10 fun places to visit in Delhi in one day

New Delhi, India

Do you have a stopover and need a list of fun places to visit in Delhi in one day? In this post I’m sharing some of the most iconic attractions in Delhi that you can see on your layover. 

I had 12 hours in Delhi before my connecting flight to Varanasi and I wanted to make the most of it. So, I had a list of things I wanted to see, and I booked a driver for the whole day ($22). The car company, Suri Car Hire, is a reliable Indian company and the manager spoke Danish – what are the odds? There are of course cheaper ways to get around town, but this was the most convenient, safe and fast way – and I’d do it again.

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FUN PLACES TO VISIT IN DELHI IN ONE DAY

I love stopovers. They’re the perfect way to explore a city, and if you do your research and plan in advance you can manage to see a lot in very little time. Here’s a list of places to visit in Delhi in one day. I’ve listed a brief introduction and shared my personal tips, which I think you’ll find useful.

How to spend 12 hours in New Delhi, India. Here's a list of the top things to do in Delhi.

GENERAL TIPS

  • At most attractions you have to pay an extra fee to take pictures.
  • Temples are considered sacred, so you need to take your shoes off during your visit. If you can, then keep them in a locker or put them in your bag to avoid getting them stolen.
  • Beware of scams and remember to bargain when you’re buying something at a market.
  • Dress modest and in loose clothing. Women should consider bringing a scarf.

HOW TO GET AROUND

  • Hire a driver (1.400 Rupees/$22 for the whole day) – I had a driver take me to all these sights. It’s a safe, easy and the fastest way to get around, especially if you’re traveling solo.
  • Metro – You can buy a one-day metro pass (100 Rupees) and get to all the attractions in Delhi. If the metro doesn’t go all the way to the attractions, you can walk or take a rickshaw the rest of the way.
  • HOHO Bus (sightseeing bus) – You can hop on and off this bus after buying a 1 or 2 day ticket. It takes you to all the main attractions, and it comes every 45 minutes throughout the day, except Mondays where most Delhi attractions are closed anyway.

1. SWAMINARAYAN AKSHARDHAM MANDIR 

Fee: Free
Opening hours: 9:30am – 6.30 pm – closed on Mondays
How much time to spend: 4-5 hours

The Swaminarayan Akshardham Mandir is a relatively new attraction from 2005. This massive hindu temple complex is carved out of pale red sandstone into 20,000 deities, saints and mythical creatures. It’s dedicated to showcasing Indian culture and it’s simply a must-see in Delhi. If you arrive on a Monday, go there anyway and see it from the outside. It’s really something.

Things to see at Akshardharm Mandir:

  • Swagatam – The Welcome Gates
  • The Mandir – Main Temple
  • Abhishek – Ritual bathing
  • Exhibitions
  • Water show (after sunset)
  • Thematic gardens
Rajasthan, India-23

2. BAHAI LOTUS TEMPLE

Fee: Free
Opening hours: 9:00 am to 5:30 (winter) 9:00 am to 7:00 pm (summer)
How much time to spend: 1 hour

The Bahai Lotus temple is shaped like a lotus flower and therefore often referred to as the Lotus Temple. It attracted more than 50 million visitors in the first 16 years, making it one of the most visited buildings in the world. The temple belongs to the Bahá’í Faith, which teaches the essential worth of all religions, and the unity and equality of all people.

It’s particularly stunning in the evening when the temple is lit up.

New Delhi, India

3. QUTUB MINAR

Fee: 500 Rupees. Free for children under 15 years.
Opening hours: 10:00 am – 05:00 pm every day
How much time to spend: 1 hour

The Qutub complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site to visit in Delhi. One of its best known monuments is the Qutub Minar, a 73 meter high tower situated in the southern part of Delhi. It is originally an Islamic monument and used as a watch tower. Right next to it are tombs and Alai Minar, which was intended to be a tower even taller than the Qutub, however it was abandoned at an early stage.

