New Delhi at a glance
New Delhi is the capital of India and the starting point for most trips to the north of the country. Visitors come for the Red Fort and Chandni Chowk in Old Delhi, the Qutub Minar in Mehrauli, Humayun's Tomb, India Gate with Kartavya Path, the Lotus Temple and Akshardham. Many also use the city as the base for a Taj Mahal day trip or a Golden Triangle route to Agra and Jaipur.
These new delhi facts help you plan. Delhi lies in the north of India, surrounded by Haryana except on the east side, where Uttar Pradesh begins. Connaught Place is the business and shopping centre, with the Rajiv Chowk metro station on the Blue and Yellow Lines. Old Delhi belongs to the historic Shahjahanabad, and Chandni Chowk station on the Yellow Line is the usual way in. Amounts on this site are in Indian rupees (INR), and times are local time.
Our picks: Delhi tours
Our take: For a first day, the private full-day city tour covers Old and New Delhi with a driver and guide. Take the Old Delhi evening food tour if eating is your priority, and the Taj Mahal day tour or the four-day Golden Triangle route if you want to leave the city.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Private four-day Golden Triangle tour from Delhi
- Private air-conditioned vehicle
- Knowledgeable local guides
- Battery bus to Taj Mahal
Hotel nights and daily breakfast belong to the hotel option only. Monument entrance fees are paid on top.
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Old Delhi evening food tour with tuk-tuk
- Local food and chai tea
- Tuk-tuk ride
- Entrance fees
A storyteller guide leads the evening tasting walk through Old Delhi, and the tour starts right on Chandni Chowk Road.
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Private Akshardham temple tour with show option
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Private temple tour
- English-speaking guide
The light and water show ticket and a dinner are added only with the matching option. Akshardham is closed on Mondays.
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Private full-day Old and New Delhi tour
- Private vehicle with driver
- Private professional guide
- Taxes, tolls and parking
Qutub Minar and Humayun's Tomb are visits on the route, while the Red Fort and Chandni Chowk are only driven past. Monument tickets are included only with the entrance-fee option.
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Old Delhi tour by tuk-tuk with masala tea
- Professional tour guide
- Tuk-tuk ride in Old Delhi
- Masala tea and water
A private car and monument entry fees are added only with the matching option. The meeting point is at the Jama Masjid.
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Private Taj Mahal and Agra day tour
- Hotel or airport pickup
- Live tour guide
- Air-conditioned vehicle
Monument entry and a breakfast at a 5-star hotel come only with the matching option. The Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays, so plan another day.
Check availability →New Delhi tours and day trips
City tours, Old Delhi food walks, Taj Mahal day trips and Golden Triangle routes from Delhi, with live prices and availability.
New Delhi or Delhi (NCT)
The two names are not the same thing. Delhi is the National Capital Territory (NCT), the larger administrative area. New Delhi is the planned capital inside that wider setting, laid out in the British period. Guides, tour titles and signs use the words loosely, so do not be surprised if a "New Delhi" tour visits Old Delhi, or a "Delhi" ticket refers to a monument in the south of the city.
For size, the only figure this site uses is the census one: the National Capital Territory of Delhi had 16,787,941 inhabitants in the 2011 census. That is a 2011 figure for the whole territory, not a number for New Delhi alone and not a 2026 count. For the story behind the planned capital, read the history of Delhi.
Tours and sights in Delhi
Pick a topic, then read the details.
The tour pages cover what each product includes, and the sight pages cover entry, opening days and what is closed. Delhi tours are the easiest way to see several monuments in a day. Check the option you book, because entry tickets and meals are often only part of one option.
Delhi tours
Private city tours, Old Delhi food walks and day trips compared.
Things to do in Delhi
Forts, tombs, temples and bazaars with an entry overview.
Chandni Chowk
Market lanes, Jama Masjid, rickshaws and food tours.
Red Fort
Tickets, opening days and the closed interior areas.
Qutub Minar
Tickets, Mehrauli and why the tower is not open for climbing.
