A Visitor's Guide to Delhi, India (Everything You NEED to Know + 11 Top Sights)

3/10/2023

After spending an entire week in Delhi, we've gathered our best tips for American's visiting the area for the first time! Most people recommend only spending around 3 days here, however if it's your first visit to India (and if this is the first place you're visiting in India) we recommend extending by at least 2 days. India can feel very overwhelming and overstimulating if you've never been, and it took us about 2 days to really feel comfortable walking the streets and exploring near our hotel.

Take your time to take it all in - the noises, smells, people and animals - and follow these few simple rules when exploring (or check out our full list here) , we've listed the main ones below!

Don't drink their water, or have ice or veggies washed in their water.
Don't follow anyone anywhere - specifically to go "shopping" or into "tourist information centers."
Know where you are and where you're going, especially if you plan to hop into a TukTuk (rickshaw) - if you get into a taxi, some people recommend taking a photo of the license plate (we had no problems with Uber).
Be aware of your belongings - there is known to be quite a few pickpockets and people who drive by and steal your phone (if you're standing on the street or sitting in a Tuktuk).

Our Essential Travel Resources :
There are a lot of travel companies out there, but some are better than others. These are our favorite websites and resources to help you plan an incredible trip.

For flights, we recommend using WayAway or Hopper to compare the cheapest dates to travel to your destination.

Car rentals comparisons are best through Discover Cars - just make sure to bring your international driver's permit with you if you're heading somewhere international!

We always use AGODA for hotels. They have an easy-to-use platform where you can compare the best rates.

To keep cell phone service if you're traveling internationally, we always use Airalo’s easy to purchase eSIM’s (no installation required).

For fun things to do, we always recommend Viator to find the best tours in the area, otherwise Klook also does the trick, especially for tours in Asia.

Just in case, Safetywing is the insurance I always use for travel insurance.

Lastly, my packing list for your international or domestic travels.

Where to Stay in Delhi

There are two main areas we would recommend staying at in the Delhi area - the Aerocity area near the airport, or anywhere near Connaught Place. Aerocity is located pretty close to the airport, and is great for a long layover or if you want to stay somewhere a bit out of town that is quiet and "nice." We stayed here for one night when we had first gotten to India because our flight got in at 11 pm, and we didn't feel like finding our way into the center of town. Connaught Place is a bit busier, and is known for being a shopping center and is where many of the walking tours meet. We stayed about a mile from the center of Connaught Place and walked here almost everyday to either get food, do some shopping, and meet our walking tours. When booking a place to stay, read the reviews carefully, you'll notice many are spam reviews and fake photos, so it's important to read through them for real feedback from guests that seem legit.

Aerocity (Airport Area) :

Connaught Place Area :

Places to Eat (That we Didn't Get Sick At)

Finding a place to eat in Delhi can be a bit difficult, especially if you're an American at risk of getting Delhi belly. (Yes, it's a very real thing if you accidentally drink their water or food made from it/washed by it.) We've put together a list of places we shopped at or dined at for food and were able to continue feeling great afterwards! If we're being honest, we never truly found a grocery store to do some shopping at, just small convenience stores - but we were at least able to get some snacks and drinks for when we weren't feeling like going out for a meal.

To Eat At :

Saffron Restaurant - a great dine in restaurant that was always busy for a late dinner, they have great curries, naan breads, and plain rice
Hooter - a restaurant serving a variety of cuisines (we stuck to rice, naan, and curry)
Dominos (lol - sometimes you just want pizza, especially if you're Tyler)
Old Delhi - 100% recommend doing an Old Delhi Street Food Walking Tour, this will give you plenty of small stands to try out (we'll link it below in Things to Do in Delhi!)

To Shop At/Take Away :

Haldiram's - a bakery with a food court as well
G. Lal & Sons - or any convenience stores will have drinks and snacks if you're craving something "American"
Wenger's - a cake and bakery shop, with a few food items
Pink Box - a cake and pastry shop

*It's worth noting that we also tried KFC and McDonald's here, but we were not too impressed and we did not feel great afterwards...

11 Best Things to Do in Delhi

When you arrive in Delhi everything might seem super overwhelming, and it may take you a bit to get used to. However, there are quite a few things we recommend carving out some time for in order to truly explore the area!

Old Delhi Street Food Walking Tour - we did this tour at the beginning of our trip and we highly recommend! Not only did we not get sick, but we were also able to try lots of different items that we typically wouldn't have tried ourselves!
Explore Connaught Place & Central Park - if you're into shopping then this is the place to be, not only are there lots of brand stores to shop at, but there's also many street vendors along the inner and outer circles of Connaught Place. The items they're selling seem to switch up every few days too. Just be aware this is where many scammers are, and there are many men working on commission to get you to head towards "The Loom" or Gole Market, they can get pushy but DO NOT go where they are leading you.
India Gate - an iconic stop for anyone, this war memorial is located in a large park that is perfect for an easy walkabout
Gurudwara Shri Bangla Sahib - a Sikh house of worship with healing waters that also feeds anyone who comes in and offers places to sleep. We stopped here not just to explore but also to volunteer - anyone can go into the kitchen and help prepare the thousands of meals they hand out every day! (You must have a head covering - they have extras available - and check in your shoes at the front.)
Red Fort - a large fort in the Old Delhi district that has massive 75 foot red walls, and was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan
Humayun's Tomb - a tomb for the Mughal emperor Humayun, this architectural innovation eventually lead to the design of the Taj Mahal, and was initially commissioned by Humayun's first wife

Jama Mosque - located inside Old Delhi, this beautiful mosque is open to visitors - just make sure to have shoulders and knees covered!
Qutub Minar - this UNESCO World Heritage Site is in other words a "victory tower" that stands at the site of Delhi's oldest fortified city
Khari Baoli - Asia's largest spice market (head upstairs for some good sneezes and coughs in the pepper section).
Holi Festival - if you're lucky enough to visit during the first half of March, chances are you might be in India during Holi Festival! If you are, then we highly recommend heading towards a local park to take in the festivities!
Lodhi Art District - check out this "off the beaten path" mural collection in Delhi!