Top 30 Places to Visit in Delhi in 2026

Delhi doesn't really let you get bored. You could be standing in front of a 400 year old fort in the morning, and by evening you're at a rooftop cafe in Hauz Khas with a coffee, watching the lake lights come on. That's just how this city works. Old and new sit right next to each other, sometimes on the same street.

So if you've been typing "places to visit in Delhi" into Google at midnight trying to plan a trip, here's something that should actually help. Below are 30 spots worth your time, along with timings, entry fees, the nearest metro station, and what else is close by so you're not zig-zagging across the city all day.

30 Best Tourist Places to Visit in Delhi in 2026

From centuries old Mughal forts to peaceful gardens and buzzing local markets, Delhi has something for every kind of traveller. Below is the complete list of the 30 best places to see in delhi to make your trip memorable.

1. Red Fort (Lal Qila)

This is usually where people start, and for good reason. Shah Jahan got it built in the 1600s, and it's still the spot where the Prime Minister raises the flag every 15th of August. Walk through the main gate and it genuinely feels like you've stepped backward a few centuries. Inside there's the Diwan-i-Aam, Diwan-i-Khas, and a small museum covering both the Mughal years and what came after under British rule.
 

• Timings: 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM, closed Mondays
• Entry Fee: INR 35 for Indians, INR 550 for foreigners, free for kids under 15
• Nearest Metro Station: Chandni Chowk (Yellow Line) or Lal Qila (Violet Line)
• Nearby Attractions: Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk market, Raj Ghat

If you can, stick around for the light and sound show in the evening. Somehow it makes the whole place feel different than it does during the day.

2. India Gate

Honestly, India Gate works at any hour, but it's after dark when it really shines, quite literally. Families come out with their kids, ice cream carts do brisk business, and the whole lawn area turns into this relaxed evening hangout spot. It was originally built as a war memorial for Indian soldiers from World War I, and Amar Jawan Jyoti, the eternal flame nearby, gives the place a more solemn side too.
 

• Timings: Open all day, though early morning or evening is best
• Entry Fee: Free
• Nearest Metro Station: Central Secretariat (Yellow and Violet Line), roughly 2.5 km away
• Nearby Attractions: Rashtrapati Bhavan, Kartavya Path, National War Memorial

3. Qutub Minar

At 73 metres tall, this is the tallest brick minaret anywhere in the world, and the carvings running all the way up are worth stopping for instead of just snapping a picture and moving on. The complex around it also has the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque and that famous Iron Pillar that hasn't rusted in something like 1,600 years, which still puzzles metallurgists today.
 

• Timings: 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, open every day
• Entry Fee: INR 35 for Indians, INR 550 for foreigners, kids under 15 free
• Nearest Metro Station: Qutub Minar (Yellow Line)
• Nearby Attractions: Mehrauli Archaeological Park, Garden of Five Senses

4. Humayun's Tomb

People often call this a rough draft for the Taj Mahal, and once you see it, that comparison makes sense. It was the first tomb in India built on such a grand, symmetrical scale, with red sandstone domes and a charbagh garden layout that later inspired the Taj. It's also a lot calmer than most of Delhi's other big monuments, which is nice for a slow walk.
 

• Timings: 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM, open daily
• Entry Fee: INR 35 Indians, INR 550 foreigners
• Nearest Metro Station: JLN Stadium (Violet Line) or Jorbagh (Yellow Line)
• Nearby Attractions: Sunder Nursery, Nizamuddin Dargah, Lodhi Garden

5. Lotus Temple

You've probably seen photos of this even if you've never been to Delhi. Twenty seven marble petals shaped like a lotus, no idols, no rituals, just a big quiet hall where anyone can sit for a while regardless of what they believe. It's one of the few places in the city where nobody's rushing you along.
 

• Timings: 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM in winter, till 7:00 PM in summer, closed Mondays
• Entry Fee: Free
• Nearest Metro Station: Kalkaji Mandir (Magenta and Violet Line)
• Nearby Attractions: ISKCON Temple, Kalkaji Mandir

Cameras aren't allowed once you're inside the main hall, so grab your outside shots first.

