Luxury 5 Star Hotels in Delhi (2026) – the Very Best
Delhi is the capital of India, and it has some incredible luxury 5 star hotels. There’s beautiful heritage hotels, grand contemporary properties, and smaller boutique hotels, so there’s something for all tastes.
Because I lived in Delhi for years and still continue to visit regularly, I’ve stayed in many of these hotels. And the ones I haven’t stayed in, I’ve visited. I am very familiar with their locations, amenities and reputations. I will not steer you wrong!
These 5 star hotels are all in South Delhi or the better part of Central Delhi. This is the nicest and safest part of the city to stay in. It is also the best area for sightseeing as most of Delhi’s attractions are in this area.
My 3 top picks of luxury 5 star hotels in Delhi:
Don’t Stay by the Airport or in Gurugram Unless You Have To
Unless you have to be near the airport, or in the suburb of Gurugram, don’t stay there.
These areas are far from South and Central Delhi where most of the sites and attractions are. It may take an hour to travel between them each way, even by Delhi metro.
Just in case you do need to stay out that way, I will recommend some excellent 5 star hotels in those areas also.
The Best Luxury 5 Star Hotels in Delhi
Many of these 5 star hotels are centred around Lutyens Delhi and the Diplomatic Enclave of South Delhi. The most affluent and greenest neighbourhoods are located here.
Out of all the 5 star hotels in Delhi, these are the best ones:
- Leela Palace New Delhi: The finest 5 star hotel in Delhi. Leela is India’s premiere luxury brand and this hotel exudes classic Indian comfort and opulence. It’s located in the Diplomatic Enclave in the greenest part of South Delhi. The location is excellent for sightseeing, while still being in quieter enclave.
- Imperial New Delhi: A beautiful heritage hotel and my favourite 5 star hotel in Delhi with the best high tea in Delhi. It is a luxurious hotel, and the location is ideal for first time visitors. The area is more commercial, but it’s very walkable with many shops, restaurants and sites in walking distance.
- Taj Palace, New Delhi: A large and grand hotel on 6 acres of gardens in the Diplomatic Enclave. In a city where pollution is often an issue, this 5 star hotel has some of the cleanest air in Delhi, thanks in part to its location next the largest green space in the city. Wonderful amenities, even a 9 hole golf course.
- Taj Mahal, New Delhi: I prefer this Taj property to the Taj Palace (above). It’s a nicer and smaller property that was just refurbished a few years ago. It’s also in Lutyens Delhi, a better area for walking and exploring the city. Here’s my insider tip: rooms with odd numbers have views of Delhi’s greenery and parliament buildings.
- Shangri-la Eros New Delhi: A large and contemporary hotel very well located for seeing the sites. It’s between Connaught Place and India Gate, so very convenient. This area is on the edge of Lutyens Delhi nearer the commercial centre, but still extremely good. It’s also home to the all you can eat dim sum lunch, one of my most memorable food experiences in Delhi.
- ITC Maurya: A favourite of visiting dignitaries because of the location in the Diplomatic Enclave, this is one of the very best 5 star hotels in Delhi. It’s beautiful with exceptional Indian art and two of Delhi’s most famous restaurants. The area is very exclusive, but not as central as some as the others for sightseeing.
- The Claridges New Delhi: The location of the Claridges is hard to beat. It’s in Lutyens Delhi, the nicest and greenest parts of the city, and close to many sites. There’s a very nice pool and outdoor terrace, excellent bakery and all sorts of amenities. The room decor is British Raj art deco – not my favourite, but I love everything else about this hotel.
- The Lodhi: The Lodhi is a member of the prestigious Leading Hotels of the World. Even though the hotel looks large and sits on 6 acres, it’s a boutique hotel with less than 50 rooms. It also has the best fitness facilities in the city, and many rooms have terraces. This part of South Delhi is extremely historic with many large Mughal era tombs, but it’s traffic heavy and not as central.
