Things to Do in New Delhi: A Practical List

November 5, 2026

The simplest way to choose what to do in New Delhi is to line up the options by closing day and ticket type. Most major sights are in the south and centre of the city, a Metro ride apart, and each takes between one and three hours. All money amounts are in rupees (Rs).

Quick comparison

Place	Closed	Foreigner price	Notes
Humayun’s Tomb	Never	about Rs 550 online, Rs 600 at counter	Mughal garden tomb, 1572
Qutub Minar	Never	similar to Humayun’s Tomb	Stairs closed, ground-level view
Akshardham	Monday	free mandir, exhibitions Rs 260	No phones allowed
Lotus Temple	Monday	free	Silent prayer hall
Sunder Nursery	Never	Rs 200	Closes 18:00 or 19:00
National Museum	Monday	Rs 500	Janpath

How the tiers work

Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) monuments set separate ticket prices for foreign and Indian visitors, and the foreign price is a large multiple of the Indian one. An online ticket is slightly cheaper than a counter ticket at the Red Fort and the comparable ASI sites. Children under 15 are usually free at ASI monuments, though it is wise to carry proof of age.

Monuments

Humayun’s Tomb was finished in 1572 and set a pattern for later Mughal tombs, with a symmetrical garden divided by water channels. Plan about two hours and add Sunder Nursery next door, a restored park open from 07:00 to 19:00 in summer and to 18:00 in winter.

Qutub Minar is a red sandstone tower 72.5 m high, with the Iron Pillar and the ruins of the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque beside it. Allow one to two hours.

Temples and gurdwaras

Akshardham requires you to leave phones, cameras, bags and electronics in the free cloakroom at the entrance, which makes a visit slower than it looks. Entry to the mandir is free, and darshan runs from 10:00 to 20:00. For the exhibitions, adults pay Rs 260, seniors Rs 210 and children aged 4 to 11 Rs 160. The official visitor page lists the timings.

Gurudwara Bangla Sahib is open day and night. Cover your head, take off shoes and socks, and accept the free meal if you wish. Lotus Temple asks for silence inside.

Getting around

The Metro is the fastest way between the sights. Fares since August 2025 range from Rs 11 to Rs 64, depending on distance. Sunday and holiday fares are lower. On the Airport Express line, fares sit in the Rs 60s.

Seasonal note

From about mid-October to January air quality is often poor, so put museums and Akshardham’s covered exhibitions on the poor-air days and keep monument visits for clearer mornings. Look up the day’s air quality index before leaving.

To compare organised activities, see GetYourGuide .