Flights to Delhi

Overview

Delhi is really several cities layered on top of one another, and that history is visible everywhere. In Old Delhi, built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, the red sandstone Red Fort faces the vast courtyard of Jama Masjid, and the lanes of Chandni Chowk are crammed with spice sellers, silver shops, and stalls frying jalebis. Farther south, Humayun's Tomb, a forerunner of the Taj Mahal, and the soaring Qutub Minar are both UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

New Delhi, laid out by Edwin Lutyens in the early 20th century, has a completely different feel: wide avenues, the Kartavya Path ceremonial boulevard leading to India Gate, and the columned circles of Connaught Place. Lodhi Garden mixes 15th-century tombs with joggers and picnicking families, while Hauz Khas Village has cafés and boutiques set around a medieval reservoir.

The Delhi Metro, one of the largest networks in Asia, connects most sights and makes the city far easier to navigate than its traffic suggests. Delhi is also the starting point of the Golden Triangle: Agra and the Taj Mahal are reachable on a same-day return trip by express train, and Jaipur is a short flight or a scenic drive away. With nonstop service from New York, Newark, San Francisco, and Canada, it is often the most convenient entry point to northern India.

Highlights of Delhi

Where to stay

Airports and getting into town

The Airport Express (Orange) Line leaves from Terminal 3 and reaches New Delhi station, next to Connaught Place and Paharganj, in about 20 minutes, with a stop at Aerocity; Terminal 1 connects to the Magenta Line toward South Delhi. Prepaid taxi counters and Uber and Ola pickup zones are outside arrivals, and the drive to central Delhi takes 30 to 60 minutes depending on traffic.

Best time to visit

October to March is the best time to visit, with sunny days and cool to chilly nights, and festivals such as Diwali in October or November. Air quality is often very poor from November to January, so travelers with respiratory conditions should check pollution forecasts. April to June is intensely hot, often above 40°C (104°F), and the monsoon brings humid, rainy weather from July to September. Holi, in March, is celebrated with colored powder across the city.

Airlines flying to Delhi

Popular routes to Delhi

Flying out of Delhi

Travel tips from our desk

• Use the Delhi Metro to beat traffic; the first car of each train is reserved for women, and bags are screened at every station entrance.
• Many monuments, including the Red Fort, close one day a week (often Monday), so check opening days before planning your route.
• Check the daily Air Quality Index in winter and consider carrying an N95 mask from November to January.
• Use official prepaid taxi booths or ride-hailing apps at the airport and railway stations, and ignore touts offering hotel or tour help.