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Bucket list destination:

Last updated: 04 June, 2023
Expert travel writer: Amar Grover

One of India’s main international gateways, the seemingly vast capital is filled with sights and monuments of which most visitors only see a fraction. Though its size and intensity might seem daunting, many of its top attractions – such as the stunning Mughal tombs and the Red Fort – are set in gardens offering respite from the hectic ambience and crowds.

Perhaps no other city in India offers so many layers of tangible history – invaders, rulers and empires have all left their mark so that amidst its urban sprawl lies a rich architectural heritage.

Part of the city’s appeal is a curious blend of the modern and the medieval, when ‘Old Delhi’ meets ‘New Delhi’…

Old Delhi

‘Old Delhi’, the dense historic heart of the city, was originally a substantial walled enclave that served as the capital of the Mughal Empire from 1659. It’s characterised mainly by narrow roads and lanes stretching away from the magnificent Red Fort and the imposing Jami Masjid mosque, two of this area’s most significant historic sites.

Today its seething if not zany intensity and clamour are exhilarating and exhausting in equal measure – and you’ll likely come across moments and people reminiscent of centuries-old lithographs.

New Delhi

Neat leafy ‘New Delhi’ lies just south of Old Delhi.

Inaugurated in 1931 but mostly built in the 1920s, this was the orderly culmination of the British Raj’s shifting of its imperial capital from Calcutta (present-day Kolkata) – much of it designed by British architect Edwin Lutyens. Today it’s a part of the so-called National Capital Territory of Delhi, the national capital and seat of government. Centred on Connaught Place (officially renamed Rajiv Chowk), New Delhi’s broad leafy boulevards host India’s national Parliament, various government ministries and many top hotels.

Top New Delhi hotels offer some of the country’s finest accommodation and dining, while heaving Old Delhi bazaars and lanes lend a window onto a more ‘exotic’ world whose sights, sounds and smells conjure an earthy, unvarnished vitality.

Our selection of the best Viator tours of this destination, plus helpful tickets and transfers

Private Old and New Delhi Tour - Best of Delhi in 8 Hours with Entrances

New Delhi

Private Old and New Delhi Tour - Best of Delhi in 8 Hours with Entrances
Explore Old and New Delhi with a private air-conditioned car in an 8-hour tour. Ride through Chandni Chowk with a rickshaw, a light two-wheeled passenger vehicle drawn by one or more people. Get impressed with magical places like the Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Mughal Empire, Qutub Minar, the tomb of Great Mughal Emperor Humayun, the Lotus Temple, spend some time at India Gate and take stunning photos. Enjoy a buffet lunch (if option selected) and taste the flavors of Delhi. This private guided tour is limited to 10 people for a small-group atmosphere.

Price: $20

Min age: 0

Rating 4.93 / 5 [1056 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Old Delhi Tour with Local Experience

New Delhi

Old Delhi Tour with Local Experience
Old Delhi was build by the Mughal Emperor Shahjahan in 1638. Your local guide will show you around old Delhi and take you to some of the hidden wonders not normally included in city tours. You will also visit some of the well-known interesting places in Old Delhi – including Asia's largest spice market, Old Delhi's Sikh temple (Gurudwara Sisganj Sahib) and wedding market. You will like the sound and smell of old Delhi, both of which are sure to make you remember India in a positive way.

Price: $25

Min age: 3

Rating 4.99 / 5 [125 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Make your own: Custom private tour of Delhi with transfers

New Delhi

Make your own: Custom private tour of Delhi with transfers
Explore the gorgeous city of Delhi in your own way in this 8-hour long personalised tour. Take help of your guide to narrow down and choose the activities that go best with your interest!

Price: $33

Min age: 0

Rating 4.72 / 5 [11 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Night View of Delhi Tour - 4 Hrs

New Delhi

Night View of Delhi Tour - 4 Hrs
Explore India's capital city at night and see the colorful culture come to life in a new way. Enjoy some of the famous spots in Delhi by night night view Tour. starts a delightful stroll via India Gate, the President's Palace, Gurdwara Bangla Sahib, Birla Temple, and the Lotus Temple (outside). Connaught Place, one of the oldest marketplaces in Lutyens' Delhi, is a must-see. Follow your friendly tour guide through the urban landscape in a private AC vehicle and experience the thrill of Delhi Evening Trip(Night).