New Delhi, India
Qutub Minar
New Delhi, India
Alai Minar
New Delhi, India

New Delhi, India

New Delhi, India

4. RED FORT

Fee: 500 rupees. Free for children under 15 years.
Opening hours: 9:30 am – 4:30 pm – closed Mondays.
How much time to spend: 2 hours

The Red Fort is in the center of Delhi, and it holds a number of museums. In 2007, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site with its many structures that reflects a mix of Persian and Hindu traditions. On Independence Day (15th of August), the prime minister of India hoists the national flag above the Lahore Gate of the fort and gives a speech.

New Delhi, India

New Delhi, India

New Delhi, India
New Delhi, India

  

5. JAMA MASJID – LARGEST MOSQUE IN INDIA

Fee: Free (camera fee: 300 rupees). You’ll also need to pay 100 rupees to climb the minaret tower.
Opening hours: 7am to 12pm and 1.30pm to 6.30pm every day. Tourists are not allowed during prayer hours.
How much time to spend: 1,5 hours

Jama Masjid is the largest mosque in India. It was commissioned by Emperor Shah Jahan in 1644, who also built the Taj Mahal and the Red Fort. The highly decorative mosque has three great gates, four towers and two 40 m-high minarets constructed of strips of red sandstone and white marble. Jama Masjid is located 1 km from Red Fort so it’s easy to walk there.

6. CHANDNI CHOWK

Opening hours: 10 am – 7 pm, every day – closed Sundays.
How much time to spend: 1,5 hours

Chandhi Chowk is one of the oldest and busiest markets in Old Delhi, India. It’s crowded with small shops and markets full of spices, fruits, perfumes, jewelry and colorful saris. This iconic street is a must-visit, also if you’re not going shopping.

Calles del Chandni Chowk
Photo by David Dominguez 

7. DILLI HAAT MARKET 

Fee: Free
Opening hours: 10am-10pm every day
How much time to spend: 1 hour

There are now three Dilli Haat markets in Delhi, but the best one is the original, which is located opposite of the INA Metro Station (Yellow Line) in south Delhi. The Dilli Haat market is where people come to buy fruits, veggies and clothing.

New Delhi, India

New Delhi, India

New Delhi, India
Behold: The best naan bread ever

8. RAJ GHAT – GANDHI MEMORIAL

Fee: Free
Opening hours: 5:30 am – 7 pm daily
How much time to spend: 30 minutes

One of the most famous attractions in Delhi is Raj Ghat. This memorial is dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi, who was well known throughout the world for his attitude of helping others and his philosophy of non violence. Raj Ghat is located in the place where he was cremated.

When you arrive, you leave your shoes at the counter for a small fee and walk into the park. The memorial is a black marble stone platform with a flame lit constantly.

Raj Ghat
Photo by aa440

9. HUMAYUN’S TOMB

Fee: 500 Rupees
Opening hours: 6:00 am – 6.00 pm, every day
How much time to spend: 1-2 hours

Humayun’s Tomb was built in 1570, and houses the body of the Islamic Mughal emperor known as Humayun. There are other Mughal tombs in the building, and outside there’s a beautiful garden.

Humayun's Tomb, Delhi
Photo by Michael Foley

10. LODHI GARDENS

Fee: Free
Opening hours: 6:00 am – 7:30 pm, every day
How much time to spend: 1 hour

Lodhi Gardens is just a short rickshaw ride from Humayun’s Tomb, and it’s the perfect place for a little peace and quiet. You’ll probably run into jogggers, yogis and couples in the park.

Lodhi Garden Monument
Photo by Rohan Prakash

COWS IN THE STREETS: THIS IS INDIA

Chaotic, loud, hot and crowded, India sure is an intense place. Some buses run with their doors missing. Rickshaws are crammed with people not only on the backseat, but on their roofs. And then there are the cows roaming freely in the streets.

Cars and motorcycles maneuver around the cows at high speed and come within inches of hitting them. You’d think they would scare the cows away, but they don’t seem to care.

