First time in Delhi — what locals actually recommend
If it's your first weekend in Delhi, this is the locals' shortlist — the sights worth the queue, the food you can't skip, and the neighbourhood walks that show you the place.
Top spots in Delhi
Humayun's Tomb
CultureNizamuddin
UNESCO Mughal mausoleum — the rough draft for the Taj Mahal, with cleaner gardens.
Red Fort
CultureOld Delhi
Mughal sandstone fortress where India's PM still raises the flag every August 15.
Qutub Minar
CultureMehrauli
73m 12th-century victory tower surrounded by ruined mosques and the iron pillar.
Chandni Chowk Food Walk
Food & DrinkOld Delhi
Paranthe Wali Gali, jalebi at Old Famous, kebabs at Karim's — three hours, one belt loop.
Lodhi Garden
OutdoorsLodhi Estate
90 acres of tombs-among-lawns — the city's favourite jog/picnic spot.
Where to eat
Bukhara
$$$$North Indian · ITC Maurya
Dal Bukhara, sikandari raan and naan the size of a wheel — bib included.
Comorin
$$$Modern Pan-Indian · Gurgaon
Cocktail-driven small plates from the Indian Accent team — beautiful brass bar.
Indian Accent
$$$$Modern Indian · Lodhi
Manish Mehrotra's tasting menu — blue cheese naan, soy keema.
Karim's
$Mughlai · Jama Masjid
Since 1913 — mutton burra, sheermal and the city's most contested kebabs.
Saravana Bhavan
$South Indian · Connaught Place
Dosas, idli and filter coffee — vegetarian, fast and famously consistent.
Frequently asked
- Standouts right now: Red Fort, Humayun's Tomb, Qutub Minar. The shortlist is curated by people who live in Delhi and refreshed regularly so it reflects what's actually open and worth your time.