Delhi Travel Guide 2026: 3-Day Itinerary, Street Food and Metro

Delhi travel guide 2026: three days covers the city properly. Day 1 in Old Delhi covers Red Fort, Jama Masjid, and Chandni Chowk, done by 1:30 pm. Day 2 moves to South Delhi for Qutub Minar, Mehrauli Archaeological Park, and Humayun's Tomb. Day 3 covers Lutyens' New Delhi: Kartavya Path, the National Museum, and the Lodhi Art District.

Delhi is not one city. It is at least seven, layered on top of each other like geological strata. Sultanate ruins sit beneath Mughal monuments. Colonial avenues cut through post-Independence housing blocks. A 13th-century minaret and a 21st-century metro station share the same neighbourhood. Most Delhi travel guides paper over those layers with a list of monuments. This one doesn't.

This guide covers Delhi neighbourhood by neighbourhood and era by era, with monument timings that hold up, street food mapped to when each kitchen peaks, a metro strategy that eliminates fare arguments, and costs in INR with USD equivalents for international travellers.

Delhi 3-Day Itinerary at a Glance

Screenshot the table below before you leave. Delhi Metro has weak signal on Yellow Line platforms underground.

Day	Area	Morning (8 am to 1 pm)	Afternoon (1 to 6 pm)	Evening / Dinner
Day 1	Old Delhi	Red Fort (opens 8:30 am), then Jama Masjid and south minaret	Chandni Chowk loop: Paranthe Wali Gali, Khari Baoli, Kinari Bazaar	Al Jawahar, Matia Mahal Road
Day 2	South Delhi	Qutub Minar complex, then Mehrauli Archaeological Park (free, 10 min walk)	Humayun's Tomb, then Lodhi Garden at 5 pm	Hauz Khas Village, Naivedyam for dinner
Day 3	Lutyens' Delhi	Kartavya Path, India Gate, National Museum	Khan Market for lunch, then Lodhi Art District (free, outdoors)	Akshardham water show at dusk, or Bengali Market chaat

Total monument entry: approximately Rs 700 to Rs 900 (~$8 to $11 USD) for Indian nationals across all three days. Best start day: Tuesday or Wednesday. Avoid starting on Sunday (Old Delhi bazaars closed) or Friday if your Day 1 is Old Delhi, because Jama Masjid closes to non-Muslim visitors during noon prayers.

Why Delhi Is Actually Seven Cities, and Why That Changes How You Plan

Most Delhi travel guides treat the city as a monument checklist: Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Qutub Minar, Humayun's Tomb, India Gate. Tick five boxes, move on. The problem is that Delhi doesn't function as a list. It functions as a set of completely distinct urban environments that happen to share a boundary.

Old Delhi (Shahjahanabad) is Mughal, dense, and best walked between 9 am and 1 pm before the heat and crowds make it inaccessible. South Delhi is Sultanate and colonial, with vast archaeological parks that reward slow mornings. Lutyens' New Delhi is an entirely different scale: the ceremonial axis of Kartavya Path was designed for processions, not pedestrians, and needs an auto or metro to connect. Hauz Khas and the urban villages are 21st-century cafe culture in 13th-century shells.

The three-day structure below respects those differences. It doesn't mix eras or geographies in a single morning. Old Delhi is a morning city. South Delhi rewards the whole day. Lutyens' Delhi is best seen at either end of the day when the scale feels intentional rather than inhuman.

Old Delhi: Mughal Delhi on Foot

Old Delhi, or Shahjahanabad to use its 1648 name, is the Delhi most first-time visitors come for. It is dense, loud, visually overwhelming, and absolutely worth every bead of sweat it costs you. The core fits inside a roughly 2-kilometre triangle between Red Fort, Chandni Chowk, and Jama Masjid.

