Quick answer
Delhi's essentials are Humayun's Tomb, the Qutub Minar, the Red Fort and a rickshaw ride through Old Delhi to Jama Masjid, plus Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, India Gate and Akshardham. Add Lodhi Garden and Thursday qawwali at Nizamuddin. Two full days covers the core if you group sights by area and use the Metro.
13 things worth your time in Delhi
- 01
Humayun's Tomb
LandmarkA UNESCO-listed 16th-century garden tomb that set the template for the Taj Mahal, beautifully restored over the past two decades.
1.5–2 hoursAbout ₹35–50 for IndiansPair it with Sunder Nursery next door and qawwali at Nizamuddin Dargah.
- 02
Red Fort
LandmarkShah Jahan's palace-fort, with museums inside on the 1857 uprising and the freedom struggle.
1.5–2 hoursAbout ₹35–50 for IndiansClosed on Mondays. The evening sound-and-light show is ticketed separately.
- 03
Old Delhi: Chandni Chowk, Jama Masjid and Khari Baoli
ExperienceJama Masjid's courtyard holds about 25,000 worshippers, the minaret has the best view over Old Delhi, and Khari Baoli is one of Asia's largest spice markets.
3–4 hoursFree; camera fee at Jama Masjid; rickshaw ₹150–300Go on a weekday morning. Tourists can't enter the mosque during prayer times.
- 04
Qutub Minar and Mehrauli Archaeological Park
LandmarkA 73 m minaret begun in 1199, and next door a free park of tombs, stepwells and ruins spanning a thousand years.
2–3 hoursAbout ₹35–50 for the Qutub; the park is freeMehrauli park is quiet and large; walk it in daylight and in company.
- 05
Akshardham
LandmarkA modern temple complex of carved pink sandstone and white marble, with exhibitions and an evening water show.
3–4 hoursFree entry; exhibitions and the water show are paidPhones, cameras and bags are not allowed; use the cloakroom. Closed on Mondays.
- 06
Lodhi Garden and Lodhi Art District
NatureTombs of the Sayyid and Lodi dynasties in 90 acres of lawns, plus street murals across the lanes of Lodhi Colony.
1.5 hoursFreeBefore 9 am is best, when walkers and birdwatchers have it to themselves.
- 07
Sunder Nursery
NatureA restored Mughal-era nursery with tombs, ponds, a bonsai house and weekend food markets.
1.5 hoursSmall entry feeWeekday mornings are quiet; weekend evenings have markets and concerts.
- 08
Nizamuddin Dargah qawwali
ExperienceThe Sufi shrine of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya, where qawwals sing in the courtyard after evening prayers, best on Thursdays.
1 hourFree; donations welcomeCover your head and dress modestly. Women are not allowed into the inner tomb chamber.
- 09
Gurudwara Bangla Sahib
LandmarkA Sikh shrine near Connaught Place with a sarovar and a kitchen serving free langar to thousands every day.
1 hourFreeCover your head; scarves are provided. Volunteers in the kitchen are welcome.
- 10
India Gate, Kartavya Path and the National War Memorial
LandmarkThe ceremonial axis from Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate, redeveloped in 2022, with the National War Memorial alongside.
1.5 hoursFreeBest in the evening when lit. Closed around 26 January for parade rehearsals.
- 11
Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya
LandmarkA museum of India's prime ministers at Teen Murti, with interactive galleries on post-1947 history that work well for teenagers.
2–3 hoursAbout ₹100–200 for IndiansBook online to skip the ticket queue.
- 12
Dilli Haat, INA
ShoppingAn open-air crafts bazaar with stalls rotating from every state, plus regional food counters from Nagaland to Kerala.
2 hoursSmall entry feeBargaining is fine for textiles; food prices are fixed.
- 13
Hauz Khas Village and Deer Park
ExperienceRuins of a 14th-century madrasa over a lake, a deer park and a strip of cafés and bars.
2 hoursFreeWeekday sunsets are best; weekend nights get crowded.
How many days do you need in Delhi?
Two full days cover the headline sights; three let you split Old and New Delhi properly and add a food walk. Delhi is huge, at about 1,500 sq km, so group sights by area and use the Metro, which reaches almost everything on this list and dodges the traffic.
A sensible way to group the city
- Old Delhi: Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk, Khari Baoli. One morning, by cycle-rickshaw.
- Central Delhi: India Gate, Kartavya Path, Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, Connaught Place, Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya.
- Nizamuddin belt: Humayun's Tomb, Sunder Nursery, the dargah, Lodhi Garden.
- South: Qutub Minar, Mehrauli, Hauz Khas, Dilli Haat.
- East: Akshardham, best as a half-day on its own.
Days and closures
The Red Fort, Akshardham, the Lotus Temple and most museums close on Mondays. Jama Masjid closes to tourists at prayer times. Humayun's Tomb and the Qutub Minar are open daily from sunrise to sunset, so they are the Monday plan.
Buy ASI tickets online: it skips the queue, and you show the QR code on your phone at the gate.
Getting around
The Delhi Metro runs roughly from 5:30 am to 11 pm, and the Airport Express links IGI Terminal 3 with New Delhi station in about 20 minutes. App cabs and autos fill the gaps. Avoid the roads between 9 and 11 am and 5 and 8 pm.
Plan the rest
See the best time to visit Delhi for the smog season, the Delhi food guide for Old Delhi's classics, and where to stay in Delhi. Delhi starts most Golden Triangle trips, and Agra is under two hours away by train.
Frequently asked questions
What is closed in Delhi on Mondays?
Is the Delhi Metro good for sightseeing?
Can I take my phone into Akshardham?
Is Old Delhi safe for tourists?
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Written and fact-checked by the Elitech Travels editorial desk in New Delhi, drawing on our consultants' day-to-day booking work and the official sources below. Rules, fares and fees change — always confirm anything critical with the issuing authority before you travel. Our editorial policy.