Humayun's Tomb
Tickets, opening hours and the forerunner of the Taj Mahal.
India Gate
Kartavya Path, Rashtrapati Bhavan and the Saturday ceremony.
Lotus Temple
Free entry, opening days and the neighbourhood of Kalkaji.
Akshardham Temple
Exhibitions, water show, dress rules and phones.
Day trips, getting around and planning
From Agra to the airport, the metro, the weather and where to sleep.
Taj Mahal tour from Delhi
By road or Gatimaan Express, tickets and the Friday closure.
Golden Triangle tours
Delhi, Agra and Jaipur by private car.
Delhi Airport
Terminals, taxi, Airport Express and the eVisa portal.
Delhi Metro
Fares since August 2025 and stations for the sights.
Delhi weather
Monthly climate normals, monsoon, heat and winter air.
Best time to visit Delhi
Cooler months, 2026 festival dates and rest days.
Where to stay in Delhi
Connaught Place, Paharganj, Aerocity and Old Delhi.
Delhi history
From the Sultanate to Shahjahanabad and the capital of 1911.
Good to know
Short notes that save you a wasted trip.
Rest days differ by sight
The Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays. The Lotus Temple and Akshardham are closed on Mondays. The Red Fort has been open on Mondays since an order dated 13 February 2026, reported by PTI on 21 February 2026, so Monday is no longer a rest day there.
Rest days and festival dates →The Qutub Minar tower is not open for climbing
The inside of the tower is reported closed to visitors, so plan to see it from the complex in Mehrauli rather than from the top.
Qutub Minar guide →Metro fares changed in August 2025
The Delhi Metro revised its fares from 25 August 2025, with six distance steps from 11 INR to 64 INR. Sundays and national observance days are one step cheaper.
Metro fares and stations →Watch for touts at arrival points
Official travel advice warns about people at airports, stations and tourist sites who offer detours, unwanted tours or overpriced rooms. Do not let a stranger change your booking because a sight is supposedly closed.
Where to stay →Winter air needs a thought
The UK foreign office notes high air pollution in northern Indian cities from about October to February, and children, older people and people with health conditions can be affected more. Read the weather page for the monthly normals.
Delhi weather →Get the visa from the official portal
The e-visa is applied for online on the official government portal. Fees depend on nationality, and fake lookalike sites exist, so type the address yourself.
Airport and entry →More independent guides to Delhi, Jaipur and Agra
Separate guides from the same team, each focused on one place in Delhi, Jaipur or Agra.
Amber Fort
The hill fort at Amer: tickets, the Sheesh Mahal, Jaigarh, Nahargarh and the composite ticket.
Hawa Mahal
The Pink City: Hawa Mahal, City Palace, Jantar Mantar, bazaars and where to stay.
Agra Fort
The Mughal fort on the Yamuna: tickets, the palaces, the Taj Mahal view and day trips from Delhi.
Frequently asked questions
Is this the official website of Delhi?
No. New-delhi.org is an independent travel guide. It is not run by the Government of Delhi, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Delhi Tourism or the airport operator, so check opening times and fees with the operator before you go.
What is the difference between New Delhi and Delhi?
Delhi is the National Capital Territory, the larger area. New Delhi is the planned capital within it. In everyday use and on tour listings the names overlap, so a New Delhi tour can include Old Delhi.
How do I see several monuments in one day?
A private city tour with a driver and guide is the simplest way. Monument tickets are only included with the entry option, and some stops such as the Red Fort may be a drive-past only. Read the details of the product on the tours page.
Can I visit the Taj Mahal from Delhi in one day?
Many people do, by private car or by the Gatimaan Express from Hazrat Nizamuddin station. Remember that the Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays. The Taj Mahal tour page has the details.
Which entry fees should I expect?
The official pages list 600 INR in cash or 550 INR online for foreign visitors at the Qutub Minar and Humayun's Tomb. Other sights have their own prices, and some are free. The things to do page lists them with their sources.