Delhi: Cheap Flights & Best Hotels

Delhi Travel Guide

Meet the Capital

Delhi has been rebuilt by one empire after another, and the layers are still visible. Old Delhi, the walled city of Shahjahanabad, is a maze of bazaars around the Jama Masjid and the Red Fort. New Delhi, laid out under British rule, is a city of wide tree-lined avenues, government buildings and roundabouts. Between and around them sit Mughal tombs in quiet gardens, Sufi shrines where qawwali rings out on Thursday evenings, glossy malls and some of the best street food in India. For many international travellers it is also the first stop on the Golden Triangle with Agra and Jaipur.

Best Time to Visit

• October to March is the main season. October and November are pleasantly warm, while December and January can be genuinely cold at night, with morning fog that sometimes delays flights and trains. Air quality is often poor in late autumn and winter, so check forecasts if you are sensitive.
• February and March bring spring flowers to the Mughal Gardens and warm, clear days, before Holi celebrations in March.
• April to June is very hot and dry; sightseeing is best kept to early mornings and evenings.
• July to September is monsoon season, with humid weather and sudden heavy rain, but fewer tourists and lower hotel rates.

Top Attractions

1. Red Fort (Lal Qila) – The vast red sandstone fortress of the Mughal emperors, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
2. Jama Masjid and Chandni Chowk – India's great Friday mosque, followed by a cycle-rickshaw ride through the old bazaars of Chandni Chowk.
3. Humayun's Tomb – A garden tomb often described as an architectural forerunner of the Taj Mahal, especially beautiful in late-afternoon light.
4. Qutub Minar – A towering twelfth-century minaret surrounded by ruins and carved pillars in Mehrauli.
5. India Gate and Kartavya Path – The war memorial and ceremonial avenue, lively with families in the evening.
6. Lotus Temple – The Bahá'í House of Worship, shaped like a lotus flower and open to people of all faiths.
7. Akshardham – A huge, intricately carved Hindu temple complex with exhibitions and an evening water show; phones and cameras are not allowed inside.
8. Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah – The shrine of a revered Sufi saint, best visited for Thursday evening qawwali.

What to Eat

Delhi is a food city first. In Old Delhi, try parathas stuffed with everything from potato to paneer on Paranthe Wali Gali, chole bhature, jalebi, and kebabs and nihari around the Jama Masjid. The city claims butter chicken and dal makhani as its own. Street snacks include golgappe, aloo tikki and chaat of every kind; eat at busy stalls and choose freshly cooked items. Lodhi Colony, Hauz Khas and Connaught Place have cafés and modern Indian restaurants, and Dilli Haat offers regional food from across India.

Getting There and Around

Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) is India's busiest airport, with three terminals. The Airport Express metro line connects Terminal 3 to New Delhi station quickly, and prepaid taxis and app cabs are available. Major railway stations include New Delhi, Old Delhi (Delhi Junction) and Hazrat Nizamuddin, with fast trains to Agra and Jaipur.

The Delhi Metro is clean, air-conditioned, inexpensive and covers most sights; women-only coaches are at the front of each train. App-based cabs (Uber, Ola) and auto-rickshaws are widely used; insist on the meter or agree on a fare before riding an auto. Cycle-rickshaws are best for Old Delhi's lanes.

Where to Stay

• Connaught Place: Central, colonial-era arcades, good metro links and mid-range to upmarket hotels.
• Paharganj: Next to New Delhi railway station; cheap guesthouses, busy and chaotic.
• South Delhi (Hauz Khas, Greater Kailash, Saket): Leafier, with cafés, nightlife and boutique stays.
• Aerocity: Business hotels next to the airport, handy for early flights.
• Karol Bagh: Budget and mid-range hotels with metro access and markets.

Budget Tips

• Use the metro; a smart card or QR ticket saves queuing.
• Many mosques, gurdwaras and temples are free. At Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, everyone is welcome to share a free langar meal.
• Book ASI monument tickets online, which can be slightly cheaper than at the counter.
• Eat where locals queue; street food is excellent value.
• Shop at government emporiums or Dilli Haat for fixed or fair prices, and bargain in markets like Sarojini Nagar and Janpath.

Practical Information

• Visa: Most foreign nationals need an Indian visa; many countries are eligible for the e-Visa. Check the official Indian visa website. Indian citizens need only valid ID for domestic flights.
• Currency: Indian rupee (INR). UPI payments are everywhere, and cards work in hotels and larger shops; keep some cash for autos and street stalls.
• Language: Hindi and English are widely spoken, with Punjabi and Urdu also common.
• Safety: Be alert to touts at railway stations claiming your hotel is closed, and to overcharging. Women travellers should take extra care at night and prefer app cabs. Drink bottled or filtered water.
• Etiquette: Dress modestly at religious sites, cover your head in gurdwaras and remove shoes where required.

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