5 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

      Buy entry tickets online to save time and money, and combine the fort with Chandni Chowk and Jama Masjid on foot. (2 hours, low cost).

   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. (1 hour, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Butter chicken

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

   4. Afternoon

      Chandni Chowk

      Hire a cycle-rickshaw for the lanes, and go with a food-walk guide if you want to try street food safely. (Half a day, free).

   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. (1.5–2 hours, low cost).

   2. Late morning

      Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah

      Arrive around sunset on Thursday for qawwali, cover your head, dress modestly and leave shoes at the stalls in the lane. (1–1.5 hours, free).

   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. (1.5 hours, low cost).

   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

      Arrive early to see the carvings without crowds, then walk into the neighbouring Mehrauli Archaeological Park. (1.5 hours, low cost).

   2. Late morning

      Mehrauli Archaeological Park

      Walk in from the Qutb Minar side in the morning, and carry water as there are few facilities. (1.5–2 hours, free).

   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

      Cover your nose and mouth with a scarf when chillies are being unloaded, and ask a shopkeeper or guide to show you the rooftop. (1 hour, free).

   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.

4. Day 4: Day trip to Agra and the Taj Mahal

   About 2 hours by express train each way. Getting there: Gatimaan or Vande Bharat express, or car via the Yamuna Expressway.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Agra and the Taj Mahal

      About 2 hours by express train (Gatimaan or Vande Bharat express, or car via the Yamuna Expressway); about 230 km.

   2. Day

      Agra and the Taj Mahal

      The white marble Taj Mahal, built by Shah Jahan for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, is best at sunrise. Best for first-timers, couples and culture.

   3. Evening

      Back in Delhi

      Dinner: try Stuffed parathas.

5. Day 5: Lodhi Garden and Gandhi Smriti

   Lodhi Garden, Gandhi Smriti and National Rail Museum, then Hauz Khas Village in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Lodhi Garden

      Go at sunrise or late afternoon, then have coffee or lunch at nearby Khan Market or Lodhi Colony. (1–2 hours, free).

   2. Late morning

      Gandhi Smriti

      Follow the concrete footsteps in the garden that trace Gandhi's final walk to the prayer ground. (1–1.5 hours, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Stuffed parathas

      Paranthe Wali Gali, a lane off Chandni Chowk lined with paratha shops.

   4. Afternoon

      National Rail Museum

      Bring children on a cooler winter morning and ride the joy train before it gets busy. (2 hours, low cost).

   5. Evening

      Hauz Khas Village

      Dense lanes of bars and clubs with a young crowd, busiest from Thursday to Saturday.

Before you go

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 5 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 23–27 hours of visiting over 5 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
• 3 days in Delhi

Questions travellers ask