Ordered 1558
Humayun's Tomb
Mughal garden tomb
- PlanCharbagh garden
- HoursSunrise to sunset
- Stop60 minutes
Look up your stop
Delhi sightseeing: the New Delhi monuments, hour by hour
Quick summary
Delhi sightseeing in New Delhi centers on India Gate, Humayun's Tomb, the Lotus Temple and Qutub Minar, and the National War Memorial has no entry fee.
Sightseeing essentials
See all 18 stops
Delhi's main sights, pin by pin
Pick a route, then tap a marker or a stop for notes and a Google Maps link.
The Red Fort was built by Emperor Shah Jahan in the 17th century as a red sandstone fortress of Mughal architecture.
Google MapsJama Masjid is one of India's largest mosques.
Google MapsChandni Chowk is the heart of Old Delhi, with spices, sweets and street food.
Google MapsKhari Baoli is described as Asia's largest spice market.
Google Maps
India Gate is a symbol of Indian courage, patriotism and sacrifice.
Google MapsThe National War Memorial pays tribute to India's Armed Forces.
Google MapsThe Change of Guard Ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhawan can be watched free on Saturdays, on the first trip of the Delhi Tourism hop-on hop-off bus.
Google MapsConnaught Place is a hub with a global range of food.
Google MapsJantar Mantar is an observatory with ancient astronomical instruments.
Google MapsGurudwara Bangla Sahib has a langar, a community kitchen, that serves all who come.
Google MapsAgrasen Ki Baoli is an intricately designed stepwell.
Google MapsDelhi Tourism runs an information counter on the Paharganj side of the station, near Exit Gate no. 1.
Google Maps
Humayun's Tomb is a 16th-century garden mausoleum with an octagonal design.
Google MapsSunder Nursery is one of the green places for a picnic or a rest.
Google MapsLodhi Garden is one of the green places for a picnic or a rest.
Google MapsThe Lotus Temple is an architectural wonder shaped like a lotus flower.
Google MapsQutub Minar is a 12th-century red and buff sandstone tower.
Google MapsAkshardham Temple is dedicated to Lord Swaminarayan.
Google Maps
Map © OpenStreetMap contributors
New Delhi sightseeing is a ring of monuments linked by wide avenues. Here is what each one offers, when it opens, which days it closes and how to order them.
Editorial team, delhicitytour.click · Updated November 7, 2026 · Read in 8 min
Summary view
- The usual stopsIndia Gate, Humayun's Tomb, Lotus Temple and Qutub Minar anchor a day.1,2,3,4
- Free entryThe National War Memorial has no entry fee.5
- Monday trapAkshardham, the National Museum and the Lotus Temple listing are all affected on Mondays.6,7
- Our half dayThe half-day New Delhi version covers Humayun's Tomb, the Lotus Temple and Agrasen ki Baoli.
- SeasonOctober to March is the cooler stretch, when sightseeing is most comfortable.8
India Gate and the avenue it closes
India Gate fronts the long avenue of the capital, a 42-meter-high sandstone archway designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens that rises against the backdrop of Rashtrapati Bhavan.1 Lord Irwin, the Viceroy, dedicated it to the nation in 1931.9 It is a memorial arch, and a visit is mostly about standing at the foot of it and looking down the long avenue.
No ticket is involved. The Ministry of Tourism describes India Gate as open throughout the day, with some areas not accessible to visitors after dark.10 After sunset the monument is lit by floodlights, and the evening is when the lawns fill with families and the area feels like a public park.11 Go late in the afternoon if you want both daylight photographs and the lit arch.
On our Viator listing India Gate is a pass-by view, seen from the car on both half-day versions. That is a sensible way to treat it on a tight schedule, since the arch looks much the same from the road. If you want to walk around it, give it its own half hour on a different part of the day, ideally close to sunset.
