Delhi travel guide 2026–27

Plan Delhi with Old Delhi, New Delhi, food, the Metro, day trips to Agra and Jaipur, where to stay and how many nights.

By the Agrima Holidays Team · Updated October 2026 · 6 min read

Why go

Delhi has been a capital for many dynasties, and every one left something behind. The Qutub Minar from the Delhi Sultanate. The Red Fort and Jama Masjid from the Mughals. Rashtrapati Bhavan and India Gate from the British. Then a modern city of malls, metro lines and food from every corner of India.

Most travellers pass through Delhi on the way somewhere else. Give the city two days and you see why people live here despite the traffic.

When to go

October to March is the best time. October, November, February and March have warm days and cool nights.

December and January get cold, with nights near 4 to 6°C and dense morning fog. Flights and trains run late. Air quality is often poor from late October to January. Check the AQI and carry a mask if you have a breathing condition.

April to June gets extremely hot, often above 42°C. Plan indoor sights in the afternoon.

The monsoon runs from July to September, with humid days and heavy showers.

Festivals:

• Republic Day parade on 26 January at Kartavya Path. Tickets sell on the Aamantran portal

• Beating Retreat on 29 January

• Diwali in October or November, with lights across the city

• Holi in March

• Phool Walon Ki Sair at Mehrauli, in autumn

Month by month

Average night low to day high, from long-term climate averages. Higher places run colder.

How many nights

• 1 night: the main sights in a long day
• 2 nights: Old Delhi and New Delhi at a comfortable pace
• 3 nights: add a same-day trip to Agra
• 4 to 5 nights: add Jaipur for the Golden Triangle

Our Delhi sightseeing pages list half-day, full-day and night tours with a private car and driver.

Getting there and around

Indira Gandhi International Airport has three terminals and flights to every major city in India and around the world. The Airport Express Metro line runs to New Delhi station in about 20 minutes.

New Delhi, Old Delhi, Hazrat Nizamuddin and Anand Vihar are the main railway stations. Check which one your train uses.

The Delhi Metro is the fastest way around. Trains are clean, air-conditioned and cheap. The first coach of every train is reserved for women. Buy a smart card or use a QR ticket from the app.

Autos and app cabs fill the gaps. For a full day of sightseeing, a private car with a driver saves time and energy.

Old Delhi

The stops that appear most often in our Delhi Combos itineraries:

• Manali
• Agra
• Amritsar
• Solang
• Jaipur

Shahjahanabad, the city Shah Jahan built in the 17th century, is now Old Delhi. Start early.

• Red Fort, a UNESCO site. The Diwan-i-Am, Diwan-i-Khas and museums inside. Closed on Mondays
• Jama Masjid, one of the largest mosques in India. Climb the south minaret for a view over the old city. Visitors need modest dress. Robes are lent at the gate
• Chandni Chowk, the old main street, now partly pedestrian
• A cycle rickshaw ride through the lanes of Kinari Bazaar, Dariba Kalan and Khari Baoli, the spice market
• Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib
• Raj Ghat, the memorial to Mahatma Gandhi

New Delhi

New Delhi was built by the British in the 1920s and 1930s, with wide avenues and government buildings by Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker.

• India Gate and the National War Memorial
• Kartavya Path, Rashtrapati Bhavan and the North and South Blocks. Book a Rashtrapati Bhavan tour online
• Humayun's Tomb, a UNESCO site, often called the model for the Taj Mahal
• Qutub Minar, a UNESCO site, built from 1199
• Lotus Temple, the Bahá'í house of worship. Closed on Mondays
• Akshardham temple, a huge complex with a water show in the evening. Phones are not allowed. Closed on Mondays
• Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, with its langar and sarovar
• Lodhi Garden for a morning walk
• Hauz Khas village, with a lake, ruins and cafés
• National Museum and the Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya

What to eat

Delhi is one of the best food cities in India.

• Paranthe Wali Gali in Chandni Chowk, for stuffed parathas fried in ghee
• Jalebi at the corner of Dariba Kalan
• Chole bhature, at any of the old Karol Bagh and Paharganj names
• Kebabs and nihari around Jama Masjid, at Karim's and Al Jawahar
• Chaat in Chandni Chowk, Bengali Market and Lajpat Nagar
• Butter chicken and dal makhani, both said to have been born in Delhi
• Momos everywhere
• Kulfi and daulat ki chaat, a winter foam sweet in Old Delhi

Dilli Haat, run by the government, has stalls from every state, with crafts and food in one place.

Shopping

• Chandni Chowk for wedding wear, spices and silver
• Janpath and Sarojini Nagar for cheap clothes
• Dilli Haat for crafts from across India
• Khan Market for books and cafés
• Central Cottage Industries Emporium for fixed-price crafts
• Select Citywalk and DLF malls for brands

Day trips

Agra is the classic day trip. The Gatimaan Express from Hazrat Nizamuddin takes about 1 hour 45 minutes. By road on the Yamuna Expressway, about 3 hours 30 minutes. The Taj Mahal closes on Fridays.

Jaipur is about 5 hours by road, or 4 hours 30 minutes on the Vande Bharat or Shatabdi. Better as an overnight trip.

Mathura and Vrindavan, 3 hours away, make a full day for Krishna temples.

Sultanpur bird sanctuary and Damdama lake suit a half day in winter.

Where to stay

• Connaught Place and Janpath: central, near the Metro, good for first visits
• Paharganj: near New Delhi station, budget hotels, busy and noisy
• Karol Bagh: mid-range hotels and markets
• South Delhi: quieter, near Hauz Khas, Saket and the airport road
• Aerocity: airport hotels, good for early flights

Our packages name the hotels by category.

Our Delhi packages

Prices start from ₹11,400 per person on twin sharing. See our Delhi sightseeing pages for single-day tours.

Practical tips

• Many sights close on Mondays. Plan around this
• Decline offers from strangers who say a monument or your hotel is closed
• Use prepaid taxis or app cabs at the airport and stations
• Carry a scarf for gurdwaras and mosques
• Drink bottled water. Avoid ice from street stalls
• Check fog and smog forecasts from November to January
• Book Republic Day tickets the day they open

Call us if you land late at night. We send a driver to meet you inside the terminal.