Old Delhi
Half day, Old Delhi
Listing option
- VisitsJama Masjid, Bangla Sahib, spice market
- PassesRed Fort, India Gate
- RideTuk-tuk included
Look up your stop
Old Delhi tour: what to see and when it is open
Private Old and New Delhi city tour
★ 4.9 · 5,615 written reviews
Quick summary
An Old Delhi tour runs through the Red Fort, Jama Masjid and the Chandni Chowk bazaars, and the Red Fort is closed on Mondays.
Old Delhi 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
An Old Delhi tour runs through the walled city that Shah Jahan built. Here are the stops, the hours, the closed days and the way the day moves.
Editorial team, delhicitytour.click · Updated November 7, 2026 · Read in 7 min
Summary view
- The core stopsRed Fort, Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk and its spice market, with Raj Ghat nearby and Bangla Sahib on our route.1,2,3
- Closed dayThe Red Fort is closed on Mondays, and its hours run 09:30 AM - 04:30 PM.4
- Jama MasjidIt closes at midday and reopens, 07:00 AM - 12:00 PM and 01:30 PM - 06:30 PM.5
- Our dayOur Viator tour gives 60 minutes at Jama Masjid and 30 at the spice market.
- The rideThe Old Delhi and full-day versions include a tuk-tuk ride through the bazaars.
Where Old Delhi came from
Old Delhi is the walled city that Mughal emperor Shah Jahan built when he moved his court from Agra. The Ministry of Tourism dates that decision to 1639, the year he ordered the Red Fort built as his new home.1 The fort then served as the residence of Mughal emperors for almost 200 years, and the streets around it grew into the crowded bazaars you walk through today.6
A tour makes more sense when you know that the whole district was planned around the fort. Chandni Chowk, the long market street leading away from it, was designed and established by Princess Jahanara Begum, Shah Jahan's favorite daughter, in 1650.7 The name translates to Moonlight Square, a nod to the reflection of the moon on a large pool that once lay along the street.8 None of that pool is visible now, but the layout of fort, mosque and market is intact.
That layout explains how an Old Delhi tour is built. The big monuments sit close together, and the lanes between them are where the city still works as a market. Old Delhi sightseeing works best when a day mixes the two: some time with the stone and the history, and some time in the noise, smells and color of the bazaars, which is exactly the contrast the half-day Old Delhi version of our Viator listing is designed around.
Plan around the gates
Old Delhi stops: hours and closed days
| Stop | Hours | Closed |
|---|---|---|
| Red Fort | 09:30 AM - 04:30 PM4 | Mondays4 |
| Jama Masjid | 07:00 AM - 12:00 PM and 01:30 PM - 06:30 PM5 | Midday break5 |
| Raj Ghat | 07:00 AM - 06:00 PM9 | Not listed |
| Bangla Sahib | Open 24 hours14 | Never |
| Red Fort show | Every evening13 | Mondays13 |
Hours are those the Ministry of Tourism lists for each site; check on the day, since they can change for holidays.4
The Red Fort: gates, halls and the closed day
The Red Fort is the stop with a rule you must plan around: it is closed on Mondays, and the rest of the week it opens 09:30 AM - 04:30 PM.4 The complex spreads across 255 acres inside a ring of defensive walls nearly 2.4 km long, so even a quick look is a bigger outing than the photographs suggest.10,11 Treat it as a stop that needs its own block of time, with water, a hat and shoes you can walk in on stone paving.
Visitors enter by the Lahori Gate and pass through the Meena Bazaar before reaching the fort proper.12 Inside are the public and private audience halls, the royal pavilions and the gardens. If you want the evening, a Jai Hind sound and light show runs every evening except Mondays.13 That gives a second way to meet the fort, after dark, when the heat has eased and the walls are lit.
On our Viator day the Red Fort is a pass-by view rather than a stop. That suits people who want the shape of the fort from the road and more time in the bazaars, and it avoids the Monday problem altogether. If the interior matters to you, say so when you book, check the day of the week, and use a different afternoon or the evening show for a proper visit.
Time at each stop
Minutes in the old city on our tour
- Bangla Sahib30
- Jama Masjid60
- Spice market30
Minutes are the figures in the itinerary lines of the Viator listing, which gives them for stops only.
