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Seven cities,
one plate
of parathas.
North India · The capital
Delhi
A city built in layers: Sultanate ruins, Mughal tombs, a walled city and fast-changing neighbourhoods.
Old Delhi, Nizamuddin, Mehrauli, Lutyens’ Delhi, museums and markets.
Delhi is a capital built in layers: Sultanate ruins in Mehrauli, Mughal tombs and gardens, Shah Jahan’s 17th-century walled city, Lutyens’ boulevards and fast-changing neighbourhoods. Three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, serious museums and some of India’s best street food make it far more than an arrival point.
Plan it by neighbourhood, not by monument: one area a day, with time for food and markets.
First edition · Practical details last checked 29 October 2026
At a glance
Ideal length · 2–4 days
Gateways · Indira Gandhi International Airport; New Delhi, Old Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin stations
Best time · October–March, but air quality often falls sharply from November to January
Know before · Summer heat often tops 40°C in May–June
On this page: Places · Old Delhi · Culture & food · Plan your trip · Itineraries · Safety & access · Stories · Sources
Where to go
Places in Delhi
Old Delhi
- The Red Fort (UNESCO), Jama Masjid and Chandni Chowk.
- Khari Baoli spice market and the lanes of Shahjahanabad. See Old Delhi below.
Nizamuddin and Lodhi
- Humayun’s Tomb (UNESCO) and Sunder Nursery next door.
- Nizamuddin Basti and qawwali at the dargah.
- Lodhi Garden and the Lodhi Art District.
Mehrauli and the south
- The Qutb Minar complex (UNESCO).
- Mehrauli Archaeological Park: free entry, open daily 6 am–6 pm; nearest Metro Qutab Minar.
- Hauz Khas village and its medieval reservoir.
New Delhi
- India Gate and Kartavya Path.
- Agrasen ki Baoli, Purana Qila and Gurudwara Bangla Sahib.
- Museums: the National Museum, the National Gallery of Modern Art and Pradhan Mantri Sangrahalaya.
Markets and crafts
- Dilli Haat for crafts from across India.
- Khan Market, Shahpur Jat and Majnu ka Tilla.
Old Delhi
Shahjahanabad, the walled city Shah Jahan built in the 17th century, is still Delhi’s most intense and rewarding neighbourhood: a maze of bazaars, havelis, mosques, temples and gurdwaras. Our Old Delhi walk covers it in one day.
- Go early: mornings are calmer for the Jama Masjid and Chandni Chowk; take the Metro to Chandni Chowk or Jama Masjid stations.
- Red Fort: open every day, including Mondays, since February 2026 (Business Today); check ASI timings before you go.
- Eat: parathas, kebabs, jalebi and seasonal sweets; daulat ki chaat appears only in winter.
- Dress modestly for mosques and temples, and hire a cycle-rickshaw for the busiest lanes.
Culture & food
Food
- Old Delhi’s parathas, kebabs and nihari.
- Chole bhature and chaat across the city.
- The food of Nizamuddin and Jama Masjid.
Culture
- Qawwali at Nizamuddin dargah, usually on Thursday evenings.
- Winter brings festivals, art fairs and concerts.
- Langar at Gurudwara Bangla Sahib.
Plan your trip
How many days?
- 24 hours: one heritage area and one food experience.
- 48 hours: Old Delhi on one day, Humayun’s Tomb and Lodhi on the other.
- 72 hours: add Mehrauli, museums and markets.
When to go
- October–March is the season, but check air quality from November to January.
- April–June is very hot; July–September is humid. See our climate and seasons guide.
Getting around
- The Delhi Metro is the easiest way around, with the Airport Express line from the airport.
- App cabs and autos for shorter hops; agree auto fares or use the meter.
Where to stay
- Central areas suit first visits and monument access.
- Choose a Metro-connected neighbourhood to move easily.
- Airport hotels are best kept for layovers.
Sample itineraries
Starting points, not fixed packages. Adjust for weather, crowds and current advisories.
Delhi in three days
Starting point: Delhi · Style: heritage, food and neighbourhoods
- Day 1 · Old Delhi: Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk, Red Fort, food walk.
- Day 2 · Humayun’s Tomb and Sunder Nursery; Nizamuddin at dusk; Lodhi Garden.
- Day 3 · Qutb Minar and Mehrauli Archaeological Park; Hauz Khas in the evening.
Limitations · Check ASI closing days and the day’s AQI. Traffic makes cross-city trips slow; use the Metro.
Heading on? Delhi is the gateway to Agra, Jaipur and the hills.
Air quality, heat and safety
Last checked 30 October 2026. This is a summary, not a safety assurance.
- Check the AQI before planning outdoor days in winter; on poor days, choose museums and indoor sights.
- Summer heat is severe: plan sightseeing for early mornings.
- Use registered taxis or app cabs, keep valuables secure in crowds, and be wary of unsolicited ‘guides’.
From the journal & traveller stories
- A walk through Old Delhi: the Red Fort, Chandni Chowk and the Jama Masjid
- Lesser-known places in North India, including Mehrauli Archaeological Park
We haven’t yet found a firsthand travel account of Delhi that we can summarise and recommend. If you have travelled here, we would like to hear from you.
Travelled here? Lifelately publishes reader stories with the writer’s approval and full credit. Share your travel story →
Official resources
- Delhi Tourism.
- Archaeological Survey of India: monument timings.
- Delhi Metro.
Sources & last checked
Time-sensitive details were checked on 29 October 2026:
- Mehrauli Archaeological Park access · via our lesser-known places sources
- Monument timings · ASI
Background on history, culture and food is drawn from general reference sources. Spotted something out of date? Let us know.
Photography (stock images, not the author’s own): Yugank Kulshrestha (Humayun’s Tomb) and Tanmay Awasthi (Mehrauli) via Pexels, used under the Pexels License; Naveed Ahmed (Jama Masjid) via Unsplash, used under the Unsplash License.
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