agra and the Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, and Mughal riverfront gardens make the strongest single day outside Delhi. The Taj Mahal is closed on Friday, so do not plan the trip then.
280km / about 4h by the fastest trains from Delhi
Jaipur
Rajasthan capital with Amber Fort, City Palace, Hawa Mahal, and bazaars. It is possible as a long day by early train, but easier as an overnight.
160km / 2-3h by train to Mathura plus rickshaw
Vrindavan and Mathura
Krishna pilgrimage towns south of Delhi. Festival dates such as Holi change the crowd level dramatically, so check train availability before committing.
Getting around
The Delhi Metro is the practical backbone, with Yellow Line useful for Chandni Chowk, New Delhi station, Hauz Khas, and Qutb Minar, and Blue Line useful for Akshardham. Fares run about Rs10-60, a Smart Card costs Rs200 with Rs150 value and Rs50 deposit, and the Airport Express has special fares from Indira Gandhi International Airport.
Planning a Delhi trip?
Add your dates and we'll check every place for closures, limited hours, and booking needs before you go.
Things to do in Delhi by month
Pick a month for weather, any sourced events, holidays or observances, and seasonal timing. December, February and January have the most comfortable weather (tagged below).
Common questions about Delhi
- Which neighborhoods should I explore in Delhi?
- Old Delhi and Chandni Chowk, New Delhi and Connaught Place, Paharganj and Karol Bagh are useful starting points. Plan each day around one or two neighboring areas to avoid unnecessary backtracking.
- When is the best time to visit Delhi?
- December, February, January balance comfortable temperatures with fewer rainy days in Delhi.
- How many days do you need in Delhi?
- a few days to a week gives you time for architecture, history, and shopping in Delhi. Choose your month to see date-specific details.
- What is Delhi known for?
- Delhi is best for architecture, history, shopping, food, and nightlife. For matched places, TripSapien checks available hours, closure signals, and booking links.
Ready to plan Delhi?
Turn everything above into a day-by-day Delhi plan, with every place checked for closures and booking needs on your dates.