No trip to India is complete without first visiting the country’s capital, New Delhi. It’s a large, busy city and it can be very overwhelming if it’s your first time in India. Everything seems to be very extreme here. The smells, the sounds, the sights, even the people. India is, quite honestly, an attack on the senses. Here are the best places to visit along with all of my best tips and info to help you prepare for your trip to India’s capital, Delhi.
This post contains affiliate links which means that if you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a small portion of the sale at no extra cost to you. Any profits made will contribute to my travels and making this blog awesome for you to read!
Things to Do in Delhi, India
Humayun’s Tomb
This is the tomb of Mughal Emperor Humayun. It’s actually the first garden tomb in India, built on the banks of the Yamuna River in 1570. This attraction is pretty popular for it’s wonderfully symmetrical gardens and floor plan. Definitely a beautiful spot!
Admission for Humayun’s Tomb is 600 Indian Rupees (about 8 US Dollars). Once you purchase your ticket, they will hand you a little blue chip (kind of like a poker chip). Make sure you don’t lose this as you will need it when you exit!
Delhi Jantar Mantar
Jantar Mantar is actually a large observatory that consists of instruments used to predict time as well as movement of the planets. However, nowadays, it’s pretty much just used as a really cool hangout spot.
There were many families and couples here later in the afternoon just hanging out, enjoying the shade. It was very chill compared to the Jantar Mantar in Jaipur which was packed with tourists. I won’t even pretend to know how these instruments work but I do know that they’re very cool to look at!
Dilli Haat Market
One of the best spots for souvenir shopping in Delhi! This market had everything from jewelry to art to beautiful fabrics and ceramics. My favorite thing about this market was that we didn’t feel pressured at all to buy anything.
Agrasen Ki Baoli
Agrasen ki Baoli is an ancient stepwell in the middle of Delhi. It’s not quite like many of the other stepwells that you would expect to see in India but definitely still unique in it’s own way. Many people were here just enjoying the shade on the steps, having lunch or catching up with friends.
Red Fort
Unfortunately, we weren’t able to see the Red Fort during our trip due to political demonstrations that were happening during the time of our visit. It was a bummer because this one was pretty high on our list of things we wanted to do. Red Fort consists of a palace, beautiful gardens, many gates, and a number of different museums. The entry fee for foreigners is 500 Indian Rupees (about 7 US Dollars).
Qutub Minar
Qutub Minar is the highest tower in India! Unfortunately, we came before the grounds were open (didn’t really think that one through!) so we weren’t able to get photos up close from the inside. However, even just standing outside the gates, we could tell how incredibly massive this tower was. We’ll definitely have to stop here next time we’re in town! The entry fee is 600 Indian Rupees for foreigners (about 8 US Dollars).
Raj Ghat (Mahatma Gandhi Memorial)
One thing you have to see in Delhi, the Mahatma Gandhi memorial! The memorial is always covered with flowers and has an eternal flame burning continuously at the end. The simplicity of the memorial is meant to reflect the simple way in which Gandhi lived his life.
There are stone plaques lining the walkways with some of Gandhi’s most famous quotes inscribed. It was so cool to walk around reading each of them. It’s definitely a great way to find some inspiration!
India Gate, New Delhi
The India Gate (similar to Arc de Triomphe in Paris) was another spot that people seemed to go to just hang out. There were street food vendors, entertainers, and (of course) all kinds of people trying to sell you things. There are parks and gardens surrounding the gate where many people were laying in the grass and having picnic lunches.
Swaminarayan Akshardham
Honestly, if you only see one thing in Delhi, you need to make it the Swaminarayan Akshardham. No photos are allowed inside the temple (you can’t even take phones or cameras in with you!) so, unfortunately, I’m not able to show you how truly incredible this place was. But, I promise you this one is more than worth the visit. We could have spent all day exploring this temple. We were in awe by how detailed every inch of the place seemed to be. Everything was so intricately done and the inside of the temple was beyond extravagant. My husband and I both agreed that it’s even more impressive than the Taj Mahal. That’s saying something!
Delhi Lotus Temple
The Lotus Temple is a house of worship known for it’s flower-like shape. When visiting, keep in mind you are not allowed to bring drones past security. They will not let you in, even if you promise not to use it (we learned this the hard way). Admission, however, is free.
Safdarjung Tomb
Safdarjung’s Tomb was one of my favorite in India. We came early in the morning so it was still pretty foggy but we had the whole place to ourselves! The walkway was lined with palm trees and a beautiful fountain that turned on just as we walked in. The entrance fee was 300 Indian Rupees (about 4 US Dollars).
Lodhi Gardens
The Lodhi Gardens were picture perfect on this foggy morning. The walkway lined with palm trees, the morning mist around the tombs.. it was all beautiful. The gardens are in a very nice part of town and seemed to be a pretty popular spot for morning joggers! Entrance to the gardens is free.
Delhi, India Travel Tips
- Be aware of scammers. Delhi was by far the worst spot in India for scams during our trip. I’ll be writing a blog post soon on scams to watch out for!
- Hire a tuk tuk driver for the day. It’s much cheaper than a taxi and it’s definitely the most convenient way to get around. Your driver will drop you off wherever you want to go and pick you back up whenever you’re done.
- Everything is a bit more expensive in Delhi. Compared to other parts of India, that is. Most things are still relatively cheap, but you’ll notice that prices on things like tuk tuks and food are a bit higher than in cities like Jaipur and Agra.
- Stop for lunch at Cafe Brownie. The owner is so friendly and the food was so good that we ate here three times during our stay in Delhi! The cafe is located right next to Hotel Grand Godwin. You have to try the chocolate cake! 😉
What are some of your favorite spots in Delhi? Share in a comment below!
Like it? Pin it!
Don’t forget to check out these other India posts:
- A Sunrise Trip to the Taj Mahal
- Agra, India Travel Guide
- Best Places to Visit in Jaipur
- The Golden Triangle Guide and Itinerary
- India Travel Tips
New Delhi looks so beautiful! I love the terracotta colours. Also, I would love to see that stepwell, what an incredible place!
Author
The stepwell was one of my favorites! 😁
Love seeing these photos! I didn’t go out in Delhi, I got soooo sick and was glued to my bed and toilet for 2 days :p
Author
Oh no that’s awful! Delhi belly is the worst 😂 hopefully you’ll be able to go again someday!
Great guide! I had some of the best food ever in New Delhi and would go back just for that! Loved reading your ideas of more things to do and see when I return.
Author
Thank you! I definitely agree, I would absolutely go back just for some of the food!
I still haven’t been to India but I really want to go!! Thank you for this guide, will definitely help me plan!