Solo female travel note: Old Delhi is most manageable between 9 am and 1 pm. The walking route in this guide ends by 1:30 pm for a reason. Wear shoes with grip (lane stones are uneven), carry a scarf to drape over your shoulders at religious sites, and keep your bag in front of you in Chandni Chowk's bazaar crowds. The area is straightforward for women travelling alone or in groups during those hours. After 2 pm, crowd density increases and the lanes become harder to navigate comfortably.

Red Fort (Lal Qila): Practical Guide

Red Fort was Shah Jahan's palace complex, completed in 1648, not the seat of government it became later, but a working royal city behind sandstone walls stretching over two kilometres. The Diwan-i-Khas (Hall of Private Audiences) once held the Peacock Throne. What remains is still imposing: the Mughal hammams, the Moti Masjid, the Nahr-i-Behisht water channel running through the royal apartments.

Practical: Open sunrise to sunset, closed Mondays. Entry Rs 35 ($0.40 USD) for Indian nationals, Rs 550 ($6.50 USD) for foreign visitors. The evening sound and light show costs Rs 80, worth attending only if you are on Day 1 and don't yet have the fort's layout in your head. Budget 1.5 to 2 hours inside. Arrive at 8:30 am to get through the Lahori Gate before the first tour coaches arrive.

Metro: Chandni Chowk station (Yellow Line), exit onto the main road and walk east approximately 600 metres.

Jama Masjid: What to Know Before You Visit

India's largest mosque, built by Shah Jahan between 1644 and 1656 with a courtyard capacity of 25,000 worshippers, is a five-minute walk south from Red Fort. The courtyard in late morning, when the light comes across the sandstone from the east and the city noise reduces to a distant hum, is the closest Old Delhi gets to quiet.

Climb the southern minaret. The ticket is Rs 100 ($1.20 USD) and the narrow spiral staircase is not for the claustrophobic, but the view from the top is the best single view in Old Delhi: Red Fort to the north, the lane-structure of Chandni Chowk below, the rooftops of Kinari Bazaar and Khari Baoli laid out like a map of everywhere you have just walked. Remove shoes at the gate and cover shoulders and knees (wraps available for rent, Rs 50). Camera fee: Rs 300 ($3.60 USD). Use Gate 1, not Gate 3.

Do not visit on Friday around noon. The mosque closes to non-Muslim visitors during congregational prayers.

Chandni Chowk: The Lanes Worth Walking

Chandni Chowk's 1.3-kilometre main spine from Lal Jain Mandir to Fatehpuri Masjid is now pedestrianised between 9 am and 9 pm. The redevelopment added sandstone planters, underground wiring, and better drainage. The main road is the map, not the destination.

The lanes branching off it are where Old Delhi actually lives:

• Dariba Kalan: silver jewellery in continuous operation since 1648
• Kinari Bazaar: wedding trimmings and zardozi, barely three metres wide, the best photography lane in all of Old Delhi
• Khari Baoli: Asia's largest wholesale spice market; go for the Gadodia Market rooftop at 10:30 am, not to buy
• Paranthe Wali Gali: deep-fried paranthas at the original shops dating to the 1870s

Metro: Chandni Chowk station (Yellow Line), exit at Gate 5 for the gurudwara, the correct starting point for the walking route.

Lutyens' Delhi: The Imperial Grid

Edwin Lutyens designed New Delhi in the 1910s and 1920s as a capital of wide avenues, circular parks, and deliberate grandeur. Everything here is about scale and symmetry, and it rewards being seen at either end of the day when the light is warm and the emptiness of the avenues looks intentional rather than underpopulated.

Solo female travel note: Lutyens' Delhi is one of the safest parts of the city at any hour. The wide avenues are well-lit and have continuous foot traffic. India Gate lawns in the late afternoon are busy with families. The National Museum is secure and air-conditioned throughout. This is a comfortable area for women travelling alone, day or evening.

