Delhi is vast, and the distances, traffic and heat can overwhelm a first visit. The good news is that the headline sights fall into a few clear clusters: Old Delhi, with the Red Fort, Jama Masjid and Chandni Chowk; central New Delhi, around Connaught Place, India Gate and the government quarter; the south of the city, with Humayun’s Tomb and the Qutub Minar; and, a few hours away, the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort in Agra and the Pink City of Jaipur. Here is how to put a first trip together.
How many days
Three days is the minimum: two in Delhi and one for the Taj Mahal. Four or five days is better, adding a night in Agra for a sunrise at the Taj and, if you like, a day trip to Jaipur. With a week, travel the full Golden Triangle as a loop, spending a night or two in each of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur.
The closing days that catch people out
The Taj Mahal is closed every Friday; in November 2026 that is the 6th, 13th, 20th and 27th. Agra Fort stays open on Fridays, so if Friday is your only Agra day, see the fort and the gardens instead. Swaminarayan Akshardham is closed on Mondays. The Red Fort, which used to close on Mondays, has been open every day since February 2026, and Humayun’s Tomb and the Qutub Minar open daily.
What to book ahead
Book your Taj Mahal day first, either a private sunrise tour that collects you in Delhi before dawn or a full-day trip by car with a guide and lunch. If you go on your own, buy Taj Mahal tickets online through the official site, and remember the extra small ticket for the mausoleum itself. The Old Delhi food walk is very popular, so reserve a few days ahead. The Jaipur day trip needs a booking at least a day in advance. For the Red Fort and Humayun’s Tomb, a guided tour with entry takes the queues and the context out of your hands.
Getting around
The Delhi Metro is clean, cheap and air-conditioned, and it reaches most sights: Lal Quila or Chandni Chowk for Old Delhi, Janpath or Patel Chowk for central New Delhi, Qutub Minar station for the Minar, Jangpura for Humayun’s Tomb and Akshardham station for the temple. App-based taxis are easy for the gaps, and cycle rickshaws are the best way through Old Delhi’s lanes. For Agra and Jaipur, a private car with a driver or a day tour is simplest, though express trains reach Agra in under two hours.
Day one: Old Delhi
Start at the Red Fort in the morning, walk to Jama Masjid, then take the Old Delhi food walk through Chandni Chowk. If you prefer a guide for the whole day, the private city tour covers Old and New Delhi in seven hours.
Day two: Mughal and modern Delhi
Visit Humayun’s Tomb at opening, the Qutub Minar after lunch, and, on any day but Monday, Akshardham in the late afternoon for the temple and the evening water show.
Day three: the Taj Mahal
Take the sunrise tour or the full-day trip to Agra, with Agra Fort after the Taj. Better still, stay overnight in Agra and see the Taj at opening with no pre-dawn drive.
Practical tips
November is a lovely month for weather, with warm days and cool nights, but it is also Delhi’s smog season, so check the air quality each morning and carry a mask if you are sensitive. Dress modestly for temples, mosques and gurdwaras, carry a scarf, and keep small notes for rickshaws and tips. Bring your passport to monuments, drink bottled water, and plan one big sight per half day: Delhi rewards a slower pace.