Price: $40

Min age: 0

Rating 4.83 / 5 [60 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Day Tours Delhi-Full Day Private Old and New Delhi Tour

New Delhi

Day Tours Delhi-Full Day Private Old and New Delhi Tour
A guided tour in a private A/C car into the Delhi’s must-visit places which are the essence of the capital. You will be accompanied by a local govt licensed tour expert. Tour will comprise of two parts of Old and New Delhi. Highlights of the tour include visiting the Jama Mosque, the old city of Delhi, two of Delhi’s world heritage sites Humayun tomb and Qutb Minar with that you will also see India gate, president palace, and Lotus temple. By the end of the day, you would know the history as well as the local culture and daily life of this Important political center of India as the capital of many empires. Tour can also be customized on visitor requests.

Price: $40

Min age: 3

Rating 4.84 / 5 [32 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Private Delhi tour with Lotus Temple, ISKCON and Connaught Place with Dinner

New Delhi

Private Delhi tour with Lotus Temple, ISKCON and Connaught Place with Dinner
The day has been designed for you to explore Delhi like a local. Visit Kalkaji Temple, indulge in the trance of Krishna at the beautiful ISKCON temple, and meditate like a true Yogi at the Lotus temple meditation hall. After the dose of history, head to Delhi’s most hip locality, Connaught Place. Explore Connaught Place with a Kaventers shake bottle in your hand and witness the area’s charm as you visit the renowned Janpath market and dive in the satiating flavors of Delhi’s most exotic south Indian cuisine at Sarvana Bhawan.

Price: $75

Min age: 0

Rating 4.66 / 5 [6 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Most Popular Delhi Tour - Best of Old Delhi & New Delhi in One Day

New Delhi

Most Popular Delhi Tour - Best of Old Delhi & New Delhi in One Day
This Tour grants access to Old and New Delhi in a single day and includes a private chauffeured vehicle and guide for eight hours. This package is designed to help you see the best of Delhi in a day—and see it at your own pace and in your own unique way. The city of Delhi has been built and destroyed seven times but today, Delhi is basically divided in two parts - New Delhi and Old Delhi.  New Delhi is quite modern with government buildings, broad roads, flyovers, malls, big buildings etc. Old Delhi is very traditional with narrow streets, religious places, colorful old style bazaars and ancient monuments.  In this tour you will be seeing the best of both the cities. The two cities are in complete contrast to each other. This tour includes five to six hours of sightseeing in New Delhi and also includes two to three hour of sightseeing in Old Delhi in which you will explore the 350 year old city from the back of a Rickshaw. 

Price: $142

Min age: 0

Rating 4.94 / 5 [18 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Private Full Day Old And New Delhi City Tour By Tuk Tuk

New Delhi

Private Full Day Old And New Delhi City Tour By Tuk Tuk
If you are in delhi & have no idea what to do then our "Tuk-Tuk Tour" Is what you seeking for . The Tuk-Tuk ride & walk in small alley in delhi is an life time expirence,ditching those typical touristic sites here we are exploring it in depth as a local and fall in love with the legacy of the great Mughal dynasty..showing you the insight of old & New Delhi is the motive that is missing in guide books. Some suggestions to include in your tour . -Gurdwara Bangla sahib -Humayun Tomb -India gate -Red fort -Jama mosque Old Delhi & biggest spice market where your sense will get alive . Also as a lifelong local I know couple of gems of Delhi so get ready and ensure your phone is fully charged as there are plenty of opportunities for photos throughout the day. Other things to note Comfortable Shoe & Cotton Fabrics (Dresses) are recommended. Hotel / Railway Station Pick & are included. If you are bored of usual tourist spots and wont to see different side of Delhi/india life Give us a call.

Price: ₹3,250

Min age: 15

Rating 4.97 / 5 [72 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Arrival Meet & Assist service at Delhi Airport with optional Private transfer

New Delhi

Arrival Meet & Assist service at Delhi Airport with optional Private transfer
Arrive in Delhi with ease when you pre-book this private airport transfer with VIP assistance.The VIP assistance includes the added benefit of personal assistance including transport in an electric cart/buggy during your arrival at Indira Gandhi International Airport. Travel comfortably in a private air-conditioned vehicle with a professional, English speaking driver to your Delhi hotel (if option selected).

