41 Fun Places in Delhi to Visit Right Now
Delhi is one of the best cities in the world to visit, and there are lots of fun places to see.
I lived in Delhi for years and know first-hand how much fun the city is. The food and culture will blow you away! No matter what your interests are, you will find loads of fun places in Delhi.
41 Fun Places in Delhi
Delhi is a huge city, so I’ve listed these fun places by area. It makes sense to pick a couple of things you really want to see, and then visit other sites that are nearby. You’ll make the most of your time that way.
These are my favourite fun places and things to do in Delhi:
- self-guided street food tour
- a morning cycle tour of New Delhi
- shop for souvenirs at Dilli Haat INA
- grab a tuk tuk and ride through Lutyens’ Delhi
Delhi has a great mix of historic and spiritual sites, fun activities and eclectic neigbourhoods. There’s something for everyone. These are the most fun places in Delhi.
Fun Things to do in Old Delhi
Old Delhi is the most historic part of Delhi. It was built in the 1650s by Mughal ruler Shah Jahan.
Remarkably, the layout of the area is still much the same as in Shah Jahan’s time. Many of the original markets, lanes, buildings and streets are there, but much more congested and polluted.
1. Walking tour of Old Delhi
Explore the historic lanes and markets of Old Delhi on a walking tour. This part of Delhi was built in the 1600s and is full of stories and historic buildings.
Learn about its fascinating history and sample the famous Old Delhi street food with Delhi Heritage Walks or India City Walks. Both companies offer excellent heritage walking tours of the area and will keep you entranced with facts about this most historic part of the city.
If you’re more of an independent traveler, do my free DIY heritage walk of Old Delhi.
2. Eat street food
Delhi is the food capital of India and the street food in Old Delhi is legendary. I love the variety of snacks, sweets and delicious meals you can find in Old Delhi.
You can easily do a DIY Old Delhi street food walk – I do this all the time. It’s one of the most fun things to do in Delhi.
Street food is generally safe if you follow a few simple guidelines on how to eat street food safely.
Prefer to take a guided street food tour? Book your Old Delhi street food tour here.
3. Have morning chai from a chai wala
In the mornings one of my favourite things to do is have a steaming cup of chai on the street from a local chai wala. It’s a very Delhi experience. Chai is sweet Indian milk tea, and everyone has their own recipe and way of making it.
The chai walas (tea sellers) are practically on every street in the morning – you’ll know them by the big steaming pot and stacks of cups. Chai is safe to drink because it is boiled.
4. Khari Baoli Spice Market
This is the famous Old Delhi spice market, Asia’s largest wholesale spice bazaar. It features on just about every Old Delhi tour itinerary and exploring it will be an adventure you won’t soon forget.
The market is located at the far end of Chandni Chowk, near Fatehpuri Masjid. Vendors are set up on the main street, but some are tucked away in the back lanes, and that’s where you will get the best deals.
5. Red Fort Sound and Light Show
The sound and light show Jai Hind is one of the most fun things to do in Old Delhi. It’s narrated by Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan, and is a roundup of recent Indian history.
The show is at one of Delhi’s world heritage sites, the Red Fort. It takes place at 3 different locations within the Red Fort and guests walk from one location to the next.
Tickets can be purchased online through Book My Show. A separate ticket is required to enter the Red Fort, but your Jai Hind ticket gives you free access after 6:00 pm.
6. Daryaganj Sunday Book Market
The legendary Sunday book market in Old Delhi is a favourite for book lovers and students. It’s a great place to get amazing deals on books if you don’t mind looking through the stacks that are piled high or spread out on the ground.
Books are even sold by the kilo. It’s definitely one of the fun places in Delhi for readers.
Fun Things to Do Around India Gate & Lutyens’ Delhi
This part of Delhi was built by Edwin Lutyens for the British Raj. It is a very green area of New Delhi characterized by wide leafy roads, huge bungalows and India’s parliament buildings.
7. India Gate
Delhi’s monument to the fallen soldiers of WW1 is at the central axis of New Delhi. Surrounded by park land and parliament buildings, it is a favourite spot for Indian families and couples.
Anytime of day or night there are hawkers selling toys and balloons, street food vendors. There are often free cultural performances and fairs. It’s one of the best places to visit at night in Delhi.
