Top 12 Things to Do in New Delhi (2026 Guide)

Most travellers pass through Delhi on the way to the Taj Mahal and never give the city its due. That is a mistake. New Delhi is where three centuries of Indian history sit within a single rickshaw ride — Mughal forts and mosques, a UNESCO‑listed minaret older than the Taj, and a street‑food culture so dense that a single lane in Chandni Chowk can feed you for a day. The trick is to balance the headline monuments with the slower, sensory experiences the city does best.

Our New Delhi destination page gathers every bookable experience in one place, the full tours catalog lets you compare experiences across India and beyond, our New Delhi things‑to‑do guide walks through the sights in depth, and our cultural tours round up the best heritage walks and temple visits if you want to go deeper. For official destination information, see Incredible India.

The Red Fort (Lal Qila), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the monument most visitors picture when they think of Delhi — a vast Mughal fortress of red sandstone walls, marble pavilions, and audience halls built by Shah Jahan in the 17th century. Arrive at opening time to enjoy the courtyards before the crowds thicken, and walk through the Chatta Chowk bazaar inside the gate, a covered market that has been trading for centuries.

This is general guidance — opening hours and ticketing arrangements change, so confirm current details with the tour provider or official site before you go.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Qutub Minar is the tallest brick minaret in the world at 73 metres, its fluted sandstone tower covered in intricate calligraphy and carvings. The surrounding Qutub complex holds older ruins, including the famous iron pillar that has resisted rust for over 1,600 years. It is one of the finest Delhi cultural attractions and a must for any first visit.

Chandni Chowk, the chaotic heart of Old Delhi, is one of the great street‑food districts on earth — paratha stalls that have served the same corner for generations, jalebi being fried in enormous pans, and chaat that redefines the word. A guided food tour is the single best way to navigate it: someone else steers you past the tourist traps, translates the menus, and times the stops.

For more culinary ideas, browse our food tours worldwide or compare every Delhi tour bookable with our partner GetYourGuide.

A short walk from Chandni Chowk, Jama Masjid was built by Shah Jahan to hold 25,000 worshippers in its vast courtyard. Climb the southern minaret (a narrow, steep stair) for a sweeping view over Old Delhi's rooftops and the Red Fort. Dress conservatively, and women are provided with robes at the entrance.

Often called the dress rehearsal for the Taj Mahal, Humayun's Tomb is a serene garden mausoleum built in the 1570s — a perfect Persian‑charbagh garden symmetry with a white marble dome rising over red sandstone. It is quieter than the Red Fort and, for many visitors, the most beautiful Mughal monument in the city. It ranks high among our favourite cultural tours in Delhi.

New Delhi's ceremonial boulevard, Rajpath (now Kartavya Path), runs from the President's house down to India Gate, the 42‑metre war memorial arch. The avenue is at its best in the early evening, when families come out to stroll and the fountains are lit. It is the clearest glimpse of Lutyens' colonial‑era city planning.

A modern contrast to the Mughal monuments, the Lotus Temple is a Bahá'í house of worship shaped like a giant white lotus, set among landscaped pools and gardens. Silence is required inside, which makes it one of the most peaceful stops in a city that is rarely quiet. Entry is free.

Akshardham is an enormous, intricately carved Hindu temple complex that blends traditional craftsmanship with modern multimedia exhibitions. The evening water show, set to music, is genuinely spectacular. Note that security is strict and phones and cameras are not allowed inside, so leave them at your hotel.

A cycle rickshaw is the only sane way to move through the narrow lanes of Old Delhi — past spice markets, wedding bazaars, and silver shops too tight for a car. Many Delhi tours bundle a rickshaw ride with a Chandni Chowk food walk and a visit to Jama Masjid, which is the most efficient way to see the old city in a single morning.

Dilli Haat is an open‑air craft market where artisans from across India sell textiles, jewellery, pottery, and regional food in shaded stalls. It is calmer and more curated than the old‑city bazaars, and a good place to pick up souvenirs with fixed, fair prices. Pair it with a cultural tour for context on the crafts.

Connaught Place, the colonnaded heart of New Delhi, is where the city's colonial and modern sides meet — grand circular arcades, restaurants, and a lively evening crowd. It is a relaxed place to end a day of sightseeing, with everything from North Indian thalis to international cuisine within a short walk.

If you have a spare day, the Taj Mahal in Agra is reachable by fast train in under two hours, and many travellers combine it with Agra Fort. A guided Delhi tour with transport included removes the ticketing and timing stress entirely. Browse our day trips worldwide for more escapes from major cities.

Use the Delhi Metro to skip traffic — it is clean, air‑conditioned, and reaches most major sights. Dress conservatively at religious sites, carry small bills for rickshaws and food carts, and avoid tap water. The best seasons are October to March; summer heat is fierce. Prices, opening hours, and train schedules change — confirm current details with your tour provider before you travel.

When you are ready to book, every experience on our New Delhi page is bookable directly with GetYourGuide, our trusted partner for skip‑the‑line tickets and local guides.

If your travels take you further afield, our Istanbul cultural tours guide explores mosques and bazaars, our Beijing things‑to‑do guide covers temples and history, and our Rome Colosseum guide breaks down tickets and tours for the ancient city.