India Gate and Kartavya Path

Kartavya Path (formerly Rajpath) runs 3 kilometres from Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate, the closest Delhi gets to feeling spacious. The Central Vista redevelopment added landscaped lawns, improved walkways, pedestrian underpasses, and a new underground food court near India Gate. India Gate itself is a 42-metre sandstone war memorial, open 24 hours, no entry fee. The National War Memorial directly behind it is newer, less photographed, and worth a 20-minute stop.

Come in the late afternoon when the light is warm and the lawns fill with families flying kites and eating kulfi. Boating is available on the surrounding channels at Rs 50 for 15 minutes ($0.60 USD) or Rs 100 for 30 minutes ($1.20 USD).

Metro: Central Secretariat (Yellow and Violet Lines), then a 15-minute walk or a short auto ride.

Rashtrapati Bhavan and Amrit Udyan

The President's residence is not open for casual walk-ins, but the gardens (Amrit Udyan, formerly Mughal Gardens) open to the public annually in February through March. Dates vary each year: check the official Rashtrapati Bhavan website before building your trip around it. The experience of walking through the grounds of the 340-room palace is unlike anything else in Delhi: designed by Lutyens in dialogue with Mughal garden principles, vast and ordered and strange in the way that only power expressed through horticulture can be.

South Delhi: Where the Layers Deepen

South Delhi is where the city gets interesting for repeat visitors, and where most first-timers underallocate time. The Sultanate ruins here predate everything in Old Delhi by three to four centuries. The modern neighbourhoods that have grown up around them create some of Delhi's most unexpected contrasts: a 13th-century domed tomb at the edge of a cafe-lined village street, an Iron Pillar from the Gupta period standing inside a mosque courtyard.

Solo female travel note: South Delhi (Hauz Khas, Lodhi Garden, Defence Colony) is the most comfortable part of Delhi for women travelling alone or in small groups. The open archaeological parks are uncrowded in the mornings. Hauz Khas Village is lively and well-lit until 10 pm with a strong cafe and restaurant presence. Lodhi Garden closes at 8 pm. The neighbourhood overall is a significant step up in safety and ease compared to Old Delhi for solo travellers.

Qutub Minar and Mehrauli Archaeological Park

The Qutub Minar is a 72.5-metre victory tower begun in 1193, the earliest major monument of the Delhi Sultanate and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The complex includes the Iron Pillar (standing for 1,600 years without significant corrosion, with no consensus on exactly why), the ruined Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque, and Alauddin Khalji's unfinished Alai Minar, a stub of stone that would have doubled the Qutub's height had Khalji lived.

Practical: Open sunrise to sunset. Entry Rs 50 ($0.60 USD) for Indian nationals, Rs 600 ($7 USD) for foreign visitors. Budget 1.5 hours.

Walk ten minutes south to Mehrauli Archaeological Park: a 200-acre open site with over 100 monuments spanning the Sultanate, Mughal, and British periods, entry free. Balban's Tomb (1287) contains what may be India's first true dome. The Jamali Kamali Mosque is architecturally exquisite. Jahaz Mahal, the Lodi-era "Ship Palace," sits beside a reservoir. The park opens at 6 am and closes at 6 pm. Carry water: no stalls inside. Most Delhi guides don't mention Mehrauli Archaeological Park. That is their loss.

Metro: Qutub Minar station (Yellow Line).

Humayun's Tomb: The Monument That Inspired the Taj Mahal

Completed in 1570, Humayun's Tomb is the first garden tomb on the Indian subcontinent: red sandstone and white marble set in geometrically perfect Char Bagh gardens. Shah Jahan studied it for thirty years before commissioning what became the Taj Mahal. The restoration supported by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture is among the best-executed conservation projects in India.

Practical: Open sunrise to sunset. Entry Rs 40 ($0.50 USD) for Indian nationals, Rs 600 ($7 USD) for foreign visitors. Budget 1.5 hours. The Isa Khan Tomb and Afsarwala Mosque within the same compound are easy to walk past and worth circling back for: quieter, less photographed, and architecturally fine.

