City Tour of Old & New Delhi – Experience the best of Delhi!

Delhi’s scale is the first thing this tour helps you manage. In 8 to 9 hours, you move between Old Delhi’s Mughal-era streets and New Delhi’s grand government district in a private, air-conditioned vehicle, with an English-speaking guide to put the sights in context.

I like two things in particular: the rickshaw ride through Chandni Chowk gives you a close look at Old Delhi’s market lanes, and pickup and drop-off anywhere in the capital save you the hassle of arranging transport across a huge city. Bottled water, parking and private transport are included, too.

One point to settle before booking: the Lotus Temple appears in the overview but not in the detailed stop list. Several listed monuments also charge admission separately, and one account raised concerns about guide attentiveness, even while praising the driver’s courtesy. Ask what is planned for your date and set your priorities with the guide at pickup.

At a glance: what this Delhi day covers

• Old Delhi by rickshaw: Ride through Chandni Chowk, a 17th-century market district associated with Mughal emperor Shah Jahan.
• Major Mughal landmarks: Visit Jama Masjid, Humayun’s Tomb and Qutub Minar, with admission to several sites not included.
• A private day on the road: Your group travels between stops in an air-conditioned vehicle, with pickup and drop-off anywhere in Delhi.
• A mix of free and paid sights: Raj Ghat and Gurudwara Bangla Sahib are listed as free; other entrance costs may add to the $25 price.
• A route detail to confirm: The Lotus Temple is named as a highlight but is absent from the timed itinerary.

A full day that takes the strain out of Delhi

Delhi is home to blockbuster sights spread across a vast capital. A private vehicle matters here: instead of trying to piece together a day of local transport and route changes, you can focus on the places you came to see. The tour runs about 8 to 9 hours, and pickup and drop-off are offered anywhere in the capital.

The private format means your group travels with its own guide and transport rather than joining strangers. That gives the day a more personal feel, though the quality of the experience depends in part on the guide’s attentiveness. No guide name is supplied, so you cannot request a particular person in advance based on the information here.

The route gathers many different sides of Delhi into one day: a major mosque, a busy old market, Gandhi’s memorial, government buildings, Mughal tombs, a soaring minaret and a Sikh place of worship. That is useful if this is your first visit or your time is short. It is also a lot of ground to cover, so expect a survey of the city rather than a long, unhurried visit at every stop.

Jama Masjid and the lanes of Chandni Chowk

The day begins at Jama Masjid, described as India’s largest mosque, with a courtyard that can hold more than 25,000 people. The planned visit is 45 minutes. That gives you time to see the mosque and take in its scale, but admission is not included in the tour price.

Next comes a 30-minute rickshaw ride through Chandni Chowk, one of Old Delhi’s oldest and busiest markets. Built in the 17th century under Shah Jahan, the area offers a very different view of the city from the broad roads and open spaces in New Delhi. The rickshaw is the tour’s most distinctive way to experience this part of town: you get a close-up ride through the market lanes without having to navigate them on your own.

Thirty minutes is a short visit, so treat this as a taste of the district, not a thorough market expedition. The rickshaw ride is included, which makes it an appealing part of the package. A Red Fort stop is also named in the route, but no visit length or admission details are given. Check whether it is a drive-by or a stop to enter.

Raj Ghat, India Gate and the government district

Raj Ghat is the memorial to Mahatma Gandhi and has a planned visit of 30 minutes. Admission is free, so it adds a meaningful stop without increasing your ticket costs. If you want a quieter pause amid a packed sightseeing day, this is a natural place to take one.

The route then includes a drive past India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhavan, the President of India’s official residence, and other government buildings. This is a view from the vehicle rather than a specified interior visit. It offers a quick sense of New Delhi’s formal, planned character, which contrasts sharply with the tighter streets of Old Delhi.

The distinction matters when you set expectations. You will see these landmarks from the road, but the schedule does not promise time to explore their grounds or go inside. If one of them is a priority, ask the guide at the start how the drive is arranged.

