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Jama Masjid's marble dome and sandstone minaret against a pale sky in Old Delhi.
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DelhiTravel Guide

India5 stories

India's sprawling capital layers Mughal tombs, colonial boulevards and modern chaos into one of the world's great first-contact cities.

Is Delhi right for you?

When to come

October to March

Around 40°C by day in May, 20°C in January — recorded at the local weather station.

What it costs

It depends where you stand. There is a cheap version and an expensive one — the guides below say which is which.

What we've planned, and who for

We publish a multi-day route for this one.

When to go
January: around 20 degrees by day, 8 at night, 19 millimetres of rain, dry. We recommend this month.
February: around 24 degrees by day, 11 at night, 21 millimetres of rain, dry. We recommend this month.
March: around 30 degrees by day, 16 at night, 17 millimetres of rain, dry and hot. We recommend this month.
April: around 37 degrees by day, 21 at night, 16 millimetres of rain, dry and hot.
May: around 40 degrees by day, 26 at night, 31 millimetres of rain, some rain.
June: around 39 degrees by day, 28 at night, 74 millimetres of rain, some rain.
July: around 36 degrees by day, 28 at night, 210 millimetres of rain, very wet.
August: around 34 degrees by day, 27 at night, 233 millimetres of rain, very wet.
September: around 34 degrees by day, 25 at night, 124 millimetres of rain, wet.
October: around 33 degrees by day, 20 at night, 15 millimetres of rain, dry and hot. We recommend this month.
November: around 28 degrees by day, 13 at night, 6 millimetres of rain, dry and hot. We recommend this month.
December: around 23 degrees by day, 8 at night, 8 millimetres of rain, dry. We recommend this month.
Cold to hot, by dayDry to wetWhen we would go

October to March

Average daily highs, recorded at New Delhi / Safdarjung (1991-2020 normals).

Where this comes from

India Meteorological Department (via Wikipedia Template:Delhi weatherbox) — The Delhi article transcludes {{Delhi weatherbox}}; data read from that template's wikitext. Uses 'rain mm' rows.

Budget level

Mixed

Typical cost profile for visitors

Combine it with
  • Agra180 km

    a short hop — comfortable overland · both good in January, February, March

  • Jaipur240 km

    a short hop — comfortable overland · both good in January, February, March

  • Udaipur570 km

    half a day's travel · both good in January, February, March

  • Pokhara, Nepal660 km

    a full travel day · both good in March, October, November · a different price level (budget)

Plan itWhere to stay in Delhiad · Booking.comTours and tickets
On the map

Finding Delhi

Open in Google Maps Larger map
The stories

Reading Delhi

A wide Delhi boulevard at dusk with auto-rickshaws on the road and monuments closing the view
01
Stays

Which Delhi Do You Want to Wake Up In?

Delhi is several cities stacked on one map, and the neighbourhood you book decides which one you actually get to live in - here is how that choice plays out at a backpacker's budget, a comfortable middle, and the top end.

India · 10 min
India Gate in Delhi glowing at dawn beneath a pink and purple sky, with the arch's lamps still lit
02
Destinations

Delhi for First-Timers: The Complete Guide to India's Layered Capital

Two cities share one name in Delhi — the Mughal old town of minarets and spice bazaars, and the leafy imperial capital of domes and boulevards. Here is how to take on both.

India · 2 min
Golden fried samosas on a wooden platter with green chutney, pomegranate seeds and a fresh green chilli
03
Food

Delhi's markets: what to taste, where to find it, and when to go

Delhi's markets run on an unwritten timetable — parathas at dawn, spice lanes before the heat rises, charcoal after dark, and one milk dessert that exists only in winter.

India · 12 min
Humayun's Tomb in Delhi, a domed red sandstone and marble mausoleum framed by tall palm trees and lawns
04
Hidden Gems

Delhi out of season: the months insiders actually wait for

Delhi's tourist calendar hides two windows worth planning a whole trip around - and one much-recommended stretch that will grey out the monuments you came for.

India · 11 min
Humayun's Tomb in Delhi reflected in its water channel, red sandstone arcades under the white marble dome
05
Itineraries

Three Days in Delhi, and the Geography That Makes It Survivable

Delhi rewards three full days if you group them by geography instead of by wish list, and this is the route day by day, with what to skip and roughly what it costs.

India · 11 min
In pictures

Delhi, framed

Start in Old Delhi, Delhi
Photo: Ravi Sharma / Unsplash
Women cooking over brass pots at a street stall in Delhi
Photo: Brijender Dua / Unsplash
A golgappa vendor's cart on a Delhi street, customers waiting alongside
Photo: Johan Mouchet / Unsplash
The gardens at Lodhi, Delhi — a monument reflected in the water among old trees
Photo: Prashant / Unsplash
Our picks

What we'd do in Delhi

See and do

Eat and drink

Where to stay

Before you go

Practical essentials for India

Money

Indian rupee (INR)

Language

Hindi and English are the Union's official languages alongside 22 scheduled languages; English is widely used in cities and tourism.

Power

Type C/D/M, 230V 50Hz

Getting around

Indian Railways links the cities and Delhi, Mumbai and Jaipur have metros with their own smart cards and QR tickets; in town it is app taxis and auto-rickshaws.

Tipping

Not obligatory but common — round the bill up or leave 5–10% where no service charge appears, and small notes for porters and drivers.

Tap water

Tap water is not safe to drink — use sealed bottled or properly filtered water and avoid ice from unknown sources.

Driving

Left-hand side; the 1949 International Driving Permit is required alongside your national licence.

Emergency

112 (unified); 100 police, 108 ambulance, 101 fire

Country-level guidance, checked against official sources. Currency, fares and entry rules change — confirm anything time-critical before you travel.

Keep exploring

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Fateh Sagar Lake in Udaipur brimming over its spillway after monsoon rain, a white curtain of water pouring beside the causeway while crowds line the lakefront promenade, jungle-green hills and the lit island of Nehru Park beyond
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