Metro: JLN Stadium station (Violet Line), then a short auto or Uber ride.

Hauz Khas: Ruins and the Best Neighbourhood in South Delhi

The Hauz Khas Complex is a 13th-century madrasa and tomb cluster built around a reservoir (the "Royal Tank") that gave the area its name. The ruins are most atmospheric at dusk, when the fading light turns the stone amber. Hauz Khas Village, built into and around the complex, is South Delhi's art-and-cafe neighbourhood: boutique galleries, independent designers, and restaurants like Naivedyam (outstanding vegetarian South Indian thalis) sharing narrow lanes with medieval walls.

The Deer Park directly adjacent is where locals jog at 6 am and ignore the spotted deer entirely. Entry to the complex and the park is free.

Metro: Hauz Khas station (Yellow and Magenta Lines).

Lodhi Garden and the Lodhi Art District

Lodhi Garden is Delhi's most beloved green space: 90 acres of manicured lawns wrapped around 15th-century Sayyid and Lodi dynasty tombs. Mohammed Shah's Tomb, Sikandar Lodi's Tomb, the Bara Gumbad mosque, and the Sheesh Gumbad are all inside. Entry is free, open 6 am to 8 pm. Mornings here are perfect: joggers, yoga practitioners, and birds in approximately equal numbers, with the tombs to yourself for an hour before the school groups arrive.

A ten-minute walk south brings you to the Lodhi Art District in Lodhi Colony, India's first open-air public art district. Over 65 murals now cover the residential buildings, painted by Indian and international artists under the St+art India Foundation. The 2026 Lodhi Art Festival added six new murals. Free, always open, best explored on foot. A guided street art walk with chai runs approximately Rs 1,500 per person (~$18 USD) through various operators.

Delhi Street Food Guide: What to Eat and Where, by Neighbourhood

Delhi's food is the single best reason to visit the city. The mistake most visitors make is treating it as a monument list and arriving at each restaurant at the wrong time of day. Every kitchen in this list has a peak window. The itinerary above is built around them.

Old Delhi: What to Eat and When

Dish	Where	Peak window	Price
Rabri parantha	Paranthe Wali Gali, Pandit Gaya Prasad Shiv Charan (est. 1872)	11:00 to 11:30 am: after the breakfast queue, before the lunch rush; ghee is from the morning batch	Rs 40 to Rs 60 per parantha ($0.50 to $0.70 USD); Rs 500 for two with lassi ($6 USD)
Mutton korma with roomali roti	Al Jawahar, Matia Mahal Road	12:15 to 1:00 pm: better than Karim's at lunch because there is no queue; similar kitchen standards	Rs 400 per person (~$4.80 USD)
Seekh kebab and mutton burra	Karim's original, behind Jama Masjid	Dinner 8 to 10 pm: skip the lunchtime queue; the evening service is quieter and kebabs freshly loaded	Rs 400 to Rs 500 per person (~$4.80 to $6 USD)
Nihari (slow-cooked stew with bone marrow)	Al Jawahar, Matia Mahal Road	Morning 9 to 11 am: nihari is an overnight cook; the best pots are gone by noon	Rs 350 per person (~$4.20 USD)
Kulfi-faluda / shahi tukda	Cool Point, Matia Mahal Road	Anytime	Rs 100 to Rs 150 (~$1.20 to $1.80 USD)

Central Delhi: Where to Eat Near Connaught Place

Bengali Market, a compact U-shaped market near Connaught Place: Nathu's for chaat and sweets. The dahi bhalle and golgappe here are textbook Delhi. Best in the afternoon when the stalls are freshly restocked.

Khan Market: Big Chill for pasta and cake (expect a queue; order the Brooklyn cheesecake). Perch for specialty coffee. The dhabas in the lanes behind Khan Market serve affordable thalis that most Khan Market visitors never find.

