Delhi · The City of Seven Cities
Two focused days in Delhi: Mughal Delhi and New Delhi's gardens
A tightly paced but unhurried two-day loop that takes a family from the Mughal high point of the Red Fort and Jama Masjid through Old Delhi's food lanes on day one, then out to the Qutub Minar, Humayun's Tomb and the green calm of Lodhi Garden before an evening at India Gate on day two. It is built around metro and short cab hops so grandparents and children are not stuck in traffic for hours, with enough shaded, bench-friendly stops to break up the walking.
Day 1 · Old Delhi: forts, mosques and food lanes
Mughal Delhi on foot, from the Red Fort to Chandni Chowk
Red Fort (Lal Qila)
Shah Jahan's red sandstone seat of power; budget the full two and a half hours for the palace halls and small museums inside. Wear closed shoes, the stone paths are uneven, and note the fort is closed on Mondays.
Jama Masjid
Walk or take a short cycle-rickshaw to India's largest mosque; entry to the courtyard is free, shoulders and knees must be covered, and shoes are left at the entrance. Skip the southern minaret climb as a family stop, it is a tight, dim spiral staircase.
Chandni Chowk food and market walk
Wander Shah Jahan's original market street, ending at or near Paranthe Wali Gali for stuffed parathas and jalebi. Best explored on foot or by cycle-rickshaw rather than car; keep a firm hand on small children as the lanes get genuinely crowded.
Where to eat
Breakfast: Simple hotel breakfast or a Connaught Place South Indian chain before setting off — Hotel or near Connaught Place ₹150
Lunch: Kebabs and korma at a long-running Mughlai name near Jama Masjid — Karim's, near Jama Masjid ₹400
Dinner: Stuffed parathas, chaat and lassi eaten while walking Chandni Chowk — Paranthe Wali Gali and nearby stalls, Chandni Chowk ₹300
Where to stay
Lemon Tree Hotel, Connaught Place, Connaught Place — ₹3,000 a night. Reliable mid-range chain, family rooms available, central location cuts commute time to both Old and New Delhi; figure quoted assumes two people sharing a room at approx 6000 INR total, split per person.
Day total, per person: ₹4,135
Day 2 · New Delhi: an ancient minaret, a Mughal garden tomb, and evening lawns
From the 12th century to the British-built capital, with a garden break in between
Qutub Minar
Go early for cooler weather and thinner crowds around the world's tallest brick minaret and the surrounding ruined mosque complex, including the Iron Pillar. The tower itself cannot be climbed, but the paved garden paths are easy walking and partially wheelchair accessible.
Humayun's Tomb
The 1558 garden tomb where the charbagh-and-dome design later used for the Taj Mahal was worked out. Open daily with no weekly closure; carry water as shade is limited across the grassy walkways.
Lodhi Garden
A gentle, shaded walk around 15th-century Lodhi and Sayyid tombs predating the Mughals; there is no ticket counter and plenty of benches, making it a good slow stop for grandparents after two heavier monument visits.
India Gate and Rajpath
Evening stroll around the 42-metre war memorial arch and lawns, with ice cream vendors and open space for children to run; free entry, open all hours, and pleasantly lit in the evening.
Where to eat
Breakfast: Hotel breakfast before an early start — Hotel, Connaught Place ₹150
Lunch: Sit-down North Indian meal near the Humayun's Tomb / Lodhi Colony area — Lodi - The Garden Restaurant or a similar mid-range spot near Lodhi Road ₹450
Dinner: Relaxed dinner back near the hotel — United Coffee House or a similar mid-range restaurant, Connaught Place ₹400
Where to stay
Lemon Tree Hotel, Connaught Place, Connaught Place — ₹3,000 a night. Same central base for both nights avoids repacking and keeps commute times down for the second day's spread-out sites.
Day total, per person: ₹4,535
Pack for this trip
- Closed, comfortable shoes for uneven stone paths at the Red Fort, Humayun's Tomb and Qutub Minar
- A scarf or stole to cover shoulders for Jama Masjid; shoes will need to be left at the entrance
- Water bottles and a hat, several sites have long stretches with little shade
- Small cash denominations for rickshaws and street food stalls, where card payment is rare
- Hand sanitiser and tissues, especially useful around Old Delhi's street food
Stay safe
- Traffic is the single biggest hazard for families; roads are chaotic and pedestrian crossings often ignored, keep a firm hand on children near any main road
- Chandni Chowk and Jama Masjid lanes get crowded enough to lose sight of a small child; agree a meeting point and keep young children within arm's reach
- Skip the Jama Masjid minaret climb with elderly parents or very young children; the staircase is steep, dim and narrow
- Politely decline unofficial 'guide' offers and inflated auto fares near monuments and walk to the official ticket counter instead
- Always insist on the meter in an auto, or agree the fare before getting in
Local courtesies
- Cover shoulders and knees and remove shoes before entering Jama Masjid; avoid visiting right at prayer times
- Bargain cycle-rickshaw and unmetered auto fares politely before the ride, not after
- Ask before assuming a restaurant dish is Jain-friendly; confirm onion and garlic are left out rather than assuming
- Keep voices low and phones away in the inner sanctums of temples and tombs
- Photography inside some monument interiors may be restricted; look for posted signs
If it rains
- Swap Lodhi Garden for the indoor National Museum, which covers Harappan artefacts through Mughal miniatures and is air-conditioned
- Chandni Chowk's food lanes have covered stretches and indoor eateries like Karim's that work fine in wet weather
- Humayun's Tomb and Qutub Minar are outdoor and best postponed if there is heavy rain; consider swapping their day order if rain is forecast for only one day
- Connaught Place has covered arcades and indoor restaurants that make for an easy wet-weather dinner or lunch stop
Other lengths: 3-day plan · 5-day plan · the full Delhi guide
A mid-range, unhurried plan for Delhi, assembled with advanced technologies and software so it reaches you in seconds rather than after an evening of research. Opening hours, tickets and fares change often, so validate the critical details before you leave. Want it shorter, cheaper, or built around food rather than forts? Change it on the city page and take away your own PDF.