Things to Do in New Delhi in One Day: Our Itinerary

Looking for things to do in New Delhi with only one day? We had one full day to see the city before a 1 AM flight, so we hired a private driver and guide and packed a lot into the day.

We made 10 stops across Old and New Delhi, including the Red Fort area, Jama Masjid, a bicycle rickshaw ride, Khari Baoli spice market, Agrasen Ki Baoli, Humayun’s Tomb and India Gate. We also tried to visit the Lotus Temple at the end of the day but arrived just after it closed.

Here’s the route we followed, what the stops were actually like, and the one timing mistake I’d change.

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Things to Do in New Delhi: Our One-Day Itinerary

How We Got Around Delhi in One Day

We booked a private tour with a driver and guide, which worked especially well for a day covering both Old and New Delhi. Our driver picked us up at our hotel and handled the traffic while our guide took us through each stop. Entry fees were included in the tour.

1. Delhi Chalo Park and the Red Fort

Our sightseeing started at Delhi Chalo Park, which sits behind the Red Fort. We only passed by here, stopping the car briefly for a look before heading into Old Delhi.

The Red Fort is one of Delhi’s most recognizable historic sites and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built during the reign of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, the enormous red sandstone complex became the center of the Mughal capital in Delhi. If you want to tour it properly, Delhi Tourism suggests allowing at least two hours, which is a big chunk of a one-day itinerary.

2. Jama Masjid

This is one of the largest and most famous mosques in India. We removed our shoes before going inside, and clothing that wasn’t conservative enough had to be covered with a gown, which cost 50 rupees during our visit. Robes are available at the northern gate, and Delhi Tourism lists foreign-tourist hours from 8 AM until sunset.

The mosque’s huge courtyard stood out most. It can hold around 25,000 people.

3. Ride a Bicycle Rickshaw Through Old Delhi

From Jama Masjid, we walked a block or two and got onto a bicycle rickshaw. This became one of the most memorable parts of Old Delhi.

The streets were busy and chaotic, and I had mixed feelings watching the driver pedal us through all of it. It felt like a lot of work for him, and I gave him a generous tip when the ride was over. Our daughter, meanwhile, was loving every minute of it.

The rickshaw gave us a completely different view of Delhi than we had from our private car. Instead of watching the streets through a window, we were right in the middle of them.

4. Walk Through Khari Baoli Spice Market

Our bicycle rickshaw brought us to Khari Baoli, often described as Asia’s largest wholesale spice market. It’s packed with spices, dried fruits, nuts, tea, grains and herbs being traded through narrow streets and shops.

If you’d like to explore more of the area on foot, Delhi Tourism’s Old Delhi food walk starts near Jama Masjid and passes through this same part of the city.

As we moved through Old Delhi, our guide pointed out how much the markets had changed. He said inexpensive goods imported from China now fill many of the shops and stalls. Once he mentioned it, we noticed them throughout the market.

5. Carpet Shop

Like most guided tours in India, ours included a shopping stop, this time at a carpet shop. There’s no obligation to buy, but we left with a runner rug, and our daughter had fun there.

6. Visit Raj Ghat

We also visited Raj Ghat, the memorial marking the place where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated. The memorial itself is simple: a black marble platform with an eternal flame, surrounded by gardens.

We removed our shoes before entering the memorial area. After the busy streets of Old Delhi, it was a much quieter stop.

7. Go Down Into Agrasen Ki Baoli

Agrasen Ki Baoli was one of the most unusual stops of our day.

Getting there was memorable too. Our guide brought us through a narrow street with barely enough room for one car. Then we reached the entrance and found this huge stepwell sitting below the surrounding city, with a long staircase descending between high stone walls and rows of arches. Our daughter loved those stairs.

We walked down and explored the different levels. There was still murky green water at the bottom during our visit, and it really did look like a movie set.

Delhi Tourism lists it as open daily from 9 AM to 5:30 PM, and entry is free. Our Agrasen Ki Baoli guide covers its history and more on visiting.

Eat at Connaught Place

We also stopped at Connaught Place and ate at Connaught Clubhouse during our day in Delhi. This was one of the busiest places we visited, with lots of people around when we were there.

We stopped here to eat before heading to Humayun’s Tomb.

8. Explore Humayun’s Tomb

Humayun’s Tomb ended up being one of my favorite stops of the day. I personally thought it was even more beautiful than the Taj Mahal.

It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Delhi Tourism describes it as the first grand dynastic garden mausoleum on the Indian subcontinent. Its design later influenced the Mughal architecture that culminated in the Taj Mahal. The formal gardens made it feel very different from the dense streets we’d been in earlier.

Delhi Tourism lists the complex as open daily from sunrise until 7:30 PM.

9. Stop at India Gate

We also stopped at India Gate as we moved through New Delhi. Our guide had the driver pull over along the busy road so we could see it.

If getting proper photos here matters to you, tell your guide or driver you’d like a real stop instead of a quick pull-over. India Gate is a war memorial, and the ceremonial area around it is one of New Delhi’s major landmarks.

10. Lotus Temple: The Stop We Got Too Late For

This is the one part of our day I’d time differently.

We reached the Lotus Temple about a minute too late and couldn’t go inside, so we could only see and photograph it from outside. If seeing the inside matters to you, schedule it for the morning or early afternoon.

Delhi Tourism lists it as open Tuesday through Sunday from 9 AM to 5:30 PM, closed Mondays, with free admission.

Is One Day in Delhi Enough?

Yes, but it was a full sightseeing day. Delhi Tourism’s own full-day sightseeing tours run roughly from 9 AM to 5:45 PM, which is a useful benchmark for how much fits into one day when the transportation is sorted.

I wouldn’t cram in another famous attraction. I’d change the order and get to the Lotus Temple before it closes.

Is a Private Driver Worth It for One Day in Delhi?

For a day like ours, I’d use one again. The car and guide moved us across the city, while Old Delhi was where walking and the rickshaw became part of the experience. That mix let us cover a lot without figuring out transportation at every stop.

See a private Delhi tour like ours →

Back to the Hotel and Delhi Airport

After sightseeing, our driver dropped us back at the Andaz Delhi in Aerocity, which we’d booked with Chase Ultimate Rewards points moved over to World of Hyatt. Our bags had been waiting there all day, so we grabbed them and caught the hotel shuttle.

We got to Delhi Airport around 9 PM, a comfortable four hours before our 1 AM departure.

On our trip, we also had to show our flight itinerary or boarding pass to enter the airport. Procedures can change, so check with your airline and Delhi Airport before you go.

Planning More of Your India Trip?

• Delhi and Agra in 2 Days: if you’re adding a day trip to the Taj Mahal
• 9 Unmissable Things to Do in Agra: 1-Day Itinerary: for a full Agra day
• Agrasen Ki Baoli guide: for a closer look at the stepwell