South Delhi: Where to Eat in Hauz Khas and Beyond

Naivedyam in Hauz Khas Village: outstanding South Indian thalis served on banana leaves, menu changes daily. Gypsy Cafe for coffee after the ruins. SodaBottleOpenerWala in Khan Market or Cyber Hub for Parsi cafe food: bun maska, kheema pav.

Dilli Haat INA: a permanent open-air crafts bazaar with food stalls representing every Indian state, entry Rs 30 (~$0.35 USD). This is where you eat Naga pork curry, Rajasthani dal baati, and Assamese fish tenga in the same afternoon. An underused option for visitors who want regional Indian cooking beyond the Mughlai canon.

Getting Around Delhi: Metro, Autos, Apps, and the Airport

The Delhi Metro

The Delhi Metro is eight colour-coded lines covering virtually every tourist area. Fares run Rs 10 to Rs 60 (~$0.12 to $0.70 USD) depending on distance, with a 10% discount for smart card users. Operating hours: 6 am to 11 pm.

Line	Colour	Key tourist stops
Yellow Line	Yellow	Chandni Chowk (Old Delhi), New Delhi Railway Station, Connaught Place (Rajiv Chowk), Hauz Khas, Qutub Minar
Violet Line	Violet	Central Secretariat (India Gate), JLN Stadium (Humayun's Tomb), Jama Masjid
Orange Line (Airport Express)	Orange	New Delhi station to T3 Airport in 20 minutes, Rs 60 (~$0.70 USD)
Magenta Line	Magenta	Hauz Khas (interchange with Yellow Line), Janakpuri West (interchange for airport bus)

Buy a Tourist Card at Rs 200 (~$2.40 USD, including Rs 50 refundable deposit) at any station for unlimited rides in a single day. A rechargeable smart card eliminates the token queue, which at busy stations like Rajiv Chowk eats 15 minutes.

Solo female travel note: Delhi Metro has women-only coaches at the front of every train, marked clearly on the platform. Use them during peak hours (8 to 10 am and 6 to 9 pm). The metro is the safest and most predictable way to cross the city at any hour it runs.

Auto-Rickshaws and Ride Apps

Autos are everywhere and rarely use meters. Either negotiate before you sit (Rs 30 to Rs 50 for short hops within a zone, Rs 100 to Rs 200 for cross-city) or use Uber or Ola: reliable, metered, and usually cheaper than the negotiated auto price for journeys over 3 kilometres. Delhi's e-rickshaws are useful for last-mile connections from metro stations: Rs 10 to Rs 20 for short distances, no meter required.

Getting from Delhi Airport to the City

Airport Express Metro (Orange Line): Terminal 3 to New Delhi station in approximately 20 minutes, Rs 60 ($0.70 USD). This is the fastest and most predictable option. Pre-paid taxis from Terminal 3 cost Rs 350 to Rs 500 ($4 to $6 USD) to central Delhi depending on traffic. From Terminal 1, take a direct Uber: the free shuttle to Terminal 3 is slow (allow 20 minutes) and defeats the time saving.

Where to Stay in Delhi: A Neighbourhood Guide

Neighbourhood	Budget per night	Best for	Trade-off
Connaught Place / Janpath	Rs 3,000 to Rs 6,000 (~$36 to $72 USD) mid-range; The Imperial for splurge	First-time visitors: central, well-connected, walkable to Bengali Market	More expensive than equivalent quality elsewhere
Karol Bagh	Rs 1,200 to Rs 4,000 (~$14 to $48 USD)	Value-seekers: one metro stop from Connaught Place, quieter, genuine local neighbourhood	Less polished than CP; street food is the main draw
Paharganj	Rs 500 to Rs 1,500 (~$6 to $18 USD)	Budget backpackers: directly opposite New Delhi Railway Station	Noisy, cluttered, persistent touts
South Delhi (Hauz Khas / Lajpat Nagar)	Rs 2,500 to Rs 5,000 (~$30 to $60 USD) serviced apartments and boutique guesthouses	Longer stays, repeat visitors: leafier, quieter, excellent food access	30 to 45 minutes from Old Delhi by metro

For solo female travellers staying multiple nights, South Delhi offers the best combination of safety, neighbourhood quality, and access to food and transport. Paharganj is manageable during the day but requires alertness at night; the tout density is higher there than anywhere else in the city.