- The Oberoi New Delhi: Oberoi hotels are beautiful, luxurious and comfortable in a very Indian way. They are my favourite Indian hotel group, and I have stayed in several. While this Oberoi is not very walkable due to the high traffic area, it’s in a historic part of the city filled with Mughal ruins, and it’s easy to get an Uber or auto rickshaw. The rooftop lounge is one of the best in Delhi with views of Humayun’s Tomb.
- Hyatt Regency Delhi: This is one of the best 5 star business hotels in Delhi (it’s close to many government offices). It’s also perfect for tourists that want to explore all over Delhi. It’s located on the main ring road and next door to a metro station. You can very easily go anywhere at all from here. The Hyatt also has the best hotel bakery in Delhi and a lovely outdoor pool area.
- Maidens Hotel: If you want a more budget friendly 5 star heritage hotel, Maidens Hotel is ideal. It was built by the British Raj in 1903, and though it’s a little dated, it’s very charming. My room was large and very comfortable. It’s located in Civil Lines, where much of the Raj lived. You won’t be able to walk to the sites, but can easily take an Uber or auto rickshaw and it’s very close to a metro station.
- Le Meridien Delhi: It’s located in the same area as the Shangri-La Eros, but usually considerably less expensive. Ask for a refurbished room, and go earlier for breakfast because the restaurant is small and there’s queues at the busiest times. Great location in a very green part of Delhi close to numerous sites, restaurants, shops and the metro.
- The LaLiT Delhi: The LaLiT Delhi is great value for a luxury 5 star hotel. While not as luxurious as the Oberoi or Taj Palace, this hotel is much more affordable, and guest rooms are large. The location is very central, close to many sites. I often stay at LaLiT hotels when travelling in India if the Oberoi is out of my budget. They’re always lovely properties with attentive staff.
- Haveli Dharampura and Golden Haveli: These are two beautifully restored havelis (mansions) in Old Delhi that are now boutique hotels. I don’t usually recommend staying in Old Delhi, but these are unique hotels and Haveli Dharampura is UNESCO awarded. While lacking some of the amenities of a traditional 5 star hotel (there’s no pool and only 1 restaurant), they are luxurious.
Luxury 5 Star Hotels Near the Delhi Airport
These are the best 5 star hotels near the Delhi airport. Most of these hotels are in Aerocity, which is a purpose built hotel, shopping and restaurant hub just 3.5 km away from the airport. It’s also easy to get into Delhi from Aerocity by metro. All of these hotels offer airport transfers.
- JW Marriott Hotel New Delhi: One of the best luxury hotels in Aerocity. The beds are extremely comfortable and the hotel is pet friendly (I travel with my dog these days). JW Marriott is famous for high end amenities and attentive service.
- Andaz Delhi: This Hyatt property has the largest guest rooms in Aerocity. The hotel has two excellent and popular restaurants and one of Delhi’s best specialty bars, Juniper. It’s also pet friendly.
- Pullman New Delhi Aerocity Hotel: This is one of the best luxury hotels in Aerocity, but it’s connected to the more budget friendly Novotel, and the two hotels share the pool, gym and restaurants. If you are looking for more exclusivity, stay at the JW Marriott instead.
- Leela Ambience Gurugram Hotel & Residences: I’ve stayed here quite a bit, and it’s an outstanding hotel. It’s in Gurugram (not Aerocity), 20 minutes drive from the airport. The Leela is steps from one of Delhi’s best malls, Ambience Mall, so there’s numerous restaurants, shops and a cinema just metres away. It’s also close to the metro, so you can easily get into Delhi.
Booking a Hotel During Wedding Season
Luxury 5 star hotels are popular venues for weddings in Delhi. If you are visiting Delhi during wedding season (October to the end of February), request a room on a higher floor away from the banquet halls. Indian weddings are amazing to experience, but not as much fun to listen to when trying to sleep.
Last Words on Luxury 5 Star Hotels in Delhi – The Very Best
Choosing a hotel in a mega city like Delhi can be challenging, but you can’t go wrong with these 5 star hotels. I’ve stayed at many of them myself, and these are the ones I’d recommend to friends and family.
The best choice ultimately comes down to whether you want a central, walkable location or a quieter, greener setting.