8. Changing of the Guard at Rashtrapati Bhavan
Every Saturday at 8:00 am there is a changing of the guard ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the official residence of India’s President.
It’s quite a spectacle with horses, a brass band and the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry.
Tickets must be booked in advance through the Rashtrapati Bhavan website. Make sure to bring government ID with you.
9. Have langar at Gurudwara Bangla Sahib
Langar is the free vegetarian meal served at gurudwaras (Sikh temples), and the best place to experience it is Gurudwara Bangla Sahib. This is the most prominent gurudwara in Delhi, and they’re used to foreign tourists.
Sharing langar is a special experience, and everyone is welcome regardless of faith or nationality. Everyone sits on the floor in rows while volunteers walk up and down the aisles dishing out rice, dal, vegetables and chapatis from big tubs.
After, ask a volunteer to show you the kitchen where the food is prepared. Gurudwara Bangla Sahib prepares and serves 30-40,000 free meals a day. On busy holidays they serve up to 100,000 meals in a day!
Before langar it is respectful to visit the prayer hall. Shoes must be removed and heads covered (there are bandanas you can borrow).
10. Take a morning cycle tour of Delhi
This is one of the most fun things I have done in Delhi. The tours start very early, around 6:45 am when there’s no traffic. Delhi is like another city at this time.
I took a tour with Delhi by Cycle and we cycled from Old Delhi to Lutyens’ Delhi through beautiful tree lined boulevards, past historic and off the beaten path sites I had never noticed before.
It was fun and very informative. We stopped for chai and ended with a traditional Indian breakfast in a quaint market.
11. Take a tuk tuk through Lutyens’ Delhi
Lutyens’ Delhi is the part of New Delhi designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens for the British Raj between 1912 and 1930. And the best way to see it is in a tuk tuk (auto rickshaw).
It’s the most picturesque part of Delhi, full of wide boulevards with huge leafy trees, lovely white bungalows, India’s parliament buildings, roundabouts and parks.
Grab an auto rickshaw from Lodhi Garden and ask the driver to drive you to India Gate, past Rashtrapati Bhavan and over to Gurudwara Bangla Sahib.
Riding in an open auto rickshaw if a really fun way to see this part of Delhi. Negotiate a price first (about INR 200 would be fair, though you may be quoted much higher).
12. Nehru Planetarium
Delhi’s planetarium is a fun place to watch a 2D or 3D space show. The planetarium was the initiative of India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru and is located at Teen Murti Bhavan, where he lived as prime minister.
It’s on the same grounds as one of Delhi’s best museums, Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya (Prime Ministers Museum), and you could easily do both together.
13. Museum of Illusions
The international museum chain has a Delhi location full of mind bending and fun illusions. Installations are based on mirrors, holograms, colours and sound, using science to trick the brain.
It can get busy, so try to go in the morning and buy tickets online at the Museum of Illusions website so you don’t need to line up.
Fun Things to Do Around Nizamuddin & Lodhi Garden
This area of South Delhi is very central. While the area around Lodhi Garden is very green, Nizamuddin is more congested.
14. Listen to the Sufi singers at Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah
Every evening after the maghrib namaz (evening prayers) there is Sufi Islamic devotional singing at one of Delhi’s off the beaten path sites, Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah.
The dargah is located deep inside the urban village of Nizamuddin. It is very congested and can be intimidating for a first time visitor. If you prefer, you can take this walking tour of the Nizamuddin Basti in the evening and experience the qawwali singing that way.
The family of qawwali singers at Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah have sung qawwalis at this dargah for 700 years. Listening to the qawwalis in such a historic and spiritual place is a unique experience.
Go a little earlier because it can get very busy. Shoes have to be removed to enter and women should cover their heads.
15. Bazaar at Sunder Nursery
Every Sunday morning (Saturday too in the winter) Sunder Nursery hosts a bazaar in this lovely heritage park.
You’ll find fresh produce, jams and preserves, breads, coffees, chocolate and other specialty items.
The park itself was built on the site of a 16th century Mughal garden and has beautiful historic tombs and halls from that era.
16. See street art in Lodhi Art District
Lodhi Art District is India’s first open air art district and one of the most fun places in Delhi. It’s located in a residential colony of low rise buildings built by the British for their government employees and families.