Delhi Travel Budget: What a Day Actually Costs

Expense	Budget traveller	Mid-range traveller	Notes
Accommodation	Rs 800 to Rs 1,500 (~$10 to $18 USD)	Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000 (~$36 to $60 USD)	Per person, double occupancy
Metro and autos	Rs 100 to Rs 200 (~$1.20 to $2.40 USD)	Rs 200 to Rs 400 (~$2.40 to $4.80 USD)	Tourist Day Card (Rs 200) covers metro; autos for last mile
Meals, 3 per day	Rs 300 to Rs 500 (~$3.60 to $6 USD)	Rs 800 to Rs 1,500 (~$9.60 to $18 USD)	Street food for budget; Al Jawahar / Karim's for mid-range
Monument entries	Rs 50 to Rs 200 (~$0.60 to $2.40 USD)	Rs 50 to Rs 200 (~$0.60 to $2.40 USD)	Most South Delhi sites are free; Red Fort and Humayun's Tomb are the main costs
Miscellaneous	Rs 100 to Rs 200 (~$1.20 to $2.40 USD)	Rs 300 to Rs 500 (~$3.60 to $6 USD)	Chai, tips, Jama Masjid camera fee Rs 300
Daily total per person	Rs 1,350 to Rs 2,600 (~$16 to $31 USD)	Rs 4,350 to Rs 7,600 (~$52 to $91 USD)	Excluding shopping. Foreign visitors add Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000 (~$24 to $36 USD) in monument fees across three days.

Delhi 3-Day Itinerary: Day-by-Day in Full

Day 1: Old Delhi (Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk)

Arrive at Red Fort by 8:30 am and walk the complex in 90 minutes before the tourist volume builds. Exit the Lahori Gate and walk south five minutes to Jama Masjid: mosque courtyard plus the south minaret climb (Rs 300 camera fee, Rs 100 minaret). From Jama Masjid, take the metro one stop north to Chandni Chowk.

At 11 am, you are exactly on time for Paranthe Wali Gali: the morning crowd has cleared and the ghee is still fresh. After lunch, walk the bazaar loop: Khari Baoli spice market and the Gadodia Market rooftop (factor this before lunch for the best Khari Baoli window), then Kinari Bazaar for afternoon photography. Dinner at Al Jawahar on Matia Mahal Road.

Day 2: South Delhi (Qutub Minar, Mehrauli, Humayun's Tomb, Lodhi Garden)

Qutub Minar complex by 9 am: crowd-free, cooler, and the light on the sandstone is better in the morning hour. Continue on foot to Mehrauli Archaeological Park (free, ten minutes from the Qutub exit). Spend an hour in a site that most Delhi visitors never find. Lunch near Qutub Minar station, then metro to JLN Stadium for Humayun's Tomb in the early afternoon. Walk to Lodhi Garden for 5 pm: the closing light through the Lodi tombs is worth building your afternoon around. Dinner in Hauz Khas Village: Naivedyam for a South Indian thali, then a walk along the reservoir edge in the dark.

Day 3: Lutyens' Delhi, Museums, Khan Market, and the Lodhi Art District

Kartavya Path and India Gate in the morning: walk the full 3-kilometre boulevard from Rashtrapati Bhavan to the memorial and back, or take a cycle rickshaw one way. National Museum or National Gallery of Modern Art, not both in a single morning. Khan Market for lunch: the dhabas in the back lanes are better value than the famous frontage. Lodhi Art District on foot in the afternoon. Akshardham in the late afternoon if you are willing to surrender your phone and smartwatch for four hours: the water show runs at dusk and the scale of the complex is genuinely extraordinary.

