Capital · India
New Delhiनई दिल्ली
Give New Delhi 3 nights: Lutyens' Delhi and the museums in a day, Old Delhi's lanes in a morning, then Agra or Jaipur. Skip it in May–June.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- INR
- Best months
- Oct–Mar
- avoid May–Jun (extreme heat), late Jun–Sep (monsoon), Nov–Dec (smog peaks)
- Airports
- DEL · DXN · HDO
- Nights
- 3
Rules in force · 6
- South Asia ↗Trekking regions, border districts and several Indian states need separate permits on top of the visa; check the permit before you book transport into them.
- South Asia ↗Remove shoes (and in many Jain and Hindu temples, leather) before entering; cover shoulders and legs; ask before photographing people or rituals.
- India ↗Apply for the e-visa only on the official government portal (indianvisaonline.gov.in); lookalike sites charge extra. Check the current rules, fees and how far ahead to apply.
- India ↗Do not follow anyone who says your hotel is closed, the station ticket office is closed or a road is shut; use the prepaid taxi counter, the metro or an app car.
- India ↗Carry Indian rupees in small notes (10, 20, 50, 100); change for 500 is often refused.
- India ↗Parts of the Northeast, Sikkim, Ladakh, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and all border belts need a Protected or Restricted Area Permit or an Inner Line Permit for foreigners; check before you book the route.
New Delhi is the planned imperial capital inside the larger Delhi metropolis: wide boulevards, roundabouts, government buildings and the national museums, with Connaught Place at its centre. Most travellers sleep here and cross into Old Delhi for the lanes and food. Three nights covers the core without rushing; two is workable if you leave for Agra on day three.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about New Delhi, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.India-wide
- SIM or eSIMJio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.India-wide
- Tap waterNot drinkable from the tap.India-wide
- TippingRestaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.India-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/D/M. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.India-wide
- SafetyThe main risks are touts and scams, not violent crime.
- RestroomsWestern toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages.India-wide
- Emergency numbers112 All emergencies · 100 police · 101 fire (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysThe Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays; many museums close on Mondays; banks close on the second and fourth Saturdays…India-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportDEL Indira Gandhi International (Airport Express or taxi to New Delhi station, about 20–30 min off-peak; longer in traffic.).
- Getting aroundThe Delhi Metro is the fast, air-conditioned option: fares about ₹10–60 (≈ under US$1), Airport Express priced separately.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Street or quick mealChai from a stall₹10–30 (≈ under US$1)
- Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi, about 3 miAuto-rickshaw, 5 kmAuto-rickshaw, 3.1 miAgree the fare first or insist on the meter.₹100–200 (≈ US$2–3)
- Metro or bus rideMetro ride₹10–60 (≈ under US$1)
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week₹500–1,500 (≈ US$6–18)
- Museum or sight ticketMonument entry, foreigner ratecheck; some sites charge more.₹300–600 (≈ US$4–7)
- Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per person₹700 (≈ US$8)
- Mid-range bedDouble room, mid hotel, a night, per room₹6,000 (≈ US$70)
- High-end bedDouble room, mid hotel, a night, per room₹12,000 (≈ US$140)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget ₹2,500 (≈ US$30) · Mid ₹6,000 (≈ US$70) · High ₹15,000 (≈ US$180)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- DEL Indira Gandhi International (Airport Express or taxi to New Delhi station, about 20–30 min off-peak; longer in traffic.) · DXN Noida International (Jewar) (check which carriers use it before booking.) · HDO Hindon (check; limited scheduled use.)
Weather and climate
New Delhi: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
21°C70°F
8°C46°F
1 rd
Feb
24°C75°F
11°C52°F
2 rd
Mar
30°C86°F
16°C61°F
2 rd
Apr
36°C97°F
21°C70°F
2 rd
May
40°C104°F
26°C79°F
3 rd
Jun
39°C102°F
28°C82°F
6 rd
Jul
35°C95°F
27°C81°F
12 rd
Aug
34°C93°F
26°C79°F
12 rd
Sep
34°C93°F
24°C75°F
7 rd
Oct
33°C91°F
19°C66°F
2 rd
Nov
28°C82°F
13°C55°F
1 rd
Dec
23°C73°F
9°C48°F
1 rd
High / low °C°F · rd = rain days
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The Delhi Metro is the fast, air-conditioned option: fares about ₹10–60, Airport Express priced separately. Use the Yellow and Violet lines for the centre and Old Delhi. Buses cost ₹5–25 but are crowded. Autos and taxis: agree the fare or insist on the meter; app cabs avoid haggling. New Delhi's planned core is walkable, with footbridges and subways to cross the big roads.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: 3–4 h each way by car, less by train
Gatimaan or other fast train from Hazrat Nizamuddin or New Delhi station, about 1 h 40 min–2 h; or a car on the Yamuna Expressway
A return day trip is possible by fast train but leaves no slack; one night is better.