The cow is sacred in India and locals treat them with extra care. The ones I saw here in Delhi, Varanasi and Jaipur were harmless, but it can be intimidating when they walk towards you or you have to pass several of them. Most of the time they just mind their own business and so do the locals.

New Delhi, India

New Delhi, India

New Delhi, India

New Delhi, India
The slums of Delhi

WHY YOU SHOULD GO TO DELHI

If you have a layover in Delhi, I highly recommend you to spend some time in the city. As you can see, there is much to explore and transportation is really cheap. Let me know if you need contact info for Suri car hire service. I’ll recommend them in a heartbeat as they’re both cheap and reliable.

Have you been to Delhi? What other sites did you visit?

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40 Comments

  1. Hello Myriam,

    I was reading your blog today about New Delhi and i found it very helpul and interesting! I am going to Delhi on a 15 hours layover on Sunday and i would like to hire Suri car hire for the day. Can you help me, giving me the contact for Suri please? It would be much appreciated! Thank you in advance, Cheers!

    1. Hi Genny,

      I’m glad you found it helpful! I used this email to contact Suri: [email protected]. I recall paying 1350 INR for a day with unlimited kms, but prices might have changed since (3 years ago). Let me know if you need anything else, have fun in India 🙂

  2. Hi I read your blog and there is 4 of us travelling to India in Dec this year and we would like to contact Suri thanks in advance

    1. Hi Steph, I would dress modest and conservative: loose pants and shoulders covered. Consider a scarf to avoid unwanted attention (especially if you’re a blonde).

    1. Hi Dally,
      Yes, that’s what I did. I had a connecting flight to Varanasi with a 12-hour layover in Delhi. I got out in Delhi and hired a driver, in advance, for the day. He picked me up at the airport and showed me around town. I highly recommend it, and it’s SO cheap.

  3. I visited in India in 2017 and did a few of these excursions! I will be returning at the end of the month for a few days in Delhi. I definitely will check out SWAMINARAYAN AKSHARDHAM MANDIR, the architecture looks spectacular! What was your favourite thing about Delhi?

  4. Thanks for the sharing informative blog. Delhi is a tourism capital of India. From this place, great emperors of the Mughal dynasty ruled this entire nation.

  5. Miriam, I have read many blogs on Delhi but never felt this level of detailing in any content with explained prices, modes, and the perfect photography skills in one single blog. You are awesome. Now, I am going to read your other blogs. Keep traveling!

  6. Hey there! Nice post…
    I am sure you must have enjoyed visiting these places in Delhi.
    Delhi has so many ancient and medieval monuments which narrate the story of their glorious past. Some of them have an entry ticket while some are free to visit.

    1. I sure did. It’s great that not all monuments have entrance fees, although India is such a budget-friendly country that fees generally aren’t too high.

  7. Great blog, it seems lots of effort and time was put into it. But its nicely written, reading this is effortless.
    Thanks.

  8. Red Fort and India Gate, these two places are one of the most beautiful places to be visit in Delhi. Thanks for sharing this blog for information, i will visit all these places when reach.

  9. This information is very useful. If you planning to go outside for fun and adventure park then you should also go for Best Adventure & Picnic Park in Delhi-NCR at Rajwada Farms.

  10. superb facts and information about places to see in Delhi, do you also know the actual name of Red fort, it is Qila-e-Mubarak, but later all we know with name of Lal Qeela or Red fort. Subscribed your blog for more updates. Thanks.

  11. Right, Humayu tomb in New Delhi is one more attraction to explore. Humayun’s Tomb was also designed by a Persian architect and his name was Mirak Mirza Ghiyath. I have subscribed too for updates…

  12. I love those shared tips. Delhi is one of my top destinations. I’m very interested in the culture and everything, and I just want to dive into it. It’s always good to know as much as you can about places that are so different from what you used to. I believe that what I’ve learned from this article would be very useful for me in the future when I travel to India.

  13. Hurry! planning to visit in Delhi with family members for one day trip, your blog provide us more valuable information with amazing pictures.

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