Key Information Guide

INTRODUCTION

Delhi is a sprawling capital, and distance shapes every plan. Mughal lanes, colonial boulevards and glass-fronted malls sit kilometres apart. A cross-city drive can take 45 to 90 minutes at peak hours. The city suits travellers who plan by zone and use the Metro to skip the worst of the traffic.

Group your days by area. Give Old Delhi a full morning for the Red Fort, Jama Masjid and Chandni Chowk. Pair India Gate, Humayun's Tomb and Lodhi Garden in central Delhi. Save Mehrauli, the Qutub Minar and Hauz Khas for a South Delhi day. The Metro links all three, and app cabs cover the gaps after dark.

Getting There

LOCAL TRANSPORT

Delhi Metro
The Metro is the most dependable way to move across the city, with colour-coded lines reaching Old Delhi, Qutub Minar, Akshardham, Noida and Gurugram. Trains run from about 5:30am to 11:30pm, with a later start on Sundays. Fares run from ₹11 to ₹64, revised in August 2025. Every station has a bag scan and frisking queue, so allow five extra minutes at busy interchanges such as Rajiv Chowk and Kashmere Gate.
Airport Express (Orange Line)
A separate line running New Delhi station to Terminal 3 in about 20 minutes. Fares top out at ₹75 and the standard Tourist Card is not valid on it. Services start earlier than the rest of the network, from around 4:45am.
Auto-rickshaws
Useful for short hops of two to five kilometres. Street-hailed drivers often refuse the meter and quote a flat fare, so book an auto through Uber, Ola or Rapido to get a fixed price. Agree the fare before you sit down if you do hail one.
Buses
DTC and cluster buses, including a large electric fleet, cover routes the Metro misses. Tickets can be bought in the One Delhi app at a 10 per cent discount, and women travel free on pink tickets. Journeys are slow in traffic, so treat buses as a backup rather than a plan.
Cycle rickshaws
The practical way through Chandni Chowk and the lanes around Jama Masjid, where cars cannot go. Fares are negotiated; ₹100 to ₹150 covers most short rides.
Namo Bharat (RRTS)
The Delhi-Meerut regional rail corridor opened in full in February 2026, running from Sarai Kale Khan at up to 160 km/h. Fares start at ₹20 and the full run takes under an hour. Relevant if you are adding a Meerut or Ghaziabad leg.

PAYMENTS

CREDIT CARDS

Visa and Mastercard are accepted across hotels, malls, restaurants and larger shops. American Express works at upscale hotels and fine-dining restaurants. Some terminals decline foreign cards, so carry a backup.

Street stalls, markets and autos run on cash and UPI, India's QR-code payment system. Standard UPI apps need an Indian bank account. Some foreign visitors can use prepaid UPI wallets such as UPI One World; check eligibility before you fly.

CASH

The currency is the Indian Rupee (₹, INR). Notes come in ₹10, ₹20, ₹50, ₹100, ₹200 and ₹500.

Cash is still needed for autos, street food, markets, tips and temple donations. Carry ₹100 and ₹200 notes, as small vendors struggle to change ₹500. Shops often refuse torn or heavily marked notes, so check your change.

ATMs

ATMs are easy to find at the airport, Metro stations, malls and bank branches. SBI, HDFC, ICICI and Axis machines accept Visa, Mastercard, Maestro and Cirrus. Per-withdrawal limits are low at many machines, often around ₹10,000.

Your home bank and some Indian banks both charge fees. Decline the option to be charged in your home currency. Use ATMs inside bank branches or malls, especially after dark.

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MONEY EXCHANGE

Exchange a small amount at the airport for your first taxi and tips. Rates are better at authorised money changers in Connaught Place and at bank branches. Look for the RBI authorisation certificate on display.

Compare two or three counters and check the live rate on XE.com. Keep your exchange receipt, as you need it to convert rupees back before you leave. Never change money with street touts.

travel essential

WEATHER

Delhi has sharp seasons, from near-freezing winter nights to summer highs above 40°C. October to March is the most comfortable window.

Winter (Nov to Feb)
Days are mild and sunny, but nights can drop close to 5°C in December and January. Dense fog often delays early-morning flights. Pack warm layers and a jacket.
Spring (Feb to Mar)
Short, pleasant and ideal for gardens and heritage walks. Pack light layers for cool mornings.
Summer (Apr to Jun)
Intense dry heat, with regular heatwaves in May and June. Plan sightseeing before 11am. Pack loose cotton, a hat and sunscreen.
Monsoon (late Jun to Sep)
Humid, with heavy downpours that flood roads and slow traffic. Pack an umbrella, quick-dry clothes and sandals.

Air quality drops sharply from late October to January. Check the daily AQI and carry N95 masks during this period.

Republic Day: 26 January
The national parade runs along Kartavya Path from Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate, with military contingents, state tableaux and a flypast. Viewing tickets are sold in advance and security is heavy. Central Delhi roads close for several days around the parade and the Beating Retreat ceremony on 29 January.

SCAMS & TOURIST TRAPS

Fake Tourist Offices

Agencies near New Delhi station, Paharganj and Connaught Place pose as government tourism offices. They sell overpriced or fake packages. The only official India Tourism office is at 88 Janpath.

Your Train Is Cancelled

The Detour Driver

Emporium Pressure

Airport Taxi Touts

Agencies near New Delhi station, Paharganj and Connaught Place pose as government tourism offices. They sell overpriced or fake packages. The only official India Tourism office is at 88 Janpath.

Planning a trip to Delhi New?

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