Strolling through the leafy roads to discover murals and stopping at Devan’s (one of Delhis’ best coffee shops) is a wonderful way to spend a morning or afternoon in Delhi.
17. Attend a live music performance at Stein Auditorium
If you enjoy the live arts, one of the most fun places in Delhi is Stein Auditorium. It’s located in India Habitat Centre, which is semi-private cultural centre in South Delhi.
Stein Auditorium often has live theatre and music performances. Check the India Habitat website for a list of current performances.
18. Eat ice cream at Big Chill Creamery
I love grabbing an ice cream at Big Chill Creamery every time I’m in Khan Market. They have a great selection of high quality ice creams, and it’s fun to people watch sitting at their huge front window.
Delhi has some fantastic ice cream places, even ones that will deliver to your hotel or guest house.
19. Have lunch at Andhra Pradesh Bhavan
This is one of the most fun places in Delhi to eat on a budget. It’s a state-run canteen, extremely popular with locals for its delicious but inexpensive food.
Servers walk up and down the aisles between tables filling and re-filling thali trays (a thali is an assortment of dal, vegetable dishes, Indian breads and a sweet) as many times as customers want.
I usually go for lunch (12:00 pm – 3:00 pm), but they serve breakfast at 8:00 am – 10:00 am and dinner at 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm.
Fun Things to Do in South Delhi
South Delhi is a large area of Delhi that is jam packed with temples, historic monuments and street markets.
In this area, it’s usual to come across monuments from the 11th to 14th centuries in very unusual places, like the zoo, the golf course, a park or busy traffic roundabout.
20. Window shop in Shahpur Jat
This little urban village in South Delhi has become a hub for eclectic fashion designers, boutiques and cafes.
It’s a great place to shop for Indian wedding clothing and has become a go-to place for brides who want something traditional, but a little different. There’s also some fantastic street art in Shahpur Jat.
While walking through the village keep an eye out for the remaining ancient city wall of Siri and the ruins of Tohfe Wala Gumbad. Shahpur Jat is located in what was the second medieval city of Delhi, Siri, built in the 1300s.
21. Buy souvenirs at Dilli Haat INA
Dilli Haat is one of the most fun places in Delhi for shopping. It’s a great pedestrian only market that sells Indian handicrafts and cultural items from all over the country.
Artisans and craftsmen change every two weeks and the variety of crafts, arts and textiles is excellent. If you’re hungry while there, there’s a fantastic food court with specialties from many regions of India.
There are 3 Dilli Haat markets in Delhi. Make sure you go to the INA location. It is the largest and nicest. There is also a Delhi Haat INA store in Saket – do not go there!
22. Shop for Desi Clothing at Central Market Lajpat Nagar
This is where to shop for Indian clothes if you want to dress like a local. All my Indian girlfriends come here. Central Market Lajpat Nagar is great for desi clothes without breaking the bank.
In my experience dressing local (especially if you’re a woman) is smart. The fabrics and styles are made for hot weather and cut modestly to suit the Delhi mentality.
Plus, this is a bustling market with great street food options. Don’t leave without trying ram laddu at Ram Laddu Food Corner – it’s the best in Delhi.
23. Champa Gali
Champa Gali is a small area in South Delhi’s urban village of Saidulajab that has become one of the top hang out places in the city. It’s a quaint area with a rural, laid-back vibe.
There are shops, cafes, design studios and street art. Wander around and stop for a drink or meal at Jugmug Thela or Dream Catchers Cafe.
24. Take an Indian cooking class
A cooking class in Delhi is a great way to experience the food, learn about local ingredients and how history has influenced cooking habits.
Indian cuisine is one of the most complex and popular cuisines in the world. The food of India is heavily influenced by spices, fresh produce and history. In northern India, where Delhi is located, there’s a lot of Mughal influence in the cuisine, especially in areas like Old Delhi.
I have taken and highly recommend Gourmet Desire cooking classes. I learned so much, and the owner sent us home with all the recipes and a gift bag of spices.
25. National Rail Museum
Delhi’s National Rail Museum is a fun place for families and rail enthusiasts. The grounds resemble a railway yard with an extensive collection of locomotives and historic carriages.
