Trip for · Tight budgets
Delhi for budget travellers
Meals under ₹250, metro rides under ₹60 and many free sights.
Key facts
- Days
- 4
- Matching items
- 15
- Verdict
- good fit
A 4-day outline
Grouped by walking cluster where the guide gives one. Order inside a day is loose: the timed day plans check opening hours and walking.
Day 1
Why it fits: Free. A Sikh temple with a pond and gold dome; the free langar meal is offered to everyone.
From: Top 10 · cost
Why it fits: Free; camera fee. One of India's biggest mosques, a huge courtyard and a minaret view over Old Delhi.
From: Top 10 · cost
Why it fits: Stuffed parathas · ₹80–150 (≈ US$1–2). Vegetarian; before 11:30 or after 15:00.Stuffed parathas · ₹80–150 (≈ US$1–2). Vegetarian; before 11:30 AM or after 3:00 PM.
From: Eat guide · Budget tier
Why it fits: Dahi bhalla and aloo tikki · ₹60–120 (≈ US$1–2). Vegetarian chaat.
From: Eat guide · Budget tier
Day 2
Why it fits: Free. Wholesale spices and dried fruit under handcarts and porters; a sensory hit for half an hour.
From: Top 10 · cost
Nizamuddin Dargah on a Thursday evening
Why it fits: Free; donation. A Sufi shrine in a lane of flower and food stalls; the qawwali after sunset is the reason to go.
From: Top 10 · cost
Why it fits: Hot jalebi · ₹100–200 (≈ US$2–3) for 250 g. Eat on the spot.
From: Eat guide · Budget tier
Why it fits: Kulfi · ₹80–200 (≈ US$1–3). Fruit-shell kulfi is the signature.
From: Eat guide · Budget tier
Day 3 · Humayun's Tomb & Sunder Nursery
Why it fits: A free and cool way to start a hot day.
From: Experience · verdict: do it yourself
Metro from the airport to the centre
Why it fits: about ₹60 (≈ under US$1) against ₹500–900 (≈ US$6–11) for a car.
From: Good for · budget travellers
Chole bhature in Paharganj
Why it fits: Chickpeas with fried bread · ₹80–150 (≈ US$1–2). A breakfast or lunch stand; choose a busy one.
From: Eat guide · Budget tier
Idli, dosa and vada
Why it fits: South Indian breakfast · ₹80–200 (≈ US$1–3). Mild and reliable for first-day stomachs.
From: Eat guide · Budget tier
Day 4
Free langar at Bangla Sahib
Why it fits: a vegetarian meal offered to all; leave a donation.
From: Good for · budget travellers
Lodhi Garden and India Gate
Why it fits: free open spaces, best at dusk.
From: Good for · budget travellers
Momos and chaat stalls
Why it fits: Steamed dumplings, chaat · ₹60–150 (≈ US$1–2). Pick busy stalls with fast turnover.
From: Eat guide · Budget tier
Where to stay
Sleep areas the guide points budget travellers to.
Cheapest beds by the station; choose a hotel on a car-accessible street.
From: Where to sleep · "Tight budget, late train, comfortable with noise"
Before you go
What the guide flags for budget travellers.
- Keep ₹2,000 (≈ US$25) in small notes; withdraw at ATMs inside banks or malls in daylight; UPI needs an Indian number, so do not rely on it. (Money · ATM rule)