Free things to do · Delhi · India
13 free things to do in Delhi
Delhi without the ticket prices: sights, walks and views that cost nothing.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Goutam1962, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
You can fill at least 4 days in Delhi without paying an entry fee: Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk, India Gate and Kartavya Path and Khari Baoli spice market are all free. Buy Archaeological Survey of India tickets online; e-tickets are usually a little cheaper and save queuing.
Key facts
- Free sights in this guide
- 13
- Low-cost extras
- 7
- Cost level
- Affordable
- Lowest hotel prices
- May–July
Free sights and experiences
Religious site · Old Delhi
1.Jama Masjid
Enter by Gate 1 or 3, dress modestly (robes are lent at the gate), and avoid prayer times, especially Friday midday.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Free
- Views
Street · Old Delhi
2.Chandni Chowk
Hire a cycle-rickshaw for the lanes, and go with a food-walk guide if you want to try street food safely.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- History
- Iconic
Landmark · Lutyens' Delhi
3.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.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- After dark
- Kids
- History
Market · Old Delhi
4.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.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- Photo spot
Religious site · Connaught Place
5.Gurudwara Bangla Sahib
Cover your head (scarves are provided), remove shoes and socks, and sit on the floor to share the langar meal.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- Architecture
- After dark
Park · Lutyens' Delhi
6.Lodhi Garden
Go at sunrise or late afternoon, then have coffee or lunch at nearby Khan Market or Lodhi Colony.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Couples
- History
- Kids
Religious site · Nizamuddin
7.Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah
Arrive around sunset on Thursday for qawwali, cover your head, dress modestly and leave shoes at the stalls in the lane.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- After dark
- History
Religious site · East Delhi
8.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.
- Time needed
- 3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Architecture
- Kids
- After dark
- Free
Architecture · Kalkaji
9.Lotus Temple
Keep silent inside, and photograph the building from the garden paths in the soft late-afternoon light.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Photo spot
Museum · Lutyens' Delhi
10.Gandhi Smriti
Follow the concrete footsteps in the garden that trace Gandhi's final walk to the prayer ground.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Rainy day
Historic site · Connaught Place
11.Agrasen ki Baoli
Visit in the morning for soft light down the steps, then walk back to Connaught Place for lunch.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Off the beaten path
- Architecture
- Photo spot
Historic site · Hauz Khas Village
12.Hauz Khas Complex
Visit at sunset when the domes glow and the lake is calm, then stay for dinner in the village.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Couples
- Outdoors
Historic site · Mehrauli
13.Mehrauli Archaeological Park
Walk in from the Qutb Minar side in the morning, and carry water as there are few facilities.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Off the beaten path
- History
- Outdoors
Free sights by area
| Area | Free sights | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Old Delhi | Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk and Khari Baoli spice market | 1 hour + Half a day + 1 hour |
| Lutyens' Delhi | India Gate and Kartavya Path, Lodhi Garden and Gandhi Smriti | 1 hour + 1–2 hours + 1–1.5 hours |
| Connaught Place | Gurudwara Bangla Sahib and Agrasen ki Baoli | 1 hour + 30 minutes |
| Nizamuddin | Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah | 1–1.5 hours |
| East Delhi | Swaminarayan Akshardham | 3 hours |
| Kalkaji | Lotus Temple | 1 hour |
| Hauz Khas Village | Hauz Khas Complex | 1 hour |
| Mehrauli | Mehrauli Archaeological Park | 1.5–2 hours |
Worth a small ticket
Castle · Old Delhi
Red Fort
Buy entry tickets online to save time and money, and combine the fort with Chandni Chowk and Jama Masjid on foot.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
Historic site · Nizamuddin
Humayun's Tomb
Visit in the late afternoon for warm light on the sandstone, then walk next door to Sunder Nursery.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
Historic site · Mehrauli
Qutb Minar
Arrive early to see the carvings without crowds, then walk into the neighbouring Mehrauli Archaeological Park.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
Park · Nizamuddin
Sunder Nursery
Combine it with Humayun's Tomb next door and bring a picnic for the lawns on a winter afternoon.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Couples
- Nature
- History
Museum · Lutyens' Delhi
National Rail Museum
Bring children on a cooler winter morning and ride the joy train before it gets busy.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- History
- Outdoors
Museum · Pragati Maidan
National Crafts Museum
Leave time for the textile gallery and the craftspeople's stalls, which sell work directly from the makers.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
- Shopping
Palace · Lutyens' Delhi
Rashtrapati Bhavan
Watch the Change of Guard ceremony if it coincides with your visit, and view the facade down Kartavya Path from India Gate.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- History
More ways to save
- Buy Archaeological Survey of India tickets online; e-tickets are usually a little cheaper and save queuing.
- Use the metro and app-based autos instead of hailing taxis or autos on the street.
- Eat at dhabas, gurdwara langars and Old Delhi stalls for excellent food at very low cost.
- Many of Delhi's best sights, including Lodhi Garden, India Gate, Jama Masjid and several temples, are free.
- Hire a car with driver for the Agra trip if you are in a group; it often costs less than individual train tickets plus taxis.
- Hotel prices drop sharply in the hot and monsoon months, from May to September.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Delhi expensive to visit?
Delhi is affordable for most visitors, but 13 of its best-known sights are free, which makes a tight budget workable.
+What is the best free thing to do in Delhi?
Jama Masjid: Enter by Gate 1 or 3, dress modestly (robes are lent at the gate), and avoid prayer times, especially Friday midday.