Jama Masjid and the midday break
Jama Masjid stands in front of the fort, in the middle of Chandni Chowk. Its courtyard can hold up to 25,000 worshippers, which gives you a sense of the scale before you step out of your shoes.2 It is a working mosque, so visiting hours are split: 07:00 AM - 12:00 PM and 01:30 PM - 06:30 PM.5 A tour that arrives in the middle of the day finds the gates shut.
Our Viator itinerary gives 60 minutes at Jama Masjid, the longest single stop on the Old Delhi side of the day. That is enough to cross the courtyard, look at the arcades and watch the district from the edge of the platform. Dress to cover your shoulders and knees, and carry something to slip over your head if you need it.
The Meena Bazaar near the mosque sells handicrafts, spices and souvenirs, and it makes a natural pause after the visit.16 Keep the stop short if the schedule is tight, and decide in advance what you want to buy, because a guide can point you to the right lane but cannot haggle for you without slowing the day.
A short chooser
Is the Old Delhi half day right for you?
Say what you want from the morning and see what the facts point to.
If I want bazaars and street life
Old Delhi half day
The listing puts a tuk-tuk ride and the spice market in the Old Delhi version.
If I want to go inside the Red Fort
A separate visit
The Red Fort is a pass-by view on our listing, and it is closed Mondays.4
If I want monuments as well
The full day
The full day joins the Old and New Delhi stops in one booking.
If I am coming on a Friday
Expect prayer crowds
Raj Ghat holds prayer sessions on Fridays.15
If I have a late start
Skip Jama Masjid midday
It closes 12:00 PM and reopens 01:30 PM.5
Three ways to book it
Half day or full day
New Delhi
Half day, New Delhi
Listing option
- VisitsHumayun's Tomb, Lotus Temple, baoli
- PassesIndia Gate, Parliament House
- RideNo tuk-tuk listed
Full day
Full day, both
Listing option
- VisitsOld and New Delhi sights
- Lunch45 minutes
- RideTuk-tuk included
Chandni Chowk, Khari Baoli and the tuk-tuk ride
Beyond the mosque the district breaks into specialist lanes. Dariba Kalan was known as Jeweller's Street, Kinari Bazaar sells trimmings and embellishments, and Nai Sarak is the lane for books and stationery.35,36 Khari Baoli is described by the Ministry of Tourism as Asia's largest spice market, a whirlwind of aromas and exotic ingredients.3
The way to cover this ground is a tuk-tuk or a cycle rickshaw. The Ministry of Tourism calls a cycle rickshaw a fun and authentic way to soak up the atmosphere in the narrow lanes.37 Our Viator listing includes a tuk-tuk ride through the bazaars on the Old Delhi and full-day versions, with the guide explaining the part the markets play in local life.
Plan 30 minutes for the spice market itself, the figure in our itinerary. Street food is part of the district too: the tourism board points to Paranthe Wali Gali and Karim's Kebabs as examples of what the area serves.38 Meals are not included in the listing, so bring cash and eat where the lines are longest, and keep small notes handy for the stalls, since a street vendor will not break a large bill.
A day in the old city
The Old Delhi route in order
Morning
Gurudwara Bangla Sahib
Our itinerary starts here and gives it 30 minutes.
Next
Jama Masjid
The longest stop of the Old Delhi side, 60 minutes.
Then
Tuk-tuk through the bazaars
A ride through the lanes of Old Delhi is included.
Midday
Khari Baoli spice market
30 minutes among the spice stalls.
On the way
Red Fort from the road
The fort is a pass-by view on this listing.
Optional
Raj Ghat
Opens 07:00 AM and closes 06:00 PM.9
Raj Ghat and Gurudwara Bangla Sahib
Two quieter stops sit on either side of the old city. Raj Ghat is a quiet garden memorial and marks the place where Mahatma Gandhi's last rites were held on 31 January 1948, and it opens 07:00 AM and closes 06:00 PM.39,9 Allow time to walk the grounds slowly and in silence. Prayer sessions are held on Fridays, which changes the mood and the crowd.15
Gurudwara Bangla Sahib is open 24 hours, and the Langar Hall serves free meals to thousands of people daily.14,40 The Ministry of Tourism tells visitors to dress modestly and cover their head and shoulders. Cover up before you walk in.34 Our Viator listing gives 30 minutes here, enough for the prayer hall and the pond.
Both places reward a slower pace than a fast tour allows. If you have a half-day Old Delhi tour, choose which of them to keep, because the fort, the mosque and the market already fill the time. A full-day booking has room for both, and a private guide can adjust the order to match who is open when, so you spend the hours where the doors are actually open.