Check the day
New Delhi sights: hours and closed days
| Sight | Hours | Closed |
|---|---|---|
| India Gate | Open throughout the day10 | Some areas after dark10 |
| National War Memorial | 09:00 AM - 07:30 PM from November to March15 | No entry fee5 |
| Humayun's Tomb | Sunrise to sunset16 | Not listed |
| Lotus Temple | 09:30 AM - 07:00 PM in summer17 | Monday |
| Qutub Minar | Sunrise to sunset18 | Not listed |
| Akshardham | 09:30 AM - 06:30 PM6 | Monday6 |
| National Museum | 10:00 AM - 06:00 PM7 | Monday and holidays7 |
Hours come from the Ministry of Tourism pages for each site and from our listing; confirm on the day.6
The National War Memorial and its evening drill
Next to India Gate stands the National War Memorial, which the tourism board says has no entry fee.5 The eternal flame, the Amar Jawan Jyoti, moved here from beneath the arch in January 2022.13 The memorial is built as concentric circles, and walking them takes less time than you might expect, and the layout is easy to follow even without a guide to explain each ring.
The tourism board recommends visiting in the evening, when twilight changes the mood and the daily Retreat Drill takes place.14 Hours depend on the season: the memorial opens 09:00 AM - 07:30 PM from November to March and 09:00 AM - 08:30 PM from April to October.15 Those closing times are worth knowing if you plan to finish the day here, because arriving after the gate closes means missing the drill and the lit grounds.
This is the one stop in the area that needs no booking and no budget, which makes it a good filler for the end of a long day. It also pairs naturally with India Gate on foot, and a guide can explain the names and the circles in a few minutes. Keep your voice low, follow the signs and treat the grounds as a place of remembrance rather than a photo stop. If you arrive late in the afternoon, you can walk the circles and still be at the gate when the evening begins.
Time at each stop
Minutes in New Delhi on our tour
- Humayun's Tomb60
- Agrasen ki Baoli30
- Lotus Temple45
Minutes are the figures in the itinerary lines of the Viator listing, which gives them for stops only.
Humayun's Tomb: the garden that came before the Taj
Humayun's Tomb was commissioned in 1558 by Empress Bega Begum and is the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent.2 The site follows the charbagh plan, a four-quartered garden with waterways, and more than 100 graves lie within its grounds.21,22 It opens from sunrise to sunset.16 The long water channels and the symmetrical beds are part of the design, so walk the axis slowly instead of heading straight for the building.
It earns the longest stop of our half-day New Delhi version: 60 minutes in the itinerary. That is enough to walk the central axis, climb to the platform and circle the building without hurrying through the arched chambers. The red sandstone glows best in low light, so a morning slot gives better photographs and a calmer walk along the central axis. Allow time at the end to sit in the garden and look back at the tomb from the far side of the channels.
Combine the tomb with a pause in the gardens rather than rushing the interior. Shade is limited on the pathways, and in the hot months the stone radiates heat by midday. Carry water, wear a hat and keep a light scarf in the bag, because the shaded corners of the building are cooler than the lawns, and a bottle of water goes quickly on a hot afternoon. Wear shoes that come off easily, as you may be asked to remove them at some doors.
A short chooser
Which New Delhi sights should you keep?
Say what you enjoy and see which stops the facts support.
If I like gardens and quiet
Lodhi Garden
It holds the Bara Gumbad complex and Sikandar Lodi's tomb.19
If I want something free
National War Memorial
The tourism board says it has no entry fee.5
If I want old stone and inscriptions
Qutub Minar
The complex includes the mosque, gate and Iron Pillar.20
If I am visiting on a Monday
Qutub Minar instead
Our tour swaps it in for the closed Lotus Temple.
