History · Delhi · India
8 historic sites to see in Delhi
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: AKS.9955, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Start with Red Fort, Jama Masjid and Chandni Chowk. Together the 8 picks below take roughly 12–15 hours across 4 areas; 5 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 8
- Free entry
- 5
- Time to see them all
- 12–15 hours
- Areas
- Old Delhi, Nizamuddin and Mehrauli
Historic sites in Delhi
Castle · Old Delhi
1.Red Fort
Inside the Lahori Gate are the Hall of Public Audiences (Diwan-i-Aam), the marble Hall of Private Audiences and museums on Indian independence. India's prime minister addresses the nation from its ramparts every 15 August.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
Religious site · Old Delhi
2.Jama Masjid
Climbing the southern minaret gives a view over Old Delhi's rooftops to the Red Fort.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Free
- Views
Street · Old Delhi
3.Chandni Chowk
Side lanes specialise in parathas, silver jewellery, wedding cards and perfumes, and much of the main street is now pedestrianised by day.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- History
- Iconic
Historic site · Nizamuddin
4.Humayun's Tomb
The complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, also includes the octagonal tomb of Isa Khan.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
Historic site · Mehrauli
5.Qutb Minar
The complex also holds the Alai Darwaza gateway and an iron pillar more than 1,500 years old that has resisted rust.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
Landmark · Lutyens' Delhi
6.India Gate and Kartavya Path
It stands at the end of Kartavya Path, the ceremonial avenue to Rashtrapati Bhavan, and the National War Memorial is next to it. Families picnic and buy ice cream on the lawns in the evenings.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- After dark
- Kids
- History
Park · Lutyens' Delhi
7.Lodhi Garden
Joggers, yoga groups and picnickers fill it in the mornings and evenings.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Couples
- History
- Kids
Religious site · Nizamuddin
8.Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah
In the evenings, especially on Thursdays, qawwali singers perform devotional songs in the courtyard, drawing large crowds.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- After dark
- History
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Old Delhi | Red Fort, Jama Masjid and Chandni Chowk | 2 hours + 1 hour + Half a day |
| Nizamuddin | Humayun's Tomb and Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah | 1.5–2 hours + 1–1.5 hours |
| Mehrauli | Qutb Minar | 1.5 hours |
| Lutyens' Delhi | India Gate and Kartavya Path and Lodhi Garden | 1 hour + 1–2 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 8, 5 free, 3 low cost. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Chandni Chowk; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 4 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Old Delhi): Red Fort → Jama Masjid, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Old Delhi): Chandni Chowk, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Nizamuddin and Mehrauli): Humayun's Tomb → Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah → Qutb Minar, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 4 (Lutyens' Delhi): India Gate and Kartavya Path → Lodhi Garden, at least 2 hours.
The quietest months for queues
- May: highs of 40°C (104°F), about 3 rainy days, very quiet crowds. Extremely hot and dry, with dust storms and highs that can exceed 45 °C; sightseeing is hard work.
- June: highs of 39°C (102°F), about 6 rainy days, very quiet crowds. Fierce heat and humidity until the monsoon arrives, usually around late June.
- April: highs of 36°C (97°F), about 2 rainy days, quiet crowds. Heat builds quickly; plan sightseeing for early morning and late afternoon.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Old Delhi — Mughal-era bazaars, mosques and havelis around Chandni Chowk
- Hauz Khas Village — Medieval reservoir ruins with boutiques, cafés and bars
- Lutyens' Delhi and Chanakyapuri — Leafy avenues of bungalows, embassies and grand hotels
- South Delhi colonies — Residential areas such as Greater Kailash and Defence Colony with B&Bs and markets
More of Delhi
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Delhi?
Red Fort. Shah Jahan's red sandstone palace-fortress, completed in 1648, was the seat of Mughal emperors for two centuries.
+Which of these are free in Delhi?
Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk, India Gate and Kartavya Path, Lodhi Garden and Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah.