Things to Do in Delhi: The Complete Guide by Interest

Delhi rewards every kind of traveller, with Mughal forts, grand temples, chaotic bazaars, legendary street food and calm gardens all in one sprawling city. This guide from Delhi Agra Tour Packages groups the best things to do in Delhi by interest, so you can head straight to what you love, whether that is history, food, shopping or a slow day in the parks, often as part of a guided Delhi day tour.

I was born in Delhi, and in more than 11 years showing visitors around the city for Experience My India I have refined this list to the places I actually send people to. Here is the honest, practical version, including what has changed.

Things to do in Delhi at a glance

Explore Delhi's historic monuments

Delhi's monuments span nearly a thousand years, and the headline sights are unmissable:

• Red Fort: the mighty Mughal fort of Shah Jahan, and the site of the Independence Day address.

• Qutub Minar: the towering 12th-century victory minaret, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• Humayun's Tomb: the elegant garden tomb that inspired the Taj Mahal, beautifully restored.

• India Gate and Kartavya Path: the war memorial and grand central avenue, best in the evening.

• Jantar Mantar and Purana Qila: the 18th-century observatory and the old fort.

The Red Fort, Chandni Chowk and Jama Masjid sit together in the old city, ideal for an Old Delhi tour, while Qutub Minar, Humayun's Tomb and India Gate anchor a New Delhi tour. Note that several monuments are closed on Mondays, so check before you go.

Visit Delhi's temples and spiritual sites

Delhi's places of worship are among its most beautiful and peaceful attractions:

• Akshardham: a vast, intricately carved temple complex with exhibitions and an evening water show, closed on Mondays.

• Lotus Temple: the serene Bahai house of worship shaped like a lotus, open to all faiths.

• ISKCON Temple: the grand Krishna temple at East of Kailash with a Vedic museum, covered in our ISKCON Temple Delhi guide.

• Birla Mandir: the historic Laxminarayan Temple near Connaught Place, in our Birla Mandir Delhi guide.

• Gurudwara Bangla Sahib: the marble Sikh shrine with its tranquil sacred pool and community kitchen.

Shop in Delhi's markets

Delhi is a shopper's city, from haggling in street bazaars to browsing curated craft markets:

• Chandni Chowk: the historic old-city market for everything from fabrics to spices.

• Sarojini Nagar: legendary for trend-led clothes at throwaway prices.

• Dilli Haat: a curated open-air craft bazaar with regional food, easy for any group.

• Khan Market: the upmarket choice for boutiques and bookshops.

• Nehru Place: the huge electronics and computer market, covered in our Nehru Place market Delhi guide.

Eat your way through Delhi

Delhi's food is a highlight in itself, and the old city is the place to start:

• Paranthe Wali Gali: the famous lane of stuffed, fried parathas in Chandni Chowk.

• Old Delhi classics: kebabs, korma and nihari around Jama Masjid, and legendary jalebis and chaat.

• Street food staples: golgappe, aloo tikki, chaat and kulfi across the city.

• Modern dining: the cafes and restaurants of Khan Market, Connaught Place and Hauz Khas.

A guided food walk through Old Delhi is one of the most rewarding things you can do in the city, best on foot and with an empty stomach.

Relax in Delhi's parks and gardens

When the city feels overwhelming, Delhi's green spaces are a wonderful escape:

• Lodhi Garden: old tombs among landscaped lawns, a local favourite.

• Sunder Nursery: a beautifully restored heritage park beside Humayun's Tomb.

• Garden of Five Senses: sculptures, themed gardens and open-air cafes in Saket.

• Japanese Park: a huge, free park in Rohini, covered in our Japanese Park Rohini guide.

Experience Delhi's culture and evenings

After dark, Delhi shifts gears, and there is plenty to enjoy:

• Hauz Khas Village: cafes, lounges and galleries around a medieval fort and lake.

• Connaught Place: the colonial-era hub, lively from daytime shopping to evening dining.

• Cyber Hub: the food and entertainment plaza in Gurgaon, buzzing at night.

• Museums: the National Museum, the National Rail Museum and the National Gallery of Modern Art.

For a fuller list of the city's best hangouts, our places to go in Delhi with friends guide groups by vibe.

Family fun in Delhi

Delhi and the wider NCR are full of things for families and younger travellers:

• Water parks and amusement parks: the region's biggest, covered in our water parks in Delhi NCR guide.

• National Rail Museum: a hit with children, with a toy train ride.

• National Zoological Park: the city zoo beside the Old Fort.

• Science and culture: the National Science Centre and interactive museums.

Take a day trip from Delhi

One of the best things to do in Delhi is to use it as a base for the Taj Mahal. Agra is close enough for a comfortable day trip, and a sunrise visit is unforgettable, so a Sunrise Taj tour is a favourite add-on to a Delhi visit. The wider region also offers pilgrim towns, hill stations and wildlife within easy reach.

What should you skip, and what has changed?

A quick honest note. Kingdom of Dreams in Gurgaon, once a popular evening attraction, has permanently closed, so do not build a plan around it even if older guides still list it. Beyond that, remember that many monuments and temples close on Mondays, that the summer heat makes midday sightseeing hard, and that Delhi's traffic means you should group attractions by area rather than crisscrossing the city.

When is the best time to visit Delhi, and how many days do you need?

The best time to visit Delhi is October to March, when the weather is pleasant for sightseeing. The summer from April to June is very hot, and the monsoon brings humidity, though the winter can bring morning fog in December and January.

For how long, plan two to three days for the highlights: one day for Old Delhi, one for New Delhi, and a third for markets, gardens or a day trip. That rhythm keeps travel short and lets each area breathe.

Travel tips for things to do in Delhi

• Group attractions by area, since Delhi is large and traffic is heavy.

• Use the Delhi Metro to skip the worst of the road congestion.

• Check for Monday closures at monuments and temples before you go.

• Start early to beat both the heat and the crowds.

• Dress modestly for temples and carry a valid ID for monuments.

• Keep a day spare for a Taj Mahal day trip from the city.

Want a Delhi itinerary shaped around exactly what you enjoy, with the traffic and timing handled? Message us on WhatsApp and Experience My India will build it for you.

Plan your trip with us

Delhi is far easier and richer with a plan, and we build and run itineraries around your interests, mixing the monuments, temples, markets and food with smooth transport and expert guiding, so you spend your time enjoying the city rather than navigating it.

Tell us your dates and group size and we will price it honestly around your standard rather than a fixed figure. Browse our Delhi Agra Tour Packages for the full range, or extend your visit into Agra and Jaipur with our Golden Triangle tours.

Related guides

• Janmashtami 2026 in Delhi: the city's grandest Krishna festival.

• Golden Triangle tour: Delhi, Agra and Jaipur in one classic circuit.

• Agra overnight tour: a relaxed two-day Taj Mahal add-on.

Experience My India has personally hosted 50,000+ travelers and the service he leads is rated 4.9 from 2,600+ reviews, operating since 2015. Delhi Agra Tour Packages is a unit of Experience My India.