Delhi in a Day With Kids: A Child Friendly Itinerary
Traveling to Delhi with children? There is a lot to keep kids happy and occupied in Delhi for one day. As a parent and someone that lived in Delhi, I think this itinerary will ensure you and your children have a great day.
While the city is not what I consider super kid friendly (sidewalks are a mess or non-existent in many places, lack of guard rails, etc.), Indians are very family oriented and friendly.
Your child will be entertained by the everyday sights in Delhi: whole families squeezed onto a single moped, cows wandering the streets, monkeys bouncing from tree to tree – all this without even setting food in an attraction.
Delhi in a Day with Kids
This Delhi in a day itinerary should please both adults and children. Make sure to bring bottled water, sunscreen, a hat and comfortable shoes for you and your children.
Here’s what you’ll cover on this kid friendly itinerary:
- Humayun’s Tomb
- Sunder Nursery (lunch at Fabcafe by the Lake)
- Lodhi Art District (drive through and ice cream stop)
- India Gate
- Jantar Mantar
- Connaught Place (dinner)
1. Start at Humayun’s Tomb (UNESCO)
A trip to Delhi would not be complete with visiting at least one of Delhi’s world heritage sites. Start the day at Humayun’s Tomb, one of Delhi’s most magical places.
It’s supposed to be open at sunrise every day, but I wouldn’t count on that. If you’re there by 8:00 am that should be good.
Buy tickets online in advance through the Archeological Survey of India website. Even though there isn’t much of a line-up early in the morning, it’s better to buy your ticket online (and a little cheaper too).
This may not be the most entertaining site for you child, but by visiting it first you’ll get to see it while your child still has some patience. Plus, it really is the tomb of an actual emperor which kids find cool.
Humayun was a popular Mughal ruler, but met an untimely death in 1556 when he tripped and fell down a flight of stone steps in his library. There are several other restored tombs, gardens and the graves of over 150 royals and their entourage.
If you are staying in South or Central Delhi, take an auto rickshaw (most kids love this mode of Delhi transportation), or an Uber to Humayun’s Tomb.
2. Burn off Some Steam in Sunder Nursery & Have Lunch
If it’s not hot, you can walk to Sunder Nursery from Humayun’s Tomb. It is literally next door. This is a UNESCO awarded heritage park.
This park is wonderful for kids. There’s an interactive playground, lots of walking paths, wide open spaces and giant swings that hang from enormous trees. The park is home to over 80 species of birds and 40 species of butterflies.
Sunder Nursery is on the site of a 16th century Mughal garden has several beautifully restored Mughal monuments.
Have lunch at Carnatic Cafe. It’s located in the park beside the lake, near the children’s playground. The menu is predominately South Indian – dosas, coffee and ice cream.
Entrance fee to Sunder Nursery is INR 200, children under 5 are free. There is an additional fee for the playground.
3. Stop for Ice Cream in Lodhi Art District
From Sunder Nursery, take an auto rickshaw to Lodhi Colony. Lodhi Colony is India’s first open air art district – there are over 50 giant murals with social and ethical themes.
Tell the driver to drive up and down the lanes in the neighbourhood so you can see the art murals. This should be no more than INR 200, including the touring around to see the murals.
Here’s a handy map of the murals: St+Art India’s location guide.
If you didn’t have ice cream at Carnatic Cafe, stop at one of Delhi’s best places for ice cream, Jaatre. The ice cream is excellent, and they serve some very Indian flavours like palm jaggery with roasted fig and fresh jamun. They have chocolate and vanilla too.
It’s located right on the main road of Lodhi Colony in Meharchand Market.
4. Visit the Iconic India Gate
Take an Uber or an auto rickshaw to your next stop, India Gate.
Children will enjoy the carnival like atmosphere surrounding India Gate. Even though it’s a war memorial, it’s far from being a somber site.
There’s always lots of Indian families around taking selfies and picnicking, hawkers selling everything from cheap jewelry to wind-up toys and balloons, and plenty of street food vendors.
