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Delhi

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A Kaleidoscope of History and Culture

Delhi stands as India’s capital city with a history that stretches over centuries. Its streets carry stories from old empires and colonial times, visible in grand monuments like the Red Fort and Humayun’s Tomb. Markets buzz with daily life where spices, fabrics and street food fill the air with strong aromas. The city balances ancient traditions with modern growth through busy roads and quiet parks. Delhi remains a place shaped by many cultures, offering layers of history alongside new ideas in its neighborhoods and communities.

City in India
Climate zone: Hot steppe

Hot steppe: Semi-arid climates bordering hot deserts, with hot summers, limited rainfall and short grasses or shrubs dominating vegetation.

See climate table
Price level: $$$
$Cheap
$$Medium
$$$Expensive, upscale
$$$+Very expensive, luxury
See price details
Safety: 5.0
General Safety:5
Health & medical:6
Accessibility:4
Tap water:3
Read details
Tourist English: 4/5
English is widely spoken, especially in tourist areas, hotels, and businesses. Most signs, menus, and public transport information are also available in English, ensuring easy communication.
Last update: 12 Oct 2026
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Delhi Summary

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‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

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World-class for history and vibrant city culture. Visit grand forts and temples, explore busy markets, try famous street food and experience diverse neighborhoods.
Place score
7.3
Best at:
Street food
10
Local cuisine
9
Historic sites
9
Markets
9
Architecture
8
Personal score
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Suited for
👶 5
Families
🧓 4
Seniors
💻 7
Digital Nomads
🥗 7
Vegetarian
India – Quick facts
Power Grid: 230 V, 50 Hz
Plug: Type C , Type D , Type M
Type C:
Diagram of a Type C power plug
Type D:
Diagram of a Type D power plug
Type M:
Diagram of a Type M power plug

Read about power adapters
Currency: Indian Rupee (INR)
£1 ≈ ₹126.52
Cashless info: Rating 4/5
Cashless payments are becoming more common in India, especially in urban areas. Credit cards and mobile payment apps like Google Pay, Paytm, and PhonePe are widely accepted in cities.

Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers: Best value: Saily
Flexibility: Airalo
Read our in-depth comparison
Tipping: Tipping is appreciated in India but not mandatory. A 10% tip in restaurants is common. Tipping taxi drivers and hotel staff is also customary, typically 10-15% for good service.
Public drinking: Public drinking is not commonly seen in India. Alcohol is typically consumed in licensed bars, restaurants, and hotels.
Public smoking: Smoking is prohibited in many indoor public spaces, including restaurants, bars, and public transport stations.
Independence Day
(15 August)
A national holiday celebrated with flag hoisting and parades
Diwali
(October-November)
The Festival of Lights, celebrated with fireworks and festivities
Emergency contact: Emergency Number: 112
Taxi apps: Ola, Uber
Other: India is a vast and diverse country with a rich cultural heritage, offering a wide range of experiences from ancient temples to modern cities. Prepare for varying infrastructure and safety conditions depending on the region.
Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Delhi, India
☀️
Jan
☀️
Feb
🔥
Mar
🔥
Apr
🔥
May
🔥
Jun
🔥
Jul
🔥
Aug
🔥
Sep
🔥
Oct
🔥
Nov
☀️
Dec
High season: Jan. - March, Oct. - Dec.
Shoulder season: April
Crowdedness: 9 (Very crowded)
Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info
Severe air pollution from late October to January, worst around Diwali and crop burning
Dense fog December to January often delays trains and flights
Republic Day parade 26 January, central streets closed, tickets needed well in advance

Why travel to Delhi?

Delhi offers an extraordinary mix of heritage, culture and cuisine. From the grandeur of Mughal architecture and bustling markets to world-renowned street food, it’s a sensory adventure. However, the city’s fast pace and occasional pollution can be challenging, so it’s best to prepare accordingly.

