Delhi itinerary for first-timers
The classic neighborhoods in an order that works, with a 4K street walk for every stop. Watch your trip before you take it.
Day 1: Red Fort, Chandni Chowk, Khari Baoli & Jama Masjid
Mughal Delhi: the Red Fort, the bazaar of Chandni Chowk, the spice market of Khari Baoli and an evening at the Jama Masjid and the food streets below it.
- 1
Morning
Red Fort
The red sandstone fortress-palace of the Mughal emperors, built by Shah Jahan, the emperor who also built the Taj Mahal. Inside the massive walls are marble audience halls, pavilions and gardens. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Lahori Gate
- Hall of Public Audience
- Marble pavilions
- Red sandstone walls
Arrive early, before the crowds and the midday heat; bags are checked at the entrance.
Inside the Red Fort, Old Delhi
Video by LADmob on YouTube
Walk across the road into Chandni Chowk, about 10 min.
- 2
Late morning
Chandni Chowk
The main street of Old Delhi, running from the Red Fort towards Fatehpuri Mosque, and the lanes behind it: one of India's oldest and busiest bazaars, crowded with fabric shops, sweet stalls, temples and street food.
- Chandni Chowk main street
- Paranthe Wali Gali
- Old trading lanes
- Street food stalls
Eat where food is cooked fresh in front of you and the stall is busy; carry small notes.
Chandni Chowk Market, Old Delhi: 4K Walking Tour
Video by Walking in India on YouTube
Walk or take a cycle rickshaw west past Fatehpuri Mosque, about 15 min.
- 3
Afternoon
Khari Baoli Spice Market
Asia's largest wholesale spice market, at the western end of Chandni Chowk: sacks of chillies, turmeric, dried fruit, nuts and herbs, porters carrying huge loads and the sharp smell of spice in the air.
- Naya Bans
- Spice and dry fruit shops
- Porters and handcarts
It is a working wholesale market: keep to the side and step aside for porters and handcarts.
Cycle rickshaw back through the lanes to the mosque, about 15 min.
- 4
Late afternoon & evening
Jama Masjid & Matia Mahal
One of India's largest mosques, built by Shah Jahan on a rise above the old city, with a vast courtyard and red sandstone and marble domes. Below its steps, the market streets of Matia Mahal and Urdu Bazar come alive in the evening.
- Jama Masjid courtyard
- Bazar Matia Mahal
- Urdu Bazar
- Evening food stalls
Dress modestly, remove your shoes at the entrance and avoid visiting the mosque during prayers.
Day 2: Humayun's Tomb, Nizamuddin, Lodhi Garden & India Gate
The great Mughal garden tomb, the Sufi shrine across the road, the tombs and lawns of Lodhi Garden, and sunset at India Gate on Kartavya Path.
- 1
Morning
Humayun's Tomb
The great garden tomb of the Mughal emperor Humayun, the first of its kind in India and a forerunner of the Taj Mahal: a domed mausoleum of red sandstone and white marble in the middle of a four-part garden. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Main gateway
- Charbagh gardens
- Humayun's cenotaph
- Isa Khan's tomb
Morning light on the facade is soft and the gardens are quiet; Isa Khan's tomb near the entrance is easy to miss.
Walk across Mathura Road to the basti, about 10 min.
- 2
Late morning
Nizamuddin Dargah & Basti
The shrine of the Sufi saint Nizamuddin Auliya, reached through the narrow lanes of an old village of pilgrims, flower sellers and stalls, just across the road from Humayun's Tomb. In the evenings qawwali singers perform in the courtyard.
- Dargah Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya
- Basti lanes
- Nizamuddin West
Cover your head and remove your shoes at the shrine; Thursday evening is the classic time for qawwali if you can come back.
Auto-rickshaw or cab west along Lodhi Road, about 10 min.
- 3
Afternoon
Lodhi Garden
Delhi's favourite park, a large green garden scattered with the tombs of the 15th- and 16th-century Sayyid and Lodi rulers, with lawns, ponds, an old stone bridge and plenty of birds.
- Shish Gumbad
- Bada Gumbad
- Athpula bridge
- Tomb of Sikandar Lodi
- Tomb of Muhammad Shah
A good place to rest in the shade in the middle of the day; the paths are flat and easy.
Auto-rickshaw or cab north to India Gate, about 10 min.
- 4
Sunset & evening
India Gate & Kartavya Path
The great war memorial arch at the end of Kartavya Path, the ceremonial avenue of New Delhi that runs up to the President's House. In the evening families stroll on the lawns, the fountains are lit and the arch glows against the sky.
- India Gate
- Subhash Chandra Bose statue
- National War Memorial
- Lit fountains
Come around sunset and stay as the lights come on; the lawns are most lively in the evening.
Day 3: Qutb Minar, Hauz Khas, Bangla Sahib & Connaught Place
The Qutb Minar and its ruins in the south, the lanes and lake of Hauz Khas, the golden-domed Sikh temple and an evening in Connaught Place.