Price: ₹3,250

Min age: 0

Rating 4.71 / 5 [132 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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When to go

The main tourist season runs from October to March, though September and April are also fine – clear skies with warm to hot days. Peak season is Christmas and New Year as well as the Indian festival of Diwali in late autumn. Mid-December to early February can deliver surprisingly cool nights and Delhi is prone to fog (which can delay flights and trains).

May and June bring extreme heat and are worth avoiding while the July and August monsoon cools temperatures slightly but brings more humidity.

Getting there and away

The cheapest and fastest way to central Delhi from Indira Gandhi International Airport is via the Delhi Airport Metro Express (or ‘orange line’), part of the city’s extensive metro system, which takes around 18 minutes.

Taxis are inexpensive (if booked and paid for at the Pre-Paid Taxi Booth in the arrivals hall) and take a little longer: 45-60 minutes depending on traffic.

Most arrivals by train involve New Delhi Railway Station (which has a pre-paid auto-rickshaw booth in the Paharganj-side car park) where you can connect with the city’s metro.  Some services terminate at Old Delhi or Nizamuddin stations.

Getting around

Delhi’s metro network is remarkably efficient, clean and spacious but can get very crowded during morning and evening rush hours. Buy tickets (tokens) at manned booths or machines, though remember the latter are likely to reject all but the crispest banknotes.

Auto-rickshaws and taxis usefully fill the gaps but you’ll probably need to bargain hard for a sensible price. Cycle rickshaws are useful for Old Delhi’s fascinating lanes.

High-end hotels or local travel agencies can arrange chauffeured cars for ultimate comfort.

Where to stay

Most of the city’s top-end hotels are scattered across New Delhi’s quieter, leafier neighbourhoods such as Chanakyapuri (the diplomatic enclave) and near Delhi Golf Club, plus in the vicinity of Indira Gandhi International Airport (not particularly characterful but, with the metro, not exactly inconvenient either).

Central Delhi’s Rajiv Chowk (Connaught Place) is as close to being ‘at the heart of things’ in Delhi, but this is somewhat superficial as, given the traffic, few sights or shopping are within enjoyable walking distance and this is not a late-night city.

For all its atmosphere and incredible hubbub, Old Delhi has very few good hotel options and its grungier accommodation will put off all but the hardiest.

Where to eat or drink

Many of Delhi’s best restaurants are in the luxury hotels, though there’s a scattering of options elsewhere – notably on Connaught Place and the shopping enclaves in South Delhi, including Hauz Khas, Khan Market and Greater Kailash.

Street food abounds across Old Delhi in particular, particularly on Chandni Chowk, though for those of a delicate disposition hygiene might be an issue. In general, basic but busy eateries are probably a safer bet. Avoid food that looks like it’s been sitting around for long and possibly unwashed items (such as salads); ice is a no-no.

Stand-alone pubs and bars close before midnight, so much of the action centres around top hotels in polite bars.

Where to shop

Much of the more sophisticated shopping lies in South Delhi’s Hauz Khas, Khan Market and Greater Kailash neighbourhoods with their small plazas and boutiques.

In New Delhi, Connaught Place’s numerous boutique-like shops – mainly clothes and shoes – offer the convenience of a relatively compact and pedestrian-friendly area but few are truly high-end. The ever-reliable Central Cottage Industries Emporium stocks a good range of handicrafts.

Old Delhi’s Chandni Chowk has innumerable tiny shops and stalls – good for fabric, costume jewellery and simple electronic items. Even if you’re not shopping here, its sheer zany spectacle makes for a worthwhile excursion.

Delhi’s probably the best place in India to find handicrafts from all its other states – like papier mache from Kashmir, inlay and marquetry from Karnataka, Rajasthani pottery or the almost ‘tribal’ bamboo and cane products from Assam. Running southwest from Connaught Place, Baba Kharak Singh Marg has various government-run emporiums representing different Indian states and it’s well worth investigating these if you’re after something specific.

What to buy

Originating in Persia, zardozi – metallic (originally gold or silver) embroidery embellished with pearls, beads and sequins on velvet, silk and satin sheets – remains an Old Delhi speciality.

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