If a fourth day is available: Neemrana Fort as a half-day drive, or return to whichever neighbourhood from the first three days you didn't want to leave.

Best Day Trips from Delhi

Destination	Distance	Drive time	Best for
Neemrana Fort	125 km	2.5 to 3 hours	Heritage architecture: 15th-century fort-palace in the Aravallis. Zip-lining across the ramparts is worth the ticket. Book ahead on weekends.
Surajkund	25 km	45 minutes	Quick half-day: 8th-century Tomar reservoir plus the Aravalli Biodiversity Park. Annual Surajkund Crafts Mela in February is one of India's largest cultural fairs.
Rishikesh / Haridwar	230 to 250 km	4 to 5 hours by road or train	Mountain escape for 2 or more nights: riverside yoga, Ganga Aarti, Rajaji National Park. Day-tripping is possible but rushed.
Himachal Pradesh	450 to 500 km	8 to 10 hours	Mountain valley travel: Kangra's tea gardens to Spiti's cold desert. Seven distinct valleys. Minimum 3 nights; 7 is better.
Akshardham (Delhi)	In city	30 minutes by metro	Technically not a day trip, but scale and experience make it feel like one. No phones, bags, or cameras inside. 3 to 4 hours minimum. Water show at dusk.

Best Time to Visit Delhi: Month by Month

Month	Weather	Events	Verdict
October to November	Cool, dry, 20 to 30 degrees C	Diwali: Old Delhi is extraordinary in the weeks before	Excellent: best all-round window
February	Cool, 12 to 25 degrees C	Amrit Udyan (Mughal Gardens) open; Lodhi Art Festival	Best single month: best weather, most to see
March	Warming, still pleasant	Holi: Delhi is a good base for day trips to Mathura/Vrindavan	Very good: visit early in the month
December to January	Cold, 8 to 15 degrees C, occasional fog	Christmas and New Year in Connaught Place	Fine but foggy: fog can delay flights and slow mornings
April to June	42 to 46 degrees C	Nothing redeems this period	Avoid: Old Delhi is essentially unwalkable by 10 am
July to September	Humid, 30 to 38 degrees C, monsoon	Monsoon transforms some gardens but creates flooding in the lanes	Avoid for most visitors: manageable only with full flexibility

If you can pick only one window: arrive in early February, leave in early March. You get perfect weather, the Mughal Gardens at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the Lodhi Art Festival, and if your timing is right, Holi in Mathura as a day trip on the way out.

Delhi Travel Guide: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best time to visit Delhi?

October to March is the only sensible window. November and February through March are ideal: cool mornings, dry skies, and Rashtrapati Bhavan's gardens open in February. Avoid April through June (42 to 46 degrees C) and July through September (humidity and seasonal flooding in the Old Delhi lanes). If you can pick a single month, February combines perfect weather, the Mughal Gardens, and the Lodhi Art Festival.

How many days do you need in Delhi?

Three days is the minimum that does Delhi justice: one for Old Delhi, one for South Delhi, one for Lutyens' Delhi and the museums. A fourth day works well for a Neemrana day trip or returning to whichever neighbourhood you didn't want to leave. Two days means cutting either Old Delhi or South Delhi entirely, and both cuts are significant losses.

Is Delhi safe for solo female travellers?

Delhi requires the same alertness any large city demands of solo female travellers, with specific precautions worth knowing. Use Uber or Ola rather than negotiating at the roadside, especially after dark. Stick to metro travel after 9 pm (women-only coaches at the front of every train). Chandni Chowk is fine during the day: this guide's walking route ends by 1:30 pm for that reason. Connaught Place, Khan Market, and Hauz Khas Village are comfortable late into the evening for women travelling alone.

What is the cheapest way to get around Delhi?