Visitors can walk through the carriages and climb aboard the locomotives. There’s also a great exhibit on the development of India Railways, which today is the second largest employer in India after the Indian Armed Forces.
26. National Zoological Park
Delhi’s National Zoological Park is not a premiere zoo. In fact, it doesn’t have a great reputation regarding the care of animals.
What makes it unique and fun is the location in historic South Delhi. Set among the enclosures are several 14th century monuments from the Tughlaq dynasty.
Bring drinks with you because once you enter the zoo grounds there are no food or drink outlets. There’s a canteen outside the zoo’s main entrance.
27. Take a haunted Delhi tour
Delhi is a very old city with a fascinating and sometimes bloody history. The city has many places that are widely believed to be haunted. Many Delhiites refuse to go these sites.
What better way to explore these sites and learn the stories behind them than a haunted Delhi tour? Delhi Tourism offers several heritage walking tours of haunted spaces in south Delhi.
Check the Delhi Tourism website for the list and to book a tour.
Fun Things to Do in Other Parts of Delhi
Here’s some more sites that are located in areas not heavily visited by tourists, but still very popular with locals and domestic visitors.
28. Akshardham Temple exhibitions and water show
This stunning Hindu temple is one of the largest Hindu temples in the world. Although the temple is very beautiful and I highly recommend seeing it, the unusual ‘exhibitions’ and the nightly water show are a lot of fun.
The exhibitions include 3D dioramas and immersive projections, a giant screen movie on the life of Neelkanth Varni (the original Swaminarayan), and a 12 minute cultural boat ride.
There’s also a playground and large food hall, making Akshardham Temple the most family friendly temple in Delhi.
Akshardham Temple has a strict dress code – shoulders, chest, upper arms and waist to the knees must be covered. Sarongs are available to borrow.
29. Eat Tibetan street food in Majnu ka Tilla
One of the many fun places in Delhi is Majnu ka Tilla, Delhi’s Little Tibet. Shop for Buddhist and Tibetan trinkets, visit Buddhist temples and stroll lanes strung with Tibetan prayer flags.
While you’re there eat Tibetan food like momos and the delicious vegetarian snack laphing.
Majnu ka Tilla is home to 3,500 second generation Tibetan exiles who originally followed the Dalai Lama to Delhi when he was exiled from Tibet.
30. Indian Air Force Museum
This is great, comprehensive museum that aviation enthusiasts and kids will love. Over 37 aircraft are on display outside and inside an aircraft hangar.
The collection includes vintage jets, helicopters, airplanes, remnants of crashed Pakistani jets from the 1972 India Pakistan war, anti-aircraft guns, ordnance, vehicles and radar equipment.
31. Sulabh International Museum of Toilets
This unusual and fun museum chronicles the history of the toilet from 2500 BC through a bizarre and rare collection of objects, photos and information.
It’s the project of social reformer Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak who worked extensively to remove the social stigma attached to the Dalit caste (the ‘untouchables’).
32. Bharat Dharshan Park
View over 21 replicas of India’s most famous heritage buildings in this ingenious park. The replicas were built entirely with scrap metal, using everything from old fans to nuts and bolts.
It’s a great way to see the monuments you might not be able to visit in person, like the Taj Mahal of Agra, Char Minar of Hyderabad, Gateway of India of Mumbai or Victoria Memorial of Kolkata. At dusk the monuments are beautifully lit up.
33. Swimming at Radisson Blu Hotel Paschim Vihar
This hotel allows visitors to purchase a day pass for the roof top pool. It’s a great way to spend an afternoon, especially if the weather is hot.
Relax on a lounger and order drinks and food from the poolside bar while enjoying the panoramic views of Delhi.
A pool is one of the fun places to visit in Delhi, and there are many public pool options but sanitation may not be up to western standards. The pool at the Radisson Blu Hotel Paschim Vihar is a safer choice.
34. Bowling at SMAAASH
SMAAASH has a modern bowling alley and virtual gaming and sports hub in Rajouri Garden in West Delhi. This is the most fun place in Delhi to bowl.
Try the twilight bowling alley with ultra violet lighting for something really different.
35. Ice skating at ISKATE (in Gurugram)
Ice skating is not something I planned to do in Delhi, but it turns out skating and hockey are popular there. The rink at ISKATE is the largest indoor skating rink in India and the best ice in Delhi.