If I want the evening
War Memorial and India Gate
The drill and the floodlights are both after the day-time visits.14,11
Three big monuments
Tomb, temple or tower
Opened 1986
Lotus Temple
Baha'i house of worship
- Plan27 marble petals
- HallUp to 2,500
- Stop45 minutes
From 1199
Qutub Minar
Victory tower
- Height72.5 meters
- HoursSunrise to sunset
- MondayReplaces the temple
Lotus Temple: the Monday swap
The Lotus Temple has 27 marble petals, nine doors and a central hall for up to 2,500 people.3 It opened to the public for worship in December 1986 and welcomes all, regardless of religion.40,41 The visit is short and quiet, and the building is better remembered for its shape than for anything inside it. Approach along the pools, which frame the petals, and take the photographs before you go in, since the interior is not the place for a camera.
The hours change with the season. In summer it opens 09:30 AM - 07:00 PM and in winter 09:30 AM - 05:30 PM.17 Our Viator record adds a practical warning: the Lotus Temple is closed on Monday, and the tour goes to Qutub Minar instead. If the temple is your priority, do not book a Monday, and ask the operator which day gives you the stops you care about most.
The itinerary allows 45 minutes at the temple. Plan the time for the walk in and for photographs of the petals from the pools. Dress in a way that suits a house of worship, and leave the shoes in the racks provided at the door. Families with young children should note that the hall asks for quiet, so choose a calm moment rather than the busiest hour.
A half day in New Delhi
The New Delhi route in order
Morning
Humayun's Tomb
The longest stop, 60 minutes on our itinerary.
Next
Agrasen ki Baoli
A 30-minute stop at the 108-step stepwell.12
Then
Lotus Temple
45 minutes, closed on Mondays.
On the way
India Gate from the car
A pass-by view on the half-day listing.
On the way
Parliament House and Rashtrapati Bhavan
Both are passed by without stopping.
Qutub Minar and its neighbors
Qutub Minar stands 72.5 meters tall and is described by the Ministry of Tourism as the tallest masonry tower in India.4 Qutb-ud-din Aibak laid the foundation in 1199.42 The site opens from sunrise to sunset, with timings that may vary seasonally.18 Because the hours move, check them on the day you go instead of assuming a fixed closing time.
The complex around the tower includes the Quwwat ul-Islam Mosque, the Alai Darwaza gate and the Iron Pillar.20 That makes it a stop for people who like old stone and inscriptions, more than a quick photograph, and the complex rewards a slow walk between the ruins, with plenty to read on the walls and plenty to photograph from the lawns.
On a Monday our Viator tour swaps Qutub Minar in for the Lotus Temple. Give it time to walk the whole complex and read the inscriptions on the shaft. In the evening light the red sandstone changes color and the crowd thins, which makes a late slot worth asking your guide about when you book the day.
Video
New Delhi: India Gate, Qutub Minar and Humayun's Tomb
Sweet Sour Travel on YouTube · Until you tap play, no video is loaded.
Plan your visit to the National War Memorial in the evening. For it's the time when twilight enhances the atmosphere.
Before you go
A checklist for New Delhi
Gardens, a museum and a stepwell
The Lodhi Garden was redesigned in 1936 by Lady Willingdon and holds the Bara Gumbad complex and the tomb of Sikandar Lodi.43,19 It is a good place to slow down after the heavy monuments, with lawns, old domes and shade, and a walk of an hour feels like a rest between the larger sights. A short drive from the garden, Agrasen ki Baoli is 60 metres long and 15 metres wide with 108 steps, and it is a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India.12,44
Our half-day listing gives 30 minutes to the stepwell. The National Museum houses over 200,000 artworks, sculptures and manuscripts, and it opens 10:00 AM - 06:00 PM, closed on Mondays and national holidays.45,7 Purana Qila has walls stretching nearly 1.5 km and opens 07:00 AM - 06:00 PM.46,47 These three suit a free afternoon better than a fast loop.
