3 days in Delhi

Day by day

1. Day 1: Red Fort and Jama Masjid

   Red Fort, Jama Masjid and Chandni Chowk, then India Gate and Kartavya Path in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Red Fort

      Shah Jahan's red sandstone palace-fortress, completed in 1648, was the seat of Mughal emperors for two centuries.

   2. Late morning

      Jama Masjid

      Enter by Gate 1 or 3, dress modestly (robes are lent at the gate), and avoid prayer times, especially Friday midday.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Butter chicken

      Punjabi restaurants across the city, especially around Daryaganj and in South Delhi markets.

   4. Afternoon

      Chandni Chowk

      Old Delhi's main 17th-century boulevard runs from the Red Fort to Fatehpuri Masjid, passing Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib, a Jain temple and historic sweet shops.

   5. Evening

      India Gate and Kartavya Path

      Come after sunset when the arch is lit and the lawns fill with families; the area is free and open.

2. Day 2: Humayun's Tomb and Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah

   Humayun's Tomb, Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah and Sunder Nursery, then Gurudwara Bangla Sahib in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Humayun's Tomb

      Visit in the late afternoon for warm light on the sandstone, then walk next door to Sunder Nursery.

   2. Late morning

      Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah

      The shrine of the 14th-century Sufi saint Nizamuddin Auliya is reached through a lane of flower sellers and kebab stalls.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Dal makhani

      Punjabi restaurants and dhabas throughout Delhi.

   4. Afternoon

      Sunder Nursery

      Combine it with Humayun's Tomb next door and bring a picnic for the lawns on a winter afternoon.

   5. Evening

      Gurudwara Bangla Sahib

      Cover your head (scarves are provided), remove shoes and socks, and sit on the floor to share the langar meal.

3. Day 3: Qutb Minar and Mehrauli Archaeological Park

   Qutb Minar, Mehrauli Archaeological Park and Khari Baoli spice market, then Swaminarayan Akshardham in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Qutb Minar

      This 72.5-metre fluted victory tower, begun around 1200 by Qutb-ud-din Aibak, is covered in Quranic inscriptions and stands among the ruins of the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque.

   2. Late morning

      Mehrauli Archaeological Park

      Walk in from the Qutb Minar side in the morning, and carry water as there are few facilities.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Chole bhature

      Specialist shops in Paharganj, Karol Bagh and Kamla Nagar, and food courts across the city.

   4. Afternoon

      Khari Baoli spice market

      At the western end of Chandni Chowk, Khari Baoli is one of Asia's largest wholesale spice markets, where porters carry sacks of chillies, turmeric, cardamom and dried fruit through narrow lanes.

   5. Evening

      Swaminarayan Akshardham

      Phones, cameras and bags are not allowed inside, so leave them at your hotel or use the cloakroom, and allow time for security checks.

Before you go

If it rains

• Swap in Gandhi Smriti (Lutyens' Delhi): Follow the concrete footsteps in the garden that trace Gandhi's final walk to the prayer ground.
• Swap in National Crafts Museum (Pragati Maidan): Leave time for the textile gallery and the craftspeople's stalls, which sell work directly from the makers.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, Connaught Place keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Paharganj ($) suits budget and solo travellers. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 19–22 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 10.3 hours in December to 14 hours in June.

More or fewer days

• One day in Delhi
• 2 days in Delhi
• 5 days in Delhi

Questions travellers ask