Public skating starts on the hour for 45 minute sessions. Skates are included in the entrance fee (not the best skates, but okay for an hour) but bring long socks.
ISKATE is located in one of Delhi’s best shopping malls, Ambience Mall Gurugram which has a large movie theatre and many eating options – you can easily make a full day of your visit there.
36. Worlds of Wonder Amusement & Water Park (in Noida)
If you keep your expectations in check (don’t expect Disney level rides) there’s plenty of fun to be had at this amusement and water park. The park has lots of rides, a games area and water park with wave pool and water slides.
Fun Experiences You Can Do Anywhere in Delhi
37. Shop at Delhi’s famous street markets
Delhi is famous for its cheap street markets. You can buy everything and anything at the local markets.
Many specialize in certain things – Janpath Market is famous for its Gujarati section, Sarojini Nagar Market is a thrift clothing hub, Nehru Place Market is known for electronics and fabrics.
If you’re a bargain hunter and can master some basic bargaining skills, you will enjoy the Delhi markets and get some great deals.
38. See a Bollywood movie
India loves movies, and seeing a Bollywood movie with a largely Indian audience is a fun Delhi experience.
Indian moviegoers can get very involved in the story, and it’s common for there to be whistles, applause and other exclamations of appreciation during a screening.
Delhi has hundreds of modern movie theatres with AC and plenty of food options. The multiplexes always have the latest American block busters as well as domestic movies.
To check movie schedules and purchase tickets I use these two sites: PVR Cinemas and Book My Show.
39. Celebrate one of Delhi’s religious festivals
India is a very religious country and there are several major festivals celebrated in Delhi. Religious festivals are celebrated by everyone and are vibrant, colourful affairs that can bring out large crowds.
Some of the major festivals in Delhi are Durga Puja, Diwali, Holi and Eid-ul-Fitr. Festivals can be multi-day events that include religious parades, special foods and temple visits.
40. Enjoy Delhi’s nightlife
Delhi has a vibrant night life and there is something for all tastes. You can find piano bars, cocktail lounges, sufi music bars, pubs, and high energy and all night dance clubs.
Many clubs have large outdoor areas with beautiful terraces. Some have great views like Humayun’s Tomb from Cirrus 9, or the Qutub Minar from Misosexy.
Keep in mind most alcohol is imported and drinks can be expensive, but domestic beer like Kingfisher and Bira 91 are cheaper.
41. Take a Delhi Darshan Same Day Tour
This is a great whistle stop tour if you have limited time in Delhi and want to see the highlights. It hits all the bucket list Delhi sites and tours are conducted in Hindi and English.
You have to pay for your admission to sites and food, and the driver and guide will expect a tip, but the tour itself is very cheap.
There are various pick-up and drop-off point in central Delhi. Book tickets through Bharat Incredible Tourism.
Where to Stay in Delhi
In Delhi, where you stay matters. Not only because the city is massive and you want to be near the sites, but also in terms of safety. The best area to stay in is South Delhi.
I am very familiar with these properties, and recommend them because they are exceptional and in good neighbourhoods. They are also well located for seeing these fun places in Delhi.
- The Imperial Hotel, New Delhi (luxury): Beautiful heritage hotel full of charm and character. The location is excellent for exploring Delhi in a walkable area close to many sites, shops and restaurants. This is my favourite Delhi hotel.
- Lutyens Bungalow (mid-range): Heritage boutique property in one of the best areas of the city next to Lodhi Garden. Fantastic area near many sites. Breakfast is included.
- Prakash Kutir Bed & Breakfast (budget): Family run guest house in a residential neighbourhood of South Delhi, near the metro and easy to explore the whole city from. Spotlessly clean. Home-cooked breakfast is included.
How to Get to Get Around Delhi
The best ways to get around Delhi are by metro, Uber, auto rickshaw, or any combination of these.
The Delhi metro is really good – don’t be nervous about using it. And auto rickshaws are everywhere and super convenient. Uber is also good in Delhi, and very cheap.
Last Words on 41 Fun Places to Visit in Delhi Right Now
As you can see there are many fun places to visit in Delhi. To make the best of your time, choose the places that appeal to you the most and see what else is nearby.