6. Akshardham Temple

Give this one a proper chunk of your day, because it's not a quick stop. There's the main temple with its incredibly detailed stone carving, several exhibitions on Indian history and culture, a boat ride, and in the evening a water and light show that's genuinely worth waiting around for.
 

• Timings: 9:30 AM to 6:30 PM, closed Mondays
• Entry Fee: Temple entry is free, exhibitions and boat ride cost extra, somewhere around INR 170 to INR 250 for adults
• Nearest Metro Station: Akshardham (Blue Line), almost at the gate
• Nearby Attractions: Yamuna riverfront

Phones and cameras get deposited at a free cloakroom near the entrance, so don't plan on shooting anything inside.

7. Jama Masjid

Shah Jahan built this too, finishing it around 1656, and it's still one of the largest working mosques in India. Climb up one of the minarets if you get the chance. The view over Old Delhi's rooftops from up there is worth the narrow, slightly tricky stairs.
 

• Timings: 7:00 AM to 12:00 PM, then 1:30 PM to 6:30 PM, closed to visitors during prayer times
• Entry Fee: Free, small charge for cameras and for climbing the minaret
• Nearest Metro Station: Chandni Chowk (Yellow Line)
• Nearby Attractions: Red Fort, Chandni Chowk, Karim's

Dress modestly here. Robes are usually available at the entrance if you show up in shorts or something sleeveless.

8. Chandni Chowk

This is chaos, but the fun kind. Narrow lanes crammed with jewellery shops, spice sellers, and food stalls that have been serving the same recipes for generations. If you like street food even a little, this is non-negotiable.
 

• Timings: Most shops run 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, many wholesale markets shut on Sundays
• Entry Fee: Free to walk through
• Nearest Metro Station: Chandni Chowk (Yellow Line)
• Nearby Attractions: Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib

Skip breakfast before you come here. Paranthe Wali Gali alone will fill you up.

9. Rashtrapati Bhavan

This is the President's official residence, and the building itself mixes British colonial design with Indian architectural touches in a way that's hard to describe until you see it. You can't just walk in, obviously, but the Mughal Gardens open to the public for a short window each year, usually around spring, and it's worth planning around if the dates line up.
 

• Timings: Change of Guard happens on Saturdays, garden visits are seasonal and need online booking in advance
• Entry Fee: Free, but garden entry requires prior registration
• Nearest Metro Station: Central Secretariat (Yellow and Violet Line)
• Nearby Attractions: India Gate, Kartavya Path, National Museum

10. Lodhi Garden

This is where Delhi comes to breathe. Joggers, yoga groups, couples on benches, people just reading under 500 year old tombs from the Lodhi and Sayyid periods. It doesn't feel like a tourist spot so much as a park that happens to have some incredible history scattered through it.
 

• Timings: 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM, open daily
• Entry Fee: Free
• Nearest Metro Station: Jorbagh (Yellow Line) or Khan Market (Violet Line)
• Nearby Attractions: Khan Market, Safdarjung Tomb

11. Hauz Khas Village and Fort

There are two very different sides to this place. During the day you're walking through 14th century fort ruins, a madrasa, and an old reservoir built under Firoz Shah Tughlaq. By evening the same area turns into a cluster of cafes, art galleries, and rooftop bars overlooking the lake. It's worth visiting twice for both moods.
 

• Timings: Fort area 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, cafes stay open much later
• Entry Fee: Free
• Nearest Metro Station: Hauz Khas (Yellow and Magenta Line)
• Nearby Attractions: Deer Park, Green Park market

12. Jantar Mantar

Maharaja Jai Singh II built this in the early 1700s as an outdoor observatory, and the huge geometric instruments scattered around were used to track stars, planets, and time with a surprising level of precision for that era. It photographs beautifully too, especially in soft morning light.
 

• Timings: 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM, daily
• Entry Fee: INR 15 Indians, INR 200 foreigners
• Nearest Metro Station: Patel Chowk (Yellow Line)
• Nearby Attractions: Connaught Place, Rashtrapati Bhavan

13. Connaught Place

Locals just call it CP. It's the commercial heart of the city, with circular colonnaded buildings holding everything from big international brands to old Delhi institutions that have been around for decades. The central park in the middle is a good place to just sit down for a bit once your feet give up.
 

