6-Day Delhi Itinerary: Best Time to Visit & Trip Cost (2026)
A practical Delhi travel guide with a 6-day first-timer plan, best time to visit, where to stay and a realistic 2026 trip cost — written like our Bali and Dubai itineraries.
Planning Editor
Delhi spans millennia — Mughal Red Fort grandeur, Humayun's Tomb symmetry, Chandni Chowk chaos and New Delhi's wide Rajpath boulevards in India's capital region. This 6-day Delhi itinerary is written for first-timers who want a clear daily plan, a realistic trip cost, and enough slack to enjoy the city — not a fantasy checklist. Mughal monuments, markets and the usual first landing pad for north India. Pair it with our live Delhi city guide for maps, stays and the latest practical notes.
Best time to visit Delhi
October–March for cooler weather. Typical conditions: Varies from tropical to temperate depending on the season. Shoulder weeks are usually kinder on hotels than school-holiday peaks. Always re-check festivals and local holidays that can close sights or spike prices.
How many days do you need in Delhi?
6 days is a strong first visit: arrival, 4 full sightseeing days, and a buffer exit morning. With fewer than five days, pick one neighbourhood cluster and skip far day trips. With two weeks you can add rest days or a second base. This 6-day plan is paced for Delhi rather than a copy-paste week that ignores how spread out (or compact) the city actually is.
Day-by-day plan
Follow the numbered days in order — or skip a slack day if you are short on time.
- 1
Day 1
Arrival & first evening in Delhi
Check in around Connaught Place, take an easy neighbourhood walk rather than a big-ticket sight, and keep dinner simple and nearby. Keep day one short. Mughal monuments, markets and the usual first landing pad for north India. Sleep off the flight instead of rushing a museum. Confirm airport transfer time — the main airport can sit farther out than the map suggests.
- 2
Day 2
Old Delhi
Red Fort and Jama Masjid, then Chandni Chowk rickshaw and spice lanes, and leave room for Karim's or Old Delhi kebab dinner. Keep transfers short — Delhi is more enjoyable when you cluster nearby sights instead of crossing the city twice.
- 3
Day 3
New Delhi icons
Humayun's Tomb, then Qutub Minar complex, and leave room for Khan Market evening. Start earlier than you think; popular spots in Delhi fill fast, and late afternoon is better for a slow meal than another queue.
- 4
Day 4
Day trip
Early Taj Mahal visit in Agra, then Agra Fort afternoon, and leave room for Return to Delhi via Yamuna Expressway. Build in a café or park pause. A first visit to Delhi fails when every hour is a transit sprint.
- 5
Day 5
Taj Mahal day trip to Agra
Taj Mahal day trip to Agra. If rain or heat hits, swap the outdoor stop for an indoor one on this list and save the viewpoint for clearer light.
- 6
Day 6
Last morning & departure
Keep the final morning light: a café, a last walk, or one nearby stop you skipped. Transfer to the airport with more buffer than you think you need. Use leftover time to confirm onward tickets — do not squeeze a far-flung sight onto an exit day.
Delhi trip cost (excluding international flights)
Budget
20–50
Mid-range
50–100
Luxury
150+
Rough per-person daily spend on the ground (excluding international flights), in USD: Budget 20–50; Mid-range 50–100; Luxury 150+. Metro and street food are bargains — heritage hotels and fine dining raise mid tiers. For 6 nights, multiply the mid-range daily figure and add a little for one paid highlight or day tour. Use the Trip Cost Estimator on Global Itinerary to switch travel style.
Where to stay in Delhi
Connaught Place suits central access (Metro hub with colonial-circle architecture). South Delhi (Hauz Khas / GK) suits dining (Younger crowd, boutiques and restaurants). Karol Bagh suits budget (Hotel cluster with metro access west of CP).
Getting around
Delhi Metro with smart card; auto-rickshaws with meter or app; Uber/Ola widely. Dress modestly at mosques and temples — carry a scarf. Use metro in rush hour — road traffic is unpredictable. Stay hydrated; air quality dips in November.
Practical tips
Dress modestly at mosques and temples — carry a scarf. Use metro in rush hour — road traffic is unpredictable. Stay hydrated; air quality dips in November. Famous stops worth planning around include Red Fort and Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk rickshaw and spice lanes, Raj Ghat memorial, Karim's or Old Delhi kebab dinner, and Humayun's Tomb. Open the full Delhi guide on Global Itinerary for eats, stays and free things to do.
FAQs
Is 6 days enough for Delhi?
Yes for a first visit at this pace — longer is better if you want side trips.
Where should you stay in Delhi?
Connaught Place is a strong first-timer base; read neighbourhood notes on the city guide.
Do you need a car in Delhi?
Usually no in the urban core. Delhi Metro with smart card; auto-rickshaws with meter or app; Uber/Ola widely.
Delhi or Mumbai first?
Delhi for north India gateways (Rajasthan, Agra); Mumbai for west coast and Bollywood energy.
Is Delhi safe for solo women?
Use registered cabs at night, dress conservatively in crowded areas and prefer metro over empty autos.
Do I need to check visas before I fly?
Always verify visas and current travel advice for your passport before you fly.
Explore related destinations
Continue planning with our destination guides linked from this article.
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