Video
Chandni Chowk in Old Delhi: exploring the busiest market on foot
Walking in India on YouTube · Until you tap play, no video is loaded.
The name "Chandni Chowk" translates to "Moonlight Square," a nod to the moon's reflection on a large pool that once graced the area.
Before you go
A checklist for the old city
Before you book3
- Check the day: the Red Fort is closed on Mondays4
- Keep a photo ID on your phone for monument entry
- Free cancellation runs up to 24 hours before
The best order for the day
Start early. Jama Masjid opens at 07:00 AM and closes at midday, and the lanes of Chandni Chowk are quieter before the shops fully open.5 The Ministry of Tourism says Delhi is at its best in the cooler months from October to March, and a morning start matters even more outside that window.41 The Safdarjung station records an average high of 40 °C in May and 20.3 °C in January.42,42
A workable sequence is Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, then Jama Masjid, the tuk-tuk ride through the bazaars and the spice market, with the Red Fort passed by on the way. That follows the order of our Viator itinerary, which strings the stops together so that a car and driver are never far from the next one.
Allow flexibility for Fridays, when Raj Ghat holds prayer sessions, and for Mondays, when the Red Fort is shut and the whole plan shifts.4 A private tour can swap stops on the day, which is the practical advantage of paying for a guide with a car instead of arriving by metro and finding the gate locked.
What the tour costs and what it covers
Our Viator listing is a private tour priced per person, with a from price of $37. The inclusions list entry fees to monuments, a local guide, a private air-conditioned car, bottled water, hotel or airport pick-up and drop-off, and all taxes, fuel charges and tolls. Tips and meals are not included.
An Old Delhi city tour of half a day is a distinct option on the listing, with Jama Masjid, Bangla Sahib and the Khari Baoli spice market named as the places you visit. The full-day version adds the New Delhi monuments, which have their own page on this site. Guests carry a photo ID on their phone for monument entry.
The listing holds 5,615 ratings with a mean of 4.8, and free cancellation runs up to 24 hours before the start. Booking is instant, so you can check a date for the Red Fort or a Friday prayer day first and then reserve the slot that fits. Tell the operator about your hotel or airport pick-up point at booking, since the booking form asks for it.
FAQ
Quick questions get quick answers.
Is the Red Fort open every day?
When does Jama Masjid close for the day?
It has a midday break.
Visiting hours are 07:00 AM - 12:00 PM and 01:30 PM - 06:30 PM.5
How long do you spend in the spice market?
30 minutes on our tour.
The Viator itinerary gives 30 minutes at the spice market in Chandni Chowk and 60 minutes at Jama Masjid.
Is a tuk-tuk ride included?
Yes, on the Old Delhi and full-day versions.
The inclusions name a tuk-tuk ride along the Old Delhi bazaar lanes on those two versions.
Do I need to dress modestly?
Yes, at the shrines and mosque.
The Ministry of Tourism tells visitors to dress modestly and cover head and shoulders at Bangla Sahib.34
Is Gurudwara Bangla Sahib free to enter?
Is the Red Fort a stop or a pass-by on the tour?
A pass-by view.
The listing passes the Red Fort without stopping, so a visit inside is a separate plan.
What does the tour cost?
From $37 per person.
The listing is a private tour priced per person, and free cancellation runs up to 24 hours before.
Sources
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) · Red Fort ↩
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) · Jama Masjid ↩
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) · Delhi ↩
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) · Red Fort ↩
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) · Jama Masjid ↩
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) · Red Fort ↩
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) · Chandni Chowk ↩
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) · Chandni Chowk ↩
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) · Raj Ghat ↩
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) · Red Fort ↩
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) · Red Fort ↩
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) · Red Fort ↩
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) · Red Fort ↩
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) · Gurudwara Bangla Sahib ↩
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) · Raj Ghat ↩
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) · Jama Masjid ↩
- 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) · Gurudwara Bangla Sahib ↩
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) · Chandni Chowk ↩
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) · Chandni Chowk ↩
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) · Delhi ↩
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) · A captivating journey of flavours ↩
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) · Raj Ghat ↩
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) · Gurudwara Bangla Sahib ↩
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) · Delhi ↩
- NOAA · Global Summary of the Month, Station New Delhi Safdarjung (NOAA GHCN IN022021900), 1991 to 2020 ↩
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