• Timings: Shops mostly 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, restaurants run later
• Entry Fee: Free
• Nearest Metro Station: Rajiv Chowk (Yellow and Blue Line)
• Nearby Attractions: Jantar Mantar, Janpath Market

14. Purana Qila (Old Fort)

Some believe this stands on the site of Indraprastha, the capital from the Mahabharata, which gives it a slightly mythical weight compared to Delhi's other forts. It's also far less crowded than Red Fort, so you can actually take your time here without dodging tour groups every few steps.
 

• Timings: 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, daily
• Entry Fee: INR 20 Indians, INR 250 foreigners
• Nearest Metro Station: Pragati Maidan (Blue Line)
• Nearby Attractions: National Zoological Park, Sunder Nursery

15. National Zoological Park (Delhi Zoo)

Right beside Purana Qila, this is a solid half day option if you're travelling with kids or just want a break from monuments for a bit. Tigers, lions, a white tiger enclosure, and a good number of bird species spread across large green grounds, kids usually enjoy it. There's also a longer list of places to visit in Delhi with family if you're looking to add a few more spots like this one to the day.

• Timings: 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM winter, till 5:00 PM in summer, closed Fridays
• Entry Fee: Around INR 80 for Indian adults, more for foreign visitors, small extra charge for cameras
• Nearest Metro Station: Pragati Maidan (Blue Line)
• Nearby Attractions: Purana Qila, National Rail Museum

16. National Museum

If you only have time for one museum in Delhi, make it this one. It covers a massive stretch of history, from Harappan era artefacts right up to Mughal miniature paintings, plus an extensive coin and manuscript collection that history buffs could spend hours in.
 

• Timings: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, closed Mondays
• Entry Fee: INR 20 Indians, INR 650 foreigners
• Nearest Metro Station: Central Secretariat (Yellow and Violet Line)
• Nearby Attractions: India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhavan

17. Raj Ghat

A plain black marble platform marks where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated in 1948. There's nothing elaborate about it, and that's kind of the point. The park around it is quiet and green, with an eternal flame that burns near the memorial.
 

• Timings: 5:00 AM to 7:00 PM, daily
• Entry Fee: Free
• Nearest Metro Station: Delhi Gate (Violet Line)
• Nearby Attractions: Red Fort, Shanti Vana

18. Gurudwara Bangla Sahib

Recognisable from far away because of its golden dome, Bangla Sahib is one of Delhi's most important Sikh gurudwaras. There's a sacred pool called the Sarovar, and a community kitchen, or langar, that feeds thousands of people daily for free, no questions asked about who you are or what you believe.
 

• Timings: Open 24 hours
• Entry Fee: Free
• Nearest Metro Station: Patel Chowk (Yellow Line)
• Nearby Attractions: Connaught Place, Jantar Mantar

Cover your head before going in. Scarves are handed out at the entrance if you don't have one.

19. ISKCON Temple Delhi

Dedicated to Lord Krishna, this temple has a calm, well kept feel to it, and the evening aarti is worth timing your visit around. There's also a light and sound presentation inside that walks you through stories from the Bhagavad Gita, which is a nice touch if you're curious about the philosophy behind it.
 

• Timings: 4:30 AM to 9:00 PM, daily
• Entry Fee: Free
• Nearest Metro Station: Nehru Place (Violet Line)
• Nearby Attractions: Lotus Temple, Kalkaji Mandir

20. Chhatarpur Temple

This is one of the largest temple complexes in the country, dedicated to Goddess Katyayani, and the marble work throughout the campus is genuinely impressive. During Navratri especially, the whole place lights up and gets a completely different energy.
 

• Timings: 5:00 AM to 9:00 PM, daily
• Entry Fee: Free
• Nearest Metro Station: Chhatarpur (Yellow Line)
• Nearby Attractions: Qutub Minar, Mehrauli Archaeological Park

21. Dilli Haat

Half craft bazaar, half food court, Dilli Haat pulls together artisans and regional cuisines from all over India onto one open platform. Good spot for handmade textiles, pottery, jewellery, and trying dishes from states you might never actually visit.
 