Akshardham is a different kind of stop. It is closed on Mondays, opens 09:30 AM - 06:30 PM the rest of the week, and volunteers gave over 300 million hours of service to build it.6,48 The Sanskriti Vihar boat ride there lasts 15 minutes.49 Pair it with a Tuesday to Sunday date, since Monday is the closed day. Allow plenty of time for it on its own day and the listing does not include it, so treat it as a separate outing for a free afternoon.
Putting a half day together
A half day in New Delhi works best as a short loop: Humayun's Tomb, then Agrasen ki Baoli, then the Lotus Temple, with India Gate and Parliament House passed by on the way. That is the order of our Viator half-day New Delhi version, and it is built around a private car so the transfers do not eat the time. The price is per person, so the cost follows the size of your party.
Check the day of the week before you decide. Monday closes the Lotus Temple listing, Akshardham and the National Museum, and the tourism board lists the museum as closed on national holidays too.6,7 Heat matters as well: the Safdarjung station records an average May high of 40 °C, against 20.3 °C in January.50,50
This Delhi sightseeing tour is a private tour priced per person, and it runs from $37. The inclusions cover entry fees to monuments, a local guide, bottled water and a private air-conditioned car, while tips and meals are excluded. Free cancellation runs up to 24 hours before departure. Booking is instant, so you can pick the weekday that keeps every stop open.
FAQ
Quick questions get quick answers.
Which New Delhi monuments have no entry fee?
The National War Memorial.
The tourism board states plainly that the memorial has no entry fee.5
Is the Lotus Temple open on Mondays?
No, it is closed.
Our Viator record says the tour goes to Qutub Minar instead on Mondays.
How long is Humayun's Tomb on the tour?
60 minutes.
The itinerary gives 60 minutes there, 30 at the stepwell and 45 at the Lotus Temple.
What time does the War Memorial close?
It depends on the season.
It closes 07:30 PM from November to March and 08:30 PM from April to October.15
Is Akshardham open on Monday?
When is the weather best for sightseeing?
October to March.
The tourism board calls these the cooler months for exploring.8
Can I see India Gate on a half-day tour?
Yes, as a pass-by view.
Both half-day versions of our listing pass by India Gate without a stop.
How much is the half-day tour?
From $37 per person.
The listing is a private tour with free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Sources
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) · India Gate ↩
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) · Humayun's Tomb ↩
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) · Lotus Temple ↩
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) · Qutub Minar ↩
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) · National War Memorial ↩
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) · Akshardham Temple ↩
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) · National Museum ↩
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) · Delhi ↩
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) · India Gate ↩
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) · India Gate ↩
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) · India Gate ↩
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) · Agrasen ki Baoli ↩
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) · National War Memorial ↩
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) · National War Memorial ↩
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) · National War Memorial ↩
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) · Humayun's Tomb ↩
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) · Lotus Temple ↩
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) · Qutub Minar ↩
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) · Lodhi Garden ↩
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) · Qutub Minar ↩
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) · Humayun's Tomb ↩
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) · Humayun's Tomb ↩
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism) · Delhi
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism) · Delhi
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism) · Delhi
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism) · Delhi
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism) · Delhi
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism) · Delhi
- Delhi Tourism (DTTDC) · Citizen Charter (PDF)
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism) · Delhi
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism) · Delhi
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism) · Delhi
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism) · Delhi
- Delhi Tourism (DTTDC) · Tourism Division
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism) · Delhi
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism) · Delhi
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism) · Delhi
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism) · Delhi
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism) · Delhi
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) · Lotus Temple ↩
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) · Lotus Temple ↩
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) · Qutub Minar ↩
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) · Lodhi Garden ↩
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) · Agrasen ki Baoli ↩
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) · National Museum ↩
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) · Purana Qila ↩
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) · Purana Qila ↩
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) · Akshardham Temple ↩
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) · Akshardham Temple ↩
- NOAA · Global Summary of the Month, Station New Delhi Safdarjung (NOAA GHCN IN022021900), 1991 to 2020 ↩
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