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India
Best Things to Do in New Delhi
Looking for the best things to do in New Delhi? We've gathered 10 experiences covering the best attractions New Delhi is known for — tours in New Delhi, food walks, cultural highlights and New Delhi day trips — every one bookable directly with GetYourGuide, our trusted partner for skip-the-line tickets and local guides.
Temples
Delhi’s temples and places of worship
The Lotus Temple, with its 27 marble petals shaped like a blooming lotus, is one of the most photographed of all Delhi attractions, and a rare modern masterpiece among the city’s older monuments. Arrive at opening time to enjoy the pools and gardens before the crowds build.
Pair it with the vast Akshardham complex and the colonial-era cathedrals for a single well-paced circuit. For the full planning walkthrough, see our New Delhi travel guide.
Markets
The bazaars of Old Delhi
Chandni Chowk is the chaotic, sensory heart of Old Delhi — a tangle of spice stalls, sari shops and wedding bazaars that has been trading for centuries. The spice market at Khari Baoli is one of Asia’s largest, its sacks of chilli and turmeric filling the air with colour and scent.
A cycle rickshaw is the only sane way to move through the narrow lanes. Many of our Delhi tours bundle a rickshaw ride with a market walk and a food stop, which is the most efficient way to see the old city in a single morning.
Food tours
Eat your way through Delhi
Delhi is one of the world’s great street-food cities, and a guided food tour is the single best way past the tourist stalls — someone else navigates the lanes, translates the menus and steers you to the parathas, chaat and jalebi the locals actually eat.
Chandni Chowk after dark is sensory overload in the best sense. For a deeper dive, read our things to do in New Delhi guide, or browse every food tour we offer worldwide.
Historic sites
Mughal forts and ancient minarets
Some of the finest Delhi cultural tours centre on the city’s Mughal monuments. The Red Fort (Lal Qila), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the vast red-sandstone fortress most visitors picture when they think of Delhi, while the 73-metre Qutub Minar is the tallest brick minaret in the world.
Humayun’s Tomb — the serene garden mausoleum that was the dress rehearsal for the Taj Mahal — is for many the most beautiful of all. Browse our cultural tours hub to compare heritage walks worldwide, or open the full New Delhi travel guide for planning tips.
Frequently asked questions
New Delhi travel FAQ
What are the top things to do in New Delhi?
The Red Fort, Qutub Minar, Humayun’s Tomb and Jama Masjid are the headline historic sights, while the Lotus Temple and Akshardham add modern architectural wonder. Pair them with a Chandni Chowk food tour and a cycle-rickshaw ride through Old Delhi for a well-rounded first visit.
What are the best Delhi cultural tours?
Guided cultural tours typically weave the Red Fort, Jama Masjid and the lanes of Old Delhi into a single morning with a local guide. Many add Humayun’s Tomb and Qutub Minar, or a rickshaw ride through Chandni Chowk, for a hands-on window into Mughal and colonial Delhi.
Where are the best food tours in New Delhi?
Chandni Chowk in Old Delhi is the city’s great street-food district — paratha stalls, jalebi fried in enormous pans and chaat that redefines the word. A guided food tour lets someone else navigate the lanes, translate the menus and steer you to the stalls the locals actually use.
What are the best markets in New Delhi?
Chandni Chowk for spices, saris and street food; the spice market at Khari Baoli; Dilli Haat for handicrafts and regional food; and Connaught Place for a relaxed colonial-era shopping and dining stroll. Most Old Delhi markets are easiest to reach on a guided tour with a rickshaw included.
What historic sites should I not miss in Delhi?
The Red Fort (Lal Qila), the towering Qutub Minar, the garden mausoleum of Humayun’s Tomb and the vast courtyard of Jama Masjid are the unmissable historic sites — all UNESCO-listed or of comparable stature. Humayun’s Tomb, the dress rehearsal for the Taj Mahal, is for many the most beautiful.
How many days do I need in New Delhi?
Three full days is a comfortable minimum — enough to cover the major monuments, take a Chandni Chowk food tour, explore a market and fit in one day trip without rushing. Add a fourth day for a Taj Mahal day trip to Agra if you want to see more of the region.
What is the best time to visit New Delhi?
The cool, dry season from October to March is the most comfortable, with warm days and crisp evenings. Summer (April to June) is fiercely hot, and the monsoon (July to September) brings heavy rain. Winter mornings can be foggy, which softens the light over the monuments.
Explore New Delhi tours
Every Delhi tour above is bookable directly with GetYourGuide — skip-the-line tickets, local guides and free cancellation on most experiences. Ready to dive deeper? Open the full New Delhi travel guide.
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