• Timings: 10:30 AM to 10:00 PM, daily
• Entry Fee: INR 30 adults, INR 20 children
• Nearest Metro Station: INA (Yellow and Pink Line)
• Nearby Attractions: Safdarjung Tomb, INA Market

22. Safdarjung Tomb

Built in 1754, historians often point to this as the last real gasp of Mughal architecture before the empire started fading out. It gets a fraction of the visitors that Humayun's Tomb does, which honestly makes it a better spot if you just want some quiet time around old Mughal architecture.
 

• Timings: 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, daily
• Entry Fee: INR 15 Indians, INR 200 foreigners
• Nearest Metro Station: Jorbagh (Yellow Line)
• Nearby Attractions: Lodhi Garden, Dilli Haat

23. Agrasen ki Baoli

Tucked away near Connaught Place, this old stepwell has this eerie, almost cinematic quality to it, especially once you're a few steps down into the dark stone structure. All 108 steps make for a dramatic photo, and the silence inside feels completely out of place given how busy the street outside is.
 

• Timings: Roughly sunrise to sunset, 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM
• Entry Fee: Free
• Nearest Metro Station: Barakhamba Road (Blue Line)
• Nearby Attractions: Connaught Place, Jantar Mantar

24. Garden of Five Senses

Built around the idea of engaging all five senses through landscaping, sculpture, and sound, this garden near Saket is a favourite for couples and families looking for a relaxed evening without the crowds of a mall. If you're planning a date or a slower day together, these places to visit in Delhi for couples can give you a few more ideas for the rest of your trip.

• Timings: 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM, daily
• Entry Fee: INR 35 weekdays, a bit more on weekends
• Nearest Metro Station: Saket (Yellow Line)
• Nearby Attractions: Select Citywalk Mall, Qutub Minar

25. National Rail Museum

If you or your kids are into trains, this place is a goldmine. There's a huge outdoor collection of vintage locomotives and royal saloons, an indoor gallery covering the history of Indian Railways, and a toy train ride that loops around the grounds.
 

• Timings: 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM, closed Mondays
• Entry Fee: Around INR 50 for Indian adults, more for foreign visitors, toy train costs extra
• Nearest Metro Station: Bhikaji Cama Place (Pink Line)
• Nearby Attractions: Chanakyapuri diplomatic enclave

26. Kingdom of Dreams

Technically just outside Delhi in Gurugram, but worth the short trip if you want a night that's a bit different from temple and fort hopping. Think Bollywood style theatre shows, a recreated Indian street and culture zone, and live performances that run through the evening.
 

• Timings: Roughly 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM, closed Mondays, individual show timings vary
• Entry Fee: Culture Gully entry around INR 100, show tickets separate, usually starting near INR 1200
• Nearest Metro Station: IFFCO Chowk (Yellow Line), then a short cab ride
• Nearby Attractions: Cyber Hub, Ambience Mall Gurugram

27. Adventure Island

For a break from history and monuments, this is Delhi's largest amusement park, based in Rohini, with roller coasters, water rides, and enough family friendly attractions to keep kids busy for a full day. It's part of a wider list of Places to visit in Delhi for fun, if you're looking to add a few more high-energy stops to your itinerary.

• Timings: 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM weekdays, 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM weekends, closed Tuesdays
• Entry Fee: Combo passes usually between INR 700 and INR 900 depending on ride access
• Nearest Metro Station: Rohini East (Red Line)
• Nearby Attractions: Metro Walk Mall

28. Select Citywalk and Saket

Not a heritage stop, obviously, but a good place to land after a long day of sightseeing if you want food, a movie, or just some air conditioning. It's close enough to a few older monuments that pairing it with a heritage day makes sense logistically.
 

• Timings: 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM, daily
• Entry Fee: Free to enter
• Nearest Metro Station: Malviya Nagar (Yellow Line)
• Nearby Attractions: Garden of Five Senses, Qutub Minar

29. Sarojini Nagar Market

Anyone who tells you they got a good deal in Delhi probably got it here. Export surplus clothes, shoes, and accessories at prices that can genuinely surprise you, as long as you're willing to bargain a little.
 