- 1
Morning
Qutb Minar
A 73-metre medieval minaret of carved red and buff sandstone, the centrepiece of a complex of early Delhi Sultanate ruins that includes the Iron Pillar, the Alai Darwaza gateway and the tomb of Iltutmish. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Qutb Minar
- Iron Pillar
- Alai Darwaza
- Tomb of Iltutmish
- Alai Minar
Morning light shows the carving best, and the complex is calmer before noon.
Cab north to Hauz Khas, about 15 min.
- 2
Afternoon
Hauz Khas Village
An old village of narrow lanes, galleries, boutiques and cafés built beside the medieval Hauz Khas complex, a royal water tank lined with a madrasa, a mosque and domed tombs, now overlooking a lake and a deer park.
- Village lanes
- Street art
- Hauz Khas complex ruins
- Lake views
Walk through the village to the ruins for the view over the lake in the late afternoon.
Hauz Khas Village, South Delhi
Video by New Delhi Bharat on YouTube
Metro from Hauz Khas to Rajiv Chowk, then walk, about 40 min in all.
- 3
Late afternoon
Gurudwara Bangla Sahib
Delhi's best-known Sikh temple, with a golden dome above a white marble hall and a large holy pool. Its langar, the free community kitchen, serves meals to anyone who comes, at any time of day.
- Golden dome
- Holy pool
- Langar hall
Cover your head (scarves are provided), remove your shoes and wash your feet before entering; visitors are welcome to sit down for the langar.
Gurudwara Bangla Sahib: Sikh Temple and Langar
Video by Walking Singh on YouTube
Walk east to Connaught Place, about 15 min.
- 4
Evening
Connaught Place & Janpath
The colonnaded circles of New Delhi's commercial heart, full of shops and crowds, and Janpath next door with its street stalls of clothes, jewellery and souvenirs.
- Connaught Place colonnades
- Central Park
- Janpath street market
Bargaining is normal at the Janpath stalls.
Connaught Place and Janpath, New Delhi
Video by Walking in India on YouTube
Travelling with someone?
Send them this 3-day Delhi plan, videos included.
Planning your first trip to Delhi
How many days?
Three days is a good first visit: one for Old Delhi, one for the Mughal tombs, Lodhi Garden and India Gate, and one for the Qutb Minar, Hauz Khas and central New Delhi. One day is enough for the Red Fort, Chandni Chowk, Humayun's Tomb and an evening at India Gate.
Where to stay
Connaught Place and the streets around it are the most central base, with metro lines in every direction. South Delhi neighbourhoods such as Hauz Khas and Lajpat Nagar are greener and quieter; Paharganj, near New Delhi station, is busy and close to Old Delhi.
Getting around
The Delhi Metro is clean, cheap and the easiest way to cross this huge city, with stations near almost every stop on this plan. App cabs and auto-rickshaws fill the gaps; agree on the fare or use the meter before setting off. In Old Delhi, a cycle rickshaw is the best way through the narrow lanes.
Delhi is really several cities built side by side over a thousand years, and a first visit moves between them. In the north is Old Delhi, the walled Mughal capital of Shah Jahan: the Red Fort, the great mosque of Jama Masjid and the packed bazaars of Chandni Chowk and Khari Baoli. In the middle is New Delhi, laid out by the British in the early 20th century, with the ceremonial avenue of Kartavya Path, India Gate and the colonnades of Connaught Place. Around them lie the gardens and tombs of earlier dynasties: Humayun's Tomb, the Sufi shrine of Nizamuddin, Lodhi Garden and, far to the south, the soaring Qutb Minar.
Every stop comes with a walking video filmed there, so you can see the crowds, the monuments and the distances before you arrive. Use the buttons under each video to jump to a landmark, or press Preview to watch a whole day in a row.
Delhi itinerary: common questions
How many days do you need in Delhi?
Three days is a good first visit: one for Old Delhi, one for Humayun's Tomb, Nizamuddin, Lodhi Garden and India Gate, and one for the Qutb Minar, Hauz Khas and central New Delhi. With one day, see the Red Fort, Chandni Chowk, Humayun's Tomb and India Gate at sunset.
When is the best time to visit Delhi?
October to March is the most comfortable season. April to June is extremely hot, the monsoon follows from July to September, and in winter mornings can be foggy and the air quality poor. Check the air quality forecast before planning long days outdoors.
Is the Delhi Metro good for sightseeing?
Yes. It is clean, air-conditioned and cheap, and stations are close to the Red Fort, Chandni Chowk, Jama Masjid, Connaught Place, Hauz Khas and the Qutb Minar. Avoid the morning and evening rush hours if you can, and use the women-only carriage if it applies to you.
Can I see the Taj Mahal from Delhi?
The Taj Mahal is in Agra, a separate city a few hours away by train or road, so it deserves its own visit rather than squeezing into a Delhi plan. In Delhi, Humayun's Tomb gives a good idea of the Mughal garden tomb that inspired it.
What should I wear in Delhi's mosques, temples and shrines?
Cover your shoulders and knees, and carry a scarf: heads are covered at the Sikh temple and the Sufi shrine, and shoes come off at all of them. Places to leave shoes are provided at the entrance.
Travel times are approximate. Check opening days and any booking requirements before you go.
Keep exploring Delhi
More 4K walking videos, top sights, food markets and dishes to try.
Delhi city guide →