🏯Places worth seeing
  • 1 Red Fort
    A massive sandstone fortress built in the early 17th century dominates Delhi’s historic center. Its palaces, mosques and gardens showcase Mughal architecture, while the surrounding bazaar offers vibrant markets.
  • 2 National Museum
  • 3 Lotus Bahai Temple
  • 4 Jama Masjid
  • 5 Humayun's Tomb
  • 6 Rashtrapati Bhavan
  • 7 India Gate
  • 8 Qutb Minar
  • 9 Akshardham
  • 10 Gurudwara Bangla Sahib
🎡Places for activities
  • 1 Jantar Mantar Astronomical Observatory, Delhi
  • 2 Kingdom of Dreams
  • 3 Pragati Maidan
  • 4 Golf Club
  • 5 Nehru Planetarium
  • 6 Unitech Adventure Island
  • 7 Zoo
  • 8 Lodhi Art District
  • 9 Hauz Khas Village
🏞️Natural landmarks
  • 1 Nehru Park
  • 2 The Garden of Five Senses
  • 3 Sanjay Van
  • 4 Deer park
  • 5 National Zoological Park Delhi
  • 6 Lodhi Gardens
  • 7 Buddha Jayanti Park
  • 8 Aravalli Biodiversity Park
  • 9 Rajiv Chowk Central Park
🛍️Shopping
  • 1 Khan Market
  • 2 Dilli Haat
  • 3 Sarojini Nagar Market
  • 4 Chandni Chowk
  • 5 Cycle Market
  • 6 Connaught Place
  • 7 Gupta Market
  • 8 Janpath Market
  • 9 Select Citywalk
🎈Events
  • Republic Day Parade
  • Delhi International Arts Festival
  • Qutub Festival
  • Phool Walon Ki Sair
  • Delhi Food Truck Festival
  • Delhi Literature Festival
  • Diwali Celebrations
  • Holi Parties
  • International Trade Fair
  • Durga Puja

Knowledge before you go

  • Use Delhi Metro; avoid traffic jams completely.
  • Hire authorized guides at Red Fort and Jama Masjid to navigate crowds safely.
  • Dress modestly for temples and mosques; carry water in hot, dusty conditions.
  • Explore Chandni Chowk by rickshaw early morning for street food without peak chaos.

How to travel to Delhi

Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) is the main gateway, with excellent connections to international destinations. The city is also well‑linked by trains (New Delhi Railway Station) and buses from other Indian cities.

Access summary

  • From Indira Gandhi (DEL): Airport Express Metro to central Delhi, about 20–25 minutes.
  • From Agra: Frequent trains and buses, usually around 2.5–4 hours.
  • From Jaipur: Express trains or buses, typically 4–6 hours’ journey time.

Where to stay in Delhi

Delhi offers a wide range of accommodation, from budget hostels in Paharganj to luxury hotels in Connaught Place and Aerocity. Many international chains and boutique hotels provide comfort and convenience.

How to get around Delhi

Delhi has a well-connected metro system, affordable auto-rickshaws and taxis. The Delhi Metro is clean, fast and covers most major attractions. Buses and cycle-rickshaws are also available but can be crowded.
Budget snapshot
Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-66 %
Daily expenses in Delhi are around 66% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend a lot less on meals and getting around.
Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-20 %
Your exchange rate (GBP to INR) is 20% better than in recent years. That means travelling now is considerably cheaper compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

Backpacker Mid-range Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation
£20
£50
£141
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person
£8
£23
£60
🍝 Food per day
£10
£25
£76
🚕 Transportation per day
£2
£3
£5
Food & Drink
🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person
£9.50
🍛 Lunch Set, per person
£4.10
🍟 Fast food combo
£2.90
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day
£3.40
☕ Cappuccino
£1.80
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l
£1.90
Transportation
🚌 Public transport ticket
£0.31
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi
£3
⛽ Petrol, 1 l
£0.80
Other
🎞️ Cinema ticket
£4.20
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult
£8
🤧 Cold medication
£0.85
💇 Basic haircut
£1.60

Safety information overview

General safety
5
Delhi is generally safe, but caution is advised in crowded places to avoid pickpocketing. Women travelers should take extra care, especially at night. Trusted transport and guides are recommended.
Health & Medical
6
Delhi offers good medical facilities, with both public and private hospitals. However, tap water is not safe to drink – stick to bottled water and avoid street food from less hygienic places.
Accessi­bility
4
Delhi is improving accessibility with metro elevators, ramps and adapted transport options. However, older areas and busy markets may still present challenges for those with mobility issues.
Tap water
3
Tap water is not recommended for drinking. Stick to bottled or filtered water and avoid ice in drinks unless you're certain of its source. Carrying a refillable bottle with a filter can be helpful.

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