Door to door: 4–5 h
Train from New Delhi station, about 4–5 h; or an air-conditioned Volvo bus from Bikaner House
Too far for a comfortable return day; sleep at least one night.
Door to door: 30–90 min
Metro and suburban rail across the wider metropolis
Old Delhi, Qutub Minar and Humayun's Tomb sit outside New Delhi proper.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Connaught Place and Paharganj
Central, metro at Rajiv Chowk and New Delhi station; Paharganj is the budget belt west of the station.
Chanakyapuri
Embassy district in the south; quiet, green, mostly upmarket hotels.
Aerocity and airport axis
For one-night layovers; far from the sights.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- ₹2,500–5,000 (≈ US$30–60) excl. bed
- Mid
- ₹5,000–12,000 (≈ US$60–140) excl. bed
- High
- ₹12,000 (≈ US$140)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Double room, mid hotel1 × 3 nights × ₹6,000 | ₹18,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 3 days × ₹6,000 | ₹36,000 |
| Airport Express, one way2 × ₹60 · check | ₹120 |
| Metro day of rides2 × ₹150 · check | ₹300 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × ₹1,000 · check | ₹2,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | ₹5,640 |
| Trip total≈ ₹10,340 per person per day, bed included | ₹62,060≈ US$750 |
2026 estimate in rupees; flights and train tickets excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Chai from a stall | ₹10–30 (≈ under US$1) |
| Thali or chaat plate | ₹150–400 (≈ US$2–5) |
| Metro ride | ₹10–60 (≈ under US$1) |
| Auto-rickshaw, 5 kmAgree the fare first or insist on the meter. | ₹100–200 (≈ US$2–3) |
| Taxi or app cab, airport to centrecheck; tolls and surge extra. | ₹400–800 (≈ US$5–10) |
| Monument entry, foreigner ratecheck; some sites charge more. | ₹300–600 (≈ US$4–7) |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | ₹500–1,500 (≈ US$6–18) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Touts at New Delhi station claim the foreigner ticket office is closed or moved: the International Tourist Bureau is upstairs inside the station, platform 1 side.
- Unsolicited help with directions, hotels or tickets is usually a commission scam.
- Late-night taxi scam: the driver says your hotel is full or closed and steers you to another.
- New Delhi is unsafe for women travellers; harassment is a real risk, and walking alone at night is not advised.
- Avoid protest sites around Jantar Mantar and Tolstoy Road.
- Book trains on the official IRCTC site, not through agencies.
- Winter smog can cancel or delay flights and close schools; check air quality before a winter trip.
Emergency numbers
- All emergencies
- 112
- Police
- 100
- Fire
- 101
- Ambulance
- 102
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
New Delhiनई दिल्ली
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
इस पते पर चलिएTo this address, please
Emergency
- All emergencies112
- Police100
- Ambulance102
- Tourist helpline (Incredible India, 24 h)1363
Embassy
Most embassies and high commissions are in Chanakyapuri; check your own country's address and hours before you go.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Airport Express, DEL to New Delhi station: about ₹60 (≈ under US$1), 20–30 min (check)
- Metro ride in the centre: ₹10–60 (≈ under US$1)
- Auto, Connaught Place to India Gate: ₹100–150 (≈ US$2), agree first
Say or show
- नमस्ते — Hello / Goodbye (namaste)
- धन्यवाद — Thank you (dhanyavaad)
- कितने का है? — How much is it? (kitne ka hai)
- बहुत महंगा है — Too expensive (bahut mehnga hai)
- मीटर से चलिए — Please use the meter (meter se chaliye)
- शौचालय कहाँ है? — Where is the toilet? (shauchalay kahan hai)
Foreigners pay higher monument entry fees; carry small notes and ID.
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for New Delhi. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Oct–Mar · avoid May–Jun (extreme heat), late Jun–Sep (monsoon), Nov–Dec (smog peaks) · month by month →
- 3 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 3 day-trips, door to door
- 7 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for DEL: Airport Express hours, taxi fallback, late-arrival rung.
- Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Connaught Place, Kartavya Path, Chanakyapuri and Lodhi, Paharganj and the station.
- Place pages with verified hours (National Museum, Kartavya Bhavan area, Jantar Mantar) and eat pages with last orders.
- Monsoon and smog fixtures so gates A–D can go green.