The following is a guest post by Shivani, a blogger at The Wandering Core and working a full-time job in IT sector. A native of Delhi, India, Shivani has a keen interest in travel and loves to explore not only far off places but also her home city, she’s the perfect person to help you discover the best way to spend 2 days in Delhi.
As a metropolitan city with lots of places to visit, not all can be covered in 2 days in Delhi. But I’m going to present a detailed itinerary about how to spend your best 48 hours in Delhi!
Delhi is the capital of the largest democracy in the world and the perfect mix of history and urban culture.
With a history going back to the 6th century and now the capital of India, Delhi is an enchantment for all.
Old Delhi perfectly blends with New Delhi while maintaining its culture and charm. Delhi has a number of ancient architectural buildings, but it is slowly catching up with an urban city feel alongside the impressions of colonial buildings built by the British.
Old Delhi still attracts a lot more tourists than its later version, thanks to the largest spices market in Asia, the oldest cloth market of Chandni Chowk, the largest mosque in India, and the 17th century Red Fort built by Shah Jahan.
What to do in Delhi in 2 days
Qutub Minar
Start your first day early with Qutub Minar – the tallest brick minaret in the world.
Qutub Minar is the symbol of the start of the Mughal empire rule in India and is the location of the first mosque in India.
When Qutb al-din AIbak began his reign of Delhi Sultanate, he perceived the minaret, which is how it received its name.
Despite being the largest minaret, it is still a few inches shorter than the Taj Mahal.
Humayun Tomb & Nizammudin Dargah
Humayun Tomb is Delhi’s own red sandstone Taj Mahal. Locals will proudly tell you that the iconic Taj Mahal got its inspiration from Humayun’s Tomb!
Compactly located in South Delhi, the tomb is a photographer’s playground. The Mausoleum holds the graves of Humayun Kabri & Haji Begum and attracts millions of tourists every year.
So, if you wish to create unique pictures, I would advise heading to the tomb in the early morning or late evening. Near sunset, the crowds will disperse, and you’ll be able to capture amazing pictures.
Nizammudin Dargah is another of the most-visited places in Delhi, located just across from the Humayun Tomb entrance. Spend an hour of your 2 days in Dehli soaking in the ambience of some of the most sacred places in Delhi.
India Gate & Connaught Place
India Gate is the largest war memorial in India. It is a triumphal arch built in a similar tone to the ones in Paris & Rome.
The arch is surrounded by a huge array of gardens and small canals perfect for an evening picnic.
India Gate is closely connected to Rashtrapati Bhavan through Rajpath. If time permits, don’t miss out on photographing another architectural marvel from the national capital.
India Gate is close to Connaught Place, which is visited equally by locals and tourists.
It’s a large shopping and restaurant hub and a great place to feel Delhi’s culture. If you want to stay for lunch or dinner, try Farzi Cafe in the inner circle.
Old Delhi
I would advise keeping the second day for old Delhi. It’s huge and extensively crowded so if you wish to cover all four places in a day, you must start early.
Red Fort
Start your tour with the Red Fort. Once an official residence of Mughal emperors, the Red Fort is now famous for hosting the Indian PM on Independence Day.
The fortified monument is a huge complex flaunting a design of intricate Mughal and Islamic architecture.
Jama Masjid
After visiting the Red Fort, head to Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India. Another stunning Mughal monument, it is one of India’s most sacred places.
It’s a place of prayer, so be careful to respect the culture and don’t disturb people offering their prayers.
Make sure you explore the main monument and head to the top of the minaret for amazing views of Delhi. These might be some of the best views of your 2 days in Delhi!
The ticket counter for both is near Gate 2, and the entry for the Minaret is near the same gate too.
Chandni Chowk Market
After covering both monuments, prepare yourself for the large and bustling crowds in the narrow lanes of Chandni Chowk’s market. Hold on tightly to your belongings, including wallets, handbags or cameras, better safe than sorry!
The market is divided into various sections, Dareeba for gold/silver jewellery, Kinari Bazaar for decoration, artificial jewellery, or laces, etc, Meena Bazaar for Indian wedding lehengas (dresses).
It’s difficult to shop in each of them in only one day, so I say wander through the alleys and enjoy the vibe before heading out.
Before ending your day, I would highly recommend trying out Dahi Bhalla (a sweet Indian snack) from Natraj Dahi Bhalla walla.
They serve the best Dahi Bhalla in Delhi and are a must-try from my personal experience. Ask any local; they will point you in the right direction.
How to get to Delhi and around
As India’s capital, Delhi is well-connected through air, rail, and roads.
By air
Delhi’s international and domestic airports are located on the very outskirts of the city.
Delhi International (IGI) airport is locally known as T3 airport and T1, including 1C & 1D, caters to domestic flights.
If you’re covering the Golden Triangle of India (Delhi-Agra-Jaipur), then most likely, you will land at Delhi’s T3 airport.
T3 is well connected through a special section of the Delhi Metro – Airport Express. The Airport Express will take you directly to the centre of the city, ending at New Delhi Railway station, to begin your 2 days in Delhi.
By rail
Delhi is a major junction for covering Northern India, and it has more than 6 railway stations. Out of these, the New Delhi Railway station and Old Delhi railway station are the most used.
By bus
Delhi has 2 major bus terminals – Kashmere Gate and Anand Vihar. Comfortable Volvo buses are available for nearby states.
Anand Vihar is the best place for Agra and other parts of Uttar Pradesh.
For Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Haryana, and some of Uttar Pradesh too, Kashmere Gate is the place to head.
Getting around
Travel in Delhi in the metro is the safest and fastest to commute. Autorickshaws and Uber/Ola are available too, but watch out for traffic if you choose these options.
Where to stay in Delhi
For a short duration of two days in Delhi, I recommend staying near Central Delhi, CP or Lutyens Delhi. There are various hotels available, from 3 – 5 stars.
I would not suggest staying in South Delhi as it’s usually tied up with heavy traffic and the commute time will seem never-ending.
Airbnb or homestays are also good if you choose areas like Jor Bagh, Sundar Nagar, Khan Market. But beyond these areas in South Delhi, almost everything is located in a high-traffic area.
Places to Visit Near Delhi
There are many stunning places to visit near Delhi.
Agra is a 3-hour drive from Delhi thanks to the new Delhi-Agra expressway.
Mathura and Vrindavan are also places near Delhi to visit and on way to Agra. Vrindavan is the birthplace of Lord Krishna. Vrindavan has some famous temples including Iskon temple, Bankey Bihari Temple and the Nidhi Van aka a small garden.
If you’re spending more than 2 days in Delhi, I recommend taking a day out to visit the Taj Mahal. However, the Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays, so bear that in mind.
Delhi is a big metropolis but also India’s historic capital. Two days in Delhi might not be enough to cover all the historic places and see the modern part of the city, but you can get a feel for the vibe of the city and experience at least the highlights and top things to do.
Planning a trip to India?
Nervous before travelling to Delhi? Read my top tips about first-time travel to Delhi.
Want a little inspiration for your visit to India? Here are Stunning reasons to visit India
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Hi, thank you for a wonderful itinerary that to explore Delhi in 2 days. I really liked the way it’s planned and I am looking forward to execute similar way in coming month. Again, thank you.
Hope you have a great trip!
Although your article provides detail description about 2 days visit in Delhi, I also recommend to visit Lotus Temple to the visitors because it is very artistic construction. It is worth to capture its beauty in your camera. Lastly, your article is very informative. Thanks!!
I am planning to visit Delhi after pandemic is over. I am going to explore Qutub Minar, Lotus Temple, Presidential Suite, and many more. I found your article very much informative. Thanks.