Delhi

First-time India visitors arriving by air or rail, history readers and food explorers

₹52,000budget · 5 days84 / 100Nollu score2 dayssuggested length

Delhi at a glance

Delhi is India's past and present in one loud, layered city. Travellers use it as the gateway north — for the Red Fort, the bazaars and the food — but its real joy is the everyday: chai stalls, garden parks and streets that never quite finish their story.

Best time to visitOctober to March is the comfortable sightseeing window; April to June are hot and dry, July to September monsoon-wet.

Where to base yourself

Connaught Place / centralThe logical, transport-connected heart of the city.
Old Delhi (Chandni Chowk)Narrow bazaars, street food and the Red Fort — intense and unforgettable.
South Delhi (Hauz Khas)Cafés, parks and a calmer baseline.

A sample 3-day rhythm

Day 1Arrive and ease into a central neighbourhood; a sunset walk sets the city in scale.
Day 2Old Delhi in the morning — the Red Fort, lanes and food — then a long lunch in a calmer district.
Day 3One monument of choice or a market day, then leave time to plan the onward journey.

Want more? Use the planner to stretch this into a full trip.

Tips before you go

Delhi is usually the hub, not the destination — build in a buffer around train or flight connections.
Old Delhi is best early, before heat and crowds peak.
Drink sealed water and eat freshly cooked food.
For short hops, app-based rides beat haggling.

Common questions

Is Delhi different from New Delhi?: New Delhi is the planned district; Delhi covers the wider city and its centuries. Itineraries use both as one gateway.
How long should I stay?: One to two days works for most — the real trip continues onward to Agra, Rajasthan or the mountains.

Editor's destination note