Humayun’s Tomb and Qutub Minar

Humayun’s Tomb is a major Mughal landmark, commissioned by the emperor’s first wife and chief consort, Empress Bega Begum, in 1558. The tour allows 30 minutes here. Admission is extra, so include the ticket cost in your budget. The short allocation means you may need to keep moving rather than linger over the grounds.

Qutub Minar is another central stop, with 45 minutes planned. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is described as the world’s tallest brick minaret. Admission is not included. Together, the tomb and minaret give you two different ways to understand Delhi’s historic architecture, but the schedule is brisk at both.

If architecture is what draws you to Delhi, these stops are strong reasons to consider the tour. If you prefer to study every monument at length, this all-in-one route may feel rushed. You could ask how the driver and guide handle timing, and whether you can spend longer at a favorite site by shortening another stop.

Gurudwara Bangla Sahib and the Lotus Temple question

Gurudwara Bangla Sahib is one of Delhi’s best-known Sikh houses of worship. Its grounds include the gurdwara, a large holy pond and a community kitchen, where the Sikh practice of langar, or a shared meal, is observed. The planned visit is 45 minutes, and admission is free.

This stop broadens the day beyond Mughal monuments and government landmarks. It gives you a chance to see an active place of worship, not just a historic building. Dress and behave respectfully at religious sites, and follow your guide’s instructions while you are there.

The Lotus Temple needs a little clarification. It is named in the overview as a highlight, including a visit inside, but it does not appear in the detailed stop-by-stop schedule. That could affect both the route and the time available elsewhere. Ask the operator directly whether it is included on your chosen tour before you pay.

What the $25 price covers, and what it does not

At $25 per person, the tour includes a private vehicle, an English-speaking guide, the Chandni Chowk rickshaw ride, bottled water, parking fees and GST. The private transport is the main value: it connects far-flung sights without making you organize each leg yourself. Pickup and drop-off anywhere in the capital add practical value, especially if your accommodation is not near the main attractions.

But $25 is not the full cost of the day. Admission is excluded at Jama Masjid, Humayun’s Tomb and Qutub Minar. The Red Fort’s admission status is not specified, so ask about that as well. The rickshaw ride is included, while Raj Ghat and Gurudwara Bangla Sahib are listed as free.

The tour has a 4.8 rating from 26 ratings, with a 96% recommendation figure. Those numbers are encouraging, but the pool is small. The most useful caution is about the human side of the tour: an account rated the guide poorly for attentiveness and friendliness, while giving the driver top marks for being polite, friendly and caring. At pickup, tell your guide what matters most to you and ask how much time is planned at your top stops.

Who should book this tour?

I’d consider this a good fit if you are new to Delhi, want to see both old and new parts of the capital in one day, and value having a private vehicle and guide. The route includes several of the city’s headline sights, and the rickshaw ride adds a more local-feeling moment to a day that otherwise involves plenty of driving.

It also suits people who want the convenience of pickup and drop-off at their accommodation or another address in the capital. The tour is private, and most people can participate. It is available every day, though the average booking lead time is 67 days, so leaving it until the last minute may not be wise if your schedule is fixed.

I would pause if you want long visits inside each monument, or if the Lotus Temple is essential to your day and you cannot confirm it is included. I would also compare the total cost after adding entrance tickets. The $25 rate buys transport, guide service and a useful route, but not every ticket.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The tour takes approximately 8 to 9 hours.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates.

Is pickup available?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are offered anywhere in the capital.

Is the Chandni Chowk rickshaw ride included?

Yes. The rickshaw ride is included in the tour price.

Are monument entrance tickets included?

Not all are. Admission is listed as excluded at Jama Masjid, Humayun’s Tomb and Qutub Minar. Raj Ghat and Gurudwara Bangla Sahib are free.

Is the Lotus Temple included?

The overview describes a visit inside the Lotus Temple, but it is not included in the detailed stop list. Confirm with the operator before booking.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience starts. Changes made less than 24 hours before the start are not accepted.