• Timings: 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, closed Mondays
• Entry Fee: Free to browse
• Nearest Metro Station: Sarojini Nagar (Pink Line)
• Nearby Attractions: Dilli Haat, INA Market

30. Kalkaji Mandir

One of Delhi's oldest working temples, dedicated to Goddess Kali, and it sees a steady flow of devotees pretty much all day. Since it's a short walk from Lotus Temple, most people end up covering both in a single trip.
 

• Timings: 4:00 AM to 11:30 PM, daily
• Entry Fee: Free
• Nearest Metro Station: Kalkaji Mandir (Magenta and Violet Line)
• Nearby Attractions: Lotus Temple, ISKCON Temple

What are the best places to visit in Delhi in one day?

If you only have one day in Delhi, it is best to stick to one part of the city instead of running from one end to the other. Delhi is spread out, and the traffic between far flung areas can eat up hours you do not have. We've actually broken this down in more detail in our guide on spending a day in Delhi, but if you want the short version, this is a simple, well paced route that covers the best places to see in Delhi in one day without too much back and forth travel, the same way a local would plan it for a friend visiting for the first time.

Morning: Red Fort and Jama Masjid

Start as early as you can, ideally by 9:30 AM when Red Fort opens. Old Delhi gets crowded and hot fast, so getting there early means cooler weather, shorter queues, and much better photos. Spend about an hour and a half walking through the Diwan-i-Aam, Diwan-i-Khas, and the museum inside. From Red Fort, it is a short 10 to 15 minute walk to Jama Masjid. Climb one of the minarets if you have the energy, the view over Old Delhi's rooftops is worth the steep stairs.

Late Morning: Chandni Chowk

Right after Jama Masjid, dive straight into Chandni Chowk. This is where you eat, not just walk around. Head into Paranthe Wali Gali for a stuffed paratha breakfast, or grab a plate of chole bhature from one of the street stalls nearby. Give yourself a good hour here, because the lanes are narrow and it is easy to lose track of time browsing the spice and jewellery markets.

Afternoon: India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhavan and Kartavya Path

By early afternoon, take a cab or auto toward New Delhi. This is a good time to slow down a little since the heat peaks around midday. Rather than a long walking tour, a slow drive past Rashtrapati Bhavan and down Kartavya Path works well here. Stop at India Gate for photos and a short walk if the weather allows. This stretch gives you a real feel for the difference between Old Delhi's chaos and New Delhi's wide, planned avenues.

Evening: Humayun's Tomb or Qutub Minar

Pick one, not both, since trying to fit in everything usually means rushing through all of it. If you enjoyed Mughal architecture at Red Fort, Humayun's Tomb is a quieter, greener continuation of that story and closer to central Delhi. If you would rather see something taller and more dramatic, head to Qutub Minar instead, though keep in mind it is a bit further out. Either way, aim to arrive at least 90 minutes before closing so you are not rushed.

Night: Lotus Temple or Akshardham

End the day on a calmer note. Lotus Temple is free, quick to visit, and beautiful even from the outside if you arrive close to closing time. If you have a little more energy left and started your day early enough, Akshardham's evening water and light show is a memorable way to close out a long day of sightseeing, though it does need a couple of extra hours.

This route covers Old Delhi's history, New Delhi's grandeur, and a bit of spiritual calm, all in a single well planned day. Keep a buffer of 30 to 45 minutes between each stop for traffic, and carry water and comfortable shoes, because by the end of the day you will have walked more than you expect.

Final Thoughts

Delhi is one of those cities where slowing down actually pays off. You could technically cram five monuments into one day, but it feels a lot better when you give yourself room to sit at a chai stall outside Humayun's Tomb for ten minutes, or wander through Hauz Khas Village without checking your watch every five minutes.

When you're mapping out your trip, group places by area instead of by how famous they are. Old Delhi spots like Red Fort, Jama Masjid, and Chandni Chowk go together naturally. South Delhi covers Qutub Minar, Lotus Temple, and Hauz Khas pretty well in a single day. Doing it this way alone will save you hours you'd otherwise lose stuck in traffic.

Whether this is your first time in Delhi or your fifth, there's always some lane, garden, or old stone wall you haven't gotten around to yet. And if you've got a long layover instead of a full trip, it's worth knowing there are some solid places to visit near Delhi airport too, so even a few spare hours don't have to go to waste.

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