The Delhi Metro. It covers all major tourist areas, runs 6 am to 11 pm, and costs Rs 10 to Rs 60 per journey ($0.12 to $0.70 USD). A one-day Tourist Card at Rs 200 ($2.40 USD, including Rs 50 deposit) gives unlimited rides. For the last kilometre from stations, e-rickshaws charge Rs 10 to Rs 20. Uber and Ola are cheaper than negotiated autos for cross-city rides and eliminate fare disputes entirely.

How do I get from Delhi airport to the city?

Airport Express Metro (Orange Line): Terminal 3 to New Delhi station in approximately 20 minutes, Rs 60 ($0.70 USD). This is the fastest and most reliable option. Pre-paid taxis from Terminal 3 cost Rs 350 to Rs 500 ($4 to $6 USD) to central Delhi. From Terminal 1, take a direct Uber: the free shuttle to Terminal 3 is slow (allow 20 minutes) and defeats the time saving.

What should I eat in Delhi?

Old Delhi: rabri parantha at Paranthe Wali Gali (11 am window), mutton korma at Al Jawahar near Jama Masjid (lunch), seekh kebabs at Karim's original branch (dinner, not lunch). South Delhi: South Indian thalis at Naivedyam in Hauz Khas. Central Delhi: chaat at Nathu's in Bengali Market, regional Indian food at Dilli Haat INA. Every kitchen has a peak window, and the itinerary above is built around them.

Do I need a guide for Old Delhi?

Not if you follow a lane-by-lane route rather than a landmark list. The most common failure mode is spending an hour doubling back on Chandni Chowk trying to connect the bazaars to the mosque. A single loop from Chandni Chowk Metro to Jama Masjid connects all the main stops in order in about 3 hours. A guide adds genuine value for history and architecture context: budget Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000 (~$18 to $24 USD) for two hours.

What is the entry fee for Delhi monuments in 2026?

Red Fort: Rs 35 ($0.40 USD) for Indian nationals, Rs 550 ($6.50 USD) for foreign visitors. Qutub Minar: Rs 50 ($0.60 USD) Indian, Rs 600 ($7 USD) foreign. Humayun's Tomb: Rs 40 ($0.50 USD) Indian, Rs 600 ($7 USD) foreign. Jama Masjid: free entry, Rs 300 camera fee, Rs 100 south minaret climb. India Gate, Lodhi Garden, and Mehrauli Archaeological Park: all free.

What is the best neighbourhood to stay in Delhi?

For first-time visitors, Connaught Place or Janpath puts you at the geographic and metro centre of the city. For longer stays, South Delhi (Hauz Khas or Lajpat Nagar) is leafier, quieter, and has better food access within walking distance. For solo female travellers, South Delhi offers the best combination of safety and neighbourhood quality.

Is Delhi expensive for tourists?

Delhi is one of the most affordable major cities in South Asia. Budget travellers can spend Rs 1,350 to Rs 2,600 per day ($16 to $31 USD). Mid-range travellers will spend Rs 4,350 to Rs 7,600 per day ($52 to $91 USD). Foreign visitors pay significantly higher monument entry fees than Indian nationals: budget an additional Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000 (~$24 to $36 USD) across three days.

How do I use the Delhi Metro as a tourist?

Buy a Tourist Card at Rs 200 (~$2.40 USD, including Rs 50 refundable deposit) at any metro station for unlimited rides in a single day. The Yellow Line connects Chandni Chowk, Connaught Place, Hauz Khas, and Qutub Minar. The Violet Line connects Central Secretariat (India Gate) and JLN Stadium (Humayun's Tomb). The Airport Express (Orange Line) runs from Terminal 3 to New Delhi station in 20 minutes. Women-only coaches are at the front of every train.

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Three days, done in the right order: Old Delhi first, South Delhi second, Lutyens' Delhi third. Don't mix the layers on the same day, don't skip Mehrauli Archaeological Park (free, ten minutes from the Qutub Minar exit, and most guides don't mention it), and don't skip the south minaret at Jama Masjid. The Rs 100 buys the best single view in all of Old Delhi.