India GO
Delhi itinerary for one, two or three days
Delhi is eight historical capitals on one plain, easiest seen one layer per day: Old Delhi and Humayun's Tomb first, Qutub Minar and Mehrauli second, New Delhi on foot third. The weekday matters as much as the order, because Old Delhi's markets sleep on Sundays and many sights close on Mondays.
👣 Day 1: Old Delhi and the Mughal tombs
If you have only one day, this is it: the walled city in the morning, the gardens of Nizamuddin in the afternoon. Avoid Sunday, when the Old Delhi lanes are largely shut.
- Morning: Red Fort and Jama Masjid
The Red Fort reads best from outside: the walls are the point and the interior is rather empty. It is closed from about 15 July to 15 August. Then Jama Masjid, India's largest mosque (about 45 minutes): climb the southern minaret for the view, dress modestly and avoid the midday prayer window.
- Late morning: Chandni Chowk on foot
Walk Chandni Chowk for street food and the crush, with a stop at Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib, where the ninth Sikh Guru was executed in 1675. At the western end, the Khari Baoli spice market is busiest mid-morning. Ghalib ki Haveli, the poet's last home, takes fifteen minutes (closed Mondays).
- Afternoon: Humayun's Tomb and Sunder Nursery
Humayun's Tomb, the 16th-century garden tomb where Mughal architecture took the form later seen at the Taj Mahal, stands beside Sunder Nursery (open 7:00–19:00). Lunch at the Zaika-e-Nizamuddin food truck in the park.
- Late light: Lodhi Garden, or qawwali on a Thursday
Lodhi Garden keeps old tombs inside a park; Safdarjung's Tomb, directly across the road, is usually far quieter than Humayun's Tomb. On a Thursday, end at Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah for qawwali, Sufi devotional singing, after sunset; entry and the qawwali are free. Come early to sit close.
👣 Day 2: Qutub Minar, Mehrauli and a modern temple
The south of the city is a day of its own.
- Morning: Qutub Minar
Qutub Minar is a 73-metre tower of fluted red sandstone begun around 1199, with the Iron Pillar and the ruins of northern India's earliest mosque at its base. About an hour is enough.
- Late morning: Mehrauli Archaeological Park
Next door, the free Mehrauli Archaeological Park holds more than a hundred monuments, including the Rajon ki Baoli stepwell and the painted ceiling of Jamali Kamali, which most Minar visitors never see. Give it two or three unhurried hours, in proper shoes.
- Afternoon: Lotus Temple or Akshardham
Pick one, and not on a Monday, when both close. The Lotus Temple, the Bahai house of worship, is a silent hall open to all faiths (30–60 minutes). Akshardham needs 3–5 hours with the evening water show; phones stay in the locker, so bring cash.
👣 Day 3: New Delhi on foot
Colonial New Delhi and the centre around Connaught Place. Most of the museums here close on Mondays.
- Morning: around Connaught Place
Agrasen ki Baoli, a free 14th-century stepwell, and Jantar Mantar, the stone observatory of 1724, are both walkable from Connaught Place. At Gurudwara Bangla Sahib anyone can help roll rotis in the langar, the free kitchen, served roughly 09:00–15:00.
- Midday: a museum
The National Gallery of Modern Art near India Gate needs 2–3 hours and keeps you indoors through the hottest part of the day. Gandhi Smriti, the house where Gandhi spent his final months, takes 1–2 hours. Both are closed on Mondays.
- Dusk: India Gate
End at India Gate, the memorial arch to soldiers of British India. The National War Memorial just east of it is open until about 19:30–20:30 by season, with a short ceremony at the eternal flame most evenings.
✅ Plan around Sunday and Monday
Sunday is the wrong day for Old Delhi: the spice market is closed and the Chandni Chowk lanes are largely shut. Monday is the day many indoor sights close.
- Monday: outdoor monuments only — Akshardham, the Lotus Temple, NGMA, Gandhi Smriti, Ghalib ki Haveli and Rashtrapati Bhavan are closed. Qutub Minar, Mehrauli, the parks and the Old Delhi bazaars stay open.
- Book the President's house in advance — Rashtrapati Bhavan is seen only on pre-booked tours (approx. ₹50, as of July 2026), reserved online with a passport or ID.
Day four and the season
With more time, Purana Qila and the zoo beside it make an easy full day (the zoo is closed on Fridays), and the National Rail Museum is half a day with children. From November to February, the Okhla Bird Sanctuary is best at first light.
The season changes the plan more than the route does. October and February to March are the best months. From November to January smog can push the AQI past 450, so keep museums as a fallback. In May and June, when heat passes 45°C, start at opening time and spend midday indoors. See best time to visit, getting around and day trips.
❓ FAQ
How many days do I need to see Delhi?
Two full days cover Old Delhi, the Mughal tombs and the south. A third gives you New Delhi on foot, a museum and an evening of qawwali at Nizamuddin.
What can I see in Delhi in one day?
Old Delhi in the morning (the Red Fort from outside, Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk), then Humayun's Tomb with Sunder Nursery and Lodhi Garden in the late light. Avoid Sunday, when the Old Delhi lanes are shut.
What are some unique things to do in Delhi?
Sit in on Thursday qawwali at Nizamuddin Dargah, help roll rotis in the langar kitchen at Bangla Sahib, or join a dawn cycle ride through the lanes of Old Delhi.
When is the best time to visit Delhi?
October and February to March, which are dry and cool. Avoid May and June, when heat passes 45°C, and expect smog from November to January.
What is the difference between Delhi and New Delhi?
Delhi is the whole city, rebuilt many times as Lal Kot, Tughlaqabad, Firozabad and Shahjahanabad. New Delhi is the part laid out as the colonial capital in the 20th century, whose grandest building, Rashtrapati Bhavan, was finished in 1929.
The full catalogue, hidden spots and districts on the map, plus “nearby” mode.
Open in India GO