New Delhi travel guide
Capital City of India
New Delhi is India’s capital city, known for its ceremonial avenues, historic monuments, museums, gardens, vibrant markets, and political institutions. It blends Mughal heritage, colonial architecture, and modern urban life, making it a major destination for cultural, historical, and urban tourism.
Best time to visit New Delhi
Oct and Feb–Mar are best: pleasant and clearer. Nov–Jan is cool but often smoggy, with dense fog in Dec–Jan; avoid the May–Jun heat.
| Month | Verdict | Temperature | Rain | Crowds | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | good | 8–20 °C | 20 mm | high | Coldest month; dense fog delays trains and flights, and smog is common |
| February | best | 11–24 °C | 20 mm | medium | Mild days and cool nights; air clearing, Amrit Udyan gardens open |
| March | best | 16–30 °C | 15 mm | medium | Warm, sunny and clearer; Holi usually falls this month |
| April | mixed | 21–36 °C | 15 mm | medium | Heat builds fast; late April often tops 40 °C |
| May | avoid | 26–40 °C | 30 mm | medium | Scorching, with hot loo winds and dust storms |
| June | avoid | 28–39 °C | 70 mm | medium | Searing and humid until the monsoon arrives near month-end |
| July | mixed | 28–36 °C | 210 mm | low | Humid with heavy showers; roads often waterlog, but the air is cleanest |
| August | mixed | 27–34 °C | 230 mm | low | Humid with frequent showers; parks lush and the air relatively clean |
| September | mixed | 25–34 °C | 120 mm | low | Hot and sticky; the monsoon withdraws late in the month |
| October | best | 20–33 °C | 15 mm | medium | Dry and warm, cooling by month-end; air quality often slips late on |
| November | good | 13–28 °C | 5 mm | high | Pleasant days, cool nights; smog often at its worst, so check air quality |
| December | good | 8–23 °C | 10 mm | high | Cold nights; dense fog and smog can delay flights and trains |
How many days to spend in New Delhi
Three days cover the Red Fort, Humayun's Tomb and Qutb Minar; a fourth leaves time for Akshardham and the markets.
How to reach New Delhi
- By air: Delhi (DEL) — 16 km, about 25–45 min by road. Airport Express metro runs to New Delhi station
- By train: New Delhi (NDLS) — 6 km, about 10–25 min by road. Many trains use Old Delhi, Hazrat Nizamuddin or Anand Vihar instead
Getting around
The Delhi Metro reaches most sights and beats the traffic, though interchanges are packed at rush hour; use app cabs or autos for the rest.
Things to do in New Delhi
- India Gate — Memorial
- Qutb Minar — Minaret (1.5 h · ₹35)
- Red Fort — Fort (2.5 h · ₹35)
- Lotus Temple — Temple (1 h · Free entry)
- Swaminarayan Akshardham — Complex (3 h · Free entry)
- Humayun’s Tomb — Tomb (1.5 h · ₹35)
- Jama Masjid — Mosque (1 h · Free entry)
- Connaught Place — Market
- Chandni Chowk — Bazaar
- Raj Ghat — Memorial
- Rashtrapati Bhavan — Palace (2 h · Paid entry)
- Lodhi Garden — Garden (1.5 h · Free entry)
- Gurudwara Bangla Sahib — Shrine (1.5 h · Free entry)
- Jantar Mantar — Observatory (1 h · ₹20)
- Purana Quila — Fort (2 h · ₹20)
- National Museum, New Delhi — Museum (2.5 h · Paid entry)
- Hauz Khas — Complex
- Agrasen ki Baoli — Stepwell (45 min · Free entry)
- Sunder Nursery — Park (2 h · Paid entry)
- Dilli Haat - INA — Market (2 h · Paid entry)
- Khan Market — Market (2 h · Free entry)
- Dargah Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia — Shrine (1.5 h · Free entry)
- National Rail Museum — Museum (2.5 h · Paid entry)
- Gandhi Smriti — Memorial
- Sansad Bhawan Delhi — Parliament (1.5 h · Free entry)
- Sarojini Nagar Market — Market
- National Zoological Park, Delhi — Zoo (3.5 h · Paid entry)
- Nehru Planetarium, New Delhi — Planet (1.5 h · Paid entry)
- Amrit Udyan — Garden (2 h · Free entry)
- Kartavya Path — Boulevard
- Pragati Maidan — Expo
- Birla Mandir Garden — Temple (1 h · Free entry)
- ISKCON Temple - Glory of India — Temple (1.5 h · Free entry)
- Safdarjung Tomb, Delhi — Tomb (1 h · ₹20)
- Mehrauli Archaeological Park Heritage Walk — Heritage (2.5 h · Free entry)
- Janpath Market — Market (1.5 h · Free entry)
- Feroz Shah Kotla Fort — Fort
- Asola-Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary, New Delhi — Wildlife (3 h · ₹10)
- Najafgarh — Birding
- Garden Of Five Senses — Garden
- Tughlaqabad Fort Delhi — Fort (2.5 h · ₹20)
- Sanjay Van — Forest (2 h · Free entry)
- Yamuna Biodiversity Park — Nature (2 h · Free entry)
- Lodhi Art District — Art (1.5 h · Free entry)
- Waste to Wonder Theme Park — Park (1.5 h · Paid entry)
- Deer Park — Park
- Buddha Jayanti Park — Park (1.5 h · Free entry)
- Bharat Darshan Park — Park (1.5 h)
- National Science Centre — Science (3 h · Paid entry)
- National Gallery Of Modern Art — Gallery
- Indira Gandhi Memorial Museum — Museum (1.5 h · Free entry)
- Sacred Heart Cathedral — Church (30 min · Free entry)
- Cathedral Church of The Redemption (C.N.I.) — Church (30 min · Free entry)
- Shahpur Jat — Village
- New Shere Punjabi Dhaba — Memorial
- Sulabh International Museum Of Toilets — Museum (1 h · Free entry)
Food to try in New Delhi
- Chaat — Old Delhi's street stalls are the classic; Bengali Market near Connaught Place is easier going
- Butter chicken — Invented in Delhi; chicken in a rich tomato and butter gravy, eaten with naan
- Parathas of Paranthe Wali Gali — Stuffed parathas fried in ghee at the stalls of this old lane in Chandni Chowk
Frequently asked questions
What is the best time to visit New Delhi?
Oct and Feb–Mar are best: pleasant and clearer. Nov–Jan is cool but often smoggy, with dense fog in Dec–Jan; avoid the May–Jun heat.
How many days are enough for New Delhi?
3–4 days. Three days cover the Red Fort, Humayun's Tomb and Qutb Minar; a fourth leaves time for Akshardham and the markets.
How do I reach New Delhi?
By air: Delhi (DEL) — 16 km, about 25–45 min by road. Airport Express metro runs to New Delhi station. By train: New Delhi (NDLS) — 6 km, about 10–25 min by road. Many trains use Old Delhi, Hazrat Nizamuddin or Anand Vihar instead.
What are the top things to do in New Delhi?
India Gate, Qutb Minar, Red Fort, Lotus Temple, Swaminarayan Akshardham, Humayun’s Tomb.
Plan your New Delhi trip
Open Guide My Holiday to turn these places into a routed, day-by-day itinerary and book a cab that follows it.
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Guide checked on 2026-10-06.