Trip highlights
- 1Red Fort and Jama Masjid
- 2Old Delhi street food and rickshaw ride
- 3Humayun's Tomb and Qutub Minar
- 4India Gate and Lutyens' Delhi
- 5Optional Taj Mahal day trip
Daily spend
Where you're going
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In pictures
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Day-by-day plan
Arrival & Old Delhi
Wednesday, January 20
Est. spend
$70
per person
🌅 Morning
Arrive at Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL)
Indira Gandhi International Airport
The Delhi Airport Metro Express connects to New Delhi station in about 20 minutes; prepaid taxis are also reliable and not much more expensive.
Use the prepaid taxi counter or a reputable rideshare app rather than unmetered taxis outside the terminal.
☀️ Afternoon
Red Fort
Netaji Subhash Marg, Old Delhi
The main residence of Mughal emperors for nearly 200 years, a massive red sandstone fortress complex and UNESCO World Heritage Site at the heart of Old Delhi.
Visit in the late afternoon when the light on the red sandstone walls is most striking, and crowds thin slightly before closing.
🌙 Evening
Jama Masjid and Old Delhi rickshaw ride
Jama Masjid, Old Delhi
India's largest mosque, built by the same Mughal emperor (Shah Jahan) who built the Taj Mahal, followed by a cycle-rickshaw ride through Old Delhi's chaotic, narrow Chandni Chowk market lanes.
The rickshaw ride through Chandni Chowk's lanes is genuinely one of the best sensory experiences in Delhi — agree a fare before starting.
🍽️ Meals
Airport or hotel breakfast
Indian · $8
Old Delhi street lunch
North Indian · $8
Chandni Chowk dinner
North Indian street food · $12 · Paranthe Wali Gali (Fried Bread Lane) has served stuffed paranthas from the same family shops for generations.
Humayun's Tomb & Qutub Minar
Thursday, January 21
Est. spend
$95
per person
🌅 Morning
Humayun's Tomb
Mathura Rd, Nizamuddin East
A 16th-century Mughal garden tomb widely considered the direct architectural inspiration for the Taj Mahal — its symmetrical gardens and red sandstone-and-marble design are stunning in their own right.
Visit before the Taj Mahal (if your itinerary includes it) to better appreciate how directly it influenced that later, more famous monument.
☀️ Afternoon
Qutub Minar
Qutub Minar, Mehrauli
A 73-metre minaret begun in 1192, the tallest brick minaret in the world, surrounded by an extensive complex of ruins including the famous Iron Pillar, which has resisted rust for over 1,600 years.
The site is large — allow real time to explore the surrounding ruins, not just the tower itself.
🌙 Evening
Dinner in Hauz Khas Village
Hauz Khas Village, Delhi
A trendy enclave built around a 14th-century reservoir and Islamic monuments, now home to boutiques, art galleries, and some of Delhi's best restaurants and bars.
🍽️ Meals
Hotel breakfast
Indian · $8
Mehrauli area lunch
North Indian · $10
Hauz Khas Village dinner
Indian/International · $30
Taj Mahal Day Trip (Agra)
Friday, January 22
Est. spend
$130
per person
🌅 Morning
Early train to Agra
New Delhi Railway Station
The Gatimaan Express or other fast trains reach Agra from Delhi in under 2 hours — an early departure (around 6-8am) allows a full day at the Taj Mahal and back the same evening.
Book train tickets well in advance through the IRCTC website or a reputable agent — the fast trains to Agra sell out, especially in peak winter season.
☀️ Afternoon
Taj Mahal
Dharmapuri, Agra
The definitive monument to love, built by Shah Jahan for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, and one of the most recognisable buildings in the world. No description fully prepares you for seeing it in person.
Sunrise entry (the complex opens 30 minutes before sunrise) gives the best light and smallest crowds, though it requires a very early departure from Delhi or an overnight stay in Agra.
Agra Fort
Agra Fort, Agra
A red sandstone Mughal fortress predating the Taj Mahal, with views across the river to the monument itself — a worthwhile second stop if time allows.
🌙 Evening
Return train to Delhi
Agra Cantt Railway Station
An evening train back to Delhi, arriving tired but having seen one of the world's great monuments in a single day.
🍽️ Meals
Train breakfast/snacks
Indian · $8
Agra lunch
North Indian · $12 · Agra is also famous for petha, a translucent sweet made from ash gourd — worth trying.
Train dinner/Delhi arrival snack
Indian · $10
Lutyens' Delhi & Departure
Saturday, January 23
Est. spend
$80
per person
🌅 Morning
India Gate and Rajpath
Rajpath, New Delhi
A 42-metre war memorial at the centre of New Delhi's grand colonial-era boulevard, leading toward the President's residence (Rashtrapati Bhavan) — the heart of Lutyens' Delhi, the planned imperial capital built by the British.
Early morning is genuinely the most pleasant time, before the heat and crowds build.
☀️ Afternoon
Final shopping at Dilli Haat or Connaught Place
Dilli Haat, INA, New Delhi
Dilli Haat is an open-air crafts market representing different Indian states under one roof, with fixed (non-haggled) prices — a more relaxed final shopping stop than a typical bazaar.
🌙 Evening
Transfer to Delhi Airport
Indira Gandhi International Airport
Allow at least 3 hours before an international flight. The Airport Metro Express from New Delhi station is the most reliable option given Delhi traffic.
🍽️ Meals
Hotel breakfast
Indian · $8
Dilli Haat food court lunch
Indian (regional) · $12 · Each state's stall in the food court serves its own regional specialties — a good way to sample multiple Indian cuisines in one sitting.
Airport food
Indian/International · $15
Before you go
📅 Best time to visit
October–March offers comfortable temperatures (10-25°C) and clear skies — by far the best window. April–June is extremely hot (often 40°C+); the monsoon (July-September) brings heavy, humid rain.
🛂 Visas
Most nationalities require an e-Visa for India, obtainable online in advance — apply at least a week before travel. Check current requirements for your specific passport before booking.
💱 Currency
Indian Rupee (INR). Cash remains widely used, especially in Old Delhi's markets; cards and UPI digital payment are common at hotels, malls, and more upscale restaurants.
🆘 Emergency numbers
police: 100
ambulance: 102
💬 Things you won't find in a guidebook
- Old Delhi and New Delhi feel like genuinely different cities — the contrast between Mughal-era chaos and British colonial-era order is the city's defining feature, worth experiencing both.
- Delhi traffic and distances make taxis or rideshare apps the practical option for most cross-city journeys, though the Metro is fast and efficient for routes it covers.
- Winter mornings in Delhi can be surprisingly cold and foggy (single digits Celsius) — pack a warm layer if visiting November through February.
- A Taj Mahal day trip from Delhi by fast train is very doable but long — consider an overnight stay in Agra if you want a more relaxed pace with a sunrise visit.
- Bargaining is expected at most markets and with rickshaws/auto-rickshaws — agree a price before the ride or purchase, not after.
One thing worth not skipping
A 4-day trip to Delhi, India without insurance is a gamble. Medical emergencies, cancelled flights, lost luggage — cover yourself before you leave.
Comprehensive cover for 150+ adventure activities, medical evacuation, trip cancellation, and baggage. Recommended for most travellers.
Subscription-based travel medical insurance. Best for longer trips, digital nomads, or frequent travellers. Renews weekly or monthly.
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