Outdoors · Delhi · India
5 best outdoor things to do in Delhi
Parks, viewpoints and open-air sights for the dry, bright days.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Wasir kasab, CC BY 4.0
Quick answer
Start with Lodhi Garden, Hauz Khas Complex and Mehrauli Archaeological Park. Together the 5 picks below take roughly 7–9 hours across 4 areas; 3 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 5
- Free entry
- 3
- Time to see them all
- 7–9 hours
- Areas
- Lutyens' Delhi, Hauz Khas Village and Mehrauli
Outdoors in Delhi
Park · Lutyens' Delhi
1.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
Historic site · Hauz Khas Village
2.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
3.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
Park · Nizamuddin
4.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
5.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
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Lutyens' Delhi | Lodhi Garden and National Rail Museum | 1–2 hours + 2 hours |
| Hauz Khas Village | Hauz Khas Complex | 1 hour |
| Mehrauli | Mehrauli Archaeological Park | 1.5–2 hours |
| Nizamuddin | Sunder Nursery | 1.5 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 5, 3 free, 2 low cost. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Lodhi Garden; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 2 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Lutyens' Delhi and Hauz Khas Village): Lodhi Garden → National Rail Museum → Hauz Khas Complex, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Mehrauli and Nizamuddin): Mehrauli Archaeological Park → Sunder Nursery, at least 3 hours.
The best months to be outside
- December: highs of 23°C (73°F), about 1 rainy days, busy crowds. Cool, often hazy days and cold nights, with fog and pollution; busy with holidaymakers over Christmas and New Year.
- January: highs of 20°C (68°F), about 2 rainy days, busy crowds. Cool days, cold nights and frequent morning fog that can delay flights and trains; air pollution is often high.
- February: highs of 24°C (75°F), about 3 rainy days, busy crowds. Sunny and pleasant with mild nights; the Amrit Udyan gardens at Rashtrapati Bhavan usually open to the public.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- 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?
Lodhi Garden. Delhi's favourite park covers about 90 acres and contains 15th- and 16th-century tombs of the Sayyid and Lodi rulers, including the octagonal tomb of Mohammed Shah and Sikandar Lodi's walled tomb.
+Which of these are free in Delhi?
Lodhi Garden, Hauz Khas Complex and Mehrauli Archaeological Park.