India Gate is one of the most iconic symbols of Delhi. It’s fun for kids, and easy to fit into a day in Delhi because of its central location. The parliament buildings sit directly opposite, down Kartavya Path. Free.
5. Check Out Ancient Astronomy at Jantar Mantar
Take an auto rickshaw from India Gate to Jantar Mantar.
If your kids are interested in science or astronomy they’ll enjoy this outdoor observatory. It’s a collection of 13 architectural astronomy instruments built in the 1700s.
The instruments are not cordoned off, which means you can walk through them, sit on them, and generally explore to your heart’s content.
Jantar Mantar is an open area without much shade, so skip it if it’s really hot.
I recommend buying your ticket in advance on the Archeological Survey of India website. If you buy tickets on site, make sure you go to the foreigner ticket window – the lines are always shorter.
6. Have Dinner and Do Some Shopping in Connaught Place
The last stop on this kids friendly Delhi in a day tour is Connaught Place. This is the unofficial centre of Delhi and known as CP locally. It was built by the British Raj as their commercial and retail hub.
If you want to buy souvenirs or anything else, you can do it here. This is where international and domestic brands all have shops.
The colonnaded shopfronts are set out in concentric circles and lettered, making it easy to navigate with kids. Covered walkways provide shade in the hotter weather.
There’s lots of restaurants in CP. Good options for children are:
- Nando’s
- Chili’s
- Unplugged Courtyard (outdoor venue with good pizza)
- Yeti – The Himalayan Kitchen (mild soups, momos and noodles)
- United Coffee House (a bit upscale, but they have a vast menu)
By now it’s probably dark, so take an Uber or Ola back to your hotel. I avoid auto rickshaws and the metro after dark.
Other Things you Can do with Kids if you Have More Than a Day in Delhi
If you have an extra afternoon or day in Delhi, I highly recommend these sites for you and your children.
Akshardham Temple
Delhi’s most child friendly temple will captivate you and your kids. It’s absolutely stunning, and the largest Hindu temple in the world.
Your kids will enjoy the 3D dioramas, movie about the life of the young Swaminarayan and cultural boat ride. There’s a playground, a large cafeteria, and a sweet shop. Closed Monday.
National Rail Museum
This is a wonderful museum for children located in central Delhi. The National Rail Museum grounds are set up like a railway yard, with many historic carriages and locomotives that kids can explore and roam around on.
There’s an onsite restaurant, a playground, indoor displays and a mini Joy train ride. It’s closed Mondays.
Sound and Light Show at the Red Fort
Every night an hour long sound and light show is played out against Delhi’s most famous historic site, the Red Fort. The show is called Jai Hind (long live India) and it’s narrated by India’s own superstar, Amitabh Bachchan.
Before the show, take a short wander up Chandni Chowk in Old Delhi and get chole bhature from Kanwarji Raj Kumar Bhatura Junction. Your child will get to experience Old Delhi and street food!
A separate ticket is required to enter the Red Fort, but your Jai Hind ticket gives you access after 6:00 pm. Buy tickets on the BookMyShow website.
The Best Delhi Hotels to Stay at with Kids
South or Central Delhi are the best areas of Delhi to stay in with children. These are nicer and safer parts of the city, and you’ll be close to everything in this itinerary.
Some of the best hotels for families are:
- Maidens Hotel (luxury): lovely heritage hotel with a nice pool
- Sheraton New Delhi (mid-range): swimming pool and located next to one of Delhi’s best malls with loads of restaurants
- Prakash Kutir Bed & Breakfast (budget): family friendly and one of Delhi’s best guest houses
For more hotels that are good for children, see my article on where to stay in Delhi with kids.
Last Words on Delhi in a Day with Kids: A Child Friendly Itinerary
This itinerary will give you and your kids a great day in Delhi. Between the sites you will see, and the sheer cultural differences of Delhi